Code Name

III

Everyone seems to switch. Mike quickly shifted from being the center of the crowd's attention to being their background noise. However, it didn't seem to bother him. He simply sang along to the upbeat tune and let his body pulse to the beats.

"I hate that asshole," Becca huffs.

"Bec," Tracy says. "Just enjoy the party. Might as well enjoy the last time people aren't gunning for you."

Nate then interrupts. "Oh, crap! I need to go find Andy."

"You're partner is Andy?" Trent asks.

"He was the only guy I could find. It's not like Harley was ready and willing." With that, he jogs off.

"Speak of the devil." Tracy mumbles. Becca and I turn around and see Harley approaching with a six pack of Budweiser. She wears shiny, tight, black pants and a crop top with cuts below the collar to create a small pattern. The deep dark shades in her clothing contrast her pale skin and pale hair.

"Hello, Becca." Her voice, to my surprise, is warm and welcoming.

"Kendo," Becca says coldly.

"Where's Nathan off to? He won't gonna cause Wess any problems tonight, is he?"

"Nate knows the rules. Quite frankly, I wouldn't blame him if he did."

Harley obviously tries not to seem too annoyed. "What makes you say that?"

"I don't know. It could be the fact that you cheated on him. It could be that you made it public to literally everybody. Maybe it's that you paint him as a bad guy for being upset about it." Becca says this with such confidence that it leaves Tracy, Trent, and I stunned.

Harley pauses for a second. Still speechless, she reaches out and pulls a can and extends it out to Becca. "Here," she says.

"What?"

"One for you," she says before tossing it into Becca's hands. She turns to me. "One for..."

"Daniel Sewer," I say.

Harley stifles a laugh. "Sewer?" I nod slowly. "Whatever." She tosses the beer. "Enjoy this because I'll enjoy kicking your asses." She then walks away with confident strides.

Becca then slaps my arm. "Your name is 'Sewer?' You couldn't say Daniel?"

"What? I told her my name."

"You told her another way to get everyone to laugh at us." She quickly opens the beer and chugs almost all of it down. She then takes the one in my hand and does the same. "Tracy, I'll catch up with you and Trent later. Danny-boy and I need to talk to someone."

"Okay, we'll be by the cars." They walk off as Becca pulls my hand and guides me through the patches of people.

I'd occasionally get bumped by some guy, catch a bright light in my eye, or stumble from Becca going a tad too quickly. After a minute and a half, she stops abruptly. I look up and see Josh looking down at her with a bottle in his hand.

"Hey. It's been a while, Bec."

"Why'd you do it Josh?" she asks.

"What are you talking about?" Josh asks. His personality so far seems more like a gentle giant than a brutish ass.

"You know how long I've wanted to win this. You know Mike and I aren't the best of friends. Why'd you take his money?"

"Becca," he begins with a sigh. "I messed up. I'll admit that. I spent a month in a motel room and I don't remember most of it. That's on me. But I needed money and Mike delivered. I'm genuinely sorry."

"Everyone needs money nowadays." She looks down with her arms crossed. "So, you're gonna go after me and Danny-boy, here."

Josh looks me up and down. "I won't. I'll play the game just like everyone."

"Kay," Becca says without looking up. Josh steps to her and encompasses her in his long arms. Her face buried in his chest.

"You'll do good Becky-girl."

She laughs and pulls away. "Thanks, Joshie-boy."

After a while, Josh leaves and Becca's anger seems to have been calmed. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I am. Josh is an idiot but he means well. Sorry, I was moody all night."

"It's okay. Plus, there's still plenty off the night left. It's only..." I pull out my phone to check the time. "Ten twenty-eight."

"We might as well make the most of it," she smiles.

The night then merges together. I remember Becca grabbing all the alcohol she could find and reporting back to me and the others. We weren't wild and crazy. We were free. Soon, Becca's negativity was completely forgotten and I eventually became more comfortable. It was all a blur. Actually, it was for a while.

The world slowed. Blonde before the Weekend's music was muffled. All of the people faded. It took me a second to realize that I was kissing Becca. In our drunken state of mind, it wasn't a small innocent peck. It was a long, heavy, close-to-unappealing kiss.

It wasn't until a flash from Tracy's phone. We separate and face her as she displays a beaming smile. The two of us just laughed it off.

"I'm getting cold," Becca says smoothly.

"I'm sorry. It is getting kinda late."

She just laughs. "Danny-boy, you are clueless." She turns to the twins. "I'm calling it a night. I'll see you guys later." Tracy nods as her and Trent walks off. Becca then takes my hand. "Come on," she says just loud enough to be heard over the band. She guides me again, this time slow enough to where I can stand straight.

Soon, we approach the car. I unlock it and help her in before closing the door behind me. The noise is now like small whispers and all that exist is me and Becca huddled together for warmth.