Shaforostop It (2015)

Chapter 27 - What Am I Missing?

"You seem to have lots of parties don't you? Ben?" I said, pulling my hair over my bare shoulder and adjusting my place on the couch in my house.

"Not really my party if it's at your house. And we're leaving?" He chuckled.

"Still. You organised everyone." He shrugged. For no reason other than someone to do, we all gathered at mine and Denis's house - Ben, Cameron, boy Cameron and Haley, Cameron and Brandi, and Sam and Britt. And our new cat Kicks of course, but the cat wasn't coming to the club with us. He was a small black kitten, named for his habit of rolling onto his back and kicking at the air. We'd gotten him two days after we talked about getting a dog. Denis apparently saw Kicks, fell in love, and bought him that second. He had a bit of a soft spot for cats.

"I propose a toast." James stood and held up his beer, earning the attention of everyone in the room. Even Kicks looked up at him from girl Cameron's lap. "Before we all go out, and get lost and inevitably end up hating each other by tomorrow, I have something to say. I'm really glad we're all here. Whether it be by friends, or girlfriends or boyfriends, or family. I'm glad we're all here, together. Family really isn't just blood, and I hope that even when we're too old to fuck, and our arthritis ridden bones can't play instruments anymore, and Leda can't do back flips, and Brandi can't sell houses and Haley and do whatever the hell she does all day, that we're still together. Drinking whiskey in our rocking chairs and reminiscing about times we got too drunk to walk home. Time we needed each other and we were there. Times we almost made incredibly horrible decisions, but our friends were there to smack us upside the fuckin head. No matter where we go, not matter where life takes us, I hope it's together." For someone who claims to be the least sentimental person in the universe, I was choking up. Brandi was full on crying.

"Me too." Denis smiled humbly. Everyone drank to that. If I had a heart it would have melted. To be part of their little close knit family, with Denis and Cameron at my side, was incredible. Just a year ago I would have never imagined I'd have been where I was. A new house, with a new boyfriend, and a whole new group of friends. A moment in time. A year ago I didn't think I could be so happy. We all finished our drinks and got in our respective cars, driving to a club near James and Brandi's house. It was called RVSH. It was around 11pm by the time we all got in and met up at the bar. Inside was dark, and a glowing blue bar and glowing fluorescent lights hanging in staggered patterns in the large room, painting the dancing bodies a crimson red. A hundred or more people filled the busy night club, dancing the the middle or drinking at the bar, or getting hit on creep old men in the corner. It made me wonder what each person had done in there life to end up in a night club in Texas.

"Babe?" Denis tapped my shoulder lightly from the stool beside me.

"Sorry. Distracted."

"What do you want to do? Drink? Dance?"

"Let's dance." I smiled as I pulled Denis behind myself, following Haley, Brandi, and both Cameron into the centre of the sea of people. We all started dancing and Denis and boy Cameron brought it to a whole other level of looking stupid. Their hand gestures and girating motions caused us to double over in laughter.

"Last time I laughed this hard I was on meth." Everyone looked at girl Cameron. "Jokes that was my cousin."

"Snow? The one who's best friend is dating Austin Carlile?"

"No- wait. Her and Alan are back."

"How do you know Rose?" Boy Cameron asked.

"Family friend." She shrugged. We kept dancing and drinking for another half hour before Denis excused himself over to the bathroom, and Ben and James finally made their way over. Sam and Britt, whom I'd met twice, were off having their own little moment in the corner.