LarryxLaurent Requests (Boyxboy)

The Cloud of Unknowing 2.

Initially when he had been invited to this party, he was given a head count of five maybe six people going. All of which he'd come to know. Now Larry, like any young, friendly, boy wanted to be liked by his peers. However, It had been a difficult year. With his brother home again, things at home became busier. His family worked to support twice the kids and teacher's spent more time calling them the wrong name then actually speaking to them. And when it came to the other students, his friends. Things where even more off. It seemed that in his absence, Laurent had learned some new tricks. He'd become graceful in his conversation, charismatic even. His smile could light up a room, he could make anyone laugh. Larry had always felt those were his talents, but hes drifting from conversations. Put in the shadow of his twin's new found radiance, Larry felt himself the lesser of the two. As if his presence was only a mimicry in the absence of his double. He had retracted from his usual friends, they went on as if nothing were different. Content to joke around with his brother. A hollowness had begun to grow within him.

Laurent himself was polite enough. Greeted him in the morning, invited him to play ball, video games, or other wise just screw around when they knew they had home work. The interactions were impersonal, he couldn't seem to get himself to come near Laurent. A side of him was too rooted in his bitterness. Wrath kept him at bay, too jealous of Laurent to meet the hand being offered to him.

And so Larry, eager to make friends where the conversation didn't always circle back to his twin, accepted the offer. He really hadn't known the kids for very long. Daniel was the one who had asked him to come, to which he quickly said yes. He wasn't even thinking about Laurent until he'd shown up to walk him home.

There were five of them packed into a car, Larry sitting against the window. He tried to keep track of where they were going, counting the blocks. But after a while, he forgot to stay aware. Getting snatched from his thoughts by Daniel in the drivers seat. "Larry your cool right? If we have a drink your cool" he's looking at Larry in the rear view mirror a knowing look on his features. He's vouching for him and Larry is quick to pick up on it.

"Yeah! No, I don't care at all" he says with a grin.

"Cool"

The house they arrive at is large, there's a few cars already in the driveway. When they get inside, he becomes aware that this isn't a small gathering. The place is packed. There's music blasting in the living room and underneath you can hear a completely different song coming from down stairs. He gulps, feeling a little over whelmed by the crowd. Thankfully they head to the kitchen where it's thinner. He's unbuttoning the top of his flannel, finding it a little hot. As he watches Daniel and the others make themselves at home, he's busy observing his surroundings. Most of the kids here don't go to their school, or they run in different circles then him and Daniel. They're dressed differently too. In fashions that are trending. Larry looks at himself, in his yellow flannel and feels awkward. Wishing he had worn something else.

"Hey Larry come here" he shuffles to the table where they're pouring drinks, he sees Daniel. A smile plastered on his face, a cup out stretched towards him. "Here, this is for you"

Larry eyes the cup, then the bottle in Daniel's other hand. It's vodka. "No, no thanks"

His friends don't let that slide, the cup is forced into his hands by a reassuring Daniel. "Come on just a little! You won't have any fun other wise" the smell of the alcohol is burning his nose and he gives an unconvinced smile.

"It smells fuckin nasty" he says with a chuckle, looking into the cup and swishing the crude mixture of soda and vodka.

"You won't even taste it after the first one, trust me" Daniel lifts his own glass with the rest of them. "Ready? Cheers" Larry gives in with a nod and raises his glass to knock them with his friends. He brings the rim to his mouth and swallows. As hard as he tries not to taste it, he still does and it's just as awful as he expected. It threatens to come up near the end but he pushes through until he can see his friends through the bottom if the glass. They're cheering and wooing and Larry smiles through the bitterness when he sets the glass on the table. He feels a warmness in his stomach and it's pleasant, distracting from the disgusting flavor. He feels fuzzy, Daniel's hand is on his shoulder and he leans into it. "Damn Larry! You didn't have to drink it all. You want another one?"