Regrets

Everybody Have Fun Tonight

New Year's Eve, 1975

"So, Raquel and David's New Year's Party starts when?" Frank asked.

Alexandra thought a moment. "It starts at seven tonight," she answered, "At least, I think it does."

Alexandra and Frank had been invited to her best friend's New Year's Eve party. They would be ringing in the New Year- 1976- which would be America's two-hundredth year as a nation. The two were originally going to celebrate in their own home, but Raquel wouldn't take no for an answer on whether or not they were going. Apparently for them, the only answer choice on whether they were going or not was: Yes, I we are going to come.

It would not just be the four of them there. A few of Raquel and David's friends from work and such would be there as well, along with a few family members from both sides that they got along with. Apparently, even a few people who she'd kept in contact with from high school would be there, so that meant that Alexandra and Frank would know a few of those people, considering they all went to high school together for two years before Alexandra and Frank graduated, since there was a two year age gap between them and her.

"You realize I'm not really going to know anybody there," Frank commented.

"I know, I know. But if it makes you feel better, I won't either," Alexandra said with a shrug, "I honestly don't remember anyone from high school except you and Raquel. Besides, a lot of high school is just a blank for me, with the exception of you two and my band."

"But even the people not from high school, you'll still probably know more people than I will."

"Don't be so sure. At Raquel's law firm, they've got a whole new group of people workin' there, ya know. So I may not know as many people as I used to or that you think."

Alexandra then continued over to the drawers and pulled out a pair of blue jeans and a black Rolling Stones t-shirt that she'd gotten at their second show in Buffalo that past August during their "Tour of the Americas" tour. After she had changed into those, she then laced up her black canvas Converse sneakers then slipped a cardigan on over her shoulders. She wasn't too excited for the New Year's party, but at least she didn't have to dress formally- she had made sure to ask Raquel that when they were told they'd be going to the party. Plus, wearing a shirt that specifically had 1975 written on it would be kinda funny, not to mention that the Rolling Stones were all from England, so it was kinda funny if you thought about it.

"Just think," Alexandra said, "America is turning two-hundred years old, and we're alive to see it happen. And we're young, so that's definitely a plus."

"Technically, it's not two-hundred until July fourth, but yeah," Frank teased.

She laughed. "You know what I mean."

"I love how you're talking about celebrating America's two-hundredth birthday, yet you're wearing a Rolling Stones shirt. Doesn't that kinda defeat the purpose?"

"It's just funny."

He nodded in understanding and let out a laugh. "Ah, I see. Talk about being a proud American, while wearing a shirt of a band that is from the country that America broke away from."

She smiled. "That's the funny part."

-/-/-

How Barney let Tool talk him into going to a New Year's Eve "party" at a bar, he'd never know. He wasn't into parties, it was not secret that he wasn't really into social engagement, and he wasn't into crowds, and he definitely wasn't into all three of those things combined. He had never let his guard down about those things, so why had he? How did it come to a point when he agreed to go to things like that?