You're The Only Friend I Need

Tennis Court

                   

BRENT

"And just like that, everything will fade into Euphoria! Your stress, regrets, desires, mistakes, gone. For the rest of the night. Into oblivion. Just by taking this! Do it, you know you want to, join your new classmates!" I barely hear Reed shout over the overwhelming sound of deep EDM bass lines and the party going on around us. "COME ON BRENT," He continues, this time even louder. His face, illuminated frequently by the changing lights, was already sweaty from dancing. "What are you stalling for? Don't worry about the cost, man. I paid for it already with that scholarship money!"

"That's horrible Reed! That's supposed to go to your education!" I shout back in protest as bodies dance around me. The mood was room was frantic.

"Oh trust me Brent, I'm learning! Now are you going to take this or are you going to keep being a pussy?"

"I- I'm not a pussy- I'm-" I quickly attempt to defend myself but am interrupted. I feel a body press up against mine and shout over my shoulder towards Reed.

"Fuck you Reed, you sexist asshole! Give me the fucking drugs. Brent here's too nervous to try." The voice, belonging to a beautiful girl named Nova, pierces my ears as I try to maintain some sort of dignity.

"What?! No way! Nova Sangston, the shining star of Bellview, wants to do acid? You're seeing this too, Brent?! Has hell froze over or are we in Heaven?" Reed shouts in amazement as I step back to make room for Nova.

"Neither. You're in purgatory, dumbass. Let's party." Nova says, reaching towards Reed. "Come on, I don't have all night."

"Alright, alright! Here you go!" Reed shouts, reaching in his pocket. He becomes more and more excited as he pulls out two small strips of paper. "One for Nova," He says, handing her a strip. I watch in curious amazement as she places the strip underneath her tongue. Not believing my eyes, I watch as the valedictorian from some private all-girls school out East willingly takes acid at her first college party. "And one for me, because Brent here is too afraid-" I interrupt, stopping Reed before he can continue by taking the second strip from his hand.

"You've clearly had enough," I claim as I quickly place the strip under my tongue instead. I couldn't think too much about everything, right? "If Miss Valedictorian will do it, so will I. Like Nova said, let's party."

"SHIT! Brent isn't a pussy!" Reed shouts, his brown eyes widening as he throws his arms towards the ceiling in a pure, childlike excitement. "You're not too bad Brent, are you? Oh, perfect!" He suddenly sounds more excited. "Here comes the lady lover himself, Wes!" His focus alters toward the someone behind me. After staring a second, he continues. "Over here, man!" His sentences were separated by insane laughter. "You'll NEVER believe what just happened!"

Reed was right. How could they when I couldn't believe it myself? I just took acid at my first college party...

I felt great though.

"Brent, what's going on?" I hear someone shout from behind me. I go to turn around to see who was talking and am met halfway by Wes Greens- a tall, slim, dark haired boy with distinct facial features. He was someone all the girls chased, and he loved playing hard to get.

"Wes, I thought you weren't going to come," I struggle to sound sober as the lights seem to leave an imprint in my vision for seconds after they flash various colors throughout the room. "I'm so, so sorry..." I say, feeling the need to apologize.

God, no better way to show that you're high for the first time then by apologizing right away.

"Brent, you're fine. I came with Joslyn to meet new people, but in this crowd it's almost impossible. She's dancing with some girls over there, so I have nowhere else to go. What did you take?" Wes asks as I tried to comprehend all he was asking.