A Series of Creative Beasts

Ostentatious.

It wasn't like any other party I've been to, or a social gathering for that matter, where it was almost midnight and every student with a thirst for corruption and routine break made it their life mission to go as wild as they can. The woods tonight aren't as quiet as they usually are, with enough miles away from campus, the lights sparkle to make everyone's beverage cups tinkle with colors. I try to avoid the center and find my way to the junk table where they keep every edible trash. Though I could really enjoy some fresh juice right now, unfortunately all I can drink is energy boosters, and I'm thirsty as hell.
"I wouldn't recommend that" I look left, "Unless you want to stay up all night." She points to the drink in her hand, It's not usual for me to space out.
"What?" she said.
My lips uncontrollably forms a smile, and my eyes glitter in the view in front of me, then, she started laughing. "What?" I mirrored.
"I change my mind, drink up, looks like you need it more than I do" She hands me a Monster energy booster. I try to be cool.
"So what is it all about" I open my can, "Some 80s reincarnation initiation." My voice is loud over all the music that is playing around us. She increases her voice amid the loud happines of our fellow schoolers, "It's something the clubs do every month to raise motivation and push students into risk taking activities."
"What an excuse for breaking laws."
"Tell me about it." She said,"So what are you doing here to night?"
"My friend -Josh has been pushing me to go out."

"He's pretty popular." I guess she noticed him more than anyone will ever care to glance at me. "Yes, he --he is, but we've been friends, since like -- grade school so,"
"Not as tight?"
I nodded. "So it seems."She sparks me a mild smirk.
"I'm here with my friend, Max.. is racing in the wood race at midnight, you should come and watch."
Max. A masculine figure I suppose.
"Sounds cool," I applaud.
"Do you like races?" She asked, "This is actually a charity race and most of the money collected tonight is for a good cause, why don't you give it a shot?" She drank from her Monster.
Now the wise thing is to say, no. I myself never had an experience with races, or anything that included breaking the rules, even if it was for a better result. But tonight, I don't think I want to be that anymore, especially when a beautiful lady is asking me.
I take another drink from my Monster, just for that necessary spike.
"Let's do it."

On our way to the hill we talked about the classes we shared, mostly advocated the idea how most students have it all going on when they don't really study, the teachers in our schools seems very accepting of bribes, she thought an elite school was a bullshit image to describe how wealthy people pretended they're better than the smart portion of the scholarship students. I guessed she is one.
"Do you like bikes?" She asked me.
"Bikes? they're cool."
"It's a bike race." She smiles,
"You're kidding." I look upwards to the rampaging of students, what counted possibly a dozen bikes, topping the hill, pitched in black with the navy, vintage lit sky depicting as background.
I swallowed. What now? head back like a complete coward? I've never rode a bike before.
"Come on." She gestured.
Brewing my guilt and stress inside, I manage to make it ahead, In the middle of the freezing whether, I break a sweat.

The series of wearisome thoughts stops when I feel my hand has been grabbed and I'm being led towards the line of participants. "You can get a bike from here, always better to have more people to bet on." I nodded, as much I want to walk out of this mess I got myself into, my bones seems completely surrendered.

"Aquari!" A girl gestures to us from the back of the line, lean and small, a middle schooler?
"Is it so hard not come and see me kick butt". Aquari gives her friend an eye roll"This is Max, Max this is ..... what's your name again?" Max looks at me like I'm a fake jewel in a moment of scrutiny. Knowing Max was not a masculine figure was strangely relieving.
"Elric." My smile covers my thoughts well.
"You're that new kid, the one who always sits alone in the cafeteria."Max said after careful examination. Aquari looks at me in quizzing, "Oh, I think i didn't notice when it was so dark down there, you always had your face down, it's hard to recognize you from a glimpse"
"Yeah, we thought you were some weird drug dealer!" "Max!" "What, we all said that." I can't seem to be sad when all that runs in my head the fact that someone actually noticed me. "Sorry, El, excuse us for being so uneducated and awfully prejudice." I assure them it was fine.