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What people never tell you when describing parties is the overwhelming smell. So I'll tell you: at a party, there is a pungent smell that cannot be found anywhere else. In all honesty, it's more like a group of smells compounded into one. You have the unforgettable smell of alcohol, sweat, the choking scent of weed, the acidic smell of vomit radiating from somewhere in the back of the room &, finally, piss—that scent in particular tends to come last, like a slap in the face. (&, trust me, wherever drunkards, you'll have piss.) But, seriously? Who comes to a party to complain about the odors? People should be there to have fun, to experience something new. If you're at a party to whine like a little bitch, you obviously don't belong.
&, I think, knowing the effect of the unique stench of parties on people, you learn how to separate the newbies from the rest. You can tell from the moment they enter the house or the room. It's written all over their faces: disgust. Newbies tend to pull their eyebrows together or throw them up in surprise; cover their nose with their hands or the hem of their shirt; step forwards into the room timidly, scanning the area for a familiar face, let their friend drag them into the masses, or spin around & leave the party entirely. (The latter is how you spot the weakest ones. Natural selection.)
I've overcome many of my firsts at parties like this, but those memories were far from my mind in this moment; I was creating an entirely new memory right now.
My mind—usually filled to the brim with ideas & memories & thoughts & words, so many words—was blank. I was frozen in place & completely unsure of how to react. His lips, warm & tasted exactly how he smelled, were on mine. The kiss was fleeting, but my erratic heart beat showed no signs of slowing any time soon. Downstairs, the song This Could Be Us by Rae Sremmurd began to play. As much as I detested most hip-hop music, the song wasn't that bad. Despite the pounding beat, I could barely hear it over the pulsing in my head (by this point, I didn't know whether it was the alcohol or the weed or the kiss causing the pulsing).
I've done a lot of things: bud, sex, vandalized, gotten suspended, & tasted every flavor of wine...However nothing would ever, could ever, paramount coming to the realization that someone loved me. Me.(That's a crazy ideal to think about. Imagine someone getting butterflies when I walked into the room.)
Too soon, he pulled back & looked at me with his steady brown eyes. He seemed torn. Suddenly, he took a couple steps back & buried his face in his hands.
"I'm such an idiot," he whined.
I bit my lip in an attempt to keep the growing smiled off my face. I kept quiet, though, because I was afraid old habits would come back & I'd say something stupid.
Jace looked back up to me. "See? Not even a witty reply. No puns. No jokes. No random facts about frivolous topics. I ruined everything,"
I closed my eyes for a few short seconds & took in a shaky breath. I think someone turned up the music.
This could be us but you playing.
I tried to ignore the horrid improper grammar (note: I need to get over that pet peeve) and focus on the lyrics.
This could be us but you playing, (Money make the world go round) I'm high, I hope I don't sound crazy (Money make your girl go down)
For a moment, I wondered why people never played music by bands like All Time Low at parties. Maybe I just went to the wrong ones. Then again, I always went where Jace went.
This could be us but you playing, (Money make your girl go down) This could be us but you playing, (Money make the world go round) But shit, that's all I was saying (Money make your girl go down) (And that's just how it goes)
"Jace," I whispered (for a second time, because the first time I choked on my words).
"Penny?" He mimicked my tone playfully but the fearful look on his face contradicted it.
I glanced around at our surroundings before speaking. The room we were in was empty and the door was open just a bit. I still felt like the world was watching us. "Did—did you know if a penny falls from the top of the Empire State building it loses one percent of its worth?" Well, there goes my attempt to avoid old, dorky habits.
All hints of nervousness & anxiety fell away from his posture & he stepped forward again. Jace Sadece laughed his beautiful laugh once again & poked my nose. "My lucky Penny will forever be worth the world to me,"
