Call it Fate, Call it Karma

Good Plan

Once we'd managed to pry the band away from their newest group of adoring fans and try-hard groupies, we ran down the street and dipped into a quiet alleyway to plan on what to do next.

"Are we all here?" asked Ryan, then beginning to do some sort of headcount and role call. He called everyone's names individually. Each one was followed by a 'yep' or a smartmouthed 'present, sir'. Fab was declared missing for a minute until Adam spotted him sparking up a joint behind a dumpster and went to join him.

"Let's get some booze and take this party back to our apartment!" I shouted over a couple of conversations. Everyone cheered in response. "Those of you who are twenty-one or over, congratulations, you're in charge of booze. You can meet the rest of us back at the apartment." No one seemed to be bothered by my plans and all nodded.

"Good plan." Adam nudged me with a smirk, knowing he wouldn't have to do anything because he was a few years younger than most of us.

Kimya, Karen, Julian, Nikolai, Albert, Ryan and a few other people that managed to stick with us after the gig all walked off together to go and raid stores for alcohol, while the rest of us jumped in a cab and headed for the apartment.

"You guys were too good tonight!" I said excitedly as I hugged Fab and Nick in the doorway of the apartment. "You're almost famous!"

"Thanks, Jade!" Fab squeezed me back with a bashful smile and Nick did the same.

"Were you nervous?" I asked, pulling away to take off my jacket.

"Yeah, dude. I almost threw up!" said Nick.

"Julian did."

"Is that why he was missing?" he asked, wiping some chicks lipstick off his cheek. "We almost didn't go on, but he showed up last second!"

I nodded. "He was super nervous."

"Do you guys have chips?" Adam called out from the kitchen.

"Yeah, go nuts!" I called back, walking over to the record player. "Any requests, gentlemen?"

"Bowie!" Adam called out, his voice echoing inside one of the cabinets he was searching through.

"Sure thing." I pulled the record out of it's sleeve and put it on, then cranking up the volume to the max.  I danced over to the couch and tried to pull Nick up. He groaned in response and pushed me away. "Dance with me, jerk!" I whined.

"M'lady," Fab said with a wink as he grabbed my hand and twirled me around.

"Say that again and you can dance outside by yourself." I giggled, swaying my hips.

Fab smirked and mouthed the lyrics to the song as he mimicked my movements. Adam walked over, carrying a bag of chips and joined us, drunkenly swaying from side to side, cradling the bag.

"You're such a drag, Nicky." I said in an annoyed tone.

Adam threw a chip at Nick, who looked like he was trying to sleep. "Yeah! Booooo!"

Nick opened one eye and caught the chip in his mouth, then, standing up to bow, even though no one acknowledged his little victory, he finally joined us. He put on a pair of sunglasses and started dancing hilariously.

Soon, the rest of the gang poured in to join us and it quite quickly became a messy party of some sort. There was a group of people including Fab, Adam and Albert, hotboxing the bathroom, group of people I couldn't recognise doing sloppy bodyshots in the kitchen, and another group dancing in the living area.

I walked into my room after downing a bottle of wine and almost puking to escape out to my balcony for some fresh air. I sparked up a cigarette and leant over the railing, subtly bopping my head to the muffled music coming from inside. I squealed in shock, dropping my cigarette when I felt someones hand land on shoulder. As I scrambled to pick it up and turn around, I sighed relievedly once I saw it was Julian.

"Hey," he greeted me coolly, his droopy bloodshot eyes looking me up and down, telling me he was moderately drunk and high. His lips curled up into a smirk as he watched me dust off my cigarette.

"Enjoying yourself?" I asked, holding the cig up to his lips so he could take a drag.

Julian shrugged, exhaling the smoke. "I guess..." He walked over to lean on the railing beside me.

As he always did, he looked ridiculously hot with his messy hair slightly covering his eyes. And in my mildly drunken haze, I probably would've tried to lure him into bed if my apartment wasn't full of people. I chewed my bottom lip and suppressed a nervous giggle, mentally laughing at myself for having that thought.

"What's so funny?" asked Julian. I hadn't noticed he was watching me the whole time.

"N-Nothing." I looked away, nervously puffing on my cigarette.

"I'm sorry for earlier today...I was just angry at something and I shouldn't have taken it out on you." Julian spoke, breaking the silence that quite quickly brewed up.

"It's okay," I said, hiding a huge grin. I was so happy he actually cared enough to realise his wrongdoing and to apologise.. "...Albert told me what happened. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wasn't gonna tell anyone. What's the point?" he said with a shrug. "Albert heard me on the phone to my dad, so him not knowing was kinda inevitable."

"Oh, okay....do you wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. I don't have much to say other than my dad's a filthy womaniser who doesn't care about anyone except for himself, so I don't know why he's marrying her." he said, clenching his jaw. "Probably got her pregnant now that I think of it."

"Damn, that's heavy. At least he isn't dating my mom anymore!" I said with a shudder. "Remember that?!"

Julian chuckled and shook his head. "That was just wrong!"

I giggled, gently shoving him. "You could've been my stepbrother!"

"Stop, please!" he pleaded, holding back a laugh. Then, the mood darkened again. "He invited me to the wedding."

"Oh...are you gonna go?"

Julian said nothing and shrugged. He looked like he about to punch a wall. His jaw was clenched and he was squeezing his hands into fists so hard that his knuckled were white.

I took his hand in mine and gently squeezed it. "Would you like to come and get a drink with me?"

He nodded, a soft smile appearing. "Please."

I then linked my arm in his and lead him out into the kitchen, where I hoisted myself onto the counter, swinging my legs as I scanned the numerous bottles of alcohol next to me. "Pick your poison." I said, pouring myself a glass of water.

"I thought you were gonna drink with me?" Julian said, his eyebrows knitting together.

"I drank a bottle of wine like, fifteen minutes ago. Give me like half-an-hour unless you want me puking all over you."

"Yes, ma'am!" he chuckled, reaching for a bottle of tequila.

I widened my eyes, watching as he generously filled a glass with it. "You planning on blacking the fuck out?"

"Yeah, why not?"

Instead of questioning his motives, I shrugged and picked up a bottle of vodka. "I won't leave you to brave it alone, I guess. But if I puke, don't be surprised." I raised the bottle in the air and sighed. "Alcohol poisoning, here I come!"

Julian downed half the glass, flinching at the strength of the liquid. He then put on an adorable smile and offered me his hand. "Wanna dance?"