Marching Band: The Journey [EDITING]

26 - Drunk Weirdos & Dancing on Coffee Tables

The week after the day Em, Phillip and I spent together was solemn. Phillip was miserable, and so was Em since Carson hadn't shown up all week. I was tired, drowsy, and dragging myself everywhere. Nothing in my life was bad, I think. My relationship with Tony was going great, especially since he was there for me the whole time. My mom and I were following our usual routine. I think it was just Em and Phillip's mood flowing onto me since I'm always around them.

Now it was Friday at lunch, everyone huddled at a table in the noisy cafeteria. It had gotten too cold to sit outside, and we would usually be in the band hall, but they'd been blocking it off during lunch recently. Stupid freshman leaving food in the hallway. Tony had gone out to get everyone lunch from Subway. And by lunch, we mean snacks.

Em gets some garden salsa Sunchips and a water. Phillip gets lemonade and a cookie. I get a soda and some oven-baked potato chips. Tony eats in silence with us, understanding we don't want to talk. At all.

But Ethan and Reese don't get the message.

Ethan turns to Reese with a smirk.

"Party?"

"Party."

-

How those two idiots put together a party in a few hours is not believable. So as I lazily get ready for a party with Em and Phillip, both are spamming our phones like crazy. Most of the messages are asking when we're getting there, that we need to get there, what we're missing, etc. We, of course, ignore them. And I'm half tempted to chuck my phone across the room. But Tony stops me by sending me a quick text, notifying me he's waiting outside. I beckon the two depressed beings sitting on my bed to follow me downstairs. Pushing them outside before me so I could lock the door, I assess their outfits.

Em is looking cute, for once this whole week. Her purple streaked hair is pulled into two panda buns, her usual hair style when it isn't down. She's wearing light make-up, just a little concealer and mascara. I tried persuading her for lip gloss, but she refused. Since it was still chilly out, she was wearing black skinny jeans and customized jacket over a plain white tee. The body was a jean jacket and the sleeves were soft, gray material. I let her pair it all with some brown leather combat boots.

Phillip, on the other hand, looked a mess. His usual neat hair was sticking up in the back. Dark circles weren't forming under his eyes, it was like they belonged there. He went with simple blue jeans and his favorite blue plaid button-down. Ignoring my request for him to wear the Nike shoes I got him last year, he wore his old ones. They were ratty, but worn.

As I locked the door, I checked my outfit. Not wanting to kill my feet, I pulled on my solid white high-top converse. Just as Em, I pulled on some light-washed jeans, allowing the cool breeze to caress the skin poking out in the rips. I had on a white satin bomber jacket over an army green halter top. The single strap was around my neck, the front reaching the bottom of my throat. My shoulders, although under the jacket, were exposed. Make-up was simple with winged eyeliner, mascara, and white eyeliner on my lower lash-line to make my eyes look bigger. To finish off my look, along with my sapphire red lipstick, I let my long curls flow over my shoulders.

When I entered Tony's truck, it's dead silent. Besides the soft music of the radio. I shoot Tony a soft smile before glancing back at the two dead bodies. They're both silent, staring at their phones. The soft light illuminating their faces brought out the tiredness in their eyes. Tony's truck eases onto the road as I turn my attention back to the road ahead.

Hopefully this party will cheer them up.

-

Like every party, not just those thrown by Reese and Ethan, the music is thumping from a block away. This one happened to take place at Reese's, two blocks away from Tony's. When stepping out of his truck, it took me a moment to find my balance. The music was sending pulses through my veins, pulling me towards the mass of people. Tony threw an arm over my shoulders as we trudged towards the party. Em and Phillip followed suit, grunting the whole way. I swear I heard Em mutter Taco Bell under her breath.

When we passed the two large pillars guarding the front door, a wave of noise hit me. I hadn't even stepped foot in and I was already exhausted. My breathing stopped as my nose took in the smell of alcohol and weed. Stupid teenagers and their drugs. Tony tugged me in, shooting smiles of greeting at the people we passed. A group of barely dressed girls whisks Phillip away, even though he looks purely disgusted. I fight the urge to laugh, knowing how against all of this he is.

Tony leaves to get us drinks while I lead Em over to the living room. It's mostly cleared since everyone is in the front room which was converted to a dance floor. She collapses onto the couch with a sigh as I greet a few of our classmates. At some point, a guy comes up behind her and whispers something in her ear. Her face is scrunched in disgust, looking like she'd rather kiss a drunk Ethan than have this random guy talking to her. When I start heading her way, the guy backs off with his hands up in surrender. He ends up backing up into Tony, who shoots him a glare. I swear I hear the guy squeak before he scurries off into the darkness.

Em eagerly takes the drink Tony hands her. Once she gulps it, she asks for another. Tony shoots me a weary look before he hands her his. It's gone in seconds, and her eyes start to unfocus. She's already buzzed. When she tries to stand, she wobbles a bit before balancing. I slowly walk over to her, grabbing her hand so she doesn't topple over. She pulls me along to the kitchen, leaving Tony to get swarmed with football fans.

I stumble along the hardwood floors, trying to keep up with her. We enter the kitchen which is crowded with couples. Dodging the lumps of their molded bodies, Em pulls me towards the drinks. After a quick glance at the tall glass bottles, she grabs a bottle of vodka. The top falls to the floor before she brings it to her lips.

She's going to be dead tomorrow.

-

"WOOHOO!" Em shouts, standing on the coffee table in the living room. Somehow, the crowd has flooded into this room. The music was still thumping, sending pulses through the floor.

Tony emerges from a small group of people. He smiles at me, grabbing me by my hips. As he leans down, he smirks. Before his lips meet mine, or my skin, I jerk my head back. He shoots me a pout.

"Why the hell did you have to give her that second drink?" I ask him with a raised eyebrow.

His hands let go of me and he looks shocked. "Me? Your the one that stood there and let her chug a bottle of vodka!"

I sigh and cross my arms, angling myself to look at my best friend. She's never this bold. Her jacket is on the floor in a ball, and the way she's dancing, her shirt is riding up. I continue to watch her, readying myself to jump in when needed. For now, she needs to do what she wants. Tony stands right behind me and I feel his body heat through my jacket. I lean back against him, simmering down from our argument.

"I forgot I was supposed to drive you two home when I got the drinks, and I knew she needed it. I'm sorry." Tony whispers into my ear, his arm wrapping around my waist.

I turn my head to the left, my ear resting over his heart. "I know. I'm sorry for blaming you. I was just worried about her. I still I am."

"I know, babe." He whispers into my ear, finishing off with a kiss to my temple.

Just then, Em bends over and pukes on the floor. Everyone pushes away, until some drunk idiot has to cheer her on. She's falling off the table, stumbling into people. When she bends down to snatch her jacket, another wave of puke bubbles up and onto the floor.

I bolt towards her, my arms coming out to fold around her. Under my breath, I mutter to myself.

"What would you do without me?"

~~~

Enjoy!

~Lotus

P.S. Next chapter = filler. But pay attention ;)