In Another Universe

Saturday 22:36 Some Nights

The music was booming so loudly that people were almost yelling to try to understand each other, without succeeding, which made them louder. Most sat in different places, chairs, sofas, tables, the ground. Others, or the same ones, were making out, next to the indifferent drunk teenagers, and under the jealous looks of the lonely ones. Fumes of smoke came from the backyard where people were definitely not just enjoying the view of late-night Brighton, but most likely getting higher than the sea.

In all this general party chaos, a game of beer pong had started upstairs, in the library. Supposedly a calm place, the music only got to it partly but the screams of the boy that threw the ball right into the amber liquid resonated through the room.

"Take that, Charlie! You drink!"

Charlie shrugged, took the ball out and drank. Was that a good idea? Probably not. Participating was probably not a good idea, given how much of a lightweight he was.

"Tom, you need to stop winning. You're gonna end up killing him!" another boy said with a laugh.

"I'm fine, I can handle it," Charlie said, putting down the empty glass.

The looks from his friends clearly stated that none of them really believed him, from experience probably, but still went with it. As Charlie was trying to aim, Tom looked over at the people sitting in the back to talk and smoke without the noise. Or with less noise at least.

"Look at that one, the blonde, isn't she the most beautiful thing?" he said.

They all looked over and agreed with such enthusiasm that you could almost see them drool. Except for Charlie, who just shrugged with an "I guess".

"Are you kidding me?!" William asked, "you're telling me you wouldn't let her do you?"

"I don't know, man. Probably not," Charlie answered, throwing the ping pong ball into the glass. "She's definitely not my type."

"Sad. The new Australian student, man, you could get her, for sure!"

"I said I'm not interested."

"Fine, fine! Who are you interested in tonight, then? You need to surf on that new guy thing."

Charlie scanned the room and peaked through the open door of the library. His eyes caught sight of a girl running up the stairs with one of her friends. She was definitely cute, with her dark curls and a red sundress she definitely bought on the North Lane. Another thing that was definite was her tipsiness. But her friend was much drunker. They both stumbled into the library.

"There she is," Charlie said to his friends.

"Okay, okay, not a bad choice," one of them responded.

"Of course, Jack. Have you seen her?"

The girl's friend came by their table and almost fell on it, knocking down a few of the glasses, before falling on the couch beside them. Tom gave Charlie a knowing smile when the dark-haired girl came to rescue her friend.

"Is your friend okay?" Jack asked.

"Does she look okay?!" The girl answered. Then she sighed. "Sorry... no she isn't. She's totally wasted. My plan for tonight wasn't taking care of her."

"It's fine," Charlie said. "Jack, help her."

After a short hesitation, Jack executed himself and kneeled down next to the girl on the couch.

"Your friend knocked over our game," Will said.

"I said sorry..."

"Don't listen to him." Charlie came closer to her. "I was winning anyway. I'm Charlie."

"I know... you're the Australian. I'm Lea."

"Pretty."

She laughed and kissed him on the cheek. Charlie quickly avoided a proper kiss, turning his head, but accepted her hug. Looking over at him, his friends swiftly left the room.

He was ready to avoid another kiss when a panicked girl stormed in and asked everyone to leave. The cops were here. Noise complaints apparently. Charlie ran out, leaving Lea in the general chaos, and left the place with all the others.