First Punch ➟ Kellic

T W E N T Y S I X

It's almost nine and I haven't heard a peep from Jake yet. I'm getting impatient. I know nothing. I couldn't even tell you where this party is. Are Jake and I are even going together? I don't like this lack of control over the situation, but I somewhat trust Jake to tell me the plan eventually.

I start to look through my clothes, not knowing what to wear to this. I've only been to like three parties, and I just went really casual every time. I want to make a good impression tonight though. If Jake's popular, then a lot of eyes are gonna be on us when we interact. Maybe that sounds conceded or naive, but the possibility is making me anxious. I don't know what to do once I get there. I've never been to a party without the entire Triad or at least Carter. I always have them to keep me grounded and, well, to follow around. I can't just follow Jake around the whole time, it'd be too suspicious. I need to have as little attention on me as possible, so I decide on black jeans that zip at the knees. I leave them unzipped though, pulling a plain black shirt over my head. I refresh my deodorant and put on a bit of cologne, but hopefully not so much that it seems intentional.

I sit back down, but at this point I can't wait any longer. I need to know our plan for tonight. I head downstairs, stealing a cigarette from a random pack on the coffee table and heading outside. Once it's lit, I click on Jake's contact and put the phone to my ear as I call him.

"Hey, I was just about to call you," he greets, laughing and making me smile a little even if it's a lie.

"Really?" I ask, laughing.

"Yeah, that's so weird. Are you ready to go?"

"Um, yeah, do you have the address?" I ask, not wanting to assume anything and expecting to go on my own.

"Not really, but I know the place. It's on the east side in the hills," he explains vaguely. Still, my eyes go wide and I get even more anxious. That's the rich part of the city. All houses in the hills are mansions, and so is the majority of the east side, so that's like the best of the best.

"Oh," I mumble, pulling in another long drag from the cigarette. If he lives on the east side then why does this Matt kid go to our school in the first place?

"Yeah. So are you gonna come over? We're leaving soon."

I exhale slowly, impatiently waiting for the nicotine to hit. "No, it's okay. Have fun with your friends. I'll meet you there."

He sighs a little, going quiet for a moment before answering. "I don't know what the address is...it'll be easier if you just..." he trails off, annoying me. Why is he suddenly so clingy? We need space if this is gonna work. We can't hang out all the time or he'll be spotted by next week.

"It's easier if we don't go together, so just send me the addy when you get there and I'll leave as soon as I can."

"Really? All of this just avoid my brother and Mateo?"

"No," I tell him, sighing in annoyance and I take another drag. "I just think we've been forcing it with them too much. You have to admit it'd be better if we show up separately."

The line goes quiet and I just patiently wait, leaning against the light pole as I keep smoking. I probably should've paid attention to my surroundings though because then directly in my ear and through the phone comes a voice.

"It'd be better if you stopped inhaling literal tar into your lungs."

I jump, startled, and turn to see Jake standing right beside me as he pulls the dart from my fingers and crushes it against the pole before dropping the butt.

I hang up, telling him in person that "It helps to calm me down, okay?"

"Calm you down?" he questions confusedly.