Him

Circle of Death

"Okay Darren...or should we say 'Darwin'?" Rachel snorted in laughter at her own evolution joke, "Get those un-evolved feet to the shower!" she set her drinks down and clapped her hands together giggling in excitement. 

"I have got to video this and send it to Mckenna" Kyle made my ears perk up at the mention of my bestie, "she's not going to believe he's letting y'all do this!"

"Poor Mckenna. Maybe this will cheer her up," I sympathetically thought of my sidekick who was currently in Kansas at her cousin's funeral. He was unexpectedly killed in a motorcycle accident and the funeral arrangements caused her to miss out on her first week of college. The freedom and independence from parents that is correlated with the college experience is not exactly a new concept for her though. Her dad left when she was four, and her mom spends her time trying to dress and act younger than she actually is; dating any young man that pays her any attention. Her mom's mentality causes her to treat Mckenna more like a pal than a daughter. She even buys the alcohol for Mckenna and her other friends in hopes that they will invite her to party with them. Mckenna is like my polar opposite. She is a wild thing, always pushing her limits in hopes of getting her mom's attention and discipline. I think she just longs to have a mother that acts like a mother, and it seems there is no boundary that Mckenna will leave uncrossed to achieve that goal. 

Darren begins rummaging through his toiletry bag looking for a razor as Corey interjects, "Mckenna said she will be back tomorrow, though, right?" he looks at Kyle curiously and before Kyle can answer, the ugly blossoming jealousy in the pit of my stomach forbids me to keep my mouth shut as I anxiously insist,

"How do you know McKenna?!" Corey looked at me as a sudden flash of surprise disappears from his face as quickly as it arrived. I immediately regretted showing interest in this small detail about Corey, given his apparent distaste for me. It was too late to take back my urgent question so I settled with the plan of appearing indifferent with whatever his answer was. How have I never heard of this guy but he seems to know all of my friends? Is he obsessed with Mckenna like every other guy in the freakin' universe? Who am I kidding, of course he is. She is drop dead gorgeous and the life of the party. What's not to be obsessed with? I should know. I'm her dagum best friend.

Corey didn't respond to my question right at first. He appeared thoughtful as he considered his answer. His slow response only caused me to worry more. He must have hooked up with her, and he's trying to figure out how to word it or how much information to let onto. Of course he would be one of the many conquests of the Mckenna Swinley. She get's whatever she wants. She get's whatever I want. God, I hate her right now. 

Corey took a sip of his beer then threw the empty can in the trash, "I've seen her around at a few parties." he explained, "She's fairly memorable." Is that all the information he's going to give me? Not much for details, I guess? What could he mean by "fairly memorable". Is he really just going to leave it at that? Before I can press further, Darren finally retrieved his razor causing Rachel to quickly snatch it from his hands and demand he head inside the bathroom. 

Kyle videoed and Rachel giggled hysterically as I shaved Darrens knotted up feet. I think the alcohol was starting to hit me because I was finding it harder than normal to keep my hands steady. Once we finished and Darren's casper-white feet were as bare as a baby's bottom, Kyle fixed us all another drink while Darren grabbed a deck of cards.

Grinning, Darren said "P.A., I bet you've never played circle of death!" 

Excited that I actually have played the game before, I fired back at him, "Jokes on you loser. Let's do this." and I decidedly took a seat on the floor, followed by Kyle and Darren.

"Wait a minute," Rachel interrupted as she sat down between Kyle and Darren, "isn't that a drinking game? I thought you didn't drink before tonight?" She looked quizzically at me. Thanks roomie for reiterating how lame I am.