This Year

Chapter Six

John said that the party was just about five minutes away. Yeah right. It felt like we walked alot more than five minutes. This might partially be because we were drunk. I weren't used to wearing high heels, and now I regretted wearing my Mary Janes. It was starting to hurt like hell. While the boys were talking together, I stopped walking and sat down on the pavement to take off my shoes. I could feel that I had a blister on my heel. Damnit.

While I was taking off the other shoe, I suddenly felt an arm grab my shoulder and my back, and another one under my knees. The next thing I knew was that I was lifted up from the ground and carried bridal-style. I turned my head around to see who it was. I pushed away my hair from my eyes until I saw it  was Paul that carried me. My face was now just inches away from his. His cheeks were red, probably because he was drunk and it was somewhat cold too. He stared into my eyes for a while before he bent down to grab my shoes from the ground. 

"God, you guys are slow. Come on!" John shouted at us.

I looked up at Paul. "Paul it's okay, I can wa-"

"I'll carry you there. It's only a few houses away." he cut me off.

His breath was warm and smelled like booze and cigarettes.

"You didn't have to.. but thank you very much." 

"Not at all." he smiled at me.

I began to feel the lightheadedness coming back again. Even though I felt a bit awkward with Paul carrying me, I decided to lean my head on his shoulder because of the dizziness. My face rested on the collar of his leather jacket. It had the smell of cologne and cigarettes. It wasn't a bad mix. I loved it. 

Paul patted my head quick and told me we were there. He let me down and asked if I was okay. I was more than okay, I felt really happy actually. For once I felt like I didn't give a shit. 

I looked at the house and saw a lot of people our age were here as well, but the majority was probably at John's age.

John showed us the way in, and introduced me to Pete; which was the host of the party. Apparantly he was in the band too. The boys smalltalked a bit to him before we went inside the livingroom. There was loud music, people dancing and heaps of drinks. But unlike the Cavern, there was no cigarette fog. Pete said we weren't allowed to smoke inside. I said to Paul that I was going to sit for a bit on the sofa in the corner and went towards it. I sat myself down, and put my shoes that I had carried, on the floor beside my feet. After a while John joined me. I didn't know where George or Paul were, but I assumed they were talking to someone they knew or something. John brought some beer and handed me one. 

I took a huge sip, and turned to John.

"John, did you happen to be at the record store today?" I asked him.

"Wait, was that you buying the Chuck Berry record?" he responded.

"Yes. I reckon it was you nicking a record then." 

He began to laugh.

"I nicked the wrong stuff though. It was jazz. Shit." he said, and drank some more beer.

"Jazz is not shit. I like rock and roll too, but jazz isn't shit for that reason. Afraid it will affect your teddy boy style, huh?" I said somewhat annoyed. I wouldn't have said something like that if I was sober.

While awaiting his answer, John put down his beer on the table. He turned to me and took hold of my chin with his hand. He looked me in the eyes and began to grin. I felt really uncomfortable with him doing so.

"Hah, smoking, drinking and now the nerve to snap at me? Full of surprises again are we?"

I started to feel my stomach turn. Ugh, I've never thrown up after drinking alcohol before, so I guess it was the mix of lack of food and my nerves. I had to go to the bathroom. I pushed his hand away from my chin.