Cliché

11: Yuki

-Yuki-

The day Yang came home, he said he wanted to take me to a party.

A party with a friend from college, and he wanted to take Dexter and Rayvn. A party where there would probably be weed and drugs and alcohol and sex and and and-

I took a deep breath to calm myself down, my boyfriend and my friends and I were gonna go to a party together. I think that's a normal millennial thing? Oh, what I wouldn't give to be a normal 21-year-old, with friends and a college degree and going to parties every week.

"Um... Y-Y-Yeah I'd love that, w-when is it?" I had told Yang over the phone.

"Tonight. At 10. Dexter said he'd pick us up so you just need to get ready."

"O-O-Okay... I'm k-kinda nervous though. I-I've never actually b-been to a p-party like this b-before..."

I had heard him laugh over the phone, but it wasn't mean, it was friendly!

"You'll be fine Yu, I'll be with you the whole time!"

I smiled, remembering that sweet laugh of his. Now it's 9:30 and I still can't figure out what to wear. I called Ray, "Hmmmmmm, I think you should go with a skirt and that cute crop you have!"

"Me? Be openly gay? IN PUBLIC!?!?!?" I've never EVER cross-dressed in PUBLIC!!! "Oh darlin, you'll be fine. All the guys would be over you in SECONDS" I hang up. And dig through my dressers.

I have WAY too much black, eventually, I settle for a crop top, fishnet covering thingies for my stomach and a mini skirt. Maybe I could put in hair extensions? Nah, that's too much. I pull on my highly suggestive outfit and pull on fishnet stockings and tight high leather boots. It's a party. Just a party.

A couple of minutes later, Yang texts me letting me know that he's there. I lock up my apartment and very carefully walk down to the lobby where Rayvn is waiting for me. "Damn." Is all he says and we walk arm-in-arm out to the parking lot. The Wright's shiny red Tesla was parked in front. I was surprised to see Yang in the driver's seat and Dexter in the passenger's seat beside him. Me and Ray got in the car and Yang looked back at me. "That's hot." He said, Dexter just looked at me and then looked away. "LET'S GO BOYSSSSSS!!!" Rayvn yelled, he kissed me on my cheek and I kissed his. It's not 'weird' we've been doing this since we were like 10. Yang started driving and Ray and I started talking.

"Are your kids okay?"

"They're kids. They're always okay." Rayvn was playing with his wedding ring now, he does that when he's stressed.

"Ray?"

"What"

"Are you sure you're alright...?"

"No," he said, "No I don't think so."

We left it at that.

~

When we first pulled up to the house where this party was supposed to happen, I noticed a few things:

This party house was in a very bad neighbourhood

The aroma of weed was everywhere

Most of the people that were spilling into the front yard were drunk, but not many of them looked 21 or older

It was dark.

Yang parked and he and Dexter got out, they were dressed in matching motorcycle jackets, with Yang's being black and Dexter's being white. The yin-yang symbol was printed on the back of both.

I smoothed out my skirt and got out with Rayvn, who was in his signature black bunny print button-down bandages on his arms.

"So... while those two make out..." he said, pointing to Yang and Dexter, "Wanna grab some drinks?"

I nodded as Rayvn and I went inside the house and Yang and Dexter disappeared into the backyard. While Rayvn filled two red Solo cups with Vodka, I wondered about what he mentioned earlier.

"What do you mean 'while they make out'? Do they... do that often?" I asked him as he took a sip of the strong-smelling alcohol. "Hah, yeah, they're crazy over each other. And when they're drunk..." There was uncertainty and sadness in his voice. Poor thing. "That's sad, Ray." I took a sip of vodka as well. "Eh."

We kind of just stood there drinking vodka and talking about soft boy qualities. The stench of weed was really strong, "Mind if I have a smoke?" Rayvn asked after a while, pulling out his pack of cigarettes from his pocket. I nodded, "I need some fresh air anyways, gonna head outside." We smiled at each other and headed our separate ways. I headed out back where the only thing I could smell was cigarette smoke and a faint trace of alcohol. I saw Yang and Dexter sitting under a tree with cups in their hands.

They weren't kissing or anything, just talking. I sat far enough away from them that they couldn't see me, but I could watch them.

Before I knew who Dexter really was, I thought he was a dream boy. Blue-white hair, shiny red eyes, milky white skin just like mine, and he has money. Sure, he's five years older than me, but he's perfect. Or, was perfect. I contemplated the dynamics of Dexter and Rayvn's relationship when this guy came up to me. "H-Hi!" he said, "C-Could I sit here b-by chance?" He was motioning to the spot beside me on the grass. I nodded and he sat down. I noticed his ivy-green eyes first, then his figure, then his dirty blonde hair and slightly tanned skin. "I-I-I'm Lauren." he had a stutter like me! "Yukio..." I muttered, "N-Nice to meet you." Lauren pulled out a pack of fruit snacks from the pocket of his jeans, "So um..." He said as he took a bite (no, NIBBLE) out of an orange shaped fruity snacky "You look really uh.... P-p-pretty"

I blushed, "I uh... thank y-you but I have a... b-boyfriend..." Lauren's face turned cherry red as he ate another gummy, "Oh! I wasn't trying to... I uh... I just... Um... sorry..." I realized then that Lauren was like me, scared, anxious. Quiet... I put my hand on his, "It's a-alright! I'm just paranoid is all... We can be friends!" We smiled at each other and then someone came over.

Someone hit Lauren in the face, his red spilling out onto the grass. I rushed over to him and looked up at the person who did it.

Yang.