KISS: Casablanca High School

Ch 81: Hey Man Let's Party (Paul)

I walked over to Mr. G's class and sat next to Gene, giving him a grin. "Hey can I get you to do me a favor tonight by any chance?" I asked. He let out a sigh, not even bothering to look up from his homework. "Yeah fine I'll drive you to the party. Ava need a ride too?" 

"Yess thanks Gene! I dunno, I'll ask if she's going. If she is can you take her too?" Gene let out another sigh, still keeping his eyes focused on his math. "Yeah, yeah. But no having sex in my car or anything." 

Face pink, I punched him in the arm. "Shut up! Not like I'd want to after all the time you and Cher spent in there. Anyway let me go ask her if she's going." 

Ava was sitting in the far corner of the classroom, surrounded by her friends and chatting happily. Her smile wavered a bit when I walked over to her, sitting on her desk and giving her a kiss. "Hey, babe. You going to the party tonight?" Her smile wavered even more before vanishing entirely and she let out a sigh. "Uhh...nah, I don't think so. I'm not really feeling a party tonight, you know? Plus I've got a dance competition on Saturday, not trying to get drunk," she said. I nodded, giving her another kiss. 

"Damn, too bad! Good luck on Saturday though!" 

Thankfully the bell rang and I was able to dip, practically running out of the classroom as all her friends started to giggle. Well that's...that's interesting. 

History was a drag, and I had to sit through a lecture about the Industrial Revolution while struggling to reassure myself that nothing was wrong between Ava and I. But I couldn't hide the sinking feeling in my stomach that something was, in fact, very wrong. At least it was English next today, not gov.

I guess I must've still looked kinda upset as I took my seat next to Gene, because he nudged me with his foot, raising an eyebrow. "So I'm guessing she's not going?" he mumbled under his breath. I shook my head with a sigh, pulling out the book I still hadn't gotten around to reading. "Pop quiz today! Clear your desks!" 

Guess I probably should've actually read it.

By the time the end of school rolled around, I was so, so ready to go to the party and get wasted. Gene was waiting in the parking lot for me, leaning against his car and still giving me a worried look. "You good?" 

I shrugged, swinging my keys absentmindedly. "Yeah, it's nothing. Just kinda bummed I failed that quiz in English," I said with a crooked grin. He laughed, stepping into his car. "Told you you should've read. I'll pick you up at nine, that work?" 

I nodded, watching as he gave me a parting wave and drove off. Just six more hours until I could have fun. 

Figures the house was empty when I got home. I wandered through the halls, bouncing a tennis ball off the floor and waiting for time to pass. I looked at my phone, hoping desperately that Ava would've texted me or anything. But of course there was nothing from her. 

"I don't understand what I did! I mean did I say something? It's not like I told her about that or anything, it can't be that. I don't know what happened! I mean is it me, or is it her? Or is it someone else entirely?" I cried, walking aimlessly through the house. "We've been together for almost three years, I don't want to break up with her." 

I could feel a lump in my throat and felt like I was on the verge of tears. "Dammit, man, we are not doing this. You're gonna go out there and have fun and get drunk and just party. Senior year baby, so long as you don't hurt yourself you're chilling. Just don't do anything that'll take you out of college football," I mumbled.

It was nine and I sent one last snapchat to Ava, telling her it sucked she couldn't make it, and sat by the door. "Come on Simmons, hurry up and get your ass here. I wanna party," I muttered. "And I want to hang out with you." 

Finally, finally there was the sound of a car horn blaring outside my door. A smile spread across my face and I rubbed my eyes, taking a deep breath. "Come on, Paul. You're gonna go have fun and not worry about anything because Ava is still your girlfriend and you guys are fine." 

Gene kept honking at me and I grinned, running out the front door to where he was waiting. And no surprise, Peter and Ace were crammed in the backseat. "Hiya curly! Ready to get wasted?!" Ace cried. I laughed, sliding into the passenger seat. "Drunk, yes. Wasted? Nah, probably not tonight. Also, Pete I thought you were grounded!" 

He shrugged, leaning against Ace with a warm smile. "Nope, just living back with my grandparents. I told them I'd be out with my boyfriend tonight and since they've met Ace and love him they told me I can actually step outside the house for once." My eyes widened and I stared at him in surprise. "They know about you two? How'd that go? Like how'd you come out to them and all that?" 

"So nosey! To be honest I didn't, they confronted me about it and I mean like I'm not gonna deny it. But yeah they're cool with it. But who cares about that, let's go partyyyy!" 

Gene rolled his eyes but he was smiling as we finally pulled up in front of the house. Music was already basically shaking the ground and we all moved to split before Gene locked the doors to the car, turning to stare at us, all traces of a smile gone from his face. "Wait wait hold on. If I'm going to be DD I get to have two rules. One, no shots. I don't want you guys doing that because it never goes well and I'm not trying to have anyone get sick in my car. Two, don't drink alone. Especially you, Paul. You always get super sad when you drink and I'm not trying to have you get wasted and hurt yourself. Got it?" 

"Yes, Mom," I grumbled, punching him in the shoulder. "Yeah okay I guess." "Sounds good with me, curly!" 

With a wave, he let us out and we split, going our separate ways. I could see Gene immediately find himself with a girl who wasn't Christie, walking with her up the stairs. I, meanwhile, grabbed the nearest can of beer and set to work. 

Sorry, Gene. I'm drinking whether I'm alone or not.