Teenage Fever

That Someone

Jaquez and Cruz were hosting an end of summer shindig. They found a club all to themselves to host the party. Jackson and Givanté were in attendance as well as Jaquez and Cruz's friends and D and I.
Cruz was a riot.
"Aye aye aye!" Cruz was shouting. "Pass that shit."
He was indicating to a newly opened bottle of champagne.
"Don't tell me what to do, Cruz," the guy passing the bottle said.

"This is nice," I spoke to D as I looked around the place.
"Yeah, I ain't never been here."
"Y'all don't look drunk enough," Jackson said as he passed us some glasses.
"Don't start, man, you trying to get us messed up like that time at Givanté's birthday party?" I asked.
That got us laughing.
"Hey, that was a good night," Givanté said.
"You were passed out before it was over," Jackson said.
"Like I said, it was a good night."
I laughed even harder.
"I gots to excuse myself. Where's the bathrooms?"
Jaquez came over and directed me.
"You shit on yourself, Les?"
It sounded like Cruz said it but I just threw my middle finger over my shoulder at them.

My eyes lingered on my fingers as water from the sink ran over them. I turned them one way then another getting a good look at them. I then looked at my reflection in the mirror. I stood up straighter and took a deep breath. I was around some unfamiliar faces and it did feel a little uncomfortable. But the festivities must go on.

I walked over to D standing by the bar.
"You extra quiet tonight and hardly drinking," He tells me.
"I could say the same for you."
"Okay then let's correct this. Bartender," D calls. "Six shots of tequila."
"Bartender," I called. "Cancel that."
D smacked my arm.
"Only I can be the bitch in this relationship and you acting real bitchish."
"I ain't never had tequila, nigga."
"Now why you lying? You had it at ya mama's house."
"Oh shit," I started laughing.
He got me.
The Long Island iced teas also came to mind.
"You'll be aiight," Cruz says over my shoulder. "How y'all doing."
"Good going on great," D toasted his shot before throwing it back.
"That's right!" Cruz said enthusiastically.
One of his friends comes over and distracts him, leading him away.
"Cruz is awesome."
"He's mad cool," I concur.
I finally take one of my shots.

"Hey guys!"
Heads turn towards the voice.
"Now y'all know it ain't a party unless the beautiful Stephani walks through the door," Jackson says.
It was Stephani and Kivon walking in like the model pair they are.

My heart started racing. I took another shot.

"Hey guys," Stephani said to D and I with a wave.
"Hey," D says and gives her a hug.
I do the same.
"What y'all drinking?" Kivon asks.
"Tequila, what you about to drink?"
"You need at least one glass of champagne in you," Cruz says out of no where while pouring a glass.
He hands one to the both of them.
"This is great. Am I the only woman here?"
It seemed that way but Cruz tells her she's not. I must have not been paying attention to everyone that's here.

I took another shot, then another.
"Whoa there," D tells me. "You took my shot."
I didn't recall having more than three.
"Sorry about that."
D looks at my with concern written on his face.
"You okay, Les?" He moves closer to whisper to me. "We can leave if you want."
"Nah, I'm good," I inform him.
He looks as if he doesn't believe me at all.
"Hey, Cruz," I call. "Let me get a refill."
"I respond at all times to those magic words," he says and hands me a glass.
"Must of lost my other one," I mumble.

Deep inside I was squirming from D's looks at me as well as from my own thoughts.
I realized pretty late that Cruz was talking to me.

".... which is cool," he was saying.
"What?" I said.
Thank goodness there was music playing pretty loud at this point. He grins. He starts to speak a little louder.
"Jaquez had told me a few weeks ago he had a run in with you and y'all talked about Section 3. It's cool that you know the area, that you're from there. Jaquez and I are about to head that way probably around the start of fall."
"Oh, right, that's what's up. I told him as such, it's a great move."
"Yeah, I've been planning for a minute to relocate there. I don't feel too bad about leaving Section 1. Ain't shit here really. I want to settle down."
I watched him closely.
"Section 1 ain't for settling down people. No offense cause I know you just moved here so what might be refreshing to you ain't for me."
"Completely understand that. I never had no real problem with Section 3, y'all gonna love living there."
"Just stay away from the south," he added to my sentence.
I chuckled and shrugged.
"Yeah, that's another story."
He nodded.