Adventure Bay High

The Party

The six of them (Everest was with her bf but she will come in very soon) headed off to the karaoke bar, laughing and telling stories. They walked in to the bar and saw someone that most of them recognised.

Everest.

She was already up, and a new song was starting. They all ordered a drink and watched her sing.

(This is That Time by Regina Spektor)

Hey remember the time when I found a human tooth down on Delancey
Hey remember that time we decided to kiss anywhere except the mouth
Hey remember that time when my favourite colours were pink and green
Hey remember that month when I only ate boxes of tangerines
So cheap and juicy, tangerines

Hey remember that time when I would only read Shakespeare
Hey remember that other time when I would only read the backs of cereal boxes
Hey remember that time I tried to save a pigeon with a broken wing
A street cat got him by morning and I had to bury pieces of his body in my building's playground
I thought I was going to be sick, I thought I was going to be sick

Hey remember that time when I would only smoke Parliaments
Hey remember that time when I would only smoke Marlboros
Hey remember that time when I would only smoke Camels
Hey remember that time when I was broke
I didn't care I just bummed from my friends
Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum...

Hey remember that time when you od'ed
Hey remember that other time when you od'ed for the second time
Well in the waiting room while waiting for news of you I hallucinated I could read your mind
And I was on a lot of shit too but what I saw, man, I tell you it was freaky, freaky

Everyone clapped. Her voice was beautiful, but her song choice was ... well ... interesting...

Marshall loved every second of it. He was, slowly but surely, falling in love with her.

 Stop. She has a boyfriend.  

I may as well fantasise, because I know it won't happen... he muttered to himself. That's when he noticed Everest go outside, looking a little upset. He decided to go ask her if she was okay. After all, that's what friends are for, right? Even if he wanted to be more than friends.

He followed her outside, where Everest was slumped in a ball in a nearby alley.

'Are you ok?'

She looked up and smiled slightly. But it looked like a broken smile.

'Want to talk about it? I mean you don't have to if you...'

Before he could finish, Everest pulled Marshall into a hug. She let her tears submerge into his shirt, muttering about some guy named Bill. 

'He...he was with...Penny...'

'Who's Penny?'

'A cheerleader. Most popular girl in the school. 90% plastic.'

Marshall smiled slightly. 

'That's Bill's problem.'

'Huh?'

'It's a shame he can't see such a confident, beautiful girl with a bubbly personality. And she's plastic-free too.'

Marshall was glad to see the girl smile more, her tears starting to fade.

'You think that about me?'

'That's not all...'

Marshall was surprised when Everest pulled him close to her and kissed him. He kissed her back. It was beautiful, and he wanted it to last forever. Finally, they broke apart. 

'Want to be my boyfriend?'

'Hmm...I'll have to think about it...'

The two giggled as they went to find their friends to tell them the happy news.

                                                                           ***

Chase had been watching Skye from a distance. She outshone everyone else in the bar. She was brilliant at dancing. Her body moved to the rhythm carelessly, and she didn't have a care in the world. Well, that's what he thought. Skye was thinking the same thing too. It started like that anyway. Then she had a drink. Or two. Or perhaps ten. She hadn't a clue. Chase noticed this and took her outside, where she ended up puking. He held back her hair until she was finished, and called for a cab.

'Mum? Is it okay if I bring a friend over?'

The answer was yes, so he climbed in with Skye.

'Where are we going?'

'Somewhere where you can sleep and not drink anymore.'

Soon the cab was at his address. He paid the cab driver and saw Skye asleep on the seats. He carried her inside to a spare room where he lay her on the bed, pulled the duvet over her and kissed her on the head. She was drunk, right? She wouldn't remember anything that just happened. He left to go to his own bed. Skye opened one eye, smiled and went to sleep.

She wasn't drunk, but she felt drunk on love, as cheesy as that sounded.

                                                                               ***

Zuma had had a few shots, but he didn't want to blow it again. He was very new to the neighbourhood and wouldn't want to scar his reputation of being drunk, with cringey videos being passed around YouTube. It will happen at some point, but it's better to try prevent it. He looked around. Everyone was partying and having a good time. Everyone was socialising and dancing on the dance floor. Everyone except Rocky. Rocky had his head low in a book. Typical. Zuma rolled his eyes and walked over. It wasn't a book. It was a sketch pad. He was rapidly drawing the people dancing that Zuma could hardly catch up with his hand that was skidding on the rough paper. 

'That's weally good.'

Zuma had caught Rocky by surprise, making him jump and  leaving a huge line across the page.

'Sowwy...'

Rocky turned around to face Zuma. 

'It's fine. It's the lighting in here that's a pain.'

'Pwobably because it's a club, where you dance.' Zuma chuckled. 'Want me to get you a dwink?'

'NO!'

There was a pause between the two.

'I'm so sorry, it's just that I don't want someone poisoning it so I tend to buy them myself...'

'Well then, buy a drink.' Zuma passed a five pound note to him. 'It's on me.'

'If you insist...' Rocky pocketed the note. He went to the bar and bought a bottle of vodka and a glass of water. Thank goodness Zuma didn't see the bottle of vodka. He quickly hid it into his satchel before Zuma came to him.

'I'm going to dance. Catch ya later.'

Zuma was off to the dance floor before Rocky could say ok. Catch ya later? Is that what cool people said? Why does a cool, spontaneous guy like him want to be friends with a nerd like me? Rocky watched as Zuma darted across the floor, not a care in the world. Rocky smiled and started a new page. He saw Zuma coming and quickly went to a different page.

'Let's get out of hewe.'

'What?'

'I can tell you'we uncomfowtable, so let's get out of hewe.'

Rocky downed his water and put on his satchel. Zuma waved at some other teens dancing before leaving. Rocky expected them to go back home, but Zuma started to walk in the opposite direction. 

'Where are we going?' he asked.

'I need to show you something.'

Word count: 1182 

Total: 5483