Chapter 2 mentions drugs and alcohol
"Doug? Douglas?!" His mother, Donna's voice made the boy sit up straighter. "Sorry, mom," he apologized, picking up a pair of chopsticks and slowly eating his food. She shook her head and said, "When you're done, your father and I wanna talk to you okay?" He nodded his head, and joined in conversation with the rest of his family.
"Dougie, you okay brother? You might wanna eat more than that if you wanna get trashed tonight," Bash said, pointedly looking at his cousin's full plate. Bash promised to be the designated driver tonight, a job that was usually Doug's. Bash knew that if Doug didn't eat enough, he'd be tipsy only a drink or two in.
"Yeah. I'm good Bash," Doug said, his mouth slightly full.
"Okay..." Sebastian rolled his eyes, sipping his hot tea and updating Sophie on what was happening.
After another hour, dinner was finally over. As the uncles fought about who was going to pay, Doug and his cousins devised a plan for the night.
"Okay boys," Sophie said, flicking her light brown hair over her shoulder, "we have to promise to stick with each other so we don't get too drunk or high. I'll be sleeping over at Nigel's place." When she said this, Gordon made a face, "Ugh. He's a loser Soph." She gave him the middle finger and continued, "Gordon, my fist will be up your ass if you guys start a fight, again. Anyways, Bashy, you're gonna be designated driver. Dougie, you can finally get as trashed as you need. I'm serious okay? No limits, but Bash watch him," Sophie quickly said as she saw their parents come up to talk to them.
"Sophie, Doug, Sebastian, and Gordon, two rules: if you come home sloppy drunk and as high as a kite, kiss your summer goodbye you'll be in the mines, I don't want you guys coming home drunk, or high. Bash is the designated driver, but don't be afraid to fall asleep there and come home sober. We expect a phone call at midnight from each of you. Gordon, you make sure that Nigel boy isn't in your cousin okay?" Uncle Grumpy instructed the teens, making the boys sweat a little. Sophie groaned, and Gordon laughed. Then his face changed, "Have fun. Be safe. Be smart. Watch out for each other."
Dopey and Donna pulled Doug aside, "Your uncle is right. Doug, we know it's been tough because of the breakup, just be safe okay?"
Doug nodded before hugging them, "I will mom and dad. I love you guys."
The four Dwarfsons kissed and hugged all their family members goodbye before getting into Gordon's black station wagon.
"Finally!" Doug and Sophie said, turning up the radio as Sebastian drove with Gordon in the front seat. Auradon City was brightly lit up with cobblestone streets in the shopping district, and a booming metropolitan everywhere else. Like every Friday night, Auradon City was busy with people shopping and enjoying the nightlife that it had to offer, jazz bands playing, people in the streets performing little stunts, people giving out flowers to the elderly or young kids. Doug looked out the window, palms slightly sweating for what could happen at the VK's party. Ben decided they'd dedicate this whole weekend to partying because he wanted everyone to feel included and understood if people couldn't go to one night, only the other and so forth. Tonight, it was their closest friends and a few of their classmates dedicated to getting intoxicated.
Minutes later, he saw the silhouette of Castle Beast. The butterflies in his stomach grew. Sebastian rolled up to the golden gates of the castle. A guard, Daniel was there to take the license plate number and who was in the car. Then he opened the gate and let the teenagers go inside. Sebastian slowly continued up the driveway to the front of Castle Beast. Sophie admired the rose bushes lining with the pathway to the front doors. Doug looked up and saw colored lights coming out of the grand ballroom and could already hear some people cheering. When Sebastian came to a stop, Gordon quickly grabbed something out of the glove compartment and put it in a small bag he always carried with him for his asthma. Lumiere saw the familiar car and smiled, ushering one of the servants to take Gordon's car and put it in the valet parking lot. Lumiere congratulated the teens as he took them to grand ball room where the party was in full swing.
Ben, who was in the middle of the dance floor with Mal saw his friends and waved them over. For a second, Ben didn't look like a King, he was in jeans and a white t-shirt. Mal was in a pearl colored dress, accented with purple geometric designs. Doug, Sophie, Sebastian, and Gordon bowed in their presence making the both of them roll their eyes.
"Everything is spiked, but we also have a lot water," Mal said, handing out Jell-O shots to the teens.
"Yes, please make sure you've eaten before you drink," Ben slightly slurred, his face a blushing red.
Gordon chuckled, "How ya feeling Ben?"
"Beautifully, beautiful," he smiled wide, then he looked at Mal, "like my beautiful queen."
Mal almost choked on her Jell-O shot, "Okay, I think someone needs a water break and more pizza. See you guys!"
Sophie searched the room for Nigel, meeting his eyes and sighing, "My prince awaits. Bashy-"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it Soph. Go get some Maldonian love," he laughed, putting an arm around each cousin's shoulder, "Let's go get some more drinks." Gordon got his cousin's arm off his shoulder and nodded, "I'll meet up with you guys in an hour, I'll be with the ROAR team."
In the bar area, Jay and Carlos were talking to Lonnie, Jane, Audrey, and Chad. Sebastian walked with Doug to greet them, but ended up looking around for Nigel and Sophie.
"Doug!" Jay yelled, a sly smirk on his face.
Doug could tell Jay was the most excited out of the VK's to have this party. He was always ready to show off his Isle side, and tonight was the night he could let loose. Shots were lined up on the bar table, poured by Lonnie and they all grabbed one and drank it down. Chad yelled while Audrey and Jane held onto each other grimacing as the alcohol slid down their throats.
"You said," Carlos slurred, "I'd be drunk."
"You are Los," Jay laughed. Carlos shrugged and laughed too.
"I feel really hot, is anyone else really hot?" Lonnie said as she fanned herself, her skin growing red. She tried to scratch it but Jay held her hand instead, smiling knowingly. Jane grabbed water bottles for everyone, making sure they drank water every time they took a shot.
"Let's dance it off!" Audrey exclaimed as she made all of them get up and go straight to the dance floor. Doug took a swig of water before rushing over to join them. They all began to dance and sing along to the upbeat song. Doug scanned the room and he could see Sebastian talking to his friends, Gordon was playing beer pong with the R.O.A.R team, and Sophie was cuddled with Nigel on a couch.
"Doug, I gotta ask, are you okay?" Jane said, as she wrapped her arm around Carlos to help him balance.
"Yeah, Janey, I'm okay. I miss her a lot though. I hope she's happy," he said, slowly feeling himself numbing from the alcohol, he liked this feeling.
"Let's get you a slice of pizza, dude." Jay pulled him to the massive food table and grabbed a box for their friend group. Doug swiped a vanilla cupcake for desert too, cheekily grinning.
"Okay guys, eat up. It'll help you feel better," Jay said opening the box of a hot pepperoni pizza. They all dug in as Ben and Mal approached them. Ben's hair was slightly messy but at least he wasn't pale anymore, Doug noticed.
"Hey guys," Ben smiled, "Having fun?"
The teens erupted in cheers and all began talking at once. Doug brought him in for a hug, "I'm just so happy bro." Everyone laughed at that.
"You guys sobered up pretty quickly," Lonnie said, placing a cold water bottle on her neck to help her cool down.
"Yeah, he was just on the phone with his mother," Mal smirked, and Ben blushed red.
"Guys, I don't think Chad is doing so well," Audrey noticed. Chad was pale and his head was down, "Spins," he wheezed out.
Ben looked at Audrey, "Tell Lumiere, he'll get him to a guest bedroom."
Audrey nodded, "Be right back! Come on Chad, I think you need some rest." Chad couldn't even give an answer before chucking over the nearest trash can and hurling. Jay immediately grabbed the trash when he was done and handed it over to a servant, then changed the bag himself.
Carlos mumbled into Jane, "You're so beautiful Janey. Can we go back to my room?"
Jane laughed, "Carlos! Weren't not even at school anymore. Silly goose!"
Carlos nodded his head too, "You're right Janey." He kissed her cheek instead, making the girl blush. "Carlos come on, don't do this now." He frowned, but listened anyway, putting his head on her shoulder.
Doug was slightly jealous at all the PDA happening around him in the moment. He felt a pang in his heart when he thought about her. Smiling through the pain, he got up to grab some more water for everyone. Mal followed him, "Hey!"
"Hey Mal," he said, as he reached in the cooler for more waters. "How is she?"
Mal took a deep breath, "She's doing great. She loves her internship. She misses you, a lot." She helped him carry some back to their group.
Doug nodded, "That's great. I uh, I miss her too. I didn't think it'd be this hard." Before Mal could respond, another student whisked her away to help Jane and Lonnie, leaving Doug with six ice cold water bottles. She looked back with an apologetic look.
Doug wanted to walk with Mal, but he was captivated by the beauty of the view from balcony. He set the waters down on the stone-accented balcony. Then he shoved his hands in his pockets to get them warm. He was sobering up again as the cold wind blew gently. Taking out his phone, he dialed her number. It rang three times before an automated voicemail played, "I'm sorry the number you have dialed is no longer in service." He wanted to throw his phone to the rose garden below, he really did. The grip on icy screen tightened but he enjoyed how white his knuckles were becoming.
A hand on his shoulder made him gasp, "Ugh, Bash. It's you!" His cousin smiled, "Just wanted to check on you. Jay also said he's going to start lighting up a joint if you want a hit it." Doug nodded, turning his back on the bright lights of the city, "How are you doing? Any moves on Xavier yet?" Sebastian shook his head, "he wasn't even here. Doug, come on, let's go inside before you freeze out here."
"What time is it Bash?"
"11:45, why?"
"I think I wanna go home soon."
"Dougie, Gordon's completely shit faced and you know Soph's with Nigel. How about in another hour?"
"O-okay," he rubbed his palms anxiously, looking around the room. Jay spotted him first, and showed the joint sandwiched in his fingers, "Doug. This can help you relax okay?"
He had never tried smoking before, a joint nonetheless. After making its way through the circle, it finally reached Doug. Jay had told him how to smoke it, once inhaling it, trying to keep it in his throat before blowing out, but it was hard. Jay smiled reassuringly, not getting high the first time was normal anyways. Doug passed it along to Lonnie, and watched his friends around him. He could feel his heart rate slow down again, and he thought time was moving slower than usual. Thankfully, the logical side of Doug's brain had reminded him it was a side effect of his new found friend.
Carlos was much more sober now, holding onto Jane's hand and bopping his head to the music. Mal'a head rested on Ben's shoulder as they watched their friends; Doug kept a note of Mal's high tolerance. Jay was still instructing the girls how to smoke it, and laughed when someone choked, but then helped them get some water. Lonnie was not as red but she still looked really uncomfortable with all the girls flinging themselves at Jay. Audrey returned to the party without Chad, the surprising lightweight of the group. Doug felt like he was home.
He got up again when the joint was finished, Jay sucking the life out of it before releasing its white smoke. He had noticed the ball room had gotten kind of smokey, and he knew he smelled like weed.
When he spotted his cousins, he briskly walked over to know what they were talking about. Sophie shot him a wide smile, "you look like you're having fun."
Doug smiled, "Yeah, I am now."
Gordon clasped his shoulder, "That's great Dougie. Dude, thank you for having my back." Doug chuckled, Gordon became less grumpy under the influences.
Bash looked at Doug, "Are you feeling okay? Do you still want to go home?"
Doug looked back at his friends who were waiting for him, and shook his head, "No, I'm okay."
They nodded, and Sebastian continued, "I got a call from Uncle Grumpy though, Uncle Sleepy wanted Sophie now. I can drop her off then come back for you if you wanna stay longer?"
Doug shook his head again, "No, no guys it's okay. It's a pretty far drive, it's be useless if you came back Bash. I'll be okay. G, are you staying too?"
Gordon shook his head this time, "Actually, I was gonna sleep at Kenny's house anyway. My dad knows so it's chill."
"This is so unfair!" Sophie groaned, "I can't believe my dad's staying up...he sleeps for crying out loud!"
Bash rolled his eyes, "You're his baby, Sophie. We all know that."
"Doesn't help your case when he thinks Nigel is a bad influence," Gordon chimed in.
"Ugh. I'm over it. Come on Bash, let's go. Goodnight boys," she said, turning abruptly so she could say bye to her boyfriend. Bash followed, shrugging his shoulders at her inner diva attitude. Gordon and Doug split up to their respective friend groups after exchanging their own shoulder shrug.
All of his friends were huddled around someone, or something. Doug couldn't tell. He hoped no one blacked out, that would be very bad. As he came closer, it sounded like they were laughing and making conversation with someone, he couldn't hear them but he saw their mouths move. If he blinked in that moment he knew he would have missed it.
"Doug!" her voice called out to him, making him wish he went with Bash and Sophie instead.
Hi friends! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :) Reviews, follows, and favorites are always welcomed!
