Chapter 3

Fiesta

"There's never too much beer in a man's life..."

Tap. Tap. Tap.

My bed was nothing but a pile of clothes.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

My closet looked as if a tornado had knocked it.

Tap. Tap. Ta-.

Hang on. Just hang on a minute! I ruffled my hair in exasperation, then my gaze landed on the nightstand, which seemed to be the only place clean in that room. I felt like dropping myself on my knees as in some sort of a prayer, thing you usually see in movies. But I didn't. Outside the weather was all nice and peaceful, even some birds chirped in the forest, but I felt miserable.

I had no idea what to wear. And that made me feel like a woman...

Drace,* I am no woman! I frowned. Just grab the first cloth your hand lands on. I looked at my phone. It was already 3:14. I had to hurry so my plan would fail. I jumped in the bed and grabbed a pair of skinny crimson jeans, a black tank top and a tartan shirt. I put a hoodie above all this. I went to stare in the mirror. I looked almost perfect, so I put on my hand a silver bracelet with a dragon. I took my keys and my phone and left the room.

The plan was the following:

"Leave home before 3:30 pm and call a cab, this way the green eyed demon wouldn't catch you and then you can have a great evening with your friends!" a little voice whispered in my head. And I felt like kissing myself for coming up with such a brilliant plan! Instead I just went downstairs, grabbed my umbrella in a hurry and opened the front door.

Only to have my blood freeze in my veins, my eyes going as big as planets, a drop of cold sweat ran down my temple.

"Going anywhere, Lupei?" Aleksander, the frigid Bulgarian guy who lived next door was leaning his body against the doorjamb as if it were the normal thing to do at you enemy's house. I faked a smile and my hand wanted to close the door right in his face, but his was faster and he caught the door before I could slam it in his face. Damn!

"Get out of my house!" I almost yelled.

"I'm not even inside, idiot," he said completely bored.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Just get out of my sight!" I tried to take the door back but he was still holding it. I was supposed to be more powerful than him, still he seemed to top me. 'That's what happens if you don't eat your vegetables, young boy!' sounds like something my grandmother would definitely say at a time like this.

"That won't happen. I promised your mother to take good care of you, kiddo," he said and at that time I really felt the urge to strangle the soul out of him.

"We are the same age!" I retorted.

"Well, your mother doesn't seem to notice it and it's no wonder. After all, you are an idiotic, annoying, loud brat," he said and grabbed my arm pulling me outside. In the process I dropped my keys, but he was faster and his long fingers caught them, shoving the little pieces of metal in his pocket. Shit!

"I'm sorry I'm not as perfect as you, Balakov! I rolled my eyes, but that's when another brilliant plan popped up in my mind. What if I ran away while he was locking the door? I was a fast runner so maybe he wouldn't catch me.

The next second, I was running as if I were chased by the Devil himself. Well, most of it was true. Aleksander was a devil, a big nasty cold one, on top of it. I didn't dare to look back, he didn't even yell at me so I thought he had given up. I continued running, and on my very hasty little chase, I found myself tripping over something, even I don't know what that was, because I didn't see anything. I must have tripped over something that never existed to begin with! Double shit!

"Watch out, you idiot!" a hand gripped my hoodie and pulled me back, only to meet a recently washed fabric. I landed on his chest, on Aleksander's chest. Triple shit? "Look, Lupei. I don't like you either. You are loud, careless and an idiot. But I have to watch over your sorry ass and that's it. Please surrender yourself by your own free will, or I'll have to take you by force. It's up to you to decide," he said and I pulled back from his grip, but he didn't let m go.

"I'll choose the third variant," I said playfully. He looked confused. "The variant in which you bugger off," I flashed him a closed eyes kind of smile, waved my hand at him and turned my back to go, only to be stopped again, this time more forcefully. Aleksander sunk his fingers in my shoulders nailing me there. The leaned forward and whispered in my left ear.

"Vladimir Lupei," a pause followed. "I gave you two options earlier, but you refused to choose. Now, we are doing it my way," he approached his lips more to my ear and I started to get nervous. Shit. Shit. Shit! Everything but not my ear. "Your time's out, lad," the last words were low, imposing and I felt a shiver running down my spine. This was no good. And then just like that, he lifted me on his shoulder just like Gil did a week ago. What was wrong with them for they all treated me like a sack full of potatoes?

"Put me down, you sick bastard!"

But he ignored me. Instead he stopped at the bus stop and we took the first bus to arrive. Of course people had stared at us intensely, some girls started giggling but he kept holding me like that, although I complained about it. I heard an old lady saying something like: Youngsters nowadays. Aleksander was a complete idiot.

"Is he ok?" a girl asked probably pointing at me, but I couldn't see her for she was behind my back.

"Yes, he is. He happened to trip over something and his leg hurts to the point he can't even walk. It would be harder to try carry him other way so..." he said in an innocent, worried voice and suddenly the urge to strangle him came back. How could he act so sweet in front of some girl he hadn't even met before, but when we first met each other he treated me as if I were his greatest enemy?

"Oh, poor him! You should take him to the hospital!" she said.

"Actually we are visiting my uncle who is a doctor so it's ok. I tried to call him but he won't pick up," what a good actor he was. I growled.

"Are you ok?" I could feel the Bulgarian stiffen under me. I grinned. What should I do? Should I pretend or should I tell her it was a all lie?

"I-I'm fine," my voice was low, a little scared, pained. I decided to play his game. My love for acting was too great to let that chance slip, anyway. "It hurts only a little..." I panted only to add some drama.

"Maybe you should put him down.." she suggested and I mentally grinned. Oh, she was falling for it and maybe I could escape.

"I don't think it would be a good idea," Aleksander's voice wasn't confident anymore. Maybe the girl had no idea about that, but I could feel it and it made me pleased to see him troubled. By me. "Vlad, just hang on a little. We will arrive soon," he said trying to seem worried, but I knew what he actually meant: Don't you dare to ruin my story, idiot, or I'm going to make you regret. CAN'T YOU SEE I'M FLIRTING? I would have grinned but there was something else that caught my attention. Did he call me Vlad? Not Vladimir, not even Lupei. But Vlad. He had to pretend we were close friends, huh? What a flirt. I puffed giving up teasing him. How ungraceful! Doing all this to impress a girl.

"Yeah, you are right, Aleks," I said in a sweet approving voice, but the double meaning was: Bugger off, you are annoying. I bet on my fangs he got it because his lean body tensed, his grip became stronger.

After all we left the bus and I could see the girl for the first time. She had long brown hair that is somewhat wavy at the ends and green eyes. Then the bus doors closed and the vehicle left with the girl as well. I didn't say anything. It pissed me off, his attitude, so much that I became ridiculously calm. For my surprise, Aleksander put me down.

"Are you ok?" his voice seemed plain, but not glacial. I didn't bother to look at him, instead I nodded and turned my back and left. "You know, I know you're lying..." I shrugged. My body turned automatically to face him.

"Bugger off, Balakov. I'm sick of your games," those words, I felt them from deep inside my soul. Aleksander's emerald pools widened in surprise, but I ignored it, called it 'acting', and left. He didn't even follow me. Tch.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Oh, that had to be my cellphone, which rang frantically in my pocket. I stopped and shoved my hand in left pocket to fish my phone out of there. My fingers wrapped around the slim, lustrous object and I looked at the screen.

GIL.

A photo with his bird on his head was shown on the background. My lips automatically curled in a small smile.

"Yes?" I said as I picked up.

"Um, hey. Where are you, frate*?" I chuckled at hearing the last word. I taught him it, but his pronunciation was so funny and so far from the real thing.

"I just got in the town 10 minutes ago, but I don't know how to reach Pub&Go,"

"Oh. It's ok. Stay where you are. Don't even dare to move a finger," and he hung up. I starred confused at the little object I had in my hand. What was Gil planning to do? But I had no time to even lift a finger, for he was behind my back, gripping my shoulders gently. "Heh, you were pretty close and this hair of yours makes you stand," his grin was wide, but nothing like feral. Gil wrapped his fingers around my hand and dragged me across the street, between the traffic.

We stopped in front of a two floored beige building which had "Pub&Go" written above a black door with ochre, hand-written letters. It had large windows but I couldn't peek inside.

"Like it, Junge?* he asked in a pretty satisfied tone which meant he knew my answer already. I chuckled softly and nodded. "Then let's get going," and we entered the building. Inside the air was unbreathable, thick smoke blurred my vision. The lights were weak and it seemed crowded. Was I in hell, by any chance?I involuntary coughed. "Not used to the smoke, eh?" Gilbert said in an amused tone and I shook my head in disapproval. "You'll get used to it, eventually."

"Oh, mon ami, what do we have here?" Francis flashed me a smile and I waved my hand at him. He was staying at a table in a corner with Antonio. To be honest I was kind of surprised to see him wearing a blue shirt with two buttons unbuttoned and a black tie. What could I say? Somehow it really fit him.

"Hola, mi amigo!" Antonio was smiling cheerfully at me, waving his hand enthusiastic. He was wearing a white blouse and an unbuttoned black vest.

"Hiya!" I sat down at the table.

Those three were inseparable and everybody knew it. Gilbert, Francis and Antonio were known as the Bad Touch Trio or Bad Friends Trio. When I asked a few persons about it, they pretended not hear me. So I gave up, apparently, but my curiosity was not something one could just turn off, you know. As far as I got it, Gilbert loved rock and he was crazy, narcissist and creative. Francis was charming, passionate about fashion and as far as I heard a good chef. Antonio was cheerful, loved food and old weapons. But what was the thing that brought them together? Was it their strange behavior or something else?

"So, Vlad, what desires your heart? A drink maybe?" Francis smirked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

"Yeah, I guess so." It didn't seem to be a bad idea. What could possibly go wrong?

3 beers later

"How about we play," a long pause followed," a game?" Gilbert grinned widly, playing absently with his glass of beer.

"Oui, mon chéri, that would be magnifique!* Francis clapped his hands.

"S¡, s¡! We should play that game!"* that caught my curiosity.

"What game?" and they all turned their gazes at me smirking devilishly.

"Truth or dare," they said at the same time.

"Da! Da! I'm in!"* I shouted raising my fist in the air.

"Gut, then, I'll ask first. Francis, truth or dare?" Gil turned his body to face the French.

"Onhohonhonhon," he laughed. "Dare, bien sûr!* Was there a time I chose something else?"

"I was making myself sure. I wouldn't want to hear you whining about me being insensible," the other retorted playfully.

"That's just mean, Gilbert."

"Ja, ja. Ich weiß.* I dare you to drink beer!" then I realised that Francis was having wine. I remember asking myself: how did he got that? Wasn't alcohol forbidden for underage like us? But I was too happy to think about it that time. The French frowned in disgust.

"Fine!" he took my beer and drank from it. "Happy now?" Gilbert smirked. "Uhhh..tastes awful!" We all laughed at his pained face. "Laugh all you want, but that's my opinion anyway."

"Antonio! Is your turn!" the albino pointed at him smirking in a strange way.

"Dare, mi amigo! Test me!" his face was all flushed and I wondered if it was because of the alcohol he had or because of something else.

"Lick your elbow," I burst into laughing. Antonio threw him a strange gaze and stuck his tongue out. I watched curiously. Could he really do it? And he did it. "In your face, beer lover!" he said.

"Yeah, you got me with this one. Who would have thought you had such a long tongue anyway?" another set of laughter was unleashed.

"And now, it's your turn, Romanian dude," Gilbert's long finger pointed at me and I felt my heart beating faster in enthusiasm.

"Truth," I wasn't too drunk to be stupidly brave.

"You're lying, right?" he frowned.

"No. Why would I?"

"You can't be serious. I know we call this came truth or dare, but it's only dare," he explained rising his beer in the air to seem more dramatic.

"Leave the lad alone, Gil, you were like that too, two years ago," a British accent, loud firm steps. A rather pale hand slamming on the table. I looked up and met a pair of green eyes roofed by black bushy eyebrows. Arthur Kirkland! He dragged a chair and sat down at our table. But what surprised me the most was that he had piercings, a black T-shirt with a white skull, black skinny jeans and a tartan red shawl. His nails were painted with black polish. Can you believe? The student council president was all of the above and certainly, much more than that.

"Shut up, Arthur. Anyway, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I had no business at home and I thought to check up this place," he explained. "Truth or dare, huh? Or should I say Dare or Die Alone?" he puffed. "I'm joining," Arthur announced.

"Fine. But you'll have to wait. Vlad just chose truth and I have no idea what to ask him," the albino said a bit disappointed.

"Just go for the usual. Love and relationship things always work at times like this," the Brit proposed and I saw Gilbert's face lighting up suddenly as if he saw a treasure, no less.

"Danke, Alter! he turned to look at me. "So, Vlad, I heard that you are still single. Is that true?" I felt my face warming.

"Yeah...kinda," I sipped my beer, not daring to look at them. I was a bit embarrassed. They were probably dating someone, but I was still a loner. Lame, huh?

"Fret not, lad, you'll find someone pretty quick with that cute face of yours," Arthur said, lime-green eyes staring at me intensely, a small smile playing on his lips. I nodded. Was he honest? "Don't waste your time asking, git, I choose dare. Come at me with all you have," Gilbert seemed to enjoy the Brit's behavior or at least that was what I had thought at that moment.

"I dare you..."

6 beers and a bottle of wine later

"And you know..." the Brit said while he rested his head on the table, his right hand on the empty bottle, "he said he totally hated me and left," he continued facing the table. I had no idea what he was talking about, he refused to give names, but he seemed very upset. "I don't know what to bloody do anymore! He's such an asshat!" he whined and I felt bad for him, my hand involuntary patted his back.

"It'll be ok," I said although I had no idea if it was true or not. But he seemed to calm down a little as he smiled faintly at me, murmuring a 'maybe'.

"Call Alfred. He's drunk again," said Francis and Gilbert nodded. "It seems that they had a fight again. Really, this two morons don't do anything but argue. It's time they accept their...you know and get over it already," I had the impression that even more than half drunk they still had some secrets they wanted to keep away from me. I got curious again, but said nothing.

"Alfred? Ummm...this the awesome me, Gilbert," the albino said. "Well, I called because, you know, Arthur got drunk," a pause followed. "Yeah, again. I know. I know," another one, but shorter. "I know. Look, Alfred, I wouldn't be calling, but he is really upset about something and I think you know why," his face became serious. Yet another pause. "So you're coming?" he seemed relieved. "Great. We are at Pub&Go," and he hung up. "Done. He's coming to pick him up," he announced.

"Alfred?" the Brit raised his head. "You must be kidding, right? I don't want to see his stupid face anymore. I'm going home!" he stood up, but he had poor balance. Antonio caught him.

"Stay calm, Arthur. No Alfred will come near you," I frowned.

"You promise, git?"

"Si," and the blonde sat down.

Silence fell upon us. I started to feel sad too and suddenly my throat craved for more beer. I reached Gil's and took it without even asking. He didn't seem to mind, however.

"Yo, dudes!" a loud voice said after ten or more minutes. "Geez, I can't believe he actually fell asleep," Alfred said pointing at the sleeping Briton. The Trio shrugged.

"You know, you should do something about him. I know he is annoying, but he's not a bad person," Francis said in a serious tone.

"Hmm? Oh, I guess he went all crazy complaining about me again, huh? He must be hating me with such a strong passion," he said the last sentence in a whisper, and I don't think the others heard. He lifted the Brit and left.

"You know, I think it's time we go home," Gilbert proposed and I nodded. So did the others. "Bushy-brows ruined it all. So...Tschüss!*

"Au revoir!*

"Adiós!"*

"Pa!"*

And we parted.

I said that we would go home, but frankly speaking I have no desire to do so, nor can I do it. And I feel like my head is going to explode any second. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to drink so much, but to be honest, I was so irritated and frustrated because of that damned neighbour of mine. So I just stood outside in front of the pub, waiting for who knows what to happen. It wasn't like I could think clear, anyway.

"You look awful. Worse than you do on your best day," my eyes turned automatically to look at him. Could that day go worse? I turned my back at him, deciding to ignore the idiot. "Tch. You are even more annoying when drunk, you know?" he scoffed.

"I dun' care. You are annoying all the time too, don't think that I'm pleased to see your stuck up face, because I'm not. Now, scatter," I said walking away slowly because my vision was bad and my legs refused to listen to me. He puffed and put his hands on my shoulder then turned me around, sighing. "Anyway, how did you find me? Were you spying on me? Stalker!"

"It's not hard to figure out where could the Trio go. Now, behave and let me carry you."

"No way! You are gonna drop me! I know you want to do it!"

"What makes you be so sure?"

"Well, duuh. You hate me, don't you?" I said shrugging, while I played a little nonchalant grin on my lips. Actually I felt a bit bitter inside. "And..." I paused finding it hard for me to talk, "don't try to deny it. It would be useless, 'cuz I won't believe you anyway," I was getting dizzier. "But..." I sighed, "that's ok. I hate you too and I will always will. It's a promise. Pinky swear?" I showed him my pinky. He sighed turning his back at me and for a second I had thought he was going to leave me there and my hand involuntary grabbed his cloth.

"I wasn't going anywhere, you know. I just wanted you to jump on my back so I could carry you home. Unfortunately I have no money left to take the bus," he said and I felt like punching myself. What was I doing?

"It's not like I care anyway," yes, deny it all. Denial is the best way to solve an embarrassing problem. I jumped on his back and he started walking. I wondered if I was heavy, but I didn't ask him. I wouldn't want him to think that I actually could care about him. I promised to hate him, right?

Drace= Devil (but here's used like: Damn it! or Heck!)

Frate=Brother (used like: bro, dude.)

Junge=Lad

Hola! Mi amigo!= Hey! My friend.

Oui, mon chéri=Yes, my dear.

Magnifique=Wonderful

Si=Yes

Da=Yes

Ja, ja. Ich weiß. =Yes, yes. I know.

Tschüss!= Goodbye!

Au revoir= Goodbye!

Adiós!=Goodbye!

Pa!=Bye!

Oh, I guess that's it for now. Don't forget, review if you liked it or tell me if I did some mistakes (as you may have guessed English is not my mother tongue and I am still learning it).

Have a nice day,

R.E.