Alright, here it is. It took me longer than usual because…well…I'm a huge music person, I went to a concert, and decided to be obsessed with them for a few days, to put it quite simply. Ha. Here you are!
Raymond could not wait to get his mom out of the house. She was getting on his nerves - ever since he could have been killed in that car accident she was very protective over him. How fair was that, when another member of the family was in the military? Plus, he was five when it had happened...things had changed. In fact, she was just lucky he'd even told her about the party tonight.
"Mom, can you just trust me? I can handle this," Raymond sighed.
"I do trust you," she said in a very motherly way. "But I don't trust all teenagers." As you shouldn't, Raymond thought to himself. "If I find any evidence of underage drinking or anything like that, none of your friends will ever set foot in this house again, understand?"
"Don't worry about it," Raymond dismissed the subject as if none of his friends would ever think of consuming alcohol at this age. We're not stupid enough to leave evidence…
"Hey, hey, the party's here!" Iris exclaimed, walking in through the front door which Mrs. Jenkins was about to exit through.
"I thought you told me people weren't coming until 6," his mother questioned in a warning tone of voice.
"They're not," Raymond said, shooting a glare at Iris. She shrugged guiltily. "It's just Iris, you should be used to her walking in here like she owns the place by now." She grinned.
"Well, you just make sure he behaves himself," she now directed toward Iris.
"Of course…he's hard to manage but I'll keep him under control," Iris said, earning an eye roll from Ray.
"Be good, you two," she said as a final warning before leaving the house.
"Thank God that's over," Ray said with relief.
"Ray, if she knew what will be going on here, she'd have a seizure," Iris said, hopping onto his couch and turning on the TV.
"One could only hope," he said. "Now why don't you make yourself useful and open up some chips?" he threw a bag at her.
"Holy shit," her eyes widened at the sight of the piles of bags in the kitchen. "How much food do you need?"
"A lot of people are going to be here tonight, Palmer."
"So?" she questioned. "They'll be more concerned with drinking their asses off," there was a very noticeable bitterness in her voice with this last sentence.
It couldn't slip by anyone, especially not Ray, seeing as they were very close friends. "Lighten up," he said in an uncharacteristic easygoing kind of tone. She looked at him. "I mean, I don't approve of substance abuse either, but every once in a while can't hurt."
"Yeah, except for your body because it's bad for you, and your life because it's illegal and you could get in serious trouble for it," Iris said in a responsible tone of voice.
"I'm surprised you're even here," Raymond said, smiling slightly.
"So am I," she said seriously.
Iris reluctantly helped her friend prepare for his party for the next hour before the doorbell rang for the first time of the night. Ray strode to the door and swung it open. "Oh, hey Zack, hey…Claire."
The two guests smiled as he stood aside to let them inside. "Party's in full swing, I see," Zack said sarcastically, his eyes scanning over the room and saw only Iris, who was already snacking on some pretzels at the table. She met his eye and perked up.
"Zack! You ever been here before?" she made her way over to the doorway.
"Can't say I have."
"I'll give you the grand tour," she took his arm and dragged him away before anyone could speak; however, Ray did have the time to shoot her a glare. She just grinned maliciously.
"Can this house hold so many people?" Claire asked, walking around and looking around even though she, unlike her best friend, had been to the Jenkins house before.
"No, but that's what the bonfire is for," he said. "Backyard and first floor of the house…although somehow I doubt it'll be restrained to that much."
"I hate to say you're right," she said, grimacing slightly.
The doorbell rang again, and for this Ray was eternally grateful.
…
"May I have this dance?"
Amelia's heart fell and jumped at the southern voice. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Bridget shaking her head furiously, behind Sawyer's back. But then her eyes fell on another person.
Leo.
Dancing with his girlfriend. If you could call drunken fist pumping on a table dancing, then that's definitely what he and Liv were doing. "Sure," Amelia felt compelled to say yes. It slipped out of her lips before she could even think twice.
Sawyer took her hands and off they went to the beat of the music. She saw Bridget walk out of the room. She looked back at Sawyer to find that he was looking at her. Again, she could not meet his eyes and stared at their feet.
"First party of the year, eh, Rosie?" he asked. She was momentarily confused until she remembered their last conversation and the nickname he had bestowed upon her.
"First party at this school," she confirmed, hesitantly raising her head.
"Yer really in fer it," he said warningly, though there was a smirk on his face that Amelia chose to ignore.
"I can see that," she said semiconsciously, her eyes once again on Leo and Liv, who were making out on their table now.
Sawyer followed her gaze. "Those two," he said. "Not Leo as much…well, not compared to Liv. She really is a piece of work."
"So is he," she said, tearing her eyes away. Why did she keep looking over at them?
"In a manner of speakin'," he agreed. The song ended and immediately Amelia let go of his hands. "Can I getcha a drink, darlin'?"
"Yeah, I…" she paused. Remembering that first conversation with Bridget, she changed course. "Uh, no, that's not necessary, but…thanks."
Sawyer shot her a strange look and said. "Okay, well, I'm going to go get one fer me at least." She nodded and he shifted through the crowd.
Amelia wandered off immediately to go find Bridget.
…
Bridget, in fact, had left the dance floor to go get some fresh air. She was not the only one outside, however; most notably there was a group of people including Luke, Brandon, Dom, Gene, Charlie, Steven, and somewhat surprisingly, Zack.
Most people she tended to avoid. Now, despite her temptation, was not going to be an exception. However, her heart dropped to see that only one more seat was open; thankfully, it was next to Zack, who she was relatively good friends with.
Reluctantly she took a seat. Zack turned his attention to her immediately. "Hey, how's it going?" he said with an awkward glance at the crowd he was with.
Bridget raised an eyebrow at his awkwardness. "Good," she said slowly. "Are you okay?"
"Oh yeah, totally…" he said, trailing off and not looking her in the eye. This was very unlike him. She shot a very suspicious look over at the other boys, a look that did not go unnoticed by Gene.
"Want anything, hun?" he shouted. "I take cash only…"
Bridget's mouth opened slightly as the boys laughed and looked back at Zack, who shrugged and grimaced. "I don't think I've ever even heard him speak in my life," she whispered.
"It's actually kind of surprising how much he talks," Zack said.
"Why are you with them?" Bridget said bitterly. Although, she felt hypocritical because her heart was beating so fast just being this near to Charlie. "Where's Claire?"
The group of boys next to them quieted down a bit at this question. Zack didn't notice. "I think she's inside with Dixion and Sam." Beside him, Brandon was out of his seat and inside in no time. Zack and Bridget instinctively looked at Luke's reaction, who just shook his black, blue, and red head. Once again, Gene noticed them look over there.
"C'mon, you two, you can't find cheaper prices in all of California!" he said to them.
"I'll pay you to get out of my face," Bridget snapped before she could think twice.
Zack, Charlie, Steven, Dom, and Luke all burst into laughter while Gene looked taken aback. Then he shrugged and said, "I'll take it."
She rolled her eyes and did not answer. "That came out of nowhere," Zack commented.
"He deserves it," she shrugged but smiled. Zack smiled too, but he had no idea that she was smiling because Charlie had laughed at what she had said. It was definitely worth coming here for that.
…
Normally Colin wasn't the type of person to approach a girl, or anyone really, just to talk. But when he had talked to her the other day something about her interested him. He spotted her in a chair in a corner.
"Hey," he said. She looked up at him, her eyes slightly unfocused from drinking, but she seemed to recognize him. "I don't think I got your name the other day?"
"'Zat a question?" she said, swaying in her seat slightly.
"Yes, I suppose so," Colin felt like taking a drink as well. He picked one off the nearest table and offered one to the girl too. She took it.
"I'm Mimi," she said. He was glad she didn't hold a grudge against him for the fight yesterday.
"Oh," he said. "I'm –."
"HEY!"
Leo, who had somehow lost Liv, stumbled over to them. "What the Hell do you think you're doing talking to this – this…" he trailed off, unsure of how he intended to finish that sentence.
"Relax," she rolled her eyes. "I don't even know the kid's name, just because you can't make friends doesn't mean I can't."
Leo was not very happy with this statement at all. He threw his half-drunk bottle of beer on the ground, which shattered. Those around them all froze at the sound of the crashing and looked at them. "Okay," he growled. "Why should I care if you associate with filth anyway?" He stomped away the best he could in his drunken state.
Mimi rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry, and you are…?"
"Colin," he said, resisting the urge to shout something back at him. Not in front of his sister, at least. "So, what - ?"
"Hey Colin!"
He rolled his eyes. He has ONE friend out of the WHOLE school and that person happens to shout his name at that exact time. "What's up, Boone?"
Boone, as it turned out, was with his stepsister, who paid no attention to the two boys. She and Mimi only exchanged drunken death glares before Shannon finally spoke. "You're so in for it, Martinez."
"Bring it, Rutherford," she hissed back. Shannon pursed her lips but didn't respond. Mimi ignored her presence and let her eyes search the crowd. Little did she know that Shan was following her gaze.
The blonde one smirked and still Mimi didn't notice. She began to walk away and she only noticed when she saw who she had approached.
And offered a drink.
And smiled at.
And he smiled back.
"I don't believe this," Mimi shouted to no one in particular. She stood up and stormed over to where Scarlett was talking with Steven. "I hate to interrupt what I'm sure is an extremely intimate moment but Scarlett and I need to discuss something." Without waiting for Steven's response, she took Scarlett's arm and pulled her aside.
"What, what's going on?" Scarlett noted the scowl on her friend's face in concern.
"Remember that kid I told you about? Memphis?" she asked. S nodded. "Look!" She pointed over to where Shannon was talking with him.
"Whoa he is cute," she said, eyes wide.
Mimi rolled her eyes. "That's NOT what I meant!"
After another moment of looking, Scarlett's jaws dropped. "How? How does she know?"
"I don't know!" Mimi cried. "I guess…" she blushed. "I guess she saw me looking at him," she confessed, to which Scarlett had to smirk at, if only for a second.
"What a tramp," Scarlett crossed her arms and looked deep in thought. "She is not going to get away with this. And what about him? How can anyone THAT good looking be smiling when talking with HER?"
Mimi had to smile, albeit a sad one, at her friend's dedication. She didn't have the heart to remind her that Shannon had yet to get back at Scarlett too. And she had a feeling this was just the beginning.
…
Amy and Piper burst outside and ran toward the nearest group of people which just happened to be made up of Luke, Steven, Charlie, and Dominic.
"Oh my God!" both of the girls squealed at the same time. The boys looked at them, waiting for an explanation.
"You have to see it," Piper said breathlessly.
"Care to elaborate, sweetheart?" Steven said, raising his eyebrow.
"Shannon and Scarlett," Amy began.
"One of them finally cracked, don't know which -,"
"Both of them just started screaming and punching and kicking -,"
"Everyone's inside, come on, come on!"
They ran back inside with the other four on their heels. It was not hard to find; Luke and Steven managed to fight through the crowd and the others just followed them.
"WHORE!"
"SKANK!"
Scarlett took a cup from some poor bystander and splashed some drink all over her foe before diving at her feet and sending both of them crashing to the floor.
In retaliation, Shannon kicked the other in the face, which was no laughing matter when you're wearing high heels. Scarlett stumbled backwards, clutching her now-bleeding mouth while Shannon stood with a smirk on her face.
But it wasn't over. Scarlett dove once again, clawing her bloody manicured nails across Shannon's face, leaving a few deep cuts.
"They're going to kill each other!" Dominic shouted over all the cheering and screaming.
Steven nodded, and simultaneously, they both jumped into the mix and grabbed onto the flailing limbs. After a few minutes of struggle, both girls were restrained; blonde hair wild, faces red, fists clenched, and panting.
"What the Hell is wrong with you two?" Dominic shouted. The room was strangely quiet. Shannon tried to wrench her arms from his grip but he held strong.
"Get – that –," she pointed at Scarlett, blue eyes furious. "Out of my sight."
Scarlett shrieked and twisted and squirmed, but Steven, too was unrelenting. "Hey," he muttered so that no one else could hear. "Don't do this, you're better than she is. You're above this."
He let go of her wrists and she turned, back to Shannon, staring up at Steven, blue eyes into blue eyes. Wordlessly, she broke eye contact and strutted away into the crowd.
Mimi, who was also being held back, only by her brother, because he knew she'd be in that fight as well if she could be, finally got free of Leo's grip and walked away with her.
Dominic now assumed it was safe to let go of Shannon, and he did so. She, too, stormed away, but in the opposite direction. Amy looked for a moment as if she was going to follow, but chose to stick by Piper.
"Well, show's over!" Steven shouted. "Go on! What're you looking at?"
The crowd dispersed.
…
Brandon appeared out of nowhere to discuss the fight with Dominic and Luke. Neither of them noticed his sudden appearance until he spoke. "That was pretty hot, Dom. Shouldn't've let her go, though."
Dominic scowled and Luke said, "Dude, where you been?"
"Oh, I've been around," he said very vaguely. Both of them looked at him suspiciously. He looked in between them. "What? I've been at Ray's house, just like you."
"I don't trust him," Dominic said as if he wasn't there.
"I don't either," Luke agreed.
"Oh, don't you two worry about it," he put his arms around them cheerfully. "Loosen up, boys, this is a party." He picked up two drinks from a cooler and shoved them into their hands. "So party."
…
"Faraday, is this a diary, or something?" Leo shouted, tearing a journal of some sort of Daniel's hands.
Dan sighed. He knew something like this was going to happen, but somehow he had let Iris convince him to come tonight. "It's a scientific journal, and I'd really appreciate it if you would hand it back, please."
"Not just yet, buddy," Leo opened it, staring at the numbers and equations, clearly not understanding any bit of it.
"'Dear Diary,'" Steven was saying, reading over Leo's shoulders, making up some imaginary entry. "'I can't deny it any longer, I know I'm in love with Albert Einstein.'" Leo, Liv, Boone, and Mimi snickered.
"That's very funny, Summers," Dan said exasperatedly.
"Oh, but wait!" Leo exclaimed. "'I know that Einstein is my one true love, but for some reason I can't stop thinking about Stephen Hawking.' Little internal conflict, there, hope that works out for you…" The others roared with laughter.
"Hey, what's going on here?" Iris appeared out of nowhere, looking between them.
"We're just helping Faraday out a bit," Liv explained. "With his secret love affair with Stephen Hawking."
Iris scowled. "You know, I don't find that all that funny."
"Oh, what's this, now?" Steven said. "Faraday's got three lovers now…Einstein, Hawking, and Palmer…"
"Okay, that's really unnecessary," Dan said timidly as Iris grew red with anger.
"Blushing, Palmer?" Liv noticed. "I never would've guessed that you'd have a thing for nerds."
"Just leave him alone, okay?" Iris said, actually, it was closer to shouting and walked away. The others were silenced. She didn't deny it…
"Wait, Iris, do you really like this kid?" Steven had caught up with her. She glanced back at where Dan was – definitely out of earshot. She looked at Steven again, then turned and walked away.
…
Elsewhere, Cassie, Zack, Dixion, and Sam were once again sitting through Claire talking about Luke. All of them had the same irritated look in their eyes that Claire was seemingly oblivious to.
"Claire," Cassie said, running a hand through her dark hair in frustration. "Do you see him right now?" All five of them turned over to where Luke and his friends were gathered. "He's drinking, and that's like, what? His fourth one?"
"I haven't seen him drinking at all tonight besides now," Claire said, that defensive tone of voice emerging once again. "And even I've got a drink, see?" she help up a bottle that she had barely drunk out of.
"Probably because he's been busy getting high!" Dixion exclaimed. Claire shoved him gently but said nothing.
"The night is still young," Sam added. "Once he has one, he's going to have two. Then when he has two, well, it adds up, Claire."
"We're just trying to help you," Cassie said desperately.
"I know," she said. "But I don't think you're right about him." The other four exchanged glances – Claire was just blinded by her crush on him. "And I might actually have a chance with him, so what's the point of waiting this long and giving up now?"
"What makes you think - ?" Zack began.
"Don't get her started," Dixion warned, while Sam and Cassie nodded in agreement.
But it was too late. Claire launched into a story about what had happened a little while ago, in which Brandon had approached her and asked why she wasn't dancing. She had responded that there was no one here she wanted to dance with. He had said, "no one?"
And she had been brave enough to say that, maybe, there was one…and he had told her to just give it a shot, because he knew for a fact that there were a lot of people there who would accept her invitation. And then he vanished into the crowd…
"That could mean anyone," Zack said immediately, though he, too, knew for a fact that it was Luke who would love to dance with her. And probably do more than dance…he hated the thought.
…
Now that night had fallen officially, things had really begun to get out of control. Everyone had had enough to consume enough alcohol and narcotics to completely lose their mind, and those who didn't had begun to think it was about time they should leave.
Leo had long since disappeared with Liv to some unknown place but that surprised nobody. Others followed in his path – Luke, much to Brandon's objections, wound up taking Kate somewhere. Gene went off with a new girl named Zoey, Scarlett and Sawyer…
Even Dixion had had a few drinks and was flirting with Amy. Mimi was trailing after Memphis, and Brandon and Sophie looked as if they were getting very friendly.
Raymond, however, was not quite as intoxicated as his guests. He could think straight – at least straight enough to realize how futile it was to be hung up on Claire any longer. He had seen the tears in her eyes and the betrayal on her face when Luke ran off with Kate, the bitterness in her voice when she said goodbye.
So he had to get over her.
"Hey, Shannon," he said, smiling.
Shannon blushed surprisingly. The scratches were still very raw on her pretty face. "Hey, Raymond," she smiled back.
"So…are you doing anything tomorrow?" Ray said before he could hesitate about it.
Shannon's smile grew even wider, making her look very beautiful despite the injuries from Scarlett fresh on her face. "I don't have anything planned right now, no," she answered, trying not to sound too excited.
"Cool," he said. "Do you want to go get pizza or something for dinner with me?"
"I'd love to," she smiled. And Ray smiled too.
Mimi, though still deep in conversation with Memphis, noticed from across the room. And she could not believe her eyes.
DRAMA! Let me know what you think! Oh, and I forgot last chapter - are any characters singers and would be interested in the musical? I don't really need all the parts, so really just another boy and girl would be fine. Reviews please!
