Chapter 21 - The party
It was Lawson's birthday and it seemed like the whole of the seventh grade was descending on Lawson's house. His parents had splashed the cash on the event, there was loads of food and drinks, a huge bouncy castle and dance music booming all round the house. TJ and the gang were the first to arrived but before long the large house and garden were bursting with kids. Teresa turned up with Gus and "groovy Gus" was throwing those shapes he promised with her. Mikey, Spinelli and Vince had moved to grab a plate of food and TJ, Lawson and Gretchen were chilling watching the event from seats in the garden. Mr Lawson couldn't make it due to work as normal, but even Lawson's mum put more effort into entertaining the attending parents than making sure Lawson was having a good time. Meanwhile of the two friends TJ was sitting with Gretchen had noticed TJ's new found expensive fashion sense again. TJ had on his red cap, as always. But also some slightly baggy blue jeans, a red and black checkered short sleeve shirt and a pair of the latest trainers. They were from the most popular brand and were grey and black with purple laces.
'Nice shoes Detweiler! How much were they?' Lawson asked.
'Oh these? Thanks, they're didn't cost that much really.' TJ muttered.
'Are they not the new Nike 2001 Retro's? They have been advertised all the time on TV recently.' Gretchen questioned, knowing she was correct.
'Yah,' TJ replied simply.
'With a retail price of $39.99? How did you afford them with all the other stuff you have brought in the last couple of weeks?' Gretchen added.
'Saved up my pocket money.'
Gretchen thought this was an odd response. With what had happened to TJ's parents, and his sister still in hospital it seemed unlikely Jimmy would have thought to give TJ pocket money enough to buy such expensive goods. Not wanting to upset TJ she didn't question the matter further, especially with it being Lawson's birthday. Lawson wasn't really one to call kids out on having expensive stuff, with his parents being so rich simply being in Lawson's house made it obvious they were rich. Elsewhere at the party things were taking a downturn, the gang's adversary at school had shown up to the party with some other kids. Mrs Lawson let them in and as usual Kyle Raleigh started trouble.
Watching for a distance Kyle starting making fun of Mikey again.
'You'd have thought he'd be full after, what is it now? The eighth plate the fat pig.'
Vince and Spinelli heard the comment as they walked by.
'What did you say?' Vince chided.
'You heard me LaSalle. And to be honest with ya mate it's a bit of a freak show here ain't it? You got the pig Mikey eating the place down, the rat Randall crawling about spying on people and that Spinelli that thinks she's a boy.' Kyle chuckled.
Vince quickly grabbed Spinelli as she shot forward to punch the boy. She struggled against Vince but couldn't get free.
'Let me at him! Let me at him!' Spinelli shouted at the top of her voice.
'Control your women Vince! She's a fuckin' dog.' Kyle commented, making the rage in Spinelli erupt even further.
Kyle's friends were finding the scene so funny they were almost crying with laughter.
People at the party started to notice what was going on, but it was too late to do much about it. Spinelli broke free from Vince, Kyle and her began to brawl furiously. She jumped on the boy, knocking him to the floor. But he gave as good as he got, punching Spinelli clean in the face. Spinelli was momentarily stunned, giving Kyle a chance to get up onto his feet once more. Spinelli sprung to her feet too and kicked the boy in the balls. Falling forward it was Kyle that knocked Spinelli to the floor this time. Laying on top of her Kyle started to feel around Spinelli's chest area. This unwanted probing gave Spinelli the strength to push the boy off of her.
'What were you doing you freak!?' Spinelli boomed.
'Checking out the scenery. Your becoming quite the little lady ain't ya? Nice boobs you got there.'
Vince and Spinelli couldn't believe the vile speech of their classmate. Spinelli went in for round two but Mrs Lawson and a male parent came over to separate the two.
'What on earth is going on here!?' Mrs Lawson asked.
Vince and Spinelli told the truth whilst Kyle and his friends counter argued. Lawson's mother unfortunately had heard enough.
'Out! All of you! I won't have such behaviour at my boys birthday party.' She whaled erratically.
The two members of the gang protested but were being slowly moved towards the door.
Lawson ran over to see what was happening. When he saw Kyle was involved it was clear to Lawson whatever had happened was Kyle's fault.
'Mum Spinelli and Vince can stay, only Kyle and his friends need to leave.' Lawson told his mother.
She wasn't happy letting Spinelli stay after the fight, but ultimately Lawson had the last say. Kyle silently cursed Lawson as he left, but was still slightly pleased for undermining Lawson's birthday somewhat. Once things had settled down Gus and Teresa sat down to get a drink with Mikey, Lawson also came over to join them sitting in the lounge.
'How goes your romantic voyage through life?' Mikey asked to the couple, Teresa and Gus.
Gus' face flashed red, as it normally did when this topic was brought up.
'We are doing fine thank you Mikey.' Teresa replied.
'What about you Lawson? Is there a special someone, the apple of your eye?' Mikey continued.
'What? No, not really.' Lawson responded.
'Not really... You don't sound sure.' Gus commented.
'Pray tell Lawson.' Mikey said, keeping the pressure on Lawson.
'Well ok, maybe there is someone. But their not interested.'
'And how do you know that?' Mikey bellowed.
'It's complicated.'
'I thought Gus would never like me like that too. But look at us now.' Teresa interjected.
'Yah you should go for it Lawson.' Gus told him.
'Maybe...' Lawson muttered, lost in thought.
The whole gang carried on dancing and mingling around the party for another couple of hours and slowly guests filtered out. The rest of the gang had just left and TJ was just about to follow them, he popped into Lawson's room to say bye before leaving.
'Hey Lawson, I'm just off home. I'll see you tomorrow I guess.' TJ chuckled.
'Cool, see you later Dirtweiler!' Lawson answered mockingly.
'Oh I almost forgot, Mikey tells me your in loooooooove!' TJ shot back equally mockingly.
'I never said I was in love!' Lawson assured TJ, getting embarrassed.
'That's not what I hear. Who is she then?' TJ coaxed.
'Nobody.' Lawson told him, spinning around on his office chair as not to face the conversation.
'Come on Lawson, give me a clue at least. What are they like?'
'TJ please stop.' Lawson begged, wanting the awkwardness he was feeling to end.
'What is she like?' TJ repeated.
'Their funny, kind, smart, nice. I don't know what else to say really.'
'That's not much to go on. What does their name start with?'
'I'm not telling you anything else.'
'Ok fine. Are you going to ask her out?'
'Nope.'
'You should.'
'Shut up Detweiler.'
TJ kept blabbering on, giving Lawson a lecture about all the reasons why he should ask this girl out or something, Lawson wasn't really listening any longer. He was lost in thought, a feedback loop between possible courses of action in his head. Lawson span back around in his chair. Suddenly the decision was made in his head, an action that he thought no one in their right mind would ever take. Something about that moment unlocked the possibility, Lawson had no idea what. Lawson stood up and moved forward, locking his lips with TJ's in a kiss. TJ was in mid sentence when this occurred, shocked he stopped talking and frozen. Lawson also froze, not believing what he had just done. For a good few seconds the two were locked in position. Neither of them felt the time pass as their brains were busy trying to understand the unfolding situation. When he got his thoughts together, Lawson softly broke the kiss.
'What!? What was that Lawson!?' TJ shouted.
'TJ I...' Lawson began, but trailed off not knowing what to say.
'I... I have to go.' TJ quickly mumbled before practically running out of the house.
Lawson sat in his room, crying that he had done what he considered such a stupid thing. Risking his friendship, and for what? Lawson knew it was wrong, yet still he did it. And to make matters worse if TJ told anyone what had happened Lawson's life wouldn't be worth living if the kids at school found out, or if his parents found out...