Welcome to NHS
By Swifty Li, as told to Keza: Queen of Procrastination
AN: Why won't it center things anymore? And why am I so horrible with updating??? Oh well, hopefully updates sooner thanks to FictionHobbit, who gave me a good plot idea (oh my! An actual plot?). And also thanks to Cards for giving me a few good ideas for this chapter. -snickers- Yeah, so, read and review and stuff, and hopefully there will be more - SOON!
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"You're late."
I froze in the doorframe, then glanced down at my little sister Mandy, who in turn was staring up at me, hands on her hips. She was also wearing a cape. I blinked a few times, then just ignored her and hung up my coat. With a high pitched shriek she fled down the hall -
"MOMMY MOMMY KEVIN'S HOME!"
I groaned, cursing the fourth grader's name, then tromped up the stairs to my room, dropping my bag to the floor and throwing myself onto my bed. The mattress bounced and then tossed me to the floor, where I stayed sprawled. At this point my mother decided it would be a good idea to walk in.
"Kevin! What happened?" she cried with motherly concern. I rolled over groggily and stared at her.
"What? Oh… nothing, I just… erm… fell off my bed," I told her. She nodded, satisfied. What, she believed it? I'm not that much of a klutz, am I?
"So," she said, taking a seat at the edge of my bed. Uh oh. The big question. "Where were you this afternoon?"
"Uhm. Emergency band practice?" I tried. She raised an eyebrow. "Yearbook? Track party? The deli?" And then, in a much quieter voice, "detention? AHEM, at Pie - er, Sid's house?"
Too late, she caught it.
"DETENTION?!"
"Erp."
And then all hell was unleashed. My sister remained hidden downstairs.
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"Grounded? Bummer," Pie-eater didn't sound the least bit sympathetic as his voice crackled through the phone. "Just your luck it's this weekend, right?"
"Eh? What are you talking about?" My eyes shifted to the door, praying no one was around. I wasn't even supposed to be using the phone. And nothing would please Mandy more than to bust me again.
"You don't know? About the party?"
"Party?"
"Yeah yeah yeah, you know, the one Lute is hosting."
"Oh man!" Lute's parties, while not the most safe, always ended with the best stories… for example, last year, when Blink and Mush showed up in one of those horse costumes, and… ok, never mind.
"I can't believe I'm missing that," I continued. "Of all the days for Mandy to be a jerk-"
"I HEARD THAT!" Squealed a voice from outside, followed by the pattering of footsteps as she ran off.
"Shoot, listen, I probably have ten seconds before I'm dead."
There was a moment's hesitation on the other end.
"Pie? You there?"
"Can I have your stereo?"
I hung up, tossed the phone under my bed, and picked up a book. Half a second later the door crashed open.
"Kevin Li, what have you been-"
I looked up innocently from my book.
"Yes, mother?" I interrupted calmly. Her hand relaxed on the doorknob.
"Your book is upside down," she informed me.
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Once in awhile, my friends will actually come through for me. This was one of those lucky times. It was around nine o'clock at night, and I was just getting ready to finish some reading for American Studies when there was a sharp tap on my window. Putting the textbook down, I went over to investigate. It was pitch dark outside, but there, barely discernible, were three or four human-shaped forms. I stared down, not really sure what was happening… then another rock was thrown - this one crashed right through my window. I barely dodged, glaring down at the stone and shards of glass surrounding it. A jagged, star shaped hole now gaped from my window. I had no idea how I was going to explain this one to my parents.
Muffled curses and accusations were heard from below - apparently that hadn't been intentional. I was half way surprised. I remained standing at my window, wondering what was going to happen next. The four below had obviously come with the intention of 'busting me out,' but they apparently had no idea what to do now that they were actually here. I could easily guess who was down there. Pie. Ruin. Polecat. Skam. No, if Skam was down there, then I'd already be out - he was too clever for his own good. The fourth must have been Dragonfly, then - or… I groaned inwardly. As long as it wasn't Chamelion…
"Psst… Swifty… SWIFTY!" someone hissed from below - drunk, yes. Must be Ruin.
"Your dog needs walking!" another voice floated up. After a moment of confusion I understood, and, grabbing my coat and some money, I tromped downstairs.
"Mum I'm walking the dog!" I yelled, slamming the front door behind me before anyone could object. I heard a slight 'thunk' as said dog ran into the door behind me.
Still, I managed to make it into Polecat's station wagon and down the road with my family none the wiser. Or, so I thought.
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"I knew it would work!" Chamelion grinned, sitting next to me in the back of the car. Somehow, I had been forced to sit in the middle - with a giddy crush on one side and a drunk on the other. Why, oh why didn't I stay safe in my room?
"Swifty…" Ruin began, slurring. I ignored her.
"So, uhm, Polecat, you can bring me home, right?"
Polecat glanced at me through the rearview mirror.
"When do you want to be home?"
"When the party ends?"
She and Pie-eater exchanged glances. He bit back a smile, I saw this and rolled my eyes.
"I should get a ride with someone else, huh?"
"Yeah, that would be preferred."
"Maybe my brother can get us!" Chamelion chirped. I ignored her, too. Luckily Lute's house was in sight and we were saved any further awkwardness. Lights we on in every window, people were absolutely swarming in the house and on the yard, and already the opening riffs of some song could be heard… apparently Itey was here, and he had gotten hold of the stereo.
"Good old fashioned fun!" Shortie squealed as soon as we entered the house. "We're playing games! Come on!" Chamelion dragged me in, and we were followed closely by Ruin, who had come for lack of anything better… Pie and Polecat had already disappeared. Kids these days, honestly.
Sure enough, there was a casual game of 'truth or dare' happening in Lute's living room. Or, at least, it was supposed to be casual. Dutchy and Specs didn't look too happy.
"Oh, just kiss her!" Aura snapped. Dutchy fidgeted.
"I don't think I feel comfortable doing that," he mumbled, not meeting the eyes of Magic, who was looking expectantly at him. Specs put an arm around his shoulder and drew him closer.
"Come on guys, it's not like you can force him to-"
"Oh yes I can!" Magic cried gleefully, then tackled Dutchy to the ground. Specs glared at them, then after a second, pushed Magic away.
"You never said you could french him!" he protested. Dutchy sat up and wiped his mouth.
"Ok," he said. "Now that that's over with-"
"OOH! ME! PICK ME!" Shortie hopped up from the couch she was sitting on. Behind me there was a crash as Ruin stumbled and fell, taking a plant with her. I don't think she got up.
"Ok," Aura said slowly, having seemingly declared herself the 'truth or dare' dictator.
"Truth!" Shortie interrupted. Aura looked around for ideas.
"I dare you to tackle Itey without your shirt on."
Pause.
"But… I said truth," Shortie reminded her.
"Do I look like I care?" Aura asked with an evil grin. Shortie stuck her tongue out.
"Fine… where's the stereo?" Someone pointed her towards her mullet-haired destination, and she shuffled reluctantly off.
"I'll take over now," Ali insisted, speaking up for the first time since we had been present. "This one's up for grabs," she continued. "I dare someone… anyone… to go kiss Spot - and then get away before they're murdered by Sky."
A slew of girls had jumped up at the first statement, but as they took Sky into consideration, most sat back down. Except…
"I'll do it."
Heads turned. Specs stood smugly, ignoring a protesting Dutchy. Ali grinned.
"Perfect," she murmured… everyone knew what a homophobe Spot was. This would be interesting.
I followed with the crowd as Specs strode out and immediately found Spot, who was easy to locate, surrounded by his circle of girl admirers. On the way I could have sworn I head a muffled 'ow!' from the direction of the stereo, but one can't be too sure.
"'scuse me… Ahem… yeah… can you move? Thanks… Sorry! 'scuse me…" Specs wound his way to Spot while we all watched at a safe distance. A moment later and he had actually picked the smaller boy up, pressed him against the nearest wall, and was furiously making out with him. It was a little one sided, sure, but worth every second - and because Specs was a lot bigger than Spot, it was many seconds before Spot managed to get himself on the ground.
"Whoo lookit how red his face is… must be real mad," I heard Dragonfly muse from behind me.
"Either that or just real hot and steamed up," someone else snickered. I grinned. A moment later we all rushed in to save Specs, who was about to be set upon by Spot and his little minions. Sky was going crazy…
I ducked back into the safe haven of the living room, where Dutchy was having a chat with Ruin (who had finally gotten off the floor).
"I don't understand how she got so drunk," Dutchy said as he noticed me.
"No… nono… see…" Ruin waved her hand around vaguely. "It's…. yeah." She paused, blinked, yawned, then continued - "I just overdosed."
"You mean overdrank?"
"Nono… over… overdosed. On Ny-Quil," she explained slowly. Dutchy and I exchanged glances.
"What's that stuff, like, ten percent alcohol?"
"I keep forgetting she's a lightweight," Dutchy said.
"Yeah. Reeeal featherweight."
A moment later Itey found his way into the room, rubbing his head with a grimace. In one hand he carried a jagged piece of what must have formally been a vinyl record.
"She broke it over my head," he was mumbling. Ah yes, Shortie. "Dunno why. She was the one making advances, I was only answering them…" he continued muttering to himself and plopped down into the nearest chair, staring at his record. "Had to be my Unearth record too…"
"Come on," Dutchy said, helping Ruin up and nodding for me to follow them. "Let's go give Ruin beer and laugh when she falls over."
I shrugged.
"Sounds good to me."
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