Saturday night couldn't have come any slower for Danny. Tucker was definitely more excited for the party than he was, but he was anticipating to finally see what these parties were all about. When he was in high school, he always wanted to be invited by the popular kids to a party. This time around he was old enough to weigh out his options, knowing that this could be some sick joke to humiliate all three of them. He figured they'd find out when they got there and if anything went south they could always leave. Besides, Tucker was looking forward to this for too long and he didn't want to ruin it for him. For all he knew, the night would go well with nothing to worry about. Although it was a party, he decided to wear a black long sleeve shirt with jeans, the usual outfit he wore considering it was winter. A part of him was excited to see what Sam chose to wear, even though she looked great in anything. He was awaiting her arrival rather impatiently and almost wanted her to come early just so he could spend some time with her before they had to get Tucker, but he knew she would come at ten o'clock right on the dot. He basically waited at the door until he got her text that she was outside and wasted no time in leaving the house and getting in her car. He could see she was wearing a black sweater crop top with white lace down the sides and black, ripped skinny jeans. She always looked good to him but tonight had him in a different vibe and all he wanted to do was kiss her but held back knowing he couldn't.
"What?" She asked him after he stared at her for so long with no statement.
"I just think you look really nice is all," he responded after she pulled away from the curb.
"Thanks, but I'm always dressed like this," she said with a chuckle.
"Maybe I think you look nice all the time."
"What if I was wearing a trash bag?"
"It makes no difference to me," he said with a shrug as Sam turned onto Tucker's block.
"You're telling me if I walked up to you in a trash bag you'd hype me up?" She asked with an amused smile on her face.
"Hey, I'll hype you up for anything you want to do."
"Like getting blackout drunk at this party so I don't have to remember it?"
"Except for that," he countered as Sam parked in front of Tucker's residence. As they continued their conversation, Tucker practically ran out of his house and to the car, almost startling Sam and Danny as he opened the back door and launched himself into the back seat.
"Let's go, let's go, let's go!" He ranted as he hit the back of Sam's seat repeatedly.
"Keep doing that and you'll be murdered by the time we get there," Sam told him out of annoyance as she started to drive off. Tucker stopped immediately and sat back in his seat, although still looked a little jittery.
"I'm sorry. I'm just really excited."
"We understand. This is new for all of us," Danny replied, looking at Sam as if to tell her to go easy on Tucker.
"Guys, can we not have expectations? For all we know, this could be a disaster. I don't want to see either of you messed with," Sam informed them with sincerity.
"I know that, but how will we know if we never try?" Tucker asked, causing Danny to raise an eyebrow at Sam as he awaited her response.
"Yeah, yeah," she sighed out, "but I will attack any party-goers on your behalf if I have to." She turned her head slightly as Danny let out a chuckle.
"I kind of want to see that." It only took a few more minutes before they got to Dash's house. There were several cars parked up and down the curb and they took whatever spot was available. As the trio took their seat belts off, Sam looked at both of the boys.
"Be prepared for anything guys," she warned them before they got out of the car. They all walked up to the door and Danny was the one to ring the doorbell, the three of them awaiting there anxiously. After a few moments, Dash opened the door with a red cup in his hand and they could hear music playing from the inside.
"Being fashionably late, huh, losers? Don't worry, I dig it." He paused as his eyes automatically went to Sam, looking her up and down before a smirk appeared across his face. "You clean up nice, Manson." Anger boiled inside of Danny at his words as a scoff escaped Sam.
"In your dreams, Dash," she countered with a roll of her eyes as she walked inside. Tucker walked in behind her but Dash's stare lingered on Sam as they walked away together. The only thing that pulled his focus away was Danny speaking up.
"Hey, I appreciate you inviting us and all... but touch her and your organs will be on the outside of your body." Even though he had just spat out a threat, Dash only flashed a cocky smile.
"Ohh, I get it. You guys are banging, right? Respect, dude." He held out a fist for Danny to bump, but he only rolled his eyes and joined Sam and Tucker in the living room where people were taking turns playing video games. There were, in fact, people that weren't considered in the popular group back in high school in attendance as well and seemed to be having a good time. On the other hand, the former A-listers were also there, including Paulina, Star, Kwan, and other members of the football team. Everyone was getting along and it was almost foreign to see everybody together.
"Oh, yeah, Sam. This is so humiliating," Tucker said to her sarcastically, causing her to roll her eyes.
"Excuse me for being protective over the people I care about," she shot back. Scanning the room, Sam gasped when she saw Paulina, the girl who tormented her all throughout high school.
"Oh my god, there's Paulina. Hold my choker," she said as she started to walk forward, but Danny held her back.
"You're not starting a fight within the first ten minutes of getting here," he said.
"She relentlessly bullied me for years!"
"She hasn't even looked your way. Just stay away from her, okay?"
"Come on, let's loosen you up and get some drinks," Tucker suggested, distracting her from the anger. There was a table in the living room with a beer keg and plastic red cups for anyone to take, and it was the only thing at the party that Sam was suddenly interested in.
"I found my table," she said out loud to them before heading straight for it, the boys following immediately after. The three of them filled their cups and walked through the house, having random conversations with some people they were familiar with, and even some people that weren't. After an hour or so of mingling, the trio decided to search for an open space for just the three of them to converse in. Finding a small, empty table in the corner of the den was really the best they could do. "I don't know why I didn't want to come at first. I really needed this," Sam stated before drinking almost half of what was in her cup.
"A party?" Tucker guessed, causing Sam to shake her head.
"No, alcohol," she corrected him, making Danny snort.
"Go easy with it. I don't want tonight ending with you getting your stomach pumped," he told her, earning a playful eye roll from her.
"Is it really a great party if someone doesn't almost die?" Tucker asked, making Danny and Sam look at him in an almost concerned manner.
"That's awful," Sam bluntly commented, "besides, what would you know about parties?" She countered with a smug look, hearing an amused laugh from Danny as Tucker pretended to look offended.
"You're supposed to be defending me, Danny!" He went on, getting a shrug from him.
"You kind of did it to yourself," Danny responded before taking a swig of his drink as well.
"Of course you're on her side," Tucker said dramatically, causing Sam to stick her tongue out at him. Danny laughed at the cuteness of her response, too preoccupied staring at her to realize there was a presence approaching him from behind.
"Danny?" He suddenly heard someone from behind him call his name, but not just anybody. He could recognize that voice from a mile away and sighed as he turned around to come face to face with someone he thought he left in the past.
"Hey, Valerie."
Aaaaand I actually have the next chapter all written up :P Just everything after that I'm winging ^^'
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