The party could be heard from the 4th floor landing. Peter had no idea how the neighbors weren't mad. Heavy bass thumped out hip hop music. The pair barely squeezed in the apartment with the mass of bodies inside. The air smelt of unnaturally sweet smoke from vap pens and beer. The overheard lights were off and the room glowed from Christmas lights strung across the ceiling everywhere.
"Can you see Josie Ray?" Peter asked Ned who shook his head. Peter tried to look over the heads for her signature hair. Instead a heavily tattooed girl with multiple piercings grabbed Peter by the hips and licks the side of his face. He sputtered and pulled away from her as his face glowed red. Ned laughed.
"Peter?" Josie Ray tapped on Peter's shoulder. He turned towards her quickly. "I see you met Caroline. She's handsy."
"Uhh... yeah she is," Peter said. Josie Ray smiled. "This is a crazy party. So many people. Is this your place?"
She laughed heartily. "No way. I wouldn't have this many people. Its Tyler's."
"You're... you're boyfriend?" Peter asked. Ned had wandered off.
"Nope. Just some kid in my genetics class. He always throws crazy parties. Why do you ask, Parker?" She teased.
"Just wondering... no. No reason," Peter nervously smiled. Josie Ray smiled again and grabbed his hand.
The music pulsed through Peter and he felt as though the room was physically moving. She pulled him through the crowd easily. Peter couldn't help but admire her clothing. She wore grey tank top with the sex pistols on the front that cut deep in the back to show her shoulder blades and a pair of very short black shorts with fringe at the ends. He had never seen her so casually dressed.
"Do you want a drink?" She asked offering him a beer.
"I'm not old enough," he said.
"Okay. There is all kinds of juice for mixed drinks you can have," Josie Ray said casually. Peter was relieved she didn't care about him not drinking. He poured some Apple juice in a red solo cup. Josie did the same. "Do you want to dance?"
Peter's eyes widened. On one hand a beautiful girl had just asked him to dance, which was great. But Peter didn't have a clue how to dance to hip hop. He gulped as she easily smiled again and tucked a stray had behind her ear.
"Do you not dance?" She asked.
"I don't know how," he admitted turning red. Peter expected her to walk away from his lame self for a cooler guy at the party.
"I'll teach you," she said grabbed both of his hands. She pulled him to the area that should be a dinning room but was full of people instead of furniture. She began swaying slightly to the beat of the music. Peter was terrified but entranced by her movement.
Josie Ray placed Peter's hands on her waist. He felt his heart beating quickly. She began dipping her hips to the beat. "You should be moving too," she whispered in his ear. He was so overwhelmed by Josie Ray that he forgot to dance. Peter began swaying to the beat. She moved her hands up his arms before settling with her hands around his neck. They swayed together for a minute.
Josie Ray stepped closer and one hand played with the curls on the back of Peter's neck. Goosebumps raised on Peter's skin at the feeling. He gulped hard. She was so pretty. Her full lips were painted a reddish brown color and her cheeks were flushed from the dancing.
He wanted to kiss her. But Peter had only had a few kisses. Including the one time MJ had experimented before realizing she just didn't like guys. And Josie Ray seemed so experienced and mature compared to him. He was so intimidated.
Josie Ray bit her lip as the song changed. Peter watched her lips. Josie Ray pulled her arms around his neck and their chest were flush together. Peter thought his heart would explode from beating so hard. She leaned her face to his and her soft lips brushed his. Peter's eyes fluttered shut as she massaged his lips with hers.
She ran her hand up in his curls and bit his bottom lip lightly. Peter gasped at the sensation. He could feel her mouth smiling against his. Peter braved wrapping his hands around her waist and she pushed tighter against him.
"Petey! Hey man. What's up?" Ned said right next to Peter's ear. Josie Ray jumped back from his arms. Peter glared at Ned. Whatever the opposite of a wingman was, that was Ned.
"What Ned?"
"This party is crazy. That girl totally kissed me and then I got a drink," Ned said shoving a red cup in Peter's face. Josie Ray giggled. "Pink wine makes me slutty," Ned announced.
Peter raised his brows at that. "Are you drunk, man?"
"Maybe. I don't know," Ned admitted. Peter sighed.
"Lets get you home. I hate to leave but you know," he said to Josie Ray as he motioned to Ned. She nodded.
"I'll walk you out," she said.
"You don't have to."
"I want to."
The 3 walked out of the apartment. Of course, that was after Ned yelled out "Caroline" and shot finger guns at her. On the walk down Ned lightly sung sweet Caroline. Peter and Josie Ray kept glancing at each other as they walked down stairs.
"Do you want me to hail a cab?" Josie Ray asked.
"No We can just take the subway," Peter answered.
"I'll pay for it. I got him to this party," she offered. Ned began to loudly sing sweet Caroline while dancing in the lobby.
"Its fine. I'll drag him back to the dorms."
"How much beer did you have?" Josie Ray asked Ned who was trying to twirl around.
"I didn't. I only had the mixed drink. From the pink bottle," Ned answered.
"Just the pink bottle?" Josie Ray asked again.
"Yep."
"That was just grapefruit juice. You aren't drunk Ned. Just hopped up on sugar," Josie Ray said.
"Really?"
"Really?"
