June 19th, 2009
"Next time you don't come outside at the first beep, I'm leaving you behind," Paul said, squealing away from my house. I reached forward from the backseat and flicked his ear, kissing Josh quickly when he turned his head.
"Paul, if I had a nickel for every time you said that…" I settled back next to Carrie, laughing when he flipped me the bird.
"Kids c'mon, start the night off right please, this party is supposed to be killer," Carrie said sternly, as we pulled into a parking spot a good quarter of a mile from where the party was at, giving the two of us the evil eye. Josh laughed at her tone.
"Fine," Paul sighed, shutting off the ignition.
"Okay, Mom, sorry," I added. She shot me a look but then joined in laughing with the rest of us as we headed into the house.
"Yo, Carrie! Tory!" Danny called, motioning us over to him.
I turned to Josh. He was standing next to Paul, both of them scanning the crowd in the room. When I looked at him, he brought his eyes to mine, smiling easily.
"Go," he said, kissing me quick. "I'll catch up with you later."
"So I see you and Josh are still together," Danny commented as Carrie and I approached. Dana and Harry groaned, shaking their heads.
"We were still together yesterday when you saw us," I told Danny, laughing.
"A lot could happen in twenty four hours," he replied, his eyes wide and serious.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Carrie open her mouth to respond, but then Ben ran up and she didn't get a chance.
"Did you hear?" he asked excitedly, looking between the four of us. "Russ g-"
"Russ got three kegs!" Andy yelled, running up to us.
"Dammit, man, I was just about to tell them that!" Ben said, his head dropping.
"Too bad, dude, you took too long," Andy said, grinning and ruffling Ben's hair. Ben slapped his hand away before coming over to Carrie and I.
"Can I get you lovely ladies drinks?" he asked, licking his thumb and pretending to smooth the part in his hair.
"But of course, kind sir," Carrie replied. "Would you like some help?"
As she went off with Ben to get the group drinks, I settled next to Dana on a couch that had been pushed up against the far wall. We sat silently for a moment, watching the party start to evolve around us. At least half the people were already moving to the music that seemed to pulse from the walls of the house, and about all of them already seemed to be drunk. I saw Julian for a brief moment between a gap in the crowd, a cup in his hand and a girl attached to his hip. His eyes met mine just as someone pushed in front of him again and then he was gone.
"You happy with Josh?" Dana asked me quietly, accepting two drinks from Ben as he and Carrie pushed their way back through the crowd. She handed one to me and I immediately took a sip, the liquid burning its way down.
"Yeah," I said, equally softly. "I really am."
I drowned half my beer in the silence that followed and then Josh was standing in front of me.
"Where's Paul?" I asked, laughing as he pulled me to my feet. I finished my beer quickly, dropping the cup at my feet and following Josh out into the middle of a crowd of dancers. He pulled my hips to his, holding me there as I let my arms swing.
"Found some girl he knew from middle school or something," Josh replied, laughing as he moved us in a slow fluid circle all around the room. As we passed the couch, Carrie and Ben got up and joined us, imitating our movement around the floor. When we passed the couch a third time, Harry handed me another beer before sitting back next to Dana and watching the four of us with an amused expression.
"So how does it feel to be graduated?" I asked Josh, trying to drink the beer without it slopping over the side. Somehow successful, I managed to down half of it while still dancing. I gave Josh the other half.
"Pretty damn great," he replied, smirking as he finished the cup and dropped it in the crowd.
"I'm so thirsty!" I exclaimed loudly to Harry, leaning against him on the couch. Josh was off talking to some guys he had known from the Academy and Paul was still missing in action with the girl from middle school. About an hour ago, Carrie and Ben had disappeared outside with Dana, and Andy went off to dance with a few girls from his English class.
"You are so drunk," Harry replied, laughing and pushing me off of him.
"I am not," I said indignantly, falling back against the couch. "Okay, maybe just a little," I said, giggling and wiping my hand over my face. I had rarely been drunk before, knowing it never left me with good results.
"What got into you tonight?" Harry asked, a little more seriously. "Did something happen? You never drink heavily."
I shook my head, falling against him again with control. "No…" I slurred slightly. "I don't think so…I don't really remember now."
We sat silently for a few minutes, and I watched my classmates spin around with each other in the middle of the room. The music seemed to be getting louder.
"Look!" I said, pointing suddenly. "It's Josh! Hi Josh!" I called, but the music drowned my voice out.
Harry looked at me. "Are you okay?" he asked.
I nodded, sure of myself, though everything was beginning to feel fuzzy. "Just thirsty," I responded.
"More beers anyone?" Danny asked at that moment, coming out of nowhere with three cups balanced in his hand.
"Me!" I exclaimed, taking one and spilling half of it onto the carpet.
"Easy tiger," Danny replied, laughing as he headed off again.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea…" Harry said, reaching to take the cup from me. I pushed his hand away, almost falling over in the process.
"I'm fine, Harry, honest!" I said, sucking the liquid down like my life depended on it.
At that moment, Dana and Carrie came back, plopping down on the couch next to me.
"Hey guys," I slurred, grinning stupidly.
"She okay?" Dana asked Harry, lighting a cigarette.
"She's drunk," Harry said, checking his watch. "Has been for about the past three hours now."
"Maybe we should get you home, huh?" Carrie asked softly, as if she were talking to a little kid.
"I want Josh," I said, taking the last sip of my beer and standing up. I wobbled for a second but then regained my balance.
"You can see him tomorrow," Carrie said, still using the same tone. "C'mon," she replied, leading me towards the door. I gave in, stumbling along slightly behind her.
"Hey! Carrie, Tory! Wait up!" Josh called as we reached the front door. Carrie stopped us, catching me when I stumbled into her.
"Whoa, Tor, little too much to drink, huh?" Josh asked me, taking me from Carrie.
"I'll go find Paul," Carrie said. "And then we can go. Just stay with her here so I can find you guys."
"Oh, Paul gave me the keys so he could drink," Josh said, smirking. "I'll just take Tory home and then come back for you guys so you can stay."
"You sure?" Carrie asked, and I felt her eyeing me but I was too tired now to look up. Josh nodded.
"Okay, well here," Carrie said, handing him her house keys. "My parents are gone, she's staying at our place tonight, just leave her in my bedroom."
Josh reached for the keys but Carrie pulled them back quickly. "And if you take advantage of her…" she responded menacingly.
"Oh jeez, Car, have some faith," Josh responded, grabbing the keys. "I'll be back to get you in half an hour or so."
"Come sleep with me," I said, my words tumbling over one another as I pulled Josh down onto Carrie's bed. He fell down with me and I immediately snuggled into his side.
"God, Tory," Josh said, his laughter shaking the bed. "Don't drink anymore, okay?"
He kissed my forehead and started to get up, but I pulled him back down.
"No, don't go Josh-y," I said, my eyes already closed.
"I have to," he whispered in my ear. "I can't leave Carrie and Paul stranded there."
"Yes you can," I said. But Josh just laughed and took off my shoes for me.
"Goodnight Tory," he said softly, starting to head out of the room.
"Night night, Josh-y, I love you," I whispered, more to myself than to anyone. The beer was starting to take its toll on me, and I felt my breathing get deeper.
"What?" Josh said, and I realized he was still in the room. I opened my eyes and saw him standing in the doorway, stock-still, staring at me. I smiled goofily at him and blew him a kiss, and then I was gone.
Predictions?!?! I think this is the longest so far, haha. Favorite character? -zoomie