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Mr. Brightside – The Killers

November 2002
Alex: 14
Jay: 15

It started with a kiss.

Emily was supposedly working, as was Chad. Alex had Jay over, who had invited Amy – much to Alex's distaste – and Spinner who bought Paige, probably somewhat against her will. Potato chips and beer for the guys - and Amy - were the entertainment for the night.

Alex was on her first beer. She'd been slurping it all night and Jay had been shooting her weird looks all night. Spinner, Jay and Amy had accumulated nineteen bottles between them, discluding the ones they were clutching in their hands. Paige was on her second glass of water, but Spinner wasn't hassling her to drink more, unlike some boyfriends Alex could point to with a not too lengthy stick.

Jay, Spinner and Amy's raucous laughter filled the room, while Alex sat on the sofa with a face like thunder. Paige looked bored out of her skull, but she didn't say anything, she just looked around the room innocently. Alex watched her out of the corner of her eye and she swore she could see looking judgingly at her when she spied Chad's many, many bottles of Jack Daniels lined up underneath the hollowed out end table.

The train was loud and the carriage was full. For a 9pm departure, Mr. Alexander was surprised to find so many people on board. Mr. Christopher Alexander read the paper to busy himself. He couldn't see the scenery rushing past out of sight for the darkness, he could just see his own reflection in the dirty window.

He knew that when he got to his final destination, it would be difficult. The train was bombing along the track getting nearer and nearer to his station. His heart was in his mouth in a mixture of nerves, anticipation and guilt. He'd been gone for twelve years, and perhaps turning up unannounced wasn't the best idea, but it had been too long and he didn't have any contact details, so showing up on the doorstep really was his only option.

Alex just had to sit back and take it as Jay and Spinner dragged them across town in the pouring rain in search of Spinner's friend Charlie's house party. Alex had given up refusing to talk to Paige. Amy was linked arms with Spinner, and Paige had a familiar scowl on her face. Spinner, Jay and Amy were all totally wasted, and Amy kept exclaiming loudly as she stumbled around in her too-high heels. She was tottering across the sidewalk going in all directions. They turned down a back street and soon they were walking through the suburbs. The rain died down for a few moments, but it was still lingering in the air. Without warning Spin, Amy and Jay cavorted across the road and up the long winding path of a large house. There were people scattered over the lawn and on the veranda. Alex and Paige followed behind the 'three musketeers' as they barged in.

Some guy with messy dark hair and facial piercings, who Alex could only presume was Charlie, bounded up to Spinner and thumped him on the back in a cheerful embrace. He threw beers in their direction then blended back into the crowd again as quickly as he has appeared.

Finally, it seemed like things were going back to how they should be. Amy dispersed into the throng of drunken teenagers, Spinner swept Paige away and Jay sauntered over to Alex looking sheepish. He slipped his arms around her tiny waist and tucked his hand into the back pocket of her jeans. She shot him a warning look but didn't make him move it.

"Dance with me?" He slurred in her ear over the pounding music. She was reluctant to let his drunken state make him think he'd won her over.

She decided to let him step out into the crowd with her. They moved close in sync with each other. The body heat was intense and Alex could feel any hate for Jay washing away as he shut off all the other people in the room and focused solely on her. Grinding wasn't a specialty of Alex's, but she did it anyway. The music was a continuous heavy, dirty beat. Jay was always much more attentive when he was drunk. But his co-ordination was poor and his kisses were sloppy. Alex had to pull away, but she smiled politely and moved positions so her back was to his front, but they were still close.

How things nosedived so fast she wasn't sure. A little less than ten minutes she was back on the sidelines with Paige watching as Jay and Spinner set aside the beers and moved on to the Vodka. Alex should have been concerned, but she let Jay continue mixing his alcohol and letting himself get more messed up. If he preferred to spend time with a Mr. Grey Goose over her, then that was his prerogative.

Paige attracted Alex's attention by grabbing her forearm. "Hun, I'm gonna take off!" She shouted in her ear.

"I'm coming with." Alex replied before even thinking it through. Both girls took a second to look over at their embarrassing other halves, before laughing and leaving the party together.

Jay was blurry. He was semi aware that the girl who's hand was sliding down past the waist band of his boxers wasn't Alex. His intoxicated state was numbing and distorting everything. He ran his hands through her long blonde locks. She took control where Alex never did. With Alex, he had to make the first move almost always, but this girl was different. She was whipping his polo shirt over his head and onto the floor before he realized where he was. Her cold hands rested on his chest as their lips locked again. It started with a kiss. A new tongue in his mouth but he didn't realize the foreignness of it until after. She had already whipped his shirt off from over his head and his jeans dropped down as she released the zipper. His arms were around her neck undoing the red halter dress she was wearing. It came loose and fell to the floor, where it was joined by his own shirt. He fell backwards onto the bed and she came down with him. He laid flat on the bed with her force and determination keeping him pinned.

It was over in half an hour. She used his cell to call a cab while he stood at the window smoking a cigarette. The bustling traffic outside and the din of the last few party goers filled his head. He never caught her name.

Spinner didn't notice Paige leave, but he noticed it in the morning when he was greeted by her voicemail for the fifth time in as many minutes.

Paige woke up somewhere strange. It took her a few moments to realize she had fallen asleep at Alex's place. It was eerily silent now, but she was sure at 3am this morning she had heard muffled shouting coming from down the hall in the living room. Alex was lying awake with her eyes shut. She knew Paige was there but when there was no one else here, it felt too awkward for words that she should be here. She could hear Chad padding around in the distance and she tensed up immediately. How could she sneak Paige out without her mom and Chad seeing her. She couldn't face explaining her family situation to Paige. Paige Michalchuk! What were the odds that she would be at Alex's house?

Jay woke up and was relieved to find he was at his own house. He didn't remember much about how he got home, or when he'd left Spinner and Amy at Charlie's party. All he knew was he was out of pocket 20 bucks, and he'd had sex last night. And he was pretty sure Alex was at her house, still with a little something called her virginity. Shit...

Christopher Alexander checked out of the Howard Johnson right on time. He was eager to get on the road, well sidewalk. Unless by some sheer act of irony they'd moved, his destination wasn't too far from here. The early morning walk would do him good. As he got nearer, he got more nervous. He kind of wished he could slow the process down, but it was no good. He stood on the corner of Brewer and Maple, facing his destiny.

Sorry it took so long! Please R&R! :)

And... the next chapter is gonna be called 'Homecoming' (Kanye West ft Chris Martin).