The next night, John found himself perched on the fire escape in hopes that Dave would come back down. The dark-haired teen had been out there long before sunset, since watching the cars drive down their street had become his only source of entertainment. The computer tended to get a bit boring after a while.
"Egbert, yo, come with me."
John looked up, raising an eyebrow and tilting his head. "What?" Dave was dressed up like a beachgoer again, and something told me there was a pretty obvious reason for it. "We're going to a party."
"A party?"
"You need some fun, before you start growning mushrooms up the ass."
"Mushrooms?"
"Come on!"
"Dave, I can't!" he snapped, stamping his foot when Dave tried to drag him away. "I'm grounded, dude, does that mean anything?" A sigh left the blonde before he shook his head, chuckling. "Yeah, it means we just don't let your dad find out."
"Dave..."
"John. You can't tell me a party doesn't sound pretty fuckin' awesome right now." Dave crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow and cocking a hip. A party did sound fun, it sounded incredible, in fact. "Whose party is it?" John seemed a little more open to the idea at this point, which made Dave perk up a little. "Jake has some friends from out-of-state coming to visit, and he invited a bunch of people from our high school that he knows, and Dirk's gonna drive, sooo..."
"Where?"
"The lake."
"Ugh..." John didn't know what to say, he wanted to go, but damn, it just didn't seem like a good idea. He had to surrender though, nodding slowly. Dave didn't give him time to react after that, grabbing his hand and helping him climb over to his fire escape, and into his room.
"It's a mess in here, Dave." John grumbled when he climbed into the room, looking around in disgust. "Shut up, Egbert, cleaning isn't my forte." Dave continued to drag him along, and out into the living room, where Dirk waited for them, keys in hand. "You ready?"
"Couldn't be readier, dude."
"Sweet."
"Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Shut up Egbert." John sighed and elected to shut up as Dave dragged him by the hand out of the apartment and to the elevator. A short ride ended with him being further dragged out to the parking lot and pulled into the back seat of Dirk's car. "Don't look so tense, man, your dad won't find out, and you won't get in trouble." Dave sighed, snapping John out of his 'deer in the headlights' trance. "Sorry. I'm not used to being a deliquent." he snickered, getting a jab to the shoulder. "Ow!"
"It's not called being a delinquent, it's called being too cool to follow the rules."
"So a delinqu- Ow! Stop!"
John heard a chuckle from the driver's seat as Dirk listened to them, pulling out of the parking lot and into the road. The ride to the lake was short, but full of the three chattering, John beginning to ease into the realization that he was breaking a major rule. So fucking what? He didn't care. His dad needed to lighten up and get over himself.
John saw the distant flicker of a bonfire, and heard the excited tittering of teenagers dancing to upbeat nineties alternative and laughing around the fire. Dirk was the first out of the car, going to sit by Jake, who was sitting with the fire and speaking with two women that looked about their age. They both welcomed Dirk, the blonde being the first to jump up and bowl him over, squealing and almost spilling her drink, followed by her dark-haired friend.
John eyed the teens dancing. He loved to dance, and kind of wanted to join them. "Go ahead." Dave said with a shrug, seeming to realized what his eagerness was from. "You too." he said over his shoulder. "I...don't really dance, dude. Not good for my reputation. I'm a flop."
"Don't look so tense, man." John teased, making Dave growl rebelliously. "You piece of shit." he muttered. "Fine!" the blonde grabbed John's arm and dragged him onto the sand, awkwardly beginning to move to the beat, where John wasted no time with going at it, grabbing Dave's arms and trying to get him into it.
"Jo..John! What the fuck?"
"Oh come on Dave, get into it!" he chuckled, watching as Dave eased into it, and the two ended up laughing and dancing together, throwing off their shoes and shocks and enjoying the feel of the sand on their feet as they jumped around and moved like they meant it. John was having the time of his life, and his problems didn't seem so bad anymore.
It got later into the night, and a bit colder, the two giving up on dancing and sitting by the fire. "Want a drink?" Dave chimed in, pointing his thumb behind him, to the cooler. "Anything legal?" John snickered, Dave opening it up and nodding. "Yeah. You like Dr. Pepper?"
"Love it."
John got a can thrown at him, catching it and watching as Dave pulled out a bottle of hard lemonade, popping it open and sipping from it. "Should you be doing that?" he mumbled, tilting his head. "The law says no, but Dirk and Bro don't care, as long as I don't like, end up downing a quart of vodka nightly."
A look of disappointment came over John's face, but he didn't run Dave's life, the blonde could do what he wanted. "Alright, yeah, makes sense." he said with a nod and looking away, finding himself concerned about what this might lead to. If Dave had another, he'd say something.
But Dave did have another, and John didn't say a word.
There was lively conversation going on, and Dave seemed into it. He didn't want to ruin his fun.
"So John, we're you from?" The blonde from earlier, Roxy, John had learned, spoke up and smiled at him, an arm wrapped around the other girl's shoulders. John had also learned that she was Jane.
"Washington."
"Holy shit, is it cold there, like, do you actually get snow?"
"Do you not get snow in New York?"
"It's snow, but not like, snow. It isn't like, pretty, it's like hell on heels ice." she said, eyes wide.
John felt a sudden weight on his shoulder, looking to see a slightly lethargic Dave pressed up against him. "Dammit Dave.." He looked over at Dirk, who simply shook his head as if to say 'I don't support this.'
"Alright. I'm gonna take drunkie home." Dirk grumbled, kissing Jake on the cheek, giving Roxy and Jane a hug before standing up. John helped Dave to his feet, who let out a whine and seemed to not realize that he didn't have to shout. "I'm not drunk, just a bit tipsy 's all!" he slurred, but clung to John, burying his face into his shoulder with a chuckle. "Warm. Johnny-boy is warm."
"Dave can you-"
"Shut up Egjerk, I gave you a compliment."
"...You are so dead when you wake up tomorrow."
"I didn't drink that much John."
"That's not what I meant."
"What did you mean?"
John didn't respond, dragging Dave to the car and letting the blonde cling to him as they rode home. He should have said something. Even if Dave didn't listen, he still could have tried. But this wasn't his fault, this was Dave's. It was his decision. But why did he feel so bad?
They got back, and John took it upon himself to help him upstairs and into his apartment, laying him down in bed. He then knelt by Dave, slipping off his shoes and socks, only to let out a startled noise when Dave grabbed his shirt, tugging him down. "Sleep with me again."
"Dave...I gotta get home."
"Warm..."
"If you get me into trouble, I swear to god. At least take your shades off so you don't break them." Dave gave no protest, slipping them off and blinking at John, whose eyes had gotten wide in shock when he was presented with the ruby-red pools that were Dave's eyes. "Uh...Go to sleep, Dave." he mumbled, unsure of what else to say. Why would he hide that?
"M'kay." It didn't take long for Dave to fall asleep, breathing softly and holding onto John tightly. "..Fucking hell Dave." he sighed, slipping off his own glasses and closing his eyes, turning his back to Dave and falling asleep.