No Pads… No Helmets… Just Memories!

The pungent scent of booze and punch was so strong it was almost toxic all in itself as we forced our way through the moving bodies, my arm being guided by Vinny as he neared the drink table with Marc and Andrea following behind. the shortest boy filling our cups with an odd mixture of liquor and Kool Aid, which was probably concocted to make a single bottle last longer than straight liquor, because it surely wasn't to keep people from getting drunk as the loud pop music blared around us. I was all for having fun and getting tipsy but it wouldn’t be often you would see me drunk, I was smart enough to know waking up with your head in a toilet bowl or better worse, a trash can, wasn’t something that was truly enjoyable. I smiled as Vinny handed me my cup and graciously took it and swished the liquid around before taking a swig and clamping my eyes shut at the burning sensation it brought. I wasn’t a huge partier in Washington, maybe two or three and whatever that liquid was it was much stronger then the beers we had at Rian and I’s party and much stronger then the few drinks I was forced into in Washington. I felt a light tapping on my shoulder when I turned to see Alex beside me but not actually looking at me but out into the group of teens on the makeshift dance floor.


“Here, keep this on you, the last thing I need is you getting white girl wasted on me tonight.” he spoke shoving a water bottle into my hands, never meeting my gaze.

“Thanks Alex,” I laughed, “but I think I can handle myself.”

At this Alex turned to raise a brow at me, “Oh really now?”

“yes.” I answered confidently.

"Then you have clearly never been to a MacKay party," he spoke taking my cup from my hands, "cause one cup of this crap will get you shit faced."

"Alex!" I cooed reaching for the cup as he pulled it from my reach.

"Don't think you can get wasted and get lucky with me again!" He joked winking at me.

"Alex you're so gro-"

"Hey Dawson, what you doing talkin' to Gaskarth?" A voice sang as a single arm snaked around my waist, I turned my head to see Riley dressed as a zombie smiling at me, the scent of the concoction and beer prominent as it fell past his teeth.

"I was just making sure she wasn’t getting wasted tonight." Alex spoke flashing me the wide eyes.

"Oh let a girl have some fun Gaskarth!" Riley chimed, "don’t worry; I’ll be watching her all night anyway."

"That’s exactly what I’m worried about." He mumbled with intentions for not even my ears to hear as my eyes shifted to shoot him a glare.

"Well lets waist no moonlight!" He laughed, "Dance with me!"

"I’m not much of a dancer Riley." I shook my head turning my back away from Alex to fully face Riley.

"Good, because neither am I!" He smiled a genuine smile as he took hold of my hand pulling me towards the crowd. My eyes shot back to where Alex stood to see a thin blond girl standing in front of him with her hands on his chest, if he could have fun so could I.

I gave in to Riley and danced with him, sliding his cup from his hands to mine and finishing it off as I allowed his dancing to become friendlier. "You look really pretty." He spoke with a drunken slur resting his head on mine as we danced.

"And you look really drunk." I laughed.

"Both true statements" he giggled like a little girl which I couldn’t help but laugh. "Real question," he slurred, "is it hot in here or is it my costume?"

"Well there are at least 25 people in your living room right now alone" I giggled looking around the crowded area, "so both!"

"Come up stairs with me so I can change!" He smiled pulling his head from mine.

"Riley..."

"Oh come on it won’t kill you, I promise I don't bite!"

"You’re a very persistent zombie!" I smiled.

"I mean I’ve got nothing to live for!"

"I’d laugh but that was just sad!" I giggled before I could even comprehend his motions as he took my hand and pulled me through the crowd to the staircase...

*flashback*

“Can we talk?” he asked and I just stared at him with wide eyes. Not moving, not doing anything, just looking at him.

“Hey Jace who is it?” Alex’s voice sounded as it bound up behind me.

“Uhm, Riley” I mumbled out.

“Alex wait!” Riley pleaded reaching his hand out holding the door open as Alex had tried to force it shut, “I’m not here for trouble I just want to talk.” he smiled.

“Give us a moment will you?” he growled through clenched teeth pushing the door shut its last ways.

“Alex what the hell!” I asked now fully absent from my trance.

“Jasey, I’m telling you now, he’s bad news!”

“Why so?” I snapped placing my hands on my hips.

“He only wants to get in your pants!” He all but shouted.

“Alex, let’s just hear him out!” I pleaded reaching for the door knob as Alex scoffed storming off.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you!’ he growled.

Alex’s words were rattling around in my head as Riley pushed his lips against mine. He was a good kisser but it was dull. The kiss itself was lifeless and weird, it was rough and tasted like alcohol and fruit punch, it felt strange, it didn’t feel anything at all, it was like, and it wasn’t like, the kiss. It wasn’t like the kiss I had with Alex; we didn’t move as one, it didn’t feel right like it had with him. I had no idea what was going through my head but either way I didn’t like Riley’s lips on mine and I pulled away. I tried to leave thinking in his drunken state he would allow it. But he didn’t, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to him. I scolded him to let me go and tried to push him off of me but I only made it worse. He backed me up against the door and tried to kiss me roughly tugging on my sides holding me in place as I squirmed. He held onto my forearm causing me to writhe slightly under his strength, but I didn't know what to do. It was clear that he was not trying to hurt me and every time I winced his grip loosened like he didn’t know he was holding on so strong. But he was still too strong for me to break from his grips. I played into it, turning us so he was against the door and in one swift motion I reached for the handle yanked the door open and stumbled down the stairs. As I neared the bottom I could hear riley calling after me as I darted forward getting lost in the crowd.

Alex was right, I’m such an idiot. I ran around frantically looking for him and breathing trying to keep whatever cool I had left packed tightly inside or id lose it. I turn the corner to see Alex sitting on the couch and I nearly choked at the sight of him. He was hammered, the last beer from his hand now on his shirt. But that’s not what got me. He had some blond bimbo with thick brown eyebrows and inch thick roots to match sitting on his lap grinding up on him and sucking his face off, Tammy. I must have let some noise of shock and disgust escape because they both turned too looked up at me. Alex’s eyes fluttered trying to stay open and Tammy’s eyes rolled over me with the same fashion that mine had her. I was so disgusted by him, he was such a pig. I felt the tears build as my best friend vanished into just another high school boy, right before my eyes. I almost lost it till I heard my name and turned to see riley drunkenly making his way through the crowd. I had no time to scold Alex for being a low life and a slutty, sad drunk; I had to get out of there. I stumbled through the sea of people and out the door sprinting down the road like I was in the London Olympics, running as fast as my chucks would carry me to the only person I knew would be up, sober, and willing to let me crash. How could Alex do that, he knew what she did to me, he was bitching nonstop leading up to the party to watch out for Riley then he goes and does that. He’s no friend to me; friends don’t treat friends like that. If he was truly upset about losing me the first time don’t you think making out with the one being who pushed me to leave wouldn’t be on his list of things to do? You’d think he’d be smarter than that. I had nowhere to go other than where I was headed. I stunk of alcohol and sweat though I hadn’t even had a full cup of the solution they mixed together before I knew I’d had enough. I couldn’t go home, I was a mess, Rian would scold me like he was my father and my dad would have a few words of his own that consisted of life, me, and grounded.

I reached the house I was so desperately searching for and let my lack of breath catch up to me as I stumbled up the front steps. My knuckles creating a stagger of knocks till the door slid open and a being stepped before me.

“Jasey what the hell happened to you?” he asked.
“Matt, I need a favor!”

Notes