What's My Age Again?

"Jack please we'll only be there for two hours and if you're bored I'll never drag you to another party again!!" My best friend, Kellin, was currently begging me to come to his boyfriend's party. We were only in our sophomore year of high school, but Kellin was dating this twenty-three year old guy named Vic Fuentes. Vic was in a band called Pierce the Veil and he was having a party tonight with some other bands he had just finished touring with. I mainly didn't want to go because Kellin was going to be the only person I knew there and he was most likely going to ditch me for Vic the second we stepped foot there.

"No I don't wanna. Just go without me." I whined.

"But it'll be fun and you almost never go out! Pleeease Jack Pleeease!"

I sighed knowing he wouldn't take no for an answer, "fine."

"Oh thank you! You won't regret this I promise." He exclaimed.

I brushed him off as I went to my closet to look for a decent outfit to wear. Of course I was going to wear skinny jeans, but I didn't know what shirt to wear. It was mid-October so it was beginning to get cold out. I grabbed a long sleeve black and white striped shirt I had.

"What time does it start?" I asked Kellin.

"Thirty minutes ago." He answered while texting on his phone. I looked at my phone to see it was nine-thirty. Luckily for me my mom was a Doctor, who most of the time worked grave yard shifts, so she would go to work at nine pm and come home at nine am. She only worked four days out of the week though. Kellin's mom worked with her which is kind of the reason we started hanging out with each other and are so close.

I threw on my clothes and went to the bathroom to do something about my hair. It was a good thing I got my hair cut and dyed last week because if my hair looked a mess I wouldn't be caught dead leaving my house.

"Okay I'm ready." I yelled to Kellin from my bathroom.

"Alright the Über car will be here in ten minutes." He stated casually.

"Why are we taking an Über?" We both had cars.

"Cause we're going to be drinking." He smiled at me.

"No you didn't say I had to drink anything. I hate the way alcohol taste." I complained.

"You don't drink alcohol for the taste, Jack. You drink it to have a good time or to forget about a bad one." He said and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Whatever I'll have one drink and that's it." I said.

We went downstairs when our driver told Kellin he was outside. I made sure I had my phone and my keys and we left. Kellin gave the driver the address and he took us to our destination. I grew nervous the closer we got to the house. We were too young to be around these guys, plus I didn't know anyone. What if they got mad at Kellin for bringing me even though I wasn't invited?

"Stop worrying, it'll be fun." Kellin said again. I wondered how he could tell I was nervous, but I saw my leg bouncing uncontrollably.

The über stopped right in front of a two story house and Kellin paid him before we got out. I trailed behind Kellin to the front door and he stopped and turned to me. "So Vic and his friends think we're twenty-one." Kellin said and my eyes widen.

"Why do they think that?!?" I asked.

"Because I told Vic I was. I was afraid my age would scare him off." He complained while playing with his fingers.

"And you thought lying would make things better?" I scolded him.

"No...yes... I don't know. Just go with it please, Jack??"

I shook my head but sighed and said, "Fine."

"I love you so much!" He exclaimed. I rolled my eyes at him and followed him into the house.
It was more crowded than I thought it would be. Kellin said there were only four bands on the tour. There were way more people than you would expect to see for four bands.

"You said there were only four bands!" I whispered yelled he chuckled.

"Yeah there are only four bands plus their lighting people, tour managers, assistant mangers, merch guys, girlfriends, and some other friends that live around Baltimore." He said. I glared at him knowing he lied to me on purpose.

"I want to go home." I huffed and he ignored me and pulled me by my arm to the kitchen towards some guys.

"Hey Baby!" He kissed a guy who I recognized from his phone screen saver. It was the first time I was meeting Vic in person.

"Hey, you're late." Vic smiled at him.

"Yeah I had to convince Jack to come with me." Kellin gestured to me.

"Hi I'm Jack." I introduced myself and held my hand out to him.

"It's nice to finally meet you. You're literally all Kellin talks about. And I'm Vic." He laughed as he shook my hand.

"He's not all I talk about." Kellin rolled his eyes at Vic. He went to greet some of the other guys he knew and left me alone with Vic.

"So Jack do you go to the University of Maryland with Kellin?" Vic asked me and I gulped.

"Um yes, but we met each other in high school." I tried to make it sound more realistic.

"Oh cool. Would you like something to drink? We have an infinite amount of different beers and alcohol." Vic offered politely.

"I'm not really sure. I'm not a serious drinker."

"Oh you'd probably like something sweeter or a little fruitier." He grabbed a Red Solo cup and filled it with pineapple soda and pineapple flavored Cîroc. "Here try this." He handed me the cup. I looked down at it and took a small sip to test if it was too strong. Surprisingly I couldn't really taste any of the alcohol.

"Mm this is good!" I exclaimed and he laughed.

"I thought you would like it. Just don't drink too much of it unless you're planning on getting really fucked up. It might not taste like there's a lot of alcohol in there, but it'll sneak up on you." He warned and I nodded while drinking more of it.

Kellin came back over apologizing for leaving me alone like he said he wouldn't do. "What are you drinking?" He asked me.

"Um pineapple soda with pineapple Cîroc. It's really good. Vic made it for me." I told him.

"Oh yeah that sounds good." He said as he handed Vic his cup expecting him to make it for him. I laughed at the face Vic gave him. Then I looked around to get a vibe of the party. Some of the people here I could tell were way older than us but some of them looked around the age of college students.

I was handing Kellin my cup to fill it back up, because that stuff was really delicious, when I heard the door open and saw three guys walk in.

"Look who decided to finally show up!" One of Vic's band members announced. I couldn't see their faces, but they were making their way to the kitchen where the light was.

"Is that All Time Late?" Vic said making a joke that I didn't get.

"Shut the hell up!" One of the guys laughed.

They came in, each holding a case of beer as if there was a need for more. I locked eyes with the one who had just yelled and he smiled at me making my heart stop. Now that they were in the light I got a good look at them and he was the definition of sexy. I didn't want to be weird and keep staring so I turned away to face Kellin instead.

"Here." Kellin said as he handed me my cup.

"Thanks." I took the cup and quickly drunk a third of it. "So who are they?" I asked trying to point at the guys without using my fingers.

"Uh that's Rian, Zack, and Alex, they're the band All Time Low." He told me.

"That one is Alex?" I gestured to the area where the one who caught my attention was standing.
"Yep! -wait why?" He asked suspiciously.

"No reason I was just wondering." I lied.

"Yeah right." He said sarcastically. "He is sexy as fuck, and bi if I'm not mistaken."

"Who's sexy as fuck?" Vic questioned, making Kellin and I laugh.

"You are, Baby." Kellin said while playfully rolling his eyes and Vic kissed him on the cheek and walked over to the new guys.

I was shocked. I didn't expect a guy who looked like Alex to be anything but straight.

"You should go introduce yourself." Kellin suggested and I laughed.

"No." I said seriously.

"I can do it for you if you want?"

"No Kellin. I can just admire him from afar." Plus he was probably way older than me too.

"Ugh you need to loosen up some. Hurry up and finish your drink so you can drink more." He rushed me.

I continued to drink at my same rate I'd been drinking at. I didn't want to get drunk and do something stupid and embarrass myself in front of all these people. I also continued you follow Kellin everywhere he went. We were now in the living room talking to some people from a band called A Day to Remember. I was looking at Alex every now and then just to look. I caught him looking and smiling back at me two out of the five times I looked at him so I took that as a sign to stop. I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable or to look desperate.

I did want more to drink, but Alex was in the kitchen standing next to the bottles so I couldn't bring myself to go. "Kellin can you get me more?" I asked him.

"Go get it yourself." He said.

"No I can't!!" I whined. He was about to ask me why but he looked in the kitchen and saw Alex was standing where I needed to go.

"I'm definitely not going for you." He smirked.

"Fine I just won't drink anymore." I huffed and crossed my arms.

"Stop being a baby and just go say 'excuse me' and get what you want. Maybe it'll start a conversation between you two."

"What if I forget how to speak?" I worried.

"That won't happen. Now go." He lightly pushed me up. I felt a little tipsy as soon as I stood up. Maybe that was a good thing.

I took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen. My nerves were so bad, I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. I walked up to the counter by Alex. I could feel my skin burning and turning red as Alex looked at me.

I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact so I looked down at the counter top and mumbled, "Excuse me."

"Oh sorry am I in your way?" He asked and took a few steps to the side.

"No-well yeah but it's okay." I rambled and he laughed. I was quickly making my drink so I could get back to Kellin. I was so close to Alex that I could smell his cologne which smelled so good.

"What's that you're making?" He asked and made my stomach fill will butterflies.

"Um it's um pineapple soda with pineapple Cîroc." I said nervously.

"That sounds good." He commented.

"It is y-you should try it."

"I guess I have too now." He smiled at me and I held on to the countertop so I would fall over.

"I'm sure you'll like it." I smiled back at him and grabbed my cup so I could go back to Kellin.

I quickly walked back to Kellin and sat back down in my seat taking deep breaths.

"I could see you turning red all the way from over here." Kellin teased.

"Shut up."

"It wasn't so bad right?" He laughed.

"I thought I was going to pass out. I don't know why I let you talk me into that." I pouted.

"At least you got to talk to him." He said. "I'll be back I have to go to the bathroom."

"Don't leave me!" I cried.

"Jack I'll only be two minutes."

"I'm going with you."

"Fine come on you big baby." He chuckled. I followed him upstairs to the guest bathroom there since someone was in the downstairs one.

"Do you need to come in with me?" He taunted.

"Shut up." I mumbled and stood against the wall waiting.

Moments later I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Apparently God hates me because long and behold it was Alex.

"Hey!" He said smiling at me as if he knew me.

"Hi." I basically whispered.

"Is this the line to the bathroom?" He chuckled.

"Yeah but I'm just waiting for my friend so you can go once he comes out." I shocked myself by getting a complete sentence out.

"Okay cool."

We stood there in an awkward silence and Kellin finally opened the door. He looked out and saw me, practically dying standing next to Alex and said, "wait I'm not done yet," before closing the door.

"Kellin!" I yelled at him. This wasn't good. I was basically alone with Alex on my third cup of alcohol and I could slowly feel it start to affect me.

"Just a few more minutes, Jack." I could hear the smile on his face.

"I'm sorry he's such an idiot. It'll probably be faster if you used the one downstairs." I told Alex.

"No I'm not in a hurry. Besides I can keep you company while he's in there." He said.

"Okay." I said nervously, trying to hide my smile.

"I'm Alex by the way." He stuck his hand out for me to shake.

"Jack." I reached my hand out and weakly shook his.

"I haven't seen you around before." He commented.

"Yeah this is the first time I came to one of these parties. I let Kellin drag me here."

"You make it sound like a bad thing." He laughed.

"It was at first." I laughed along with him.

We stood there quietly not knowing how to continue our conversation after a while. I decided I should at least attempt to make more small talk.

"Did you try the drink? Yet?" I asked him.

"Yes, Vic was drinking it too so I tried his. You were right! It was really good!" He exclaimed.

"I like it because I can't really taste the alcohol in it."

"Yeah that plus it would be an easy drink for me and my friends to make while we're on tour." He said.

"You're in a band?" I asked, trying to sound like I didn't know that already so we could keep a conversation going.

"Mhmm All Time Low." He said proudly.

"What kind of music is do you guys play?"

"Pop punk?" I didn't pay attention to the shock in his voice.

"Oh good I thought it was going to be screamo or something like that." I giggled.

"Do I look like I can scream?" He chuckled.

The first thing that popped into my head was 'well I don't look like I can scream, but I would yell your name at the top of my lungs.' I blushed thankful not saying that and answering with a weak, "no."

"Exactly! But you've actually never heard any of our music?" He asked still shocked.

"Nope I've never heard of you guys until tonight." I said honestly.

"Our videos have like millions views on YouTube and you haven't seen one of them?"

"Well there are only like eight-billion people in the world so it's possible I'm not part of the millions that have heard of your music." I said sarcastically. I only realized after I said it that it sounded kind of rude. "I'm sorry that came out really rude!" I apologized and he laughed.

"It's okay! It was my fault for judging you for not listening to our music." He said. "You should check it out though and tell me what you think."

"Okay I will!" I didn't know how I was supposed to tell him my thoughts on their music. Maybe he just said it just say it, but didn't really mean it.

"All done!" Kellin exclaimed as he walked out of the bathroom. I almost forgot he was still in there. "Sorry for making you wait, Alex." He apologized.

"No it's okay. I had Jack here to keep me company." He said making me smile at him.

"Ready Jack?" Kellin asked.

"Uh yeah."

"It was nice talking to you, Jack!" Alex told me.

"It was nice to talking to you too, Alex!" We both waved to each other and I followed Kellin as Alex went to use the bathroom. We both stumbled down the stairs nearly falling on three steps. I think the stairs were uneven or something.

Kellin gave me an 'I told you so' look that I tried to ignore, but it was clearly he wasn't going to stop until I acknowledged he was right.

"Okay fine yes you were right. Talking to him helped me, now would you stop looking at me like that?" I sighed.

"I guess I won't gloat too hard since you actually did hold a conversation with him. You should have gave him your number though when he said to tell him what you think about their music." He said.

"We're you listening to our whole conversation?" I scoffed.

"Duh."

"Whatever. And I was too nervous to do anything like that. Maybe I'll get enough courage to do it if I see him again."

"What are you talking about? You guys are both still here at the party. Just go up to him and give him your number." He said as if it's the easiest thing in the world.

"No I don't want to look thirsty by giving some guy I just met my number."

"That's how these things work, Jack. You'll slowly get to know each other then you'll go on dates and crap. That's what happened with me and Vic. Given I let him fuck me on the first date, but you don't have to go that fast."

"You told me you guys didn't sleep with each other until your second date?" I said confused.

"...I lied."

"Okay well I'm done with this conversation and I want more to drink." I complained and he rolled his eyes at me.

"Whoa you two don't need anymore." Vic stood in front of us blocking the alcohol.

"What are you talking about? We're fine." Kellin said.

"Are you kidding me? You two nearly fell as you came down the stairs plus you're both slurring your words." He laughed. Maybe we were drunk.

"One more pleease then we'll stop!" I pleaded.

"Fine." He grabbed both of our cups to make our drinks for us. "I shouldn't let you have any more because the drunker you are the meaner you become." He told Kellin.

"Bite me." Kellin said and took his cup from him.

"See! It's already starting." Vic said making me laugh.

I really don't remember much after that last drink, but I know I enjoyed myself and I was happy I decided to go with Kellin.

Notes

Thank you for giving this story a shot! It's probably going to be the last one I write. I really hope you all enjoy it!!