Flashes of Our Endless Summer Love
Chapter 8: Vampires
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBs-lPvk3Zk
When I walk around the corner to get to my next class, I’m confronted with you again. You’re not with your closest friends, but they’re your friends nonetheless. But you’re friends with everybody, aren’t you, Alex? Everybody knows you, there’s not a party you don’t get invited to. I don’t get invited to any. You’re talking about one coming up on Friday and I remember the one party you had roped me into.
I had never gone to a party before. I didn’t know what to look like, what to wear. All I could do was throw something on and hope it was good enough. I was actually excited. I didn’t really care about the party, I cared that you were taking me.
I walked over to your front door and knocked. Your mom opened within a few seconds, telling me you were still upstairs getting ready. She seemed so happy and was always so nice to me. I had known her longer than you.
“I’m glad you and Alex are friends,” she confessed to me while you were still gone. “You’re doing him good this summer.”
“I’m enjoying his company too.” I smiled back. She still didn’t know just how much we were more than friends, but I was willing to keep it a secret for a little longer.
It didn’t take much longer for you to come bolting down the stairs. You kissed your mom on the cheek and said a quick goodbye before dragging me away with you. We had decided to walk to the party. It wasn’t too far away. Only a twenty minute walk. I enjoyed walking and we both agreed driving back at the end wasn’t smart. Although I had never seen you drink to get drunk, you expressed you sometimes had issues figuring out when to stop.
We entered the party together. There was loud music blasting and people everywhere. It almost looked like our entire school was here, but that was impossible. I felt a little lost, however I had you by my side.
As soon as we walked through the door, you dropped my hand, which you had been holding the whole way over. You didn’t even look back at me as you started pushing through the masses to get to your friends. You didn’t even check to see if I was following. I lost you in the crowd.
When I managed to break through the barrier of people, you were already laughing and chatting with your friends. There was a drink in your hand which you were sipping on. I stared at you, hoping for you to be glad I made it through. But you didn’t even glance in my direction.
I figured you were so busy catching up, that I let it be. I knew how you told your stories, you got lost in your own little world. So, I let you be and went to get myself a drink. And another one. And another one. Time passed and I was drinking all by myself.
My vision was blurry, I had difficulty staying upright, and the loud pop music was driving me insane. I wanted to go home and fall asleep in your arms. I was so tired.
I walked up to you and stated, “I’m leaving.”
You finally snapped out of your bubble with your group of friends and looked at me in surprise. “Now?”
I nodded and you excused yourself from the group. You made me follow you back to the drinks table and you started acting like you were thinking about what to make your next drink out of.
“I’m tired, I’m going home,” I told you again, not bothering to play along.
“Are you going to be fine? I’ll come with you.”
I stared at you, but you didn’t look back. “I’ll be fine. I always am.”
I left after that. You didn’t offer to come home with me or walk me back again. You let me walk off like I said I wanted. It was a warm night, so luckily I wasn’t cold. There was nobody else on the streets. It was just me, retracing our steps to get home.
As soon as I got home, I got into my bed. It didn’t take you long to get in with me. I was almost asleep 15 minutes later when I felt your weight on the mattress next to me and your arm wrap over my body. You smelled familiar with a hint of strong alcohol.
That should have been a large red flag, Alex. But I didn’t see it. I was colourblind. It was so obvious you didn’t care, but you made sure I wouldn’t find out. You had me wrapped around your stupid little finger.
When I walk around the corner to get to my next class, I’m confronted with you again. You’re not with your closest friends, but they’re your friends nonetheless. But you’re friends with everybody, aren’t you, Alex? Everybody knows you, there’s not a party you don’t get invited to. I don’t get invited to any. You’re talking about one coming up on Friday and I remember the one party you had roped me into.
I had never gone to a party before. I didn’t know what to look like, what to wear. All I could do was throw something on and hope it was good enough. I was actually excited. I didn’t really care about the party, I cared that you were taking me.
I walked over to your front door and knocked. Your mom opened within a few seconds, telling me you were still upstairs getting ready. She seemed so happy and was always so nice to me. I had known her longer than you.
“I’m glad you and Alex are friends,” she confessed to me while you were still gone. “You’re doing him good this summer.”
“I’m enjoying his company too.” I smiled back. She still didn’t know just how much we were more than friends, but I was willing to keep it a secret for a little longer.
It didn’t take much longer for you to come bolting down the stairs. You kissed your mom on the cheek and said a quick goodbye before dragging me away with you. We had decided to walk to the party. It wasn’t too far away. Only a twenty minute walk. I enjoyed walking and we both agreed driving back at the end wasn’t smart. Although I had never seen you drink to get drunk, you expressed you sometimes had issues figuring out when to stop.
We entered the party together. There was loud music blasting and people everywhere. It almost looked like our entire school was here, but that was impossible. I felt a little lost, however I had you by my side.
As soon as we walked through the door, you dropped my hand, which you had been holding the whole way over. You didn’t even look back at me as you started pushing through the masses to get to your friends. You didn’t even check to see if I was following. I lost you in the crowd.
When I managed to break through the barrier of people, you were already laughing and chatting with your friends. There was a drink in your hand which you were sipping on. I stared at you, hoping for you to be glad I made it through. But you didn’t even glance in my direction.
I figured you were so busy catching up, that I let it be. I knew how you told your stories, you got lost in your own little world. So, I let you be and went to get myself a drink. And another one. And another one. Time passed and I was drinking all by myself.
My vision was blurry, I had difficulty staying upright, and the loud pop music was driving me insane. I wanted to go home and fall asleep in your arms. I was so tired.
I walked up to you and stated, “I’m leaving.”
You finally snapped out of your bubble with your group of friends and looked at me in surprise. “Now?”
I nodded and you excused yourself from the group. You made me follow you back to the drinks table and you started acting like you were thinking about what to make your next drink out of.
“I’m tired, I’m going home,” I told you again, not bothering to play along.
“Are you going to be fine? I’ll come with you.”
I stared at you, but you didn’t look back. “I’ll be fine. I always am.”
I left after that. You didn’t offer to come home with me or walk me back again. You let me walk off like I said I wanted. It was a warm night, so luckily I wasn’t cold. There was nobody else on the streets. It was just me, retracing our steps to get home.
As soon as I got home, I got into my bed. It didn’t take you long to get in with me. I was almost asleep 15 minutes later when I felt your weight on the mattress next to me and your arm wrap over my body. You smelled familiar with a hint of strong alcohol.
That should have been a large red flag, Alex. But I didn’t see it. I was colourblind. It was so obvious you didn’t care, but you made sure I wouldn’t find out. You had me wrapped around your stupid little finger.
