14-Paul

“We at least got to go check it out,” Rob had said. He shrugged like it was no big deal, but Paul knew he’d pester the hell out of everyone until they went. It was like Rob couldn’t handle not being involved, not being some sort of factor in each and every party that went down. Rob held sway though—ultimately it was a two-car caravan full of loopy passengers cruising from one party to the other.

Ronnie made the girls down their beers before they left, proclaiming that floaters were not allowed. They did so, tipping their beers back, their incessant giggling making it difficult. Katherine even spilled some down her chin and onto her shirt, making Nikki laugh even harder.

“Why aren’t you making them finish their forties?” Katherine asked, pointing at Paul and Rob.

“Shiiit, they taking that with ’em,” Ronnie said, like that was obvious.

Lauren snatched Paul’s keys, saying she was going to make things slightly less illegal.

“Damn, Paul, you just got bitched,” Rob grunted.

“Nah, this just means I have a designated driver,” Paul replied.

“Like that was gonna stop you anyway,” Rob said, scowling.

“What about Joe?” Katherine asked, as they attempted to squeeze into Paul’s car. “I told him I’d meet him here.”

Rob scowled again. “He’ll figure it out. He’s a big boy.”

Katherine gave a frustrated look to Nikki, and she just shrugged in response.

“This is like one of those clown cars,” Lauren remarked, watching them trying to squeeze into the back seat.

That was when Trey pulled up in his station wagon, his timing superb, and they each saw his giant grin from behind the wheel. Everyone rejoiced collectively as half the passengers swarmed to his car and piled in amidst constant banter. Trey looked confused, but with a shrug and a smile he started driving, following behind Paul’s car, not even yet knowing where they were going.

When they neared Zack’s house, the girls gaped with wide eyes at all the cars lining both sides of the street, such that they had to park a couple blocks down. They all spilled out of the cars, some of them mid-forty. They approached the party on foot, the girls shocked and the guys eyeing it with drunken glee. The yard held small groups of pot smokers here and there, and strangely a guy out on the street punching the mailbox with his bare hands—and just as vexing was another guy cheering him on. But the real star of the show was the house, booming on its foundation, rocking at its core, its occupants in rare form indeed. Beer cans covered the floor, some of them unfinished and knocked over. Carpets held stains and where there wasn’t carpet Paul felt his shoes stick. Ash and smoke permeated the room from those that had the gall to light up inside.

Paul and Rob led the group, with forties in hand. Rob carried a plastic bag with a few reserve forties in it, but of course he didn’t dare to put it down anywhere—this was standard procedure. Unattended alcohol would vanish. Any fool knew that.

King Zack sat on his throne at the quarters table, the life of the party, though he appeared ready to topple over at any minute. Sarah had gone that same route, as she was drunk and huggy with Nikki and Katherine, and altogether unconcerned with the state of her boyfriend’s house.

“Nikki!” Clay yelled, running up and throwing his arms around her.

“Clay. Dude…” She pulled herself free.

“You made it!”

“Looks like everyone did,” she replied.

Clay eyed the cargo that Rob carried.

“Rob, dude! Let me have a forty!”

“Sorry, kid, we only have a few. Not any to spare.”

It was like Clay didn’t even hear him, his face drunken, his expression blank. “C’mon, Rob!” he shouted again, even tapping on his shoulder.

Rob scowled while pushing him away. “You better back the hell off, motherfucker.”

Clay staggered away, and seconds later was approached by Amy Weaver, who emerged from the crowd. Paul noticed Rob eyeing her quietly as he guzzled his forty.

“Hey Clay, did you ever find Brad?” she asked.

“I tried to get him in here. He’s such an idiot.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Amy, let me tell you a little secret. Brad, see, he talks about you all day.”

“Does he really?”

“Yes. He’s got it bad for you. And now you’re here, and he’s not.”

“So…where is he?”

Clay shrugged. “Outside, chasing butterflies. Or downstairs, jackin’ off. Who the hell knows with that guy?”

“Hey, you cheating on me, girl?” Rob asked, descending upon Amy, dropping his arm around her. He did it as though the affection were just a joke, just part of a masquerade.

“Hi, Rob,” she replied, skeptically.

Just by the tone of her voice, Paul could tell it wasn’t happening. But Rob had drank enough to be tone deaf.

“Hey, honey. You’re looking fine tonight,” he added.

“My husband. Still the sweet talker, I see,” she murmured.

A roar came from the kitchen, from the quarters table. In the middle of it stood Trey, arms in the air, yelling something incomprehensible, and Nikki had her arms thrown around him as he spun her around joyously.

“What was that all about?” Amy asked.

“Looks like Trey just hit a long match,” Paul answered. “Nothing else could cause a scene like that.”

“Who’s the girl draped across him?” Amy wondered.

“Nikki.”

“Are they a thing?”

“Looks like they are now.”

“Who’s the guy draped all over you, Amy?” Lauren inquired, grinning.

Amy grimaced up at Rob. “I guess he forgot that class let out.”

“Aw, baby, don’t do me like that,” Rob replied, his expression one of mock pain. “And after all we been through.”

Clay emerged from the crowd yet again, staggering even more so. “Rob, man, c’mon,” he pleaded. “Let me have a forty.”

That was another guy who wasn’t giving up, Paul observed, and he knew that Clay had better tread carefully. At the moment, Rob looked mellow enough, but that switch could flip in an instant. Especially with Amy shutting him down.

“No, motherfucker, I already told you,” Rob said, looking over at Paul, like he was asking, who is this guy?

Paul tensed, ready to intervene.

“C’mon, man,” Clay said, wobbling back and forth, still tapping Rob’s shoulder.

Paul saw that speechless look in Rob’s face, the one that said he didn’t know whether to laugh or to punch the guy in the face. But then Rob realized the best course of action soon enough, as he keenly located the board games underneath the coffee table in the living room. Reaching down, he grabbed one of them.

“Hey, Clay,” Rob said. “Get a fuckin’ clue.”

Rob launched the game box that was Clue and it exploded all over Clay. Dice and other game pieces, such as a lead pipe and revolver, all rattled to the floor, and little cards that read Professor Plum or Colonel Mustard fluttered in the air. With sporadic laughter all around, Clay finally took the hint and stumbled off.

Paul had to laugh also. “I always like it when you involve props like that,” he remarked. “It really takes things to the next level.”

“Thanks, man,” Rob replied, his tone like an artist accepting a compliment. “Sometimes it all just comes together, you know?”

Amy shook her head. “That was so mean.”

“What?” Rob protested. “That dude was lunchin.’ He’s lucky I didn’t knock his ass out.”

She ducked out from under his arm. “Rob, I got to go.”

“Where you going, girl?”

“I’m gonna go find Brad. I haven’t talked to him once all night. I haven’t even seen him.”

“Fine. Later.”

Amy skated off.

Rob stood silently by himself. He looked drunk and pissed off. “If this Brad motherfucker has the nerve to show his face around here, I will knock his ass out,” he proclaimed.

“Well, I’m sure he’s here somewhere,” Paul said. “It seems like pretty much the entire sophomore class is here.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Rob said. “They’re all a bunch of drunk-asses, too. Here comes another one now.”

They watched Katherine Lisi as she approached unsteadily from the kitchen.

“Hey, it’s Little Lisi!” Lauren said. “You were playing quarters, weren’t you?”

Katherine smiled. “How’d you know?”

Lauren smiled back. “You feelin’ okay?”

“Yeah. No more quarters for me, though.”

They looked back at the table, which was raucous as ever. Drunken King Zack still presided over the games, his hands in the air, attempting to moderate, while most people around listened to him only halfheartedly. Nearby were Trey and Nikki, hanging all over one another.

“Aren’t we gonna go back to the other party at some point?” Katherine asked, staring at them.

“Yes,” Lauren promised. “But it will be a very slow roll out of here, I’m afraid.”

“Oh. That sucks.”

“Why is that?”

“There was someone I was supposed to meet tonight. He probably thinks I’m dissing him.”

“Yeah?”

A pensive look crossed her face. “Where is Joe, anyway?” she asked.