by Emily Camp
Mason kissed me on the side of the head and said, “It’s working.”
“Kacey?” I couldn’t believe who I saw when I turned. It took me a minute to recognize him. He was about a thousand inches taller than he was when we went to spring fling. His hair was a little longer and a shade darker, too. Instead of light blond, it was more of a dishwater blond.
“Evan?” I said.
“You know Kacey?” Mason said fist bumping him.
“Tyler, Addi.” Evan fist bumped Tyler, nodded at Addi. “My dad and Kacey’s mom had a thing.”
I didn’t know if I should be offended by his omission of our on again, off again relationship or not. Yes, we met because of our parents, but we’d stayed in touch after.
His eyes were already bloodshot. He swayed, the cup sloshing in his hand. “Wanna drink?”
“Heck yeah,” Tyler said.
“Keg’s this way, my man.” Evan put his hand on his shoulder.
“How bout you, Kacey?”
“No thanks.” I hadn’t drank since I was with Nolan.
“Addi?”
The, “sure,” that came out of her mouth surprised me. She was always the one who lectured everyone about drinking. She happily followed them to the keg.
“Soda?” Evan turned to me once we were in the kitchen.
“That’d be great.”
Mason’s arm left my shoulders before I could answer and then he was gone, leaving me here with Evan.
“Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Sprite?” He said as he dug through the cooler.
“Sprite please.” I looked over my shoulder. Mason kept getting further away. How were we supposed to make Dia jealous if he wasn’t even here with me?
Evan’s arm slipped over my shoulders where Mason’s had just been. “Why did we break up again?”
“I think you quit calling me,” I said.
“Phone works both ways.” This was true, but it also happened to be around the time Jesse moved to the neighborhood, so I hadn’t been too worried about it either.
“True,” I laughed.
He nodded, “right,” he smelled like a brewery, his face close to mine. I glanced at Addi, who was chugging down her drink. Tyler stood nearby, encouraging it with cheers and shouts. What was her deal tonight? She never drank.
“You know Dia the Diva is not going to like Mason bringing a hot girl to her party and all.” He swayed. I leaned away as his mouth was almost touching mine.
“That’s what we’re hoping.”
“So, you’re not like on a real date then?” His eyebrows shot up.
“Not really.” I sipped my soda, looked around the room again. Several people I recognized. I’m sure I followed at least half of them on social media, but I didn’t know very many of them.
Evan tipped his red cup back, finishing it off. “Wanna know something weird?”
“What?” I said, smiling at him because I couldn’t deny that I didn’t love the attention he was giving me.
“I was just thinking about you the other day.”
“You were?” That was even better. I was about to ask him what about me when someone shouted for him.
Evan looked up and waved for only a second before his attention was back on me. At least I wasn’t left completely alone in the sea of Ellison High students. He reached across me to fill his cup, never finishing what he was going to say.
Evan spent the next half hour entertaining me. He introduced me to everyone, not that I could remember all those names, but I did get quite a few friend requests. I kind of liked it here, where nobody knew me. Nobody was judging me for the fact that I’d had several boyfriends this year or that I didn’t get good grades. Because even though grades were supposed to be private, they weren’t. Especially if you spent a month of study halls in Educational Support. Other than Dia and her friends, who clearly didn’t like me, understandably so, everyone else seemed to. The only thing that bothered me was how drunk Addi was getting. I tried to keep track of how many she had but she kept wandering out of my sight.
She shuffled to me, tossing her arms over my shoulders. “Kacey, I love you.”
“I think you might want to slow down.” I said, taking the cup from her.
She pouted her lip and turned to Tyler. “Isn’t he adorable?”
He laughed, no doubt this going to his head. “Need another?” He asked over the music.
“I don’t think she does.” I said, but I wasn’t sure if they heard over the racket.
She flung her arms around his shoulders. Puckering up. “I love you.” She said, though it was barely audible. So, she was a lovable drunk, unlike her father.
He smiled a hooded smile down at her. With one hand still gripping his beer, he put his other on her hip. “You want to go upstairs?”
Oh please. I rolled my eyes.
“What about Kacey?” She turned toward me.
“She can come along.” His beady eyes catching mine. I flipped him off. This only made him laugh.
Addi opened her mouth to say something, but before it came out, someone grabbed my hand and pulled me away. Evan. “Let’s play some pong.”
“Beer pong? I’m in.” Tyler suddenly distracted, followed us to the table. I didn’t think that was a bad thing. Addi needed to slow down, but didn’t look like she was going to anytime soon.
I was only a bit jealous when I saw Dia and Mason talking. After all, they were the ones with the recently failed relationship. I just hoped if he took her back that she didn’t cheat on him again. I stood by Evan as he bounced a ping pong ball into a cup. I was amazed at how many times he actually made it in as drunk as he seemed. Tyler kept missing from the other side. And had to drink up. Now, not only was Addi too drunk, but so was Tyler. And Mason, he was heading up the large staircase with Dia leading the way. He met my eyes and gave me a thumbs up, I returned the gesture. It was, after all, why I was here. I looked at my phone. My curfew crept closer. I wasn’t sure how that was going to work though, Dia wouldn’t be happy about Mason pausing their makeup session to take me home.
Evan’s breath on my neck made me jump. “Looks like you accomplished what you came here for.”
“Yeah.” Except, how was I going to get home? On the other side of the table, Tyler wobbled as he missed and took another drink, chugging it this time. I’d ask Evan, but he was drinking too. Even if I could find an uber driver or taxi that would take me that far, I didn’t have enough cash for either.
I took Addi by the hand and tugged her aside. “We need to leave soon.”
“But we just got here.” She bumped into me, her eyes sliding shut then opening again.
“My curfew’s midnight.”
She hiccupped. “We have plenty of time.”
“It’s almost eleven.”
“Darn,” she giggled.
“I don’t want to be grounded for life.”
“Your mom’s … coo” she paused and took a breath, concentrating on the wall. “… your mom’s c …” She swallowed. “I think I’m going to be sick.” And then she ran out the back door and wretched in the barren flower bed.
"Ew man, look at that.” A guy in a polo shirt with the collar popped up laughed and pointed at her. His friends around him joined in.
Real funny asshole. He was at a party, had he never seen a girl vomit before?
I rubbed her back. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head and crouched down on the ground. Strands of hair dangled in the vomit. It was so gross.
“I’ll go get Tyler.” Though I wasn’t sure what he was going to do.
I weaved my way back into the party.
Evan reached for me to come back to his side as he tossed a ping pong ball. I shook my head and pointed at Tyler at the other end of the table.
“Hey.” I tugged on his arm.
“Hold on a sec.” He tossed his ball. It missed. He cursed and took a drink.
“Addi got sick,” I said.
“She what?” He shook his head and narrowed h
is glossy eyes at me. “I told her to slow down.”
No, I was the one who told her to slow down, but I wasn’t going to argue about that now. “We need to get her home.”
“She isn’t going to feel like getting in a car.” He leaned against the table.
“She needs help.” He’s the one that had been with her all night, not me. He should be helping.
“Such a light weight.” He groaned then looked at Evan. “I’m out. Gotta take care of the old lady.”
Old lady? Addi was barely 16.
I took a deep breath and ventured outside to Addi. Tyler trailing behind me. The air felt cooler now.
He knelt beside her. “Babe, why’d you get so drunk?” His tone wasn’t sweet or thoughtful, just matter-of-fact.
She just moaned.
“We need to find a ride home.”
Tyler glared up at me. “Where’s Mason?”
“He went upstairs with Dia.”
Tyler ran his hand over his head. “He wasn’t drinking.”
“Should I text him?”
“Nah.” He looked up at the sky. “We could stay here I’m sure.”
“I’m not staying here.” My mom expected me home at midnight. I couldn’t even lie and say that I was staying with Addi because we never stayed there.
“You might have to.” Tyler glared at me.
I had my arms across my chest. It was getting colder. I wasn’t going to stay at this girl’s house. I came here with her boyfriend tonight. How awkward was that going to be?
“She needs to lie down,” I said.
Tyler cursed. Then he shook his head. “I’m sure there’s somewhere to crash inside.”
“I’m sure there’s not.” It was way too crowded in there.
“You’re not her mother, Kacey.”
“I’m her best friend.” I was used to her being the responsible one.
“She’s the one who got drunk. She can handle it.” He mumbled then turned and went back in. What? He was just going to leave her here? In the cold? She was now sideways on the concrete. The puddle of vomit beside her.
I took in a deep breath and looked at the house. I couldn’t believe he just walked away. I didn’t care what Tyler said or did, I was going to get us out of here. She’d done this for me before.
I pulled out my phone and began to scroll through my contacts. Calling Cody was out of the question Dylan, eh. I didn’t want to call anyone who would think I was calling them because I was interested.
My thumb hovered over Jack’s name when I got to it. He wouldn’t expect anything in return if I called him. I wondered though if he would even come. Instead of pressing call or text, I scrolled down further. Certainly there was someone else.
Anyone else.
Jesse? No.
Leo? Not a chance.
Nolan? Why haven’t I deleted him?
There was no one. Unless I wanted to call my mom, which was the last thing I should do considering Addi had been drinking.
Looked like Jack was my only choice.
At least I could check anyway, before I tried my mom.
It surprised me when he picked up on the first ring. “Hello?” His voice was scratchy like I just woke him.
“Jack?” As if it would be someone else answering his phone.
“Who’s this?”
“Kacey.” I waited for a minute. Maybe he’d hang up on me.
“Kacey?”
“Um … I kind of need a … if you don’t … you don’t have to ...” I jabbed the toes of my Converse into the concrete.
“Spit it out,” he deadpanned.
“So direct.”
“Unlike you. Aren’t you supposed to be on a date right now?”
“That’s the thing. I’m kind of stranded.” I bit my bottom lip. I glanced down at Addi. I should cover her, but with what?
“Date not going well?”
“He made up with his ex, which was the only reason we were on the date, so there’s that.”
“What about Tyler and Addi?”
“If you don’t want …”
“No, I’ll come,” he said quickly. I hadn’t even technically asked.
“Your parents won’t care?”
“They’re not home.”
“So …”
Addi moaned.
“Addi’s kind of drunk.”
“I’m on my way.”
“You are?” I looked over my shoulder at the party behind me, as if he was already here. I didn’t know why I called, because I hadn’t expected him to come get me. At least without begging.
“I need the address.”
“I’ll text it.” I said before hanging up.
“Who you texting?” Evan sauntered outside. The beer dangled dangerously from his hand.
“My ride.” I lifted my phone.
“Leaving so soon?” His arm was heavy over my shoulders.
“Curfew,” I shrugged.
“I can take you home,” he wobbled.
“You can’t even stand!” Another guy shouted. I wasn’t sure from where. Evan flipped him off and swayed as if to prove the guy right.
“I can call you sometime?” He said leaning into me, beer breath in my face.
“When you’re sober.” When he was sober he’d be able to speak correctly. I patted his chest and gently pushed him away. He was invading my personal space. I didn’t mind my personal space being invaded if I was making out with someone, but right now, my focus needed to be on getting Addi home. My home anyway.
He stared at me with a crooked smile, then he leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. Not that I cared what these people thought of me, but it probably didn’t look good when I arrived with one boy, another kissed me, and then I was going to be leaving with yet another.
Then he whispered in my ear. Or at least attempted to. His mouth strayed from it a little bit, as he wobbled back and forth. “When I call, we can figure out when we’re going out again?”
“You’re drunk, Evan.” Another guy shouted before I had the chance to answer. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway, he probably wouldn’t remember this tomorrow.
“I’m not drunk.” Evan protested with a slur. He shot his beer up in the air, the amber liquid splashed his sleeve.
***
I was thankful when Jack finally texted me. I turned back to Evan, feeling like I should at least say goodbye to someone. He was in the middle of a heated debate about how he was not drunk.
After I attempted to lift Addi off the ground and failed, I headed out front. Jack’s car was parked sideways behind a massive, beat-up truck. I waved. I never thought I’d ever be happy to see Jack. Right now, I was elated.
When I leaned inside his car, I was taken aback by the spicy-soapy scent. He had a cowlick on the back of his head. Something I’d never seen on him before. I must have woke him when I called. It shouldn’t have surprised me how meticulously clean his car was, either. Most boys’ cars that I’d been in had at least a few pieces of trash on the floorboard as well as a layer of dust on the dashboard. Not his, his sparkled.
“I need your help,” I said.
With both hands on the wheel, he looked behind him as if I was talking to someone else.
“I can’t get Addi by myself.”
“Where’s her boyfriend?” He squinted toward the house.
“Who knows,” I shrugged.
Jack sat there for a minute, his brow wrinkled in thought, before he turned the engine off and climbed out. He was still in the hoodie I saw him in earlier, only now he had on jeans instead of shorts.
“She’s out back.” I motioned for him to follow.
When we were around the house, Addi was sitting up, leaning against the brick house. Before we made it to her, Tyler was waltzing out the backdoor.
“Landry, what’s up!” He held his beer in the air.
“Not much.” Jack said as we made our way toward Addi, who would be horrified if she knew what she looked like right now. Her hair matted to her face
. Her mascara smeared under her eyes.
“Ads are you ready?” I knelt by her.
She only groaned and wiped her hand across her face.
“Is she ready for what?” Tyler stalked toward us.
“I’m taking her home.” I didn’t look at him.
“You can’t take her home, her dad will flip.”
Yes, I was completely aware of how much trouble she’d be in. “She’s staying with me tonight.”
“She’s supposed to stay with me,” he said.
“She doesn’t need to be out here freezing.”
When I leaned closer to Addi and smelled the stench on her, I felt bad about putting her in Jack’s car. But what other choice did I have?
“I said she’s staying with me.” Tyler stomped toward me.
“Whoa.” Jack stepped in between us. “Chill out.”
“Addi and I had plans,” Tyler glared at me.
“And you got her stupid-drunk,” I said.
“She got herself drunk. I didn’t do nothing.” Tyler held his arms out wide making him look like some kind of deranged animal.
“It doesn’t matter who got her drunk.” Jack stood between us.
Yes, I was sober, and yes, I was ready to brawl with Tyler.
“We all can agree, she doesn’t need to be out here in the cold.” Jack continued.
Addi’s eyes rolled back in her head and her lids drooped shut.
“She’s trashed, anyway. Won’t even remember,” Tyler huffed.
I tried to get Addi to stand, but her limbs were too flimsy, like noodles.
Tyler stomped back inside, slamming the door behind him. The least he could have done was help us.
“I got her.” Jack said as he helped her stand. He tossed her arm over his shoulder and rested his around her waist. He talked quietly and she seemed to respond, though barely. I felt useless following behind them and it took forever to get to his car as every step seemed difficult for her.
