The Chronicles of Fire and Ice: The Revealing

by Peay, Dexx

  Smokin’ Party

  Later that night I played some video games with Dalton before the party and not focus on the unexplainable event that took place earlier in school. Marcus was persistent on trying to get me to tell him what happened in the bathroom. I didn’t want to sound like a lunatic, so I blamed the migraines. We’ve been friends for years and to top it off, I was a horrible liar. He spotted that lie before the words even left my mouth.

  I continued the game before I finally got up to get ready. I was glad that Marcus had plans with Monica tonight so I wouldn’t have to pick him up. They planned on going to the party afterward. Maybe I should just tell him about the whole blue-eyed freak show that happened in class? He was my friend. He would believe me, I thought.

  I put the controller down, and patted Dalton on the head as I walked out of his room.

  “I love you, kid.”

  I threw on some orange beach shorts and an old sleeveless basketball shirt that had Falcons on the front, our school mascot. Wearing that shirt for the first time in a year was nostalgic. I let out a huge sigh as the memories of my days on the court and hanging with my teammates quickly flooded my brain and left just as fast. I grabbed my keys and headed downstairs, telling my parents bye as I walked out.

  The solo car ride was awkward. I couldn’t even get into the music. The fact that there was tension between Marcus and I zoned me out. We argued about stupid things all the time then went back to being best friends seconds later. This time was different. I couldn’t explain it because I couldn’t understand what was going on with my eyes.

  The music from Trey’s house blasted over the music in my car before I pulled into his house. His driveway and front lawn was packed full of cars with people socializing and making out. I parked and walked around back.

  “Guys,” I greeted as I walked around, instantly shifting into party mode.

  People were already splashing in the pool and dancing to the music. Out the corner of my eye stood Jessica’s clique of friends, laughing and pointing, taunting people. It’s what they did on a daily basis. Trey always threw the best parties at his place. Since his house was extremely huge and in a secluded location, we never had to worry about it being shut down. Add in the fact that his parents were never home and his sister moved away, his house was the spot for all weekend parties.

  “Dylan is here. Let the party begin,” I yelled at the top of my lungs, throwing my hands in the air.

  Everyone cheered. I took a deep breath in to soak up all the excitement then let it out, holding on to the narcotic effects of popularity. I looked around and said to myself, Damn, I love being me. At that moment, a thick arm wrapped around my neck from the back and clenched my throat. I gasped and grasped at the wrist.

  “Hey, guys, we got pizza and soda in the kitchen,” Trey yelled to everyone as he slapped me on the chest and continued to press his bicep to my neck. “What’s up, kid? ‘Bout time you showed up.”

  “Yeah, I’m here, now, let’s get, this, party started.” I said. His grip was tight and me clawing at his arm didn’t seem to faze him.

  “Where’s Macchiato?”

  I didn’t want to answer because it hurt to breathe let alone speak. Trey was no average seventeen-year-old. He was swollen like an infected cyst. All that football and weightlifting over the years had him bulked up. If you cut him, I’m sure he would bleed protein shakes.

  “On a date, with Monica, they should, be here whenever, they get done.” My fingers started to turn blue as my fist attacked his arm.

  “Cool, man,” he laughed as he overpowered my weak attempts at freeing myself. He unlatched, twisted me around, and threw me into the pool.

  The party went bananas when I splashed into water. I couldn’t even be mad. I just wanted to have a good time.

  I swam to the surface. A few girls giggled at the water running down my face. Trey reached out his hand and with ease, lifted me out of the water.

  “Sorry, Dylan,” he laughed and slapped me once more on the chest, leaving a small red mark.

  “No problem, man. I saw it coming.” I never planned on actually getting into the water. I pulled my shirt over my head and it smacked the pavement.

  “Let’s go get some pizza.” He waved for me to follow.

  My stomach was rumbling long before I got to the party. I grabbed two slices, one cheese, the other pepperoni, and a soda.

  “No need to rush, we got plenty,” Trey said.

  I replied mouth full. “I told you I was starving.” Usually I’m not too fond of the crust but this time I couldn’t resist.

  I exhaled and patted my stomach as if I just had my last supper. I walked around the party during that time to enjoy myself and talk with some friends. Every time I stopped to talk to one person, a swarm would come. There were people in my high school that talked to me on a daily basis. Some, I couldn’t tell you who they were, but for the most part, I knew everyone by name.

  Everyone was having a great time here, but my mind was constantly wandering away thinking about Jessica. I wished she were here to share the fun with us. I missed the warm touch of her hands entangled in mine and sweet taste of her lips locked onto my skin.

  I meandered over to the edge of the pool and took a seat, watching as a few people threw around a beach ball.

  “She must be begging for another girl to come snatch you up,” Diana said confidently. She walked up behind me wearing a white one-piece that had the sides cut out and ran her fingers through my soaked hair. “It should be a sin to have hair like this.”

  I didn’t have a response. She sat next to me and put her feet in the water as well.

  “Water is kind of cold.” She moved her feet around in the water and took one out.

  I gazed down at the water and shrugged. She shrugged too and continued.

  “So where’s Jessica tonight?”

  “Home. Couldn’t come out today.”

  “You look so much more handsome now that you took your contacts out.”

  I hung my head in slight embarrassment. “Umm, thanks, Diana.” I was still crept out as to what was going on with my eyes.

  She eyed me up and down. “Brown eyes just go better with your look.”

  I hesitated for a moment. “Diana, when are you finally going to accept that I’m with Jessica?” I couldn’t look at her. Her body, her hair, even her dimple, it was all tantalizing and I was a man. I wasn’t tempted, but I didn’t want any reason to be either. I turned my head the other direction.

  She laughed, her hand on her stomach. “It’s not always about you, Dill Pickle.” She flipped her hair.

  “What are you talking about?” I turned back to her.

  “That crush on you ended ages ago. I’ve moved on to new prey.” We both laughed and she spoke again after a moment of silence. “Can you believe we’re almost high school graduates?” Her sight got lost in the night sky.

  “No, no I can’t.” I shot a glance up to the sky hoping to see what she saw. “Wow, we’re almost done.”

  “What does life after Poughkeepsie Senior High hold for Mr. Perry?” She asked, eyes still staring into the sky.

  “I’ll be sure to let you know when I make a final decision. But I do hope it takes me on an unforgettable journey. You?”

  “College. In Boston. It’s been fun here but I have to explore beyond this town. My parents never left and I don’t want to end up too comfortable and lacking a sense of adventure.”

  “I understand. So … do I know him?” I quickly segued back to the original discussion.

  “Who?”

  “The new prey for Diana.” I nudged her arm.

  “Well, just know he is a little more mysterious than Mr. Dylan Perry.”

  “What? Someone more mysterious than I? What makes him more interesting than me?”

  “Well, to start off he has this husky voice that catches my attention when I hear him speak, you know, the voice of a working man.” She rubbed her finger in circles around her kneecap.
>
  “Are you telling me I’m not a man?”

  “You know what they say, if you have to ask…”

  “Whatever.”

  She chuckled as I nudged her again. “Anyway. He sort of has these dark and murky sad eyes, like they are waiting to tell a story and yearning to cry out to me. He has a smile that screams contagious but only if you can catch it. Short black hair that fades up the side, and lips that were created for only one thing. To top it off, he sort of has this grungy look like he’s from the City, and you know how I love a City boy. So yeah, that’s what makes him so mysterious. I just need a sample. Ha! Plus, he’s not on Poughkeepsie’s most wanted list.”

  “Well I wish you two a great mysterious future.” I stood and noticed Marcus swimming on the far end. “Aye, Marc,” I yelled out. He must have finished his date and crept past me. He turned around and nodded his head, then swam over to the ledge.

  “What’s up, Dylan?” He wiped his hand down his face.

  “Just enjoying the party,” I said. “Right, Diana?”

  She didn’t budge. She sat with her back arched, feet in the pool, still looking at the sky, completely ignoring the world. She slid her sunglasses down from her head to her eyes. “Macchiato.”

  “Hi,” said Marcus, voice calm and smooth.

  Diana ran her hands through her hair. The smile in her eyes was so intense you could feel it through the dark tint of her shades.

  “How was the date?” I asked. “Do I see sparks flaring back up between you two?”

  His light brown skin immediately went rosy.

  “It wasn’t a date, just two friends who once dated hanging out,” he claimed.

  He looked back and his eyes met with Monica’s. She gave him a flirty little glare as she pulled her soaked hair away from her face and went back to entertaining her friends.

  I must admit Monica was a gorgeous girl. Being kind-hearted just sort of took the cake. A whole new light revealed in Marcus when she came into his life. It was like she was an angel sent from up above, sworn to protect my best friend.

  I’ve always approved of her, not that he needed it, but I liked them together. Their hearts and personalities made them the ideal couple. It’s sad to say that I guess, well, I’m sort of envious. Not of her, just what they share. The love and chemistry they had for one another was epic. Like Romeo and Juliet minus the double suicide. I know they are meant for each other.

  I just hope one day they see it.

  I do have Jessica and like her a lot and all, but I do feel like we were pushed into our relationship. You have the popular girl in high school meets popular boy cursed with a fate to be that popular high school couple. Sort of like the traditional football jock and cheerleader but substitute basketball for football and dancer for cheerleader and well, there you have us.

  “Must have been some heavy duty hanging out you two were doing. Do you see that fire in her eyes?” I said facetiously.

  “Yeah it was great.” He talked as if I didn’t know how he truly felt. “I forgot how much I appreciated spending time just the two of us together.”

  “AHH HA!”

  “Oh no. NO, NO, NO, I know that look, you’re up to no good, bro.”

  “Whatever do you mean?”

  We laughed and joked around for a few minutes to the point where I think we forgot about the whole bathroom freak show. “Brothers for life,” he said. He shook my hand with his right and with his left, patted me on the back and pulled me into the water with him.

  It was something about what he said that brought back so many memories of us growing up. Marcus has been by my side for everything major in my life. It was crazy to think how much we’ve grown.

  I'm guessing this is pick on Dylan day, I thought. Marcus swam back to Monica.

  “So, about your best friend,” Diana asked as she ran her tongue across her upper lip, then bit her bottom.

  “Who? Marc? Yeah, what about him?” I forgot she was still out here sitting on the edge of the pool. She smirked, gawking at him.

  “No way.” I gazed out to Marcus splashing Monica as she giggled.

  “Way.” Her steamy voice would make anybody lust over her.

  “I can’t believe this.”

  “What are you trying to say?”

  “Nothing it’s just that…”

  “What you mean is how can a girl like me go for a guy like Macchiato?”

  “No, no that’s not it. It was just, unexpected, that’s all.”

  I wasn’t expecting Marcus to be the guy she was going to name. They’ve been classmates for years and she’s never even held a conversation with him. As she got up, she swung her hair then sashayed off making sure everyone noticed. “Looks like I have some planning of my own to do.”

  I shook my head.

  “Let’s get a game of chicken started!” Someone called out.

  Seven couples agreed to play. Marcus, Trey and I, of course wanted in. The competitive spirit was always extreme between us no matter what we were doing. Monica agreed to play and partner with Marcus. All he had to do was ask once and she was down. Camille grabbed me and nodded. I nodded back.

  Diana walked up and tapped Trey on the shoulder. “Mind if I play?”

  He ignored her presence. “Sure, find a partner.”

  “With you, idiot!”

  Sometimes Trey’s thoughts wandered off.

  Everyone gathered their partners and took a few moments to strategize. Our strategy: conserve our energy and let everyone else attack one another. By the time the game was ready to start, the pool was cleared of all partygoers.

  “Are you guys ready for a game of chicken?” Brian, from the junior class, announced. Everyone went wild, gathered around, and watched. All the guys submerged and when they resurfaced, their partners were on their shoulders. Trey and Diana towered everyone.

  “Get ready, get set, CHICKEN!” Brian yelled.

  The game started and we went with the plan to be incognito. It was like a war after that. Everyone grappled and attacked one another without any remorse. Monica and Marcus took down one couple no sweat. With six teams left, my plan to remain unspotted was thwarted. There was a couple Camille saw coming in our direction from the back. I braced myself and fought against the resistance of the water as I tried to turn around to defend the attack.

  “Brace yourself,” I said.

  A force pushed Camille and my left foot tripped over the right. We were out. With five teams left, Marcus and Trey both knocked out one team each. Three teams remained. They all stared at each other, catching their breaths’ and regaining energy.

  Once the battle continued, Trey gestured to Marcus. They were going to double-team the other couple so that they could be the last ones standing and dish it out. They slowly walked up to the competition. They both took a side. Monica and Diana both grabbed an arm and pushed her over.

  “So who will be the last man standing?” Brian screamed. The crowd was still going wild like drunks at a bar.

  They approached each other with caution. I knew when it came down to it Monica would make the first move on Diana. Monica reached out to grab for Diana but she rolled her arms and they became locked onto one another. The guys were trying to balance the girls, forcing their strength forward for stability.

  I stood on the edge cheering both teams when I noticed an increased amount of sweat dripping from Trey’s forehead as their faces tensed with wrinkles. I could have been wrong since they were in the water. Their concentration was like static in the air as they stared into each other eyes.

  “Do you feel that?” Trey looked down at the water.

  “Distractions … won’t work.” Marcus never took his eyes off of Trey.

  “Dude, I'm not. My feet are getting hot.” He panicked, trying to jump around, the water preventing him.

  Marcus dismissed Trey and remained focused on winning the game.

  “Why is the water starting to bubble?” Trey said.

  “Be still, Trey,” Diana sc
reamed. Trey was panicking and Marcus was now zoned out, just standing there, not even blinking.

  Trey’s voiced cracked as he struggled to get out a few words. “What’s going on?”

  Tiny bubbles the size of fish eggs rose from the space between them creating a Jacuzzi effect. The bubbles then doubled in size and stayed centered in that general area. People soon realized something wasn’t normal, gossiping and pointing at the pool.

  “This water is getting really hot,” Trey continued.

  Everyone at the party stared and tried to make sense of what was going on with Trey. The girls were completely oblivious, not paying attention to the situation going on right underneath them. Trey looked down at the bubbles and freaked out every time while trying to get the attention of Marcus, who was frozen in place with a blank stare glued to his face. Trey looked up and something must have really spooked him. He freaked out and dropped Diana. Soon as Diana hit the water, the bubbles vanished and Marcus had life back in his face.

  Monica climbed down and hugged Marcus followed by a peck on the cheek. He looked over at Trey who was practically running on water to get out of the pool.

  “We won!” Monica screamed. Marcus’ excitement didn’t match that of Monica’s. His gazed followed as Trey ran around his house.

  I wondered why Trey left in such a hurry and why he freaked out. I'm sure it had something to do with the bubbles, but I needed the full story. Marcus looked over in my direction and chills hit my spine. I swear for a split-second I felt as if I didn’t even recognize him. I went after Trey. I had to know what happened in the water.

  Trey was in the front yard when I found him, pacing back and forth, ranting on and on about something. A few of his nerves migrated my way as I cautiously walked up to him.

  “It can’t be possible, this doesn’t make sense,” he ranted as I approached.

  “Trey, what are you talking about,” I whispered, making sure not to set him off.

  “Nothing.” He jumped. “You scared me, Dylan. It was, I mean, it’s nothing.”

  He was all over the place and I couldn’t make out what he was saying. He continued to ramble.

  “Trey, did something happen during the game?”