“Suite No. 2” from
Romeo and Juliet
. There’s even a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
People are milling around, chatting quietly. One guy appears to be asleep. The whole scenario reminds me of a party from the book
The Great Gatsby
.
“Where’s the booze?” I ask, and immediately regret it.
Gina raises an eyebrow. “You gonna be a lush, roomie?”
I have no idea what she means, so I shrug. “Is this supposed to be a fraternity for the wealthy kids or something?” I whisper.
“I guess. If this is how they party, then I don’t want to be rich.” Her right leg is bouncing up and down. She’s antsy.
A clock on the mantle says eleven twenty-nine.
“Should we get out of here?” I was looking forward to the numbness, the warm fuzziness from the alcohol. But if all they’re going to serve is sparkling cider, there’s no point staying.
“Yeah.” She looks around the room in disgust. “Snooty and boring. Eesh.” She stands, and I’m about to follow, when a guy in a tux walks in.
He’s handsome in that
someday-I’ll-be-a-senator
way.
“My name is Sam. I’m the president of the Alpha Kais. If you’ll please follow me.” He turns and walks from the room.
Everyone rushes forward. Excited whispers fill the room.
“What’s happening?”
“Where are we going?”
Gina and I follow the crowd.
“Should we duck out? It looks like he’s leading us past the front door,” Gina says.
I’m curious, though. “Let’s see where he’s taking us.”
Sam takes us past the front entryway, through the kitchen, and then opens a door.
“Welcome to Hell,” he says with a grand flourish. A huge grin lights up his pasty-white face.
Several girls squeal with enthusiasm. It’s like a herd of elephants clomping down the stairs.
Gina and I exchange a look.
Loud music is pumping below.
Without a word to each other, we make our way down.
At the bottom is a thick black curtain. I push it open and can hardly believe my eyes.
“This is more like it!” Gina hollers.
A disco ball sends sparkling lights around the room to the beat of the music. There are girls in bikinis dancing around poles on small circular stages. Their movements are slow and seductive.
In the center of the room is a dance floor. Hundreds of kids are gyrating. To the right are small round tables. Couches shaped in a C are nestled around them. Behind the chairs is a bar. Shirtless guys are whipping up drinks. The room is packed. And I wonder why they kept us waiting around upstairs for so long.
Like the last party, the music, the energy, and the idea of drinking push away the pain that’s constantly dwelling in my soul. It’s too loud to feel anything but the beat.
I glance at Gina. She swaying, and I get the feeling being here pushes away whatever sadness she harbors as well. It dawns on me that I consider her a friend. My first. And I realize I want to get to know her better. Really know her.
A pretty boy with blond highlights, wearing only red boxers, sticks a tray in my face and smiles. “Jell-O shot?”
Surprised, I step back. “What’s in it?” I ask, wrinkling my nose.
He leans in and whispers in my ear. “Heaven.”
My face heats up, and I have no idea why. But I figure I’ll give it a try. He hands me a cup filled with blue Jell-O. I don’t know what to do with it.
Gina grabs a yellow one, tips it, and squeezes the contents into her mouth. She shakes her head, and swallows. “Yummy.” She tosses the empty cup on the tray, picks up another, and does it again.
“Give it a try,” the guy says, smirking at Gina.
I’m still hesitant until Gina adds, “It’s filled with booze.”
I can’t help the smile that breaks over my face.
The mostly-naked guy and Gina laugh. “I guess I should’ve led with that,” the guy says.
My mind is reeling, ready for the gooey warmth that comes with the strong liquid. I tip back the small cup. The contents fall into my mouth, and I swallow. “Mmm.
Romeo and Juliet
. There’s even a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
People are milling around, chatting quietly. One guy appears to be asleep. The whole scenario reminds me of a party from the book
The Great Gatsby
.
“Where’s the booze?” I ask, and immediately regret it.
Gina raises an eyebrow. “You gonna be a lush, roomie?”
I have no idea what she means, so I shrug. “Is this supposed to be a fraternity for the wealthy kids or something?” I whisper.
“I guess. If this is how they party, then I don’t want to be rich.” Her right leg is bouncing up and down. She’s antsy.
A clock on the mantle says eleven twenty-nine.
“Should we get out of here?” I was looking forward to the numbness, the warm fuzziness from the alcohol. But if all they’re going to serve is sparkling cider, there’s no point staying.
“Yeah.” She looks around the room in disgust. “Snooty and boring. Eesh.” She stands, and I’m about to follow, when a guy in a tux walks in.
He’s handsome in that
someday-I’ll-be-a-senator
way.
“My name is Sam. I’m the president of the Alpha Kais. If you’ll please follow me.” He turns and walks from the room.
Everyone rushes forward. Excited whispers fill the room.
“What’s happening?”
“Where are we going?”
Gina and I follow the crowd.
“Should we duck out? It looks like he’s leading us past the front door,” Gina says.
I’m curious, though. “Let’s see where he’s taking us.”
Sam takes us past the front entryway, through the kitchen, and then opens a door.
“Welcome to Hell,” he says with a grand flourish. A huge grin lights up his pasty-white face.
Several girls squeal with enthusiasm. It’s like a herd of elephants clomping down the stairs.
Gina and I exchange a look.
Loud music is pumping below.
Without a word to each other, we make our way down.
At the bottom is a thick black curtain. I push it open and can hardly believe my eyes.
“This is more like it!” Gina hollers.
A disco ball sends sparkling lights around the room to the beat of the music. There are girls in bikinis dancing around poles on small circular stages. Their movements are slow and seductive.
In the center of the room is a dance floor. Hundreds of kids are gyrating. To the right are small round tables. Couches shaped in a C are nestled around them. Behind the chairs is a bar. Shirtless guys are whipping up drinks. The room is packed. And I wonder why they kept us waiting around upstairs for so long.
Like the last party, the music, the energy, and the idea of drinking push away the pain that’s constantly dwelling in my soul. It’s too loud to feel anything but the beat.
I glance at Gina. She swaying, and I get the feeling being here pushes away whatever sadness she harbors as well. It dawns on me that I consider her a friend. My first. And I realize I want to get to know her better. Really know her.
A pretty boy with blond highlights, wearing only red boxers, sticks a tray in my face and smiles. “Jell-O shot?”
Surprised, I step back. “What’s in it?” I ask, wrinkling my nose.
He leans in and whispers in my ear. “Heaven.”
My face heats up, and I have no idea why. But I figure I’ll give it a try. He hands me a cup filled with blue Jell-O. I don’t know what to do with it.
Gina grabs a yellow one, tips it, and squeezes the contents into her mouth. She shakes her head, and swallows. “Yummy.” She tosses the empty cup on the tray, picks up another, and does it again.
“Give it a try,” the guy says, smirking at Gina.
I’m still hesitant until Gina adds, “It’s filled with booze.”
I can’t help the smile that breaks over my face.
The mostly-naked guy and Gina laugh. “I guess I should’ve led with that,” the guy says.
My mind is reeling, ready for the gooey warmth that comes with the strong liquid. I tip back the small cup. The contents fall into my mouth, and I swallow. “Mmm.
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