The Party

The party was a small last minute gathering of high school students and a few local freshmen from over at the college. Jello shots started the evening amid whoops and hollers as shy girls were cheered on by excited fraternity boys.

The house was pretty shabby by all accounts, but suitable beats were happening. Nemzzz and Mumford playing loud on the stereo made it a party—as much as hastily strung ornaments from last Christmas and lengths of toilet paper stuck to the ceiling. It was getting busy in the front room and things were happening. No-one had vacuumed for months, so the stomping dancers soon raised a huge cloud of dust.

Inevitably someone in the crowded kitchen started a game of “truth or dare” with tequila shots: Are you still a virgin? Yes, take another shot! Lots of lies and laughing. Girls were strategically sitting on boys laps. Bossin! Dare you to french someone you don't know!

Alex, having drunk at least four shots, couldn't stop himself from gushing on about Aleisha, even as Charlotte listened patiently. Her mom had dropped her off with strict instructions to be back at 10:30. Whatever. But she wasn't really enjoying herself. Aleisha's so dumb! Why does he even like her? she thought.

Jared was hovering around nearby and awkwardly making random comments here and there. Secretly he didn't know what to say to Charlotte. Maybe she likes musicals?

Aleisha, however, was in the front room dancing with André, the French exchange student. He had a sweet European designer jacket on and his accent was so cool. Plus obviously he was really good looking. Soon she couldn't help herself from putting an arm around him in a move that seemed to work out quite well.

Later the music got annoying as people argued over what to put on next. Some kids went down to the basement to play Beat Saber on a huge TV.

Charlotte was tired of listening to Alex and wondered if it was worth staying. Stepping over a couple necking in the hallway, she went to see what else was going on.