It’s been three days since I hooked up with Aiden, and being the idiot that I am, I refused to open the app to check if he had messaged me. Every time I’d consider checking, I would start to feel uneasy and decide against it.

Today was no different.

“You’re such a punk, Marc.” Emma said from beside me, interrupting me from my thoughts. “Open the app!” She made a reach for my phone, but I pulled it away.

“No. I don’t wanna seem desperate.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s been a few days already, that’s not being desperate. Besides, maybe he hasn’t even messaged you!”

I paid her no mind though. If he really hadn’t messaged me yet, then I was over here fretting for no reason. Maybe it was best if I went ahead and checked…

Negative. I’ll continue being a pussy.

“So, Ray’s throwing a party tonight. You down to go?” Emma asked as we continued walking home.

“Who the fuck is Ray?”

She gave me a look as if I should have known. “Jenny’s brother. He graduated, like, three years ago.” She went on after I gave her no indication that I knew him. “Anyway, he’s twenty-one now, so yeah; legally bought alcohol.”

“Sure.” I shrugged. “I just gotta and tell my parents I’ll be over at yours or somethin’.”

“Sounds good. I’ll text you later, then.” We came to her street and she waved goodbye as she walked down to her house.

> > > > >

Apparently Jenny didn’t live far from us, because Emma insisted we could walk there. And walk we did. It was just a little before 10, but the music could already be heard blaring from outside. We passed a few stragglers who were out in the front yard before we came to the door. Upon opening it, bright, neon lights lit all over from who the fuck knows what.

“Is that a fog machine?” I incredulously asked aloud as I eyed the object.

“Hell yeah it is.” A random guy said from behind us. “I take it you two know Jenny?”

Emma beamed. “Sure do, where is she?”

“Out back, I think.” He took a swig from the beer he was holding. “Enjoy yourselves, though.” He retreated, patting us both on our shoulders. I turned to Emma.

“That was Ray.” She informed me, but he still didn’t look familiar. “Seriously? He was super known when we were freshmen!”

“No clue.” I shook my head. “Let’s get a drink though. I need to let loose since the majority of people here seem to be friends of Ray.” I said, taking notice of all the people who looked a bit older than us.

She agreed and we both made our way to the kitchen. Large coolers were placed on the counter, plastic cups sat beside them. I grabbed a cup and asked a girl nearby if she knew what was in them.

“Here.” She took my cup and filled it with liquid from one of the coolers. “It’s green apple, but it’s the best from these. You’ll like it.”

I thanked her and handed the cup to Emma. I poured myself the same and looked at Emma as she took a sip from her cup. She gave the drink a nod of approval, so I tried it as well. Expecting the worst, I drank very little. However, my mouth immediately salivated at the small taste I had acquired.

“Ohhh, jolly rancher!” I mused.

“Oh, no shit?! It tastes exactly like it.” Emma added.

“That’s because Ray and his buds added them to it.” Jenny disclosed to us. She gave us both a small hug. “Glad you two showed up. Most of us younglings are outside if you don’t wanna be in here with these people.”

We followed her lead as she walked out back, coming to a group of about ten familiar faces from our grade. We all stood and made small talk, nursing sips of our drinks as we did so.

As we continued talking, I eventually lifted my cup to take a drink, but I realized I had already finished it. Feeling no buzz from the alcohol yet, I told Emma I was going to head back in to get some more. Making my way back inside to where the coolers were, I found they were no longer there.

“They just moved them out to the living room.” The girl from before, said. “I take it you liked it?”

I nodded my head and gave her a smile, and she gave one in return. I walked out into the living room, spotting the coolers nearby where the DJ’s table was set up. I made my way over, pushing past people who were dancing in order to do so. I came up to them, but paused, unsure of which one contained the beverage I wanted.

“Green apple, I assume?”

I didn’t even need to look up to know who had spoken to me. Aiden. I chose not to look at him, though, instead continuing to stare at the coolers. “Yep, which is it?” I asked, a smirk forming on my lips.

“The one on the left.” I started to reach over, but he continued.