Thanks to  Lesbian_Lobster, my beta reader

I'm so sorry this took so long 😭 school has been so intimidating lately and the time just flies by and my motivation has been dwindling up and down and the writer's block has been terrible bro

~Zak~

Finally, 6th period on a Friday.

The part of the day I can assume everyone craves for, whether they be potential killers or not

"Last minute party at Zelk's! Starts at 8pm, this Saturday! Address on the paper!" A girl exclaimed, flagging people down with a pile of small flyers in the halls.

"Here you go!" She told me with an enthusiastic smile, holding the flyer to my chest.

"Uh, thanks..." I said, taking the flyer, even though I had no intent to actually go.
I folded the paper, shoving it into my pocket.

So, Zelk's throwing a party...

What a clique.

I walked down the halls as more people shouted with the flyers, and other chatted eagerly.

For an asshole, he sure has a lot of friends.

I shove my hands in my pockets and continue on to my 6th period.

I take a seat, throwing my bag against the table.

Darryl isn't far behind me, setting his stuff aside and taking his seat next to me.

"Hey, Darryl." I greet.

"Hey Zak, did you hear about the party Zelk's throwing?" Darryl asks.

"How could I not've?" I say. "There's like a hundred people talking about it in the halls."

"Yeah..." He trailed off, "Do you wanna go?"

"Not really..." I said, before watching his soft smile drift to a frown.
"I mean, unless you wanna."

"No, no, it's okay if you don't want to." He said, looking off to the side, rubbing his arm.

"Why do you wanna go?" I ask. It's not like he has many friends, or at least I don't think he does.

"I don't know... just to get out of the house. And so we can y'know... spend some more time together?" He said with an awkward smile.

It would be nice to spend a little more time with Darryl...

"Fine, we'll go. But I need your mom to drop me off, it's too far of a walk from my house."

He nodded eagerly.

"Okay! I'll ask her right now!" He took out his phone, typing on his phone quickly.

I smiled at his eagerness. It was all too cute.

...

The bell chimed through the school, marking the end of the first school week.

I let out a sigh of relief.
Finally.

"Ooh! My mom answered! She said we can go!" Darryl smiled. I simply nodded.

"What're we even gonna do there?" I ask with a smile. What do you do at a big party?

"I'm not sure." Darryl replied with a quizzical look. He shrugged. "I just know I won't be at my house, and that's enough for me."

I guess he had a point.

I know for the weekend I'd be sitting around my apartment if it wasn't for this party. I doubt my mother will visit, anyways.

"Are you gonna drink?"

"What? No! I'm not old enough for that." Darryl denied, offended that I even proposed the idea.

"There's gonna be hella drunk people, that's for sure." I say.

"Yeah... "

It was quiet between us for a moment.

"Darryl, do you think our moms will ever accept us?"

"What?" He asked, surprised.

"Y'know... us being gay and all."

"I..." He paused, "I don't think I'm gay."

I looked at him, surprised.
"Really? What do you think then?"

"I don't know. It's not really gay or straight, I guess... It's hard to describe." He rubbed the back of his neck anxiously.
"But her accepting me? I don't think so. She's always held some distain towards the community." He sighed.

I simply watched his face, his soft, sweet face stare at the ground in a greater form of complexity.

"Darryl."

"Hmm?"

"No matter what your mother says." I say, grabbing his shoulder to meet his eyes, "I'll always love you."

I gave him a kiss, with the package deal of a hug coming soon after.

"I love you too, Zak." Darryl breathed.

I wallowed in his warmth as if it was the only thing keeping me alive.

~Darryl~

I stood in front of the mirror, tidying myself up, unfolding the small wrinkles that marked themselves on my black and red hoodie.

I anxiously looked at myself from every angle, searching for any imperfections that may have perpetrated my clothes.

While I wasn't going to be home with my mother, I still had the overwhelming anxiety questioning if I should go through with this.

I adjusted my glasses, unsure if they were actually slanted, or If my anxiety was speaking for my eyes.

I heard my mother's car horn go off from outside, where I went to meet her in the car.

"Took you long enough," She scoffed, before smiling. She pushed my arm,"Come on, I was joking."
I gave her an amused smile.

She cleared her throat.
"Sooo, first Saturday of the school year and you're already going to parties?" She asked.

She seemed to be in an unreasonably swell mood.

"Yeah." I chuckled,"... Why're you so... happy?" I ask.

"What? Can your mother not express her feelings anymore?" She asked sarcasticly.
"I'm just happy my boy is finally putting himself out there. Who knows? You might meet your future wife at this party!" She said with a smile. My heart twinged with sadness, my smile starting to faulter, before I plastered it back on.

"I don't know about that, mom... " I say.

"It's easy to talk to girls, sweety. Just be nice to them and treat them just like other people."

"I know how to talk to girls, mom."

"Well I don't see your girlfriend in the car with us," my mother shot.
"Oh, we're pulling up to your friend's house. Can you text him we're here?"

"Yeah, give me a second." I reply, taking out my phone.

A second or so later, Zak exits his apartment, walking down the stairs in my old hoodie.

He swung open the car door, taking the seat behind me.

"Hiiii." I greet happily, turning to face him.

"Hey." He smiled to me, buckling up.

"What's your name?" My mother asks, turning to meet Zak.

"Zak."

"Nice to meet you, Zak." She smiled.

Zak smiled at her sheepishly, shooting me an uncomfortable side eye the moment she turned back to the wheel.

"So, what're you boys gonna do tonight?"
My mother questions.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "Hang out, I guess."

She sighed nostalgically.
"Y'know, I met your father at one of these parties." She told me with a smile.

"Really?" I ask. She never talks about dad; let a lone in front of a stranger.

She nodded.
"Dead serious."

Awkward small talk ensued, before it simply devolved into silence.

"Here we are...308 Negra Arroyo Lane. Ha, for some reason that address sounds so familiar." She added cheerfully.
"Anyways..have fun baby! Call me when or if you need a ride!"

"Alright." I smile, getting out of the car to meet her rolled down window.  "Thanks for the ride mom."
Zak got out of the car, meeting my side.
"Thank you for taking me." Zak said respectfully.
She nodded. "You two boys better be good."

"We will." Me and Zak said together, before looking at each other and chuckling.

"Alright, I'll see you two later." My mother smiled, rolling up the window before driving off.

Me and Zak turned around to meet the house, our hands connecting.

Bright lights flashed out Zelk's large living room windows, coloring the dull yellow grass pink.

People littered the porch, some talking, some kissing, others black out drunk lying on the porch steps.

~Zak~

"Well." I start, looking to Darryl.
"What do you wanna do first?"

Darryl shrugged, his eyebrows raising.
"Let's just go inside."

I lead us, walking up the porch steps.

I became hyper aware of how warm and soft Darryl's hand was as we dodged those who sat on the steps, finding comfort in the gesture.

My hand rested on the doorknob as I took a deep breath.

I can't remember the last time I've been at party.

I think Darryl noticed my unsure glare, as he gave me a soft smile or reassurance in return.

My hand twisted, pulling the door open.

The first thing that hit my nose was the strong smell of alcohol.

Loud music added to the starkly bright lights as people danced about. Others stumbling around, dumb grins plastered on their faces and they laughed drunkenly.

"Uh..." Darryl awkwardly started. I turned my head to him, watching his face shift nervously. This was obviously much more extreme than he was expecting.

I squeezed his hand.
"Are you sure you want to be here?" I asked, concerned. "We can leave if you're overwhelmed."

He shook his head.
"I'm fine."

I shrugged as I began to navigate the drunk crowd, holding his hand tight to keep him close to me.
As I pushed through the giggling crowd, the smell of alcohol seemed to grow stronger.

We found ourselves in a slight opening, a breath of fresh air compared to the compacted living room.

Within the far corner of the big dining room, there was a polished, -probably expensive- table, with many people gathered around it, doing what I guess was gambling.

Then the big man himself walked into room.
He immediately ushered off a kid trying to light a cigarette, telling him to take it outside. Grumbling, the kid complied and left through the back door.

"... What now?" I ask Darryl. He was the person who dragged me here. ... Not like I blame him. I see why he'd wanna get out of the house after that car ride.

He looked around indecisively, scratching his head.
"Well, uh... "

The chiming sound of a spoon being hit against glass rung through the air, causing everyone to fall silent.

Zelk cleared his throat, people from the living room began to creep in.
"First of all, I want to thank every single one of you for showing up tonight."

The crowd cheered, clapping wildly. Darryl's hand clenched mine.

"Especially since this party was soooo last minute. I just found out yesterday morning that my parents were gonna be out of town tonight!" More applause.

"Sadly, my girlfriend, Allison, wasn't able to make it tonight." ... Azhol? "I'm not even sure where she is right now, but it ain't here." The crowd giggled.

"Anyways," he grinned, pushing the thought away with his hand, "Which one of you motherfuckers is gonna drink all of THIS?!" He held a large bottle of alcohol over his head, laughing confidently as people cheered and shouted.
"Who'll be first to hold it all down? Only time will tell!" He yelled over the crowd, many people raising their hands eagerly.

"How about..." Zelk put a hand to his chin, before smiling deviously.
His hand outstretched, pointing to the boy next to me.
"You?"

Darryl froze, immediately clinging to me as he trembled.
"I, well, I... I don't think I could drink all that..." He stuttered nervously.

"Come on, just give it a try." He smile stretched from ear to ear, hold out the bottle.

The crowd cheered around us, egging Darryl on.

"Drink it! drink it! drink it!" The crowd began to chant excitedly as Darryl desperately looked around for an escape.

"I'll take his place," I told Zelk in words only he could hear, as the drunken crowd continued cheering.

"I've already made up my mind." Zelk told me in a whispered tone, aggressively taking Darryl neck into the crook of his arm.
"The nerd is the one I want."

Darryl's eyes shot towards me, giving me a pained smile, the drunk audience dubious to his to resistance.

Zelk shook off the link between me and Darryl before handing Darryl the jug, which he winced at the weight of.

"Come on, Kid. Don't wanna disappoint the crowd, do you?"

Darryl had an anxious look on his face, one I knew he was trying his best to hide.
"I could- I could die if I drank all of that!" Darryl whispered desperately.

"Oh shut up, pussy." Zelk rolled his eyes, "Don't make me force you." He threatened, his hand brushing the bottom of the bottle.

"Stop, Zelk." I said, trying to contain my agitation.

Zelk scoffed, shoving me into the crowd.
"Don't tell me what to do, fag."

He redirected his attention to Darryl, pushing his shoulder.
"Are you gonna drink or what?"

After one last long glance into my eyes, Darryl hesitantly lifted the jug to his mouth.

The crowd shrieked and cheered.

"CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG!" People laughed hysterically.

I attempted to push through the crowd, but it felt impossible as everyone around me jumped and screamed.
I stood on the tips of my toes and tried to look over people, swerving my head around to try and catch whatever that was going on.

I saw Darryl begin to tilt the bottle back down, but Zelk pushed it back, Darryl choking in surprise.
"Come on, you can do it." He whispered to Darryl in a threatening undertone, a grin still sprawled on his face. "It'd be pretty pathetic to drop out now. At least finish the bottle."

It seemed ridiculous how no one else in the crowd seemed to care about what was unfolding in front of us.

"Stop!" I shouted to Zelk as I began to plow through the crowd (much to their dismay), who still held the bottle to Darryl's lips, and began to place a hand behind his head.

"Come on man, he's fine, let the kid drink ..." A drunk, taller schoolmate stumbled in front of me, attempted to assure me, his hand meeting my shoulder.

I jolted my shoulder at his touch.
"Don't fucking touch me." I snapped, attempting to move past him, only to be blocked once again.

"Or what?" He scoffed, towering above me, taking another swing.

"I'll fucking kill you."

He chuckled.
"Jeez, is someone on their period or smthn-?"

I grit my teeth, punching him as hard as I could in his stomach. He winced, letting out a choked sob.

"Ah- what the fuck man-?!" He choked out before falling to the ground.

I stepped over him and yanked the bottle out of Darryl's hand. The crowd booed as Darryl hunched over, coughing up some of the bottle's contents. Zelk turned to me, letting out an exasperated growl.

"You again." He hissed.

"I told you to fucking stop!" I yelled at him, wrapping an arm around Darryl, who continued to choke.
"Are you okay?" I whisper-asked Darryl. He shook his head, his eyes tearing up, before another coughing fit arose once more.

"It was just a fucking drink." Zelk rolled his eyes.

"And you could've chosen anyone else in this room!" I yelled.

Zelk glared at me before turning to face the crowd.
"Show's over, everyone." He sent me and Darryl one last dirty look before shoving his hands in his pockets and strolling off.

The crowd began to disassemble, all heading back to the living room with disappointment hanging in the air.

Then Darryl slipped out of my arms, running into the crowd.

"Darryl?" I ask in surprise.

"Darryl?!" I call louder, swerving my head around to try to at least catch a glimpse of him- to no avail.

Fuck.

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