Derrick
Inside the house, the air was heavy—thick with the smell of sweat, alcohol, and smoke. The place was crowded, people moving wildly to the music, dancing on the makeshift floor in the living room. Red cups dangled from loose hands, everyone already deep in the haze of whatever they'd been drinking. Most definitely alcohol.
The noise swallowed us as soon as we stepped inside. For a second, he froze—shoulders tight, breath caught halfway in his chest. He looked so out of place standing there in the doorway, the lights flickering across his face like he wasn't sure whether to move or disappear.
I touched his arm lightly. "Hey. You're okay," I said, though it came out rougher, quieter than I meant. "Just stick with me."
We pushed deeper into the house, slipping between laughing bodies and stumbling feet. Music thumped through the floorboards, each beat rattling up my spine. Someone bumped into him, sloshing their drink, and he flinched hard enough that I instinctively stepped in front of him—shielding him from the crowd without even thinking.
He stared up at me like he didn't understand why I did that.
To be honest… I didn't either.
"Do you want to go somewhere quieter?" I asked, leaning down so he could hear me. "Just until you settle in."
His lips parted like he wanted to say yes, but he hesitated—eyes darting around the room, then back to me. "Why are you… being like this?" he asked, voice barely audible over the music.
I opened my mouth, then shut it. I didn't have any answer. So I just said, "Because you're so scarwny and I don't want you to get swallowed up out here."
We stepped out onto the patio, the heavy air of the house giving way to a cooler breeze. The swimming pool shimmered under the backyard lights, its surface rippling as people splashed and shouted, playing some half-drunk game they probably wouldn't remember in the morning.
A long table sat nearby, crowded with bottles and mixers—easy access, no rules but the obvious ones.
No one cared what anyone did at this party, not really. As long as you didn't kill someone, everything else was fair game. A couple was making out openly near the fence, practically glued to each other, and not a single person even glanced their way. The whole place felt like a world where consequences took the night off.
He slowed beside me, taking it all in. Out here, he looked less cornered, not like he was on the verge of bolting. The fresh air helped. Or maybe the space did—the distance from all that noise inside.
"What's wrong? First time at a party?" I asked, nodding at the scrawny guy. He was just standing there, staring around like a lost puppy, unsure where to go or what to do.
"Come on, sit," I said, patting the chair beside me.
To my surprise, he actually did.
"You okay?" I asked, my voice softer than before.
He nodded, but it wasn't convincing. His eyes lingered on the water, the people laughing, the drinks lined up like an invitation and a threat at the same time.
I leaned against the chair, letting the silence sit between us for a moment. It wasn't uncomfortable. Just… heavy in a way that felt strangely honest.
"This part of the party's different," I said quietly. "People come out here when they need to breathe."
He glanced at me, the tension easing from his shoulders little by little.
"Is that why you brought me here?" he asked. I just shrugged my shoulders
I handed him a red cup from the table, and he took it hesitantly.
"What the fuck is all this?" he muttered before taking a sip.
"You know you probably shouldn't drink from a cup anyone hands you without knowing what's in it," I said, leaning back in my chair, watching him carefully.
"I know… but you said you'd take good care of me, right?" His eyes flicked up at me, mocking but playful.
"Right, I did say that. So… enjoy." I raised my own cup toward him. We clinked glasses, and I took a slow sip, smirking.
"This tastes just like juice," he said, peering into his cup.
"They mixed alcohol with juice," I explained, pointing toward the long table behind us. "You can try all the flavors over there."
He glanced at the table, eyes widening. For a moment, he looked completely in awe.