Chapter Text
Oh curse Oliver and his easy-going(ness) when making friends, because half of the school seemed to at least know his name. Screw Joy because she had been the first to know about Oliver’s invitation to a random basketball player’s birthday party (a party Luke was planning not to mention to her) and the one to make the “collective decision for their collective well-being” about attending this fiesta. Screw Luke, the wallet he carried around (always stuffed with 20 bucks), and his gorgeous sparkly eyes of a puppy. And oh, screw him! Screw Eugene and his pockets as open as the ass of a cat in rut, because he had accepted the old 20 dollar bill as a confirmation for him joining his dearest friends in this new highschool adventure called “teen-ery” and the things kids their age are expected to do.
Since the very Monday he had expected this week to go by like all the others had. According to his notes, the only things to do for that week were a test a day and some silly Literature essay on a free topic. It promised a smooth drive to the weekend when he planned to sleep until his muscles felt sore because he angled his neck a few extra degrees to the right; when he also wanted to watch his favorite show because he had just discovered a new pirating website that had all the seasons in English.
Those were his plans since the very Monday until that chilly Tuesday came around and on his way to the cafe where he had lunch with his friends he spotted Luke and Oliver bickering with Joy sipping on a (presumably) cherry milkshake. He met eyes with the girl and she waved from inside, rocking the empty chair with her free hand as if inviting him to tag along, even though he always did. The other boys who were exchanging half-jokingly poisoned words took a pause to wave at Eugene and carried on their little argument.
He finally pushed the door open and met the familiar smell coldness and soap, with coffee in the background. The smell of cold is one that can be hard to explain, but the soap is reassuring because it lets you know the place is being constantly cleaned, and that’s most definitely a plus. The tiled floor is colored like butter cookies, toasted a golden brown, and it fits the comforting vibe of your closest friends you can lean on to talk about stuff you wouldn’t tell anybody else in the world; stuff you know is locked with key and lock in their brains.
With relaxed steps and a weight off his shoulders, he sat by the blue-haired girl and hung his small brown backpack in the back of the chair. This new perspective also allowed him to better focus on what Luke and Oliver had been bickering about—he wasn’t too stupid after all—connecting the dots when words like “party” and “random” had been thrown around. He stole a side glance to Joy only to prove his suspicions had been right, even if he deep down wished they had some mercy, he knew the four were joined by the hip and he would inevitably end up tangled in this new adventure.
—You are just an old man who wants to watch soccer all night instead of going to a party —Oliver spat playfully, but wearing a smug smile.
—Well, maybe I do want to watch the sports channel! That’s not the problem! —Luke said shaking the other’s shoulders in despair.
—Oh come on guys, I was bound to find out! —Joy said after taking a long sip of her drink.
—No you weren’t! Apart from me and Oliver, you have no connections with the jocks! —Luke said throwing his hands in the air like a drama lady who just found out the man of her dreams is an assassin— And your friends from the art club don’t even know the birthday guy.
—Neither do we, and we were invited anyway! —The blond exclaimed lifting the cupcake he had neglected and taking a big bite.
—Correction, you were invited, so you could’ve kept your mouth shut, and now I’ll miss tonight’s game!
—What are we talking about —Eugene said as soon as he got the chance, he stole a glance at Luke, whose piercing eyes softened instantly.
—Elmer, a kid from the basketball team… is throwing a BIG birthday party —Luke sighed— I remember during practice he said his parents weren’t home and he lives in this huge mansion so I am expecting the worse.
—You’ve just given us another reason why we must definitely go! —Oliver perked up— You won’t waste your Friday and we’ll live the full teenager experience! Going on wild parties and smoking a blunt-
—WOAH! I am not sure about that one! —Joy giggled.
—Okay maybe not smoke but have lots of fun anyway! Let ourselves relax for once and go loose! Dance until our legs hurt and eat our stomachs dead with pizza…
—Does he have a pool? —Eugene asked with genuine curiosity.
—YES! He does! He spread some photos of his backyard a few years ago just to brag, remember? —Joy replied taking her phone out and looking for the message.
—Ugh. You know what? Fine! I am missing the basketball game just this once, I want to eat some of that pizza and throw some food coloring in that pool —Luke said crossing his arms— but you are coming with me! —he added pointing at the boy with round glasses who yelped in surprise.
—M-me? Why me?!
—Because he needs someone to keep himself from joining me in the devil’s lettuce —it is safe to say the blond received a playful shove.
—Because you kind of got me into going with that pool talking.
—I am not sure… —Eugene’s gears started turning in his head trying to think of an excuse, until he saw Luke take something out of his duffle bag.
—Here —he stood up from the chair across the boy with glasses and slipped a 20 dollar bill in his pale hands— I am accepting no buts.
The four teens continued their chit chat for a while. Topics like the things that happened that day at school; how the day had been pretty bearable despite Friday being so far away. Eventually they each took their separate ways back home, not before Joy offered to pay because she got some coupons from her mom.
Eugene in particular did not think much of it at first, until he overheard some conversations in the halls about how wild the party was gonna be.
—I heard Elmer is gonna pay some dudes in spacemen outfits to dance —an unknown boy said to the girl in front of him, presumably sharing rumors.
—Well I am not going for some random spacemen, perhaps I can grab some blackmail~
That was Eugene’s cue to tune out of the conversation, because he knows how dangerous those nosy people can be; it also spiked his worries about going to this stranger’s mansion. He almost decides on not going until he clenches his fist inside the pockets of his hoodie and the dollar bill brushes his knuckles.
Ah, that’s why not going is not a choice
So he remained even more quiet than usual for the rest of the day, attentive enough about class so he wasn’t completely lost and in case the teacher wanted to ask him a question, but rambling in his head about pros and cons.
