Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This is the story version for a sml comic that I plan to make eventually.

Chapter Text

One weekend, Junior and his friends hear about a party that's happening on the other side of town. They're all excited about the prospect of going, but they know that their parents won't let them out of the house at night. So they come up with a plan to sneak out.

They wait until their parents are asleep, and then they meet up at a nearby park. Junior, Cody, Joseph, Penelope, Patrick, Bully Bill, and Toad are all there, along with a few other friends that they've made at school: Samantha, who's a cheerleader; Tyler, who's a kind boy from Ireland; and Sierra, who's an artist.

The group sneaks through backyards and alleys, trying to avoid being seen or heard. They finally make it to the party, which is being held in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The building is massive, with high ceilings and concrete floors. There are no windows, and the only light comes from the flickering of dozens of neon-colored party lights. The air is thick with smoke and the smell of alcohol.

As they enter the party, the group is immediately swept up in the crowd. There are dozens of other teenagers there, all dancing and drinking and having a good time. The music is loud and pulsing, and the walls seem to vibrate with the bass.

Richard Goodman, the host of the party, is a tall, lanky boy with shaggy red hair and a mischievous grin. He's dressed in a leather jacket and ripped jeans, and he's surrounded by a group of friends who all look equally wild and rebellious.

Junior and his friends find a spot near the back of the warehouse, where they can observe the party without being too conspicuous. They watch as people dance and flirt and drink, and they feel a thrill of excitement at being part of something so new and daring.

Joseph, who had recently joined the basketball team, starts showing off his moves on the dance floor, drawing the attention of some of the other partygoers. Sierra, who had brought some of her artwork along, displays it on one of the walls of the warehouse, garnering compliments from several people.

However, as the night wears on, the party starts to get a little out of hand. Some of the other partygoers get rowdy, and a few of them start fighting.

They leave and start making their way around They're all a little shaken by what they've seen, but they're also excited by the thrill of sneaking out and being rebellious. As they walk back to the front, they talk and laugh and bond, grateful for the memories they've made together. As the party raged on, Junior and his friends found themselves getting caught up in the lively atmosphere. The house was packed with people, the music was blaring, and the air was thick with the scent of alcohol and sweat.

Junior noticed Richard across the room, standing out with his long, fiery red hair. He seemed to be in his element, moving fluidly through the crowd, chatting and laughing with guests. It made junior feel strange.

As the night wore on, the group split up to explore the party. Joseph was busy showing off his basketball skills on a makeshift court in the backyard, while Cody and Tyler were deep in conversation with a group of girls.

Penelope and Patrick had disappeared into the house, no doubt off to explore and have their own adventure. Meanwhile, Bully Bill and Toad had found their way to the keg and were indulging in their fair share of some bet.

Despite the chaos and revelry around them, Junior couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. He was starting to feel like he didn't belong there, like he was out of place in the midst of all the drunken revelry.

As he scanned the room, his eyes fell on Richard once again. The red-haired host was now dancing on a table, his hair flying wildly around him. It was a sight to behold, and Junior found himself unable to tear his eyes away.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice the commotion building around him until it was too late. Suddenly, the front door burst open and a group of rowdy guys entered the house, shouting and laughing.

The energy of the party shifted in an instant, as the newcomers began to take over. Junior watched in alarm as they started to push and shove the other guests, their drunken antics quickly turning ugly.

As the night wears on, Junior notices a commotion outside. Looking out the window, he sees police cars parked down the road and officers walking towards the house. Panic sets in as he realizes the party has been busted and they could all be in serious trouble. The group quickly disperses, scrambling to find ways out without being caught. Junior's heart races as he makes his way out of the house and back home, relieved to have made it out unscathed but also feeling guilty for being a part of it all. The events of that night stay with him, and he resolves to be more responsible and think twice before getting caught up in the moment. They sit on a pile of discarded boxes and wait for their friend Jeffy, who is a few years older and has a car, to come and pick them up.

As they wait, they chat about school, their plans for the future, and their favorite movies and TV shows. Joseph expresses his disapproval of the situation, saying that they should be doing something more productive with their time. Cody and Patrick tease him, saying that he's always so serious and needs to loosen up.

After a while, Jeffy pulls up in his car, and the group piles in excitedly. They drive around town, listening to music and joking around, enjoying the freedom of being out and about at night. For a few hours, they forget about the pressures of school and growing up, simply enjoying each other's company and the adventure of the night.

Eventually, Jeffy drops a few of them off back at their hangout spot, and the group disperses, each heading home for the night. As Junior sits in the back seat, he reflects on the night and how much he values his friendships with these guys. He also realizes that he needs to start thinking more seriously about his future and what he wants to do with his life. Junior sat in the back seat of Jeffy's car, lost in thought as they drove through the dark streets of Loganville. The soft hum of the engine and the faint glow of the streetlights outside created a cocoon of comfort around him, and he felt himself sinking deeper into his own mind.

memories of his past flooded his mind, and he couldn't help but cringe at some of the things he had said and done. He remembered the times when he had bullied kids at school, made fun of others for their looks or their hobbies, and generally acted like a jerk. He felt a wave of shame wash over him, and he wondered how he could have been so thoughtless and cruel.

But he also knew that he had changed. Over the past few years, he had learned to be kinder, to listen to others, and to be more accepting of different perspectives and lifestyles. He had become friends with Cody, Joseph, Penelope, Patrick, Bully Bill, Toad, and Tyler, and he had learned to appreciate their unique qualities and quirks.

As the car drove on, Junior resolved to keep working on himself, to be a better person, and to make up for his past mistakes. He looked out the window again, feeling a sense of peace and clarity that he hadn't experienced in a long time. He was grateful for his friends, for Jeffy, and for this moment of reflection.