Work Text:
August 1994
There he was beer in hand talking to a group of boring guys, he didn’t even know the name of all of them. Right in his own living room, and it was all Dee’s fault. After their mom fired their latest maid she realised that they would have the house for themselves the weekend after their birthday and made the decision. As she put it they “just had to have a party”. She probably would have come to the same conclusion whether it was close to their birthday or not but this time it was. Apparently this would help her finally get in with the popular kids for senior year. Pathetic truly.
”Dennis?” He heard a voice and snapped back to reality. He looked around to see Mac and Charlie.
“Wanna have a smoke?” Charlie asked and finger gunned to Mac who held up two joints. Dennis nodded and followed them out to the back yard, glad to get away from those blabbers.
“One for me and Charlie and one for the birthday boy.” Mac explained and held out one of the them.
Dennis put it between his teeth and mumbled. “Light” To which Mac lit it. “It’s not my birthday.” He said after a long drag.
“It’s your birthday party ain’t it.” Charlie replied and took the other joint and lighter from Mac.
“Suppose so, yeah.” He sighed and looked over the lawn, there wasn’t as many people outside but still a dozen of other seniors populated the space. Like flies they swarmed around the lanterns his dad had gotten installed during the summer.
“I thought you said you’d hate to host a big party.” Mac remarked and looked at him through the light of their own trap.
“It wasn’t my idea, Dee wanted to have another go at popularity, pretty sad but whatever. And let me assure you I’ve locked my door.” As he said it he felt his pocket once again to assure himself that his key was still there. “No weirdo is getting in there.”
“Smart move man.” Mac said as he reached for the joint. Charlie had some strong lungs, half of the joint was already gone. He took a drag and looked at Dennis, his pupils dilated and it was not the weed.
“Look it’s Rickety cricket.” Charlie suddenly exclaimed and pointed at a group of three boys a few meters ahead. “Cricket!” He called and waved them over.
“It’s Matthew.” Cricket scoffed as he walked over followed by a blonde boy and a black haired boy. The boys introduced themselves but Dennis did not listen he was to focused on they way Mac leaned against him with his hand on Dennis shoulder.
“Where you want me to throw this?” Mac asked holding the dead joint in front of his face.
“Just drop it here I’m done with it either way.” Dennis replied holding out his half empty beer can. Mac dropped it and he dropped his own after.
“Did you see the girl dancing around in the back brace, what a creature.” The blonde boy said and jabbed his friend in the side. This caught Dennis attention, it was the first that either of the three boys had said that he registered.
“I think she’s rather pretty” Cricket quietly intervened.
“You kidding? That fucking cyborg who would even invite her.” The blonde boy continued laughing.
That was enough Dennis pushed Cricket aside and pressed his beer can to his chest to speak straight to the blondies face. “Maybe it’s her party jackass.” Dennis started narrowing his eyes looking at the fellow.
“Not sure I would’ve come if I knew it was Frankenstein’s party.” The blonde started mimicking Frankensteins monster holding his arms straight up taking just one step, his next was stopped. “Fuck.” he groaned. Dennis’s fist had hit his right cheek.
“If you call my sister ugly one more time I kick your teeth out.” Dennis spat and pushed the boy to which he retaliated with a fist straight to Dennis right eye. “Every single one.” Dennis continued even louder when he turned back. Before the boy could get in another hit Dennis pushed him again, this time rough enough that he fell to the ground. “Get the fuck out from my party and Frankenstein is the scientist you illiterate fuck.” He hollered down at the boy.
“You fucking physco.” The black haired said while helping his friend back up on his feet.
“You heard him.” Charlie screeched before the guy was even back on his feet. When he was the two ran away shouting profanities as they crossed the property line.
“Should we hunt them down?” Mac asked tracking them with his eyes.
“Don’t bother.” Dennis responded mostly cause he didn’t want to cause more of a scene people were looking and also his eye hurt as hell. “I’m gonna get some ice.” He said and turned around where he saw Matt, the poor boy looked petrified. He stood frozen gripping the beer can so hard it had started to crumble. That made Dennis smirk as the three of them made their way back inside.
The kitchen was filled with teenagers pouring shots and mixing blueish drinks.
”Sit down, I get you an ice pack.” Mac said and pulled out a chair for him before pushing his way to the freezer.
Dennis followed his directions slumping down in the chair. He turned his head to see the clock, he had to squint with his good eye to make out the time. “Not even twelve?” He thought the night was not nearly over, he just needed a recharge.
”Here, I thought might wanted some tequila to ease the pain.” Mac handed him a pack of frozen peas and grabbed two glasses and poured tequila in them. “I got some salt but I don’t know if you have any lemons.” He continued.
“It’s fine.” Dennis said licking his free hand
letting Mac pour the salt, licked it and took the shot. He looked at Mac as he took his, throwing his whole head back as he roughly swallowed, he was always so dramatic Dennis thought.
“It’s much worse without a lemon.” Mac grimaced.
“Stop bitching.” Dennis said and took another shot. “Put it back on the top the fridge I feel I will need it as a reward after cleaning tomorrow.” He said when Mac was cleansing his mouth from the tequila shots with some soda.
“Where’s Charlie?” Dennis asked Mac when he came back.
“He saw and went after that girl he likes. You know the blonde one.” Dennis shook his head. “Short hair.” Dennis shook his head again. “She works at a cafè or something.”
“Ohhh the waitress girl.”
“How’s your eye?”
“It’s fine.” Dennis removed the bag of frozen peas to reveal the bruise that was beginning to form.
“It’s gonna look really tuff dude.” Mac said leaning closer to get a good look.
“Yeah?” Dennis said sounding far more enthusiastic then he wished to. He had never been hit for real before, the closest he gotten was wrestling with Mac and Charlie.
“Totally, you want to save the ice or?” Mac asked looking at him neck crooked.
“Take it, but I think I need a little break, just a minute or two.” He put the now soggy bag of peas in Mac’s hand. “Follow me up?”
“Let me just.” Mac said as he walked back to the freezer.
They made their way up the stairs trying to not look at the teenagers sloppily making out against the railing to the sound of “what is love” . Dennis fished up his key unlocked the door and in they went closing and locking the door behind.
“It’s like a fucking whorehouse out there.” Mac laughed as he sat down on Dennis bed, stretching over to turn on the desk light.
Dennis didn’t reply but gave his friend a nod as he put his key back in his pocket. The desk light mostly lit up Mac his bushy eyebrows and the little cut he got while shaving.
“So what do you think of the party.” Mac asked when Dennis sat down beside him.
“It’s good I guess except the whole.” He mumbled and gestured to his eye.
“Yeah,yeah. I think it’s pretty dope. One of Dee’s better ideas right.” Mac started. “The music is good and you’re the star of the party dude, you should let people know since clearly not everyone knows. People are always nice to the host.” He continued rambling. Dennis either loved or hated when Mac started to ramble it was either quite cute or really annoying. This time it was kinda cute with of his gestures and a big smile. “Dude are you even listening to me.” Mac asked and lightly pushed him.
“Of course I’m listening and no I’m not gonna go out and tell everyone I’m the host in the middle of the party that’s fucking weird.” Dennis defended himself while continuing to admire Mac, had he gotten prettier or was he just drunk? His short cut hair, his brown eyes and shabby t-shirt barely covering that stupid shoulder tattoo he didn’t want his mom to see.
“What you wanna do then? You should do something memberable.” Mac said and leaned back against the wall still looking at Dennis. “Are you hammered already? You look red.”
“Nah nah, I’m just warm.” Dennis quickly responded while the urge to kiss Mac came creeping. That would be surely memorable.
“Let me open the window” Mac said and stood up. He reached over Dennis desk and opened the window. “It’s pretty warm outside too but it should help a little.” Mac remarked as he sat back down. “Did you get a concussion or something you’re so quiet. What are you thinking about?” He asked and put his hand on Dennis shoulder.
“You.” Dennis whispered.
“What?” Mac questioned squeezing Dennis shoulder.
“You.” Dennis repeated a bit more clearly. “I was thinking of a something memorable we can do.” Dennis smirked his self confidence rising as he looked at Mac. “Kiss me.” He continued before Mac could respond.
“What no, that’s gay.” Mac scoffed as he retrieved his hand.
“You scared? It’s not gay dude it’s just like practice.” Dennis explained looking Mac straight in the eyes.
“I’m not fucking scared.” He grunted back.
“Do it then, I dare you.” Dennis teased he could see the annoyance in Mac’s face his brows furrowed and he bit his lip looking at Dennis. Mac grabbed his shirt and pushed their lips together. Dennis closed his eyes before their lips made contact. Mac’s lips were softer than he had expected for a guy that thought chapstick was girly.
Mac’s grip on Dennis shirt only grew stronger when he felt Dennis hand on his neck. Mac pulled away just centimetres for air, feeling Dennis fast breathing against his skin. Dennis gave him one, two and three small pecks before he pulled him back in. Mac’s hand loosed its grip on Dennis shirt and instead ran it thru his curls.
When they pulled away again their foreheads rested against each other before leaning back. Dennis felt himself smiling and didn’t bother to hide it. “That wasn’t to bad now was it.” He said as he slowly slid his hand from Mac’s neck and over his arm.
“I suppose not, ready to get back out.” Mac replied eyeing the door.
“Oh, yeah sure let’s go.” Dennis said standing up looking down on his shirt he sees that the scrunch was still visible. “Dude.”
“Let me.” Mac reached out grabbing the hem of the shirt stretching it out. “Better?” He tried and looked up.
Dennis thought Mac had the look of a puppy. “Yeah yeah, come on.” He said reaching out a hand Mac grabbed it and as he got up, he stared at him.
Mac’s eyes were locked on Dennis, they were roughly the same height but Dennis still felt looked down at. “You’re pretty” Mac whispered and dragged his hand through Dennis hair. “Like a girl.” He quickly added. His hand travelled to the back of Dennis head, he thought of just letting go and get back out but Dennis blushing cheeks and hungry eyes made him stay.