My hand glided up to my face, pinching the bridge of my nose in irritation as I stared down at the irritable man-child who'd cozied up to me in a snarky manner. Arms travelling up my torso in a way I wouldn't prefer to imagine nor describe in such detail.

"Awh- come on," He cooed, his drunken giggling sticking to the back of my mind. The air around us thick as the music blasting from the party just outside the laundry room; the room he'd locked me in despite my protests.  


"There's gotta be-" He took a pause. A hiccup escaped him before he continued. "- something in that mind of yours. There always is," 

"Darnell, you're drunk."

"Don't tell me what I know, hottie," 

Darnell shushed me, his coarse finger moving up to press against my chapped lips; wincing as he trailed his finger down a scar that resided near my mouth. Not this again. 

"You know you're beautiful. . . Scars 'n all," That drunken edge to his voice gave me anything but a sense of comfort. If anything bringing me back to a place in my life I'd rather forget than be reliving.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't make me kick you, man. I'm not afraid to break something of yours," I scowled. Well aware of what he was going to say next. Yet at the same time, not expecting it in the slightest.

"Well, why don't you-" Another hiccup broke his sentence in half. "- save your energy, focus it on breaking me entirely, instead?" 

I blinked, my face flushing slightly as the sentence soaked in. Darnell noticed, as his drunken smile only widened. His finger moving back down to my chapped lip, wedging it into my mouth somehow in an odd motion. 

I blinked again. Looking down at his white eyes that practically mimicked mine. They were lidded. Matching his smile almost perfectly. Like an outfit that was meant to be matched.

I bit down on his finger with my canines, watching him recoil inst 
   antly, stumbling back due to his intoxicated nature and falling to the floor. He let out a groan of pain, which I couldn't help but laugh at.

My eyes were lidded with amusement, staring down at him with a hand on my hip. "You'll be fine. You can sleep down there," 

I chuckled once more, laughter dying down once I saw his glare. "So long as nobody else tries harassing you while you're out." 

With that finished, I walked over to the door and rattled the knob. Mouth curving into a frown as I looked back at the snarky man-child lying on the floor.

"Ha ha, very funny," I gave a sarcastic remark. "Where's the key?" 

Darnell giggled, another hiccup escaping him. "Nuh-uh. Not so fast, pretty boy-" He teased, giving a slow wag of his finger.

. . . That really showed just how drunk he was, didn't it?

His lidded eyes met mine, which had turned quite serious upon notice of how we were trapped in this room together. 

I gave a small hum of question, crossing my arms in an irritable manner as I waited for his next remark.

It came later than expected, his eyes fluttering open and closed as he barely held onto consciousness. 

"You- You- You need to oblige with my terms before getting the key,"

I rolled my eyes once more, glaring down at him. I walked back over, hovering over him. My expression dangerously angry.

One leg on each side of the black boy, I planted myself on his chest, knocking the air out of him with my weight alone. My hand met cold metal in my back pocket, pulling out a precious belonging and pointing it to Darnell's head.

Probably unneeded, but I was thirsty.

"Where's the key?" I repeated, tone more stern now. 

Darnell's eyes drifted up to the gun being shoved into his forehead, blinking up at it as he very slowly processed everything. He took everything into account. From the awkward position we'd taken to the cold feeling of the metal against his skin.

Then his eyes met mine again. A perverted expression coming to his face as he simply stared at me. "Well- if you wanted to, you coulda just asked-"

I knocked him in the side of the head with the barrel of my gun, watching as he was knocked out cold. 

Then taking the time to search his body to find the key I was looking for.

Long story short, as I'm embarrassed at how long it took just to find the key, I found the key in his back pocket.

The damn rat decided to put it in a place where I'd have to touch his ass either way if I wanted to get it.

I hate my friends.

Getting back up, I slid the key into the doorknob and unlocked it easily. The moment I opened the door, the music that blared loudly met my ears, overcoming any other noises that would have been audible at the moment.

I was also met with a familiar Asian girl at my side, a smile across her face.

"Ooo~ You really went off, didn'cha? He's out cold," Nene's head peeked into the room behind me, smiling down at Darnell's unconscious body.

"Oh hush- I knocked 'im out cause the fucker wouldn't leave me alone with his shitty flirting," I cursed under my breath, bringing a cold hand up to the back of my neck anxiously. 

"Besides, he deserved it. Been drunk way too much lately, showin' up at my door 'n all," I looked over to the crowd of people. There seemed to be something interesting going on over there. Something I didn't quite understand in my current state of mind.

"When are you two gonna get togetherrr? You seem like you'd be a cute couple," Nene looked up at me, her tiny hands gripping onto my bicep as if she were a bride holding onto her groom at a wedding. I smiled.

"You already know I'm into someone else. You both should know damn well,"

Nene seemed shocked at my statement, her nails digging into the fabric of my sweater.

"Whaaat?! But- But weren't you into Dar like- Like just a week or so ago?!" She shrieked. I let out a quick and hushed 'ow' as her- nails pierced my skin.

"You know I've been crushing on someone else for a while now, Nene," I huffed, looking down at her with blank eyes that still somehow remained calm, even with my hot temper and cold stare.

"And that didn't mean anything-- we were both drunk. Influenced by whatever the fuck was in our systems by then," 

Nene seemed disappointed, loosening her death grip on my arm. I felt a stinging where her nails had been- blinking down at her. 

"And plus- he's not my type," I glanced back at the gathering of people off into the corner who had just erupted into drunken cheers and laughter, caught up in whatever it is they were spectating. 

Nene didn't mind, still rather disappointed at my remark.

"Well, what is your type, then?" She asked quietly, barely heard by me due to me being too indulged in the rather odd scene unfolding in front of me.

"I dunno. It's very specific," I said, voice trailing off to become that of a whisper. Focused on one single head off to the side of the crowd. Not particularly *with* the crowd, but not out of it either. 

Simply spectating from the  side with a red cup in hand. His hair messy and unkempt, as if he hadn't brushed it in a week or two. Or showered. Though, despite how messy his hair looked, everything else about him seemed to be neater and more kept together. 

I couldn't help but stare. Everything about him seemed beautiful.

Lightning blue hair, porcelain skin speckled lightly with freckles that only added onto the beauty of his slightly messy appearance.

Everything combined to make a person I thought to be absolutely wonderful. Someone I wouldn't mind spending the rest of my days with, although I knew nothing about him as of now. And from looks alone, I was already attracted to him. 

My mind hyperfixed on him, eyes softening as all other traces of life faded around me, only focused on him. That was all that mattered as of now. Him.

His heartbeat. 

His shallow, ever so slightly intoxicated breathing.

The darting of his eyes as he peered into the circle of people.

He laughed.

Oh god. That laugh.

Something that made my heart melt upon the connection it made with my ears.

How happy he seemed, indulged in the conversation that seemed so boring now that I thought about it.

And I could have sworn I heard his own thoughts as they came and went through that mind of his.

Oh if only.

Was this a bad thing? Was it bad to be this into a person you'd never met?

To be so in love with such an appearance that you wanted it all to yourself? 

No, it wasn't bad. It's completely normal, I told myself. 

And I couldn't look away.

The only thing that snapped me out of my trance was Nene giving a playful punch to my shoulder. And suddenly, it all faded away.

The gentle strum of his heartbeat, the shallow panting that made up his breathing pattern.

"Ohhhh~ I see how it is," Nene's arms clasped around my bicep again, taking a quick glance at the focus of my attention, and almost instantly catching my drift.

"Oooo~ He is cute, I see what you mean," Nene breathed. I scoffed, looking down at her. 

"Hey- You're dating someone, remember?" I smiled, placing my hand on her head.

. . . God she was so small- my hand alone almost covered the surface area of her small skull.

"I wouldn't mind going straight for a guy like him," Nene smiled goofily, looking up at me. "He's attractive,"

I playfully punched her shoulder in return for the comment, shaking my head with a light smile on my face. "Oh hush."

I noticed someone walking our way and our attention turned to them.

"Heyyy Pico," Otis cooed, walking out from the crowd and catching my attention fully.

Of all people I hadn't expected to be here, of hadn't wanted to see here at this party, it was my cousin himself.

Surprisingly, once Otis approached me, the gathering of intoxicated adults and teenagers grew quiet, speaking in more hushed tones now. So much for being sneaky.

"Hey Otis," I greeted him casually. Giving him a curt wave. Nene already seeing by my expression that I was irritated by my younger cousin.

"They want you in the circle, truth or dare's gettin' heated y'know?" Otis placed his hand on my shoulder, giving a laugh that clearly showed how much of an ass he really was.

I glanced at Nene, then to Darnell's unconscious body, then back to Otis. Giving a hesitant nod. I already knew what they were gonna do. A humiliating joke I wasn't into at all.

"C'mon, then," Otis took my hand, leading me back to the circle of drunken teenagers and adults and into the center of the dense gathering.

"Yo, you actually got the package," Some random dick chortled off to the side of Otis.

"Yeah, yeah. Shut your mouth, Giko," Otis snapped, shoving me into a sitting position on the floor. D i ck-

"Pico's up next. Cherry's daring him," Otis looked over to a small chubby girl wearing a skin tight dress that barely came down to her thighs. She had long, chestnut hair that seemed untamed.

"Hmm-" A sinister grin crossed her face as she examined me. Her dark eyes staring into mine as she searched for something, anything. 

Her eyes were pitch black, dark and unreadable even to one with a surprising ability to read one's emotion. She hummed in thought, her hand moving up to her chin. Her long, red nails tapping against her porcelain skin as she thought. Her eyes piercing into my own in a style that almost made me uncomfortable enough to get up and leave. 

Her smile widened, looking over to her side at Otis. Who I assumed was practically her servant by now.

She leaned in and whispered in Otis's ear, giggling every now and then. 

Otis, upon hearing whatever Cherry had to say, clearly thought that shit was priceless. As he gave me a shit-eating grin once his eyes landed on me. And with that, he was gone. Leaving the entire group silent.

"I dare you to kiss Keith," Cherry said with a sort of passive-aggressive edge to her voice.

The crowd erupted in 'ooo's and laughs of all sorts. A few of them whispering among each other

K e i t h?

Who was t h at?

I don't like anyone enough to kiss them, no way. 

My face scrunched up.

"Who's Keith-"

"You'll know him when you see him," Cherry responded with a giggle. 

I looked around the crowd, scanning for whoever this "Keith" could possibly be. Yet came up empty handed.

Who i s he? 

What did she mean, "I'll know when I see him"?

That doesn't make any sense.

Otis came back, dragging a young boy with him. Who squeaked in protest.

"No- I don't wanna- Otis, you motherfucker--" He clawed at Otis's arm, grumbling.

"I'm drunk enough-- I'm not gonna kiss some random person who I don't know-- It'll easily turn into more than that!"

That voice--

Why did it sound so familiar? 

I hadn't heard it before, I know I hadn't.

Yet at the same time, I knew it. All too well, like I had grown up with the speaker.

And when I looked over to Otis, my heart stopped. It simply stopped mid-beat. My breathing shallowing as the world around me reduced to nothing. I focused on nothing but him.

Falling into the hands of an unescapable trance once more.


~


His perfectly formed face, his porcelain skin, which I assumed to be smooth and soft just by the looks of it. His eyes that seemed to be as deep as a black hole. Something that sucked me in with such gentle care. Holding me there with a soft embrace that seemed too comforting to be real.

Everything about him. His slim build. I could tell just by a quick glance that he was decently built. Clearly not as much as I, but impressive nevertheless. His shirt hung loosely from his shoulders. Which were relaxed and unbothered. Unlike mine, which seemed to be tense almost all the time.

I'd go on, but I'm running short on words to describe his beauty.

His footsteps joined the group of muffled sounds as we both focused intently on each other. As if reading my mind, his pace was slow. Careful, as if he were reaching into my soul simply to see what I really wanted him to do. 

Not that there was much me *could* do. We were surrounded by people on all sides. The least we could do was give them what they wanted. The entire reason I was in  this damn circle in the first place.

It was embarrassing how slowly things moved. Especially knowing that we were being watched by an entire group of people around us. Most of them significantly younger than me.

He sat in front of me on a pillow that laid on the ground. And I could have sworn I heard pictres being clicked. 

But as he leaned closer to me, I felt my worries fading away. Dissapating as if they were never there to begin with. I gently cupped his face in my hand, seeing that it fit perfectly into my palm. I could smell the alcohol in his breath. 

He hadn't even drank half of his cup. And yet here he was, drunk in my hands.

The world once again faded away, and we stared into each other's eyes. He didn't seem to mind the fact that we were so close to each other. And it felt absolutely amazing to have somebody in my arms. Someone that I could safely say that I loved, despite not even knowing him outside of his appearance.

But I had a good feeling about him. Something just made me want to hold him, touch him, make him mine. . .

Maybe even further than that.

I'd like to ruin that pretty face of his. . . Watch him squirm under me, and put his beautiful voice to use. Imagining it now already made me eager to get to know this man. 

I want to see him wriggle under me. His face flushed, mouth open, all for me. To hear his voice scream my name aloud and hear the noises it would produce. It all sounded too good, I just couldn't understand why I hesitated to bring our lips together. To fufill the dare I was given.

Like I was scared- But I wasn't.

My face itched.
I didn't scratch it.

I was brought back to reality just in time to see his flushed face inches away from mine. Yet, it still took him a while to ge ton with it. Giving an uncomfortable noise and pecking me on the cheek.

He pulled away from me, standing up and wobbling before speed walking out of the crowd.

I blinked.

Cherry looked at me, her arms crossed.

I stared back, shrugging.

"You were supposed to kiss him on the lips!" She hissed at me, disappointed. 

"I froze, okay-?" I retorted, rolling my eyes and getting up. 

I couldn't stand the embarrassment much longer, walking out of the crowd and to the kitchen. 

Hastily snatching a bottle of vodka out of the fridge door and slamming it shut.

I sighed, popping open the cap and gulping a few times. The alcohol stinging my throat just like I remembered.

I needed to get stronger shit, because I wasn't getting drunk quick enough.

It would do for now. 

I walked out of the kitchen and to the living room, where the front door was. Nene saw me, and quickly rushed over to my side. Intrigued by whatever was going on.

"What did Otis want?" She asked me, looking back at the crowd and watching as Cherry hit Otis on the back of the head, smiling gleefully.

"Mm, truth 'r dare stuff. Nun' much," I rubbed the back of my neck. My words slurring ever so slightly. Nene hummed beside me.

"What was the dare? It seemed to be something important. Everyone was snapping pictures and recording it," She continued.

I huffed. Throwing the door open and walking out onto the sidewalk. Not bothering to close the door behind me.

"Same ol' same ol': Kissing dare," I murmured in response. My posture stiffening as I took another drink straight from the bottle. Nene hummed again.

"Ooo- Who'd ya kiss?" She wrapped her hands around my bicep again. 

I grinned.

"Do you remember that blue haired kid I was starin' at earlier?"


-----------------------------------


I sat on the worn fabric couch in my apartment. Phone up to my ear and a blunt between my fingers. I took a quick puff from it, talking to the person on the other end.

"- and for the last time, soup isn't a fucking drink," Darnell complained over the phone. Talking in a rather aggressive tone.

Nene's giggle sounded from beside Me. Talking to Darnell from my side of the line. I smiled.

"Oh come on, Dar. Think of it! The chicken in soup is like the ice in almost any drink!" Darnell's voie raised on the other side of the line. Getting worked up over nothing.

"Chicken is a f o o d, Nene. Ice is not food, it is a frozen liquid," He retorted.

I butted in.

"Who says ice can't be a food? It's a solid, and technically qualifies, since you can eat it,"

"IT DOESN'T COUNT AS A FOOD IN YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM- IT MELTS INTO WATER GIVEN HEAT, AND COMES OUT AS PISS,"

Nene and I looked at each other.

"Well you can still eat it-"

Darnell hung up.

We broke out into fits of laughter, Nene now holding the blunt between her pointer and middle finger. When did she take it fron me-? I must have gotten so caught up in our argument that I didn't realize.

"Oh- Oh god, it's amazing how worked up he gets over the smallest things," Nene wiped a fake tear from her eye, smiling gleefully.

I gave a light chuckle, drinking the rest of the alcohol from the vodka bottle I stole from the party last night. 

I set the empty bottle on the floor by the couch again. Still smiling. 

"Yeah. It's nice to see his reactions,"

I reached into my pocket to try and fish out another cigar, but I was instead met with a paper. 

I furrowed my brow, digging it out of my pocket and looking down at it.

Written in decently legible handwriting was a number etched out in pencil. At the top of the page read: "Call me sometime," With a sneaky little winking face.

Nene leaned over my shoulder to take a look at what I was interested in. Blowing a puff of smoke my way. 

"Oooo~ Who's that?" She teased lightly. I shrugged, pulling my phone out again and dialing the number.

"I dunno. Guess we're about to see,"

I waited with my phone to my ear. But Nene pulled the phone back a little, hitting speakerphone and being a nosy bitch.

I rolled my eyes. Setting the phone on my thigh and taking another puff from the blunt. 

Not a minute later, someone answered. Their voice drowsy.

"Mmh- Hello. . ?"

I stopped-

Keith.

"Hey, man. You gave me your number last night," I replied, looking up at Nene. Our eyes met. But I couldn't tell if she knew who it was or not, considering she hadn't heard his voice before as far as I was aware.

"Who are you, again?" He murmured. I had obviously woke him up. I didn't care too much, either way.

"Pico. Cherry dared me to kiss you last night,"

I heard a groan from the other side.

"Of course she did," He grumbled. "Das fine. I don't remember anything from last night. So I have no fuckin' idea who you are, man," 

I shrugged. "Go back to sleep. Didn't mean to wake ya up," I looked back down at my phone. Confused as to what his intentions were.