Chapter 04- Lawrence Brothers' Party (1)

Aaron's POV 

The day of the Lawrence Brothers' Party 

Something isn't right.

I've been driving for 20 minutes; Kieran told me he'd tell me when to make a turn because he couldn't give me the address like a normal person but instead has offered to give me pointers. He intends to make it a surprise. 

"Trust me, bro. I've been snapchatting with them for the last couple of days and their venue is insane, I'd show you guys the pictures if you'd let me." 

Kieran's surprise was getting on my nerves. We were out of our neighborhood and pretty far across town and he was still rambling about this party. The trouble was, there was no sign of any party around where I am driving through. Usually, a party is loud and you can hear the music from a few blocks away; but it was so quiet around us, nobody even had their lights on in their backyard. 

"They also made a makeshift bar-oh man, it's going to be so much…."

I push the breaks so hard Sebastian almost drops his phone; and Kieran almost bumps his head, but never mind that. I was getting tired of his bullshit.

I needed to see Alex. 

"And exactly where is your fabulous party?"

"We're almost there! Keep driving!" Kieran pats on my shoulder from the backseat.

"Just give him the address man, we can put it on maps." Sebastian said.

"It's just…" Kieran mumbles and then stops.

Something is definitely wrong.

"Kieran," I start, gently.

"Yes," Kieran replies sheepishly.

"Where. Is. The. Party?" I try to refrain from showing my anger.

Kieran finally folds and bursts out, "Oh, fine! The party is out of town, near the Hawks Bridge. Their mansion may be a little further from the Hawks, but you guys would've never wanted to come out of town for a party. I had to improvise!"

Surprisingly, this time, Sebastian lashes out and starts to give Kieran a piece of his mind. 

I have no problem driving to the outskirts of town, even further than the Hawks Bridge; if it means I will be seeing Alex again.

But that area, specifically, near the Richmond Canal and the sewers was infamous for junkies and thugs. I don't see the point in arranging a party there unless my classmates were looking for trouble.

Maybe, they were. Not everybody was a bore like me.

High School is almost over and it seemed like everyone was trying to get their last hurrah in before graduation. I heard someone was dared to wait naked in the teacher's room to give Mr. Callahan a scare; or a boner; or a heart attack.

And if today's party was intentionally stationed at the epicenter of drug addicts in our town, maybe this was another one of our high-schooler's freak agenda.

Wait, was this why Alex was going to this party? To get her last fun in?

Maybe she had enough of libraries and quizzes and decided to let loose for once in her life. And if she was free to do that, maybe, she didn't have a boyfriend to worry about.

Wow, Aaron, you're slowly losing your mind. 

"Do you have any sense of reservation? How could you pull this stunt on us?" Sebastian was still chastising Kieran on his poor life decisions. He seemed almost on the verge of tears.

"It won't be that bad," I try to lighten the mood, I had to see Alex today, no matter what.

Kieran looks up and smiles at me; Sebastian just huffs and turns his head forward, "I'm never listening to you again."

I just laugh because Sebastian is so short-tempered, that all will be forgotten even before we reach the party. "Look, buddy, I'm not mad," I sooth Kieran, "but I wish you'd told me that we'd be driving this far. If we run out of gas on the way back, we'd be left stranded on the road."

Kieran doesn't miss a beat, "Maybe we can siphon some gas from a car at the party." 

This time, Sebastian gives an exasperated laugh and I restart the engine.

It's going to be a long night. 

Alex's POV

I don't usually take long drives because my mind drifts off and replays all these useless memories; but the party was an hour away and I had nothing better to do than stare at trees through the card window from the backseat. I couldn't open the windows because the strong wind would make my eyes tear up instantly; and only dogs whip their head out the car window. If a human did that, it would be a safety hazard. 

"It's boring," Tanya observes out loud.

Maddy's eyes are strict on the road, but being the den-mother she is, she offers, "We can put some music on. Lexi, pass me your phone."

I graciously offered up my phone, because out of the three of us, only I kept Taylor Swift and heavy metal playlists side by side in my Spotify; because I don't have any preferences and change like a chameleon depending on the crowd around me. 

Maddy puts the music on and Tanny starts drumming her fingers to the rhythm.

I take a trip down my memory lane, again. 

I'm in sixth grade and today is science project day at school. I work on my project, present it to the teachers; talk and discuss it with my classmates all morning- it drains all the energy out of me. After the presentation, I start trotting toward the cafeteria and a hand goes over my shoulders, "Congratulations, Ms. Intellect, I heard they were pleased with the model so much that they are preparing to send you to NASA." It's Tanny.

Maddy catches us up and links her elbow with mine, "So, how should we celebrate?" 

I never had any problem making friends at school; but these two are the only ones I can actually call friends. They have seen my highest of high and lowest of low; especially, my bruised-battered and fucked up self, but nonetheless, they choose me always. 

My parents claim that I let them steer me anywhere and that I have no reservation; but I'm living in the hell they've created and they are my only solace. And they've never given me trouble.

Except for Tanya's…slip ups. 

I felt so guilty watching Sebastian doing his homework at the school library, alone. Tanya never comes to sit with him at the library, saying it's lame; but after the café incident, I couldn't help but notice that Sebastian looks a bit sad, all the time.

Even though Tanya is an extreme extrovert, she has never given me any trouble; I only had to bail her out of jail, once. But the stuff I've seen this past week is pushing the air out of my windpipes.

Tanya may not be cheating on Sebastian with Ryan; I couldn't find Ryan's name in her phone anywhere. But Tanya is cheating on Sebastian…with multiple people. 

On Tuesday, when I was helping Tanny salvage her Chemistry grade, she got fed up with me trying to make her learn and after an hour left for a long bathroom break. Her phone was lying there unlocked and my curiosity got the better of me.

Up until opening those chats, I was hell-bent on proving Tanya innocent. But there were endless messages…many indecent ones; and I don't even want to describe the pictures that were exchanged in the chat. 

This left my brain in jumbles and now I feel stupid that I tried to defend Tanya at all; but at the same time, I'm not sure that I wouldn't stand with her, even if she was guilty.

What the heck am I supposed to do? 

"You're still jumpy, Lexi, do you want some mint?" Maddy opens her glove box.

"No, I'm fine. It's just cold." I replied.

Maddy turns up the heat.

"Oh, it's going to be fine. You'll fit right in at the party." Tanny says in-between humming the music.

I try to get a curt reply, "Easy for you to say." I'm not sure if she even heard it. Tanny has been euphoric even before going to this party. Nobody would guess she had a paranoid boyfriend suspicious of her loyalty. 

I try to shift my focus outside the window at the view.

Now that we've driven past the houses, there's only trees and passing cars left to look at. Hawk's Bridge is a long way; and even a recluse like me knows that. The first time Tanya came to us with a party invitation, she'd given Maddy a heart attack when she disclosed the location of the party.

Though I didn't seem to understand what the fuss was about. 

"You've got to be kidding me!" Maddy screamed at her.

"It's just for one night!" Tanya countered.

"Yeah? And what if we get murdered?" Maddy lashed out.

Silence followed after that.

I have no idea if the location was bad enough for someone to be murdered; it was someone's house.

How bad could it be?