Rule #18: Drink Alcohol
And more importantly, never drink juice.
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"Archer, pull your sleeves down."
"But, they're uncomfortable."
Mrs. Raine gives Archer a stern glare. Archer grumbles something under his breath and tugs the sleeves of the suit down to his wrists. His date, a Korean brunette named Kya, shakes her head endearingly. I lie my head down on Irene's shoulder.
"This is taking forever," I mutter. "Ms. Kenndey is probably going to give me another dentention."
Because I signed up for Prom Committee, I have to volunteer for something at Homecoming. I choose mandating the drink table so I can watch over the drinks to make sure no innocent girls (or boys) get their drinks spiked. Irene tells me I'm paranoid. But I rather be safe than sorry.
"They're not going to give a detention for showing up late, dummy," Irene runs her fingers through my pink strands. "If anything, you'll just make an entrance."
"I will?"
"Of course! Why do you think I gave you such a cute outfit?"
I roll my eyes. My outfit is just a plain pink tunic with a white undershit and black tights. I'm the only one who's not wearing a dress, excluding the boys.
We watch as Mrs. Raine flashes a couple of photos of Archer and Kya as they take on different poses - some serious, some humourous, some from Romeo and Juliet - and tries to boss them around. I feel sorry for Archer. Sometimes, I think she might be even bossier than my mom.
Jake, who's only coming because of Irene, plays with his lock-picking tools while Melody and her friend Raquel pose in font of the camera. Andrew, who refuses to go to any sort of 'money-grabbing shit', is nowhere in sight.
Ten minutes later, Archer interrupts.
"Okay, that's enough," He declares. "No, mom, I meant it. It's been ten minutes. People are starting to fall asleep. I just want to go already."
"Thank god." Irene and Jake stand up immediately. It takes me another minutes to push myself up, because my legs have fallen asleep. I stretch out my drowsiness.
Archer begins to open the door.
"Wait," Mom blurts out, snatching the camera from Mrs. Raine. "Just one more picture."
"We already took dozens, mom." I sigh.
"But I still need one of you and Archer."
I roll my eyes so hard that they feel like they're going to roll out of my head. "No thanks, mom. I don't want any pictures."
"Just one," Mom protests. "Your outfits even match."
Archer's grinning.
I'm about to come with a biting remark when Irene grabs my wrist and tugs me towards the open door. "That's nice of you, Mrs. Raine. But we really have to go now - like right now - Peyton's already late and so we have to..." She keeps talking until we're outside.
Once the door slams shut, I groan. "Could it be any more awkward?"
Irene aligns her steps next to mine. "I guess this is what happens when your mom catches you sleeping with another boy."
"We were napping on different couches."
"Your mom can be dramatic."
"That's an understatement."
The door opens again. Archer and Kya step outside on the porch. Melody and her friends are going out to dinner so they stay back. The two groups exchange goodbyes while Jake greets Irene. They share a small peck on the lips.
"Ew." I mutter.
Irene pokes me in the ribs.
Since Archer's car only has room for four, Jake ends up sitting on Irene's lap. I'm trying to remember how we managed with Andrew, Sebastion and a bear cub, but nothing comes to mind. To entertain myself, I use my breath to fog up the window and draw little animals onto it.
Irene tries to draw something too, but ends up elbowing my nose instead.
When we reach the school, I don't wait for the car to stop. As soon as Archer pulls into a parking spot, I hop outside, intenting to be grateful, but my sleeve gets caught and I stumble to the ground. Irene, who has no spatial awarensess, falls on top of me. Jake helps Irene off the ground.
Archer, of course, is the one that pulls me up.
"Jesus, Peyton, what's wrong with you today?" Irene grumbles, brushing of the dirt that got on her violet dress. "This has got to be like the third time you tripped on something today."
Archer is still holding on to me. "She wasn't this clumsy before?"
"Are you kidding? Peyton took gymnastics for six years in a row."
Gently, I push Archer's hands off me. Archer and Irene are still talking when I head up to the school, which pulses blue and red lights from the windows. The sponser of Prom Commitee, also my biology teacher, greets me enthusatically.
"Your speech on the Amur Leopard was very riveting," Ms. Kennedy tells me, smiling as she takes my ticket. "I had no idea that you had such interest in animals. Are you planning to become a veteran when you grow up or are you aiming for something bigger?"
"Something bigger."
"I'm sure you'll do great. Anyways, your drink table is off to the right in the cafeteria. All you have to do is give people the drinks they ask for - all of it's free, so don't try to charge them," She rolls her eyes. "Believe me, people have tried."
I force a smile in response and walk inside before I have to talk to her any longer.
The dance is just as bad as I remember from Freshman year. Crazy lights, an unbearable volume of music and a sweat crowd jumping up and down fill the room. I try not to cringe.
Since I've already lost my friends in the crowd, I decide to go to the drinks table.
A set of plastic glasses and a bowl full of mysterious pink liquid is set out in front of me. I take out the giant bottles of apple juice, orange juice and about every fizzy drink you can imagine from the cardboard box next to it.
I'm rearranging the Pepsis and the Cokes so that they're right next to each other when somebody approaches me.
"Hi," His face seems young and boyish. It's hard to see in the light. "Can I have two cups of punch, please?"
Oh, so that's what it is. I should have suspected. I pour out two cups of the pinkish liquid and hand them to him. It smells like strawberries. Just when he walks away, two more people appear. A line starts to form.
I pour people drinks for half an hour. Nobody has spiked anything yet. But a group of freshman boys stare and point at me from the corner. Every five minutes, one of them asks me for a glass of punch and goes back to their group. By the way, they're snickering to themselves, I don't they know I see them.
Despite my best attempts, I start come up with plans to murder them.
So I pour myself some punch to distract myself.
The punch seems to be popular so I decide to try it myself. It's sweet and fruity, with a tangy taste of strawberries, which is my favorite fruit. It takes like the beginning of spring. Something about is compelling. Soon, I'm gulping down my sixth cup.
"Peyton, help!" Archer runs up to me. His face is red. "My tie - it's choking me - get it off!"
I've helped out James enough times to know how a tie works, so I step out of my booth and try to unknot the grey clothing article. Somehow, it's a mess. I manage to free Archer before he faints. He takes the tie out from my hands - our fingers brush - and flings it the ground.
"Stupid piece of fabric."
"What were you even doing?" I question, watching as he stuffs into his pocket.
"Trying to get it off." He looks a bit annoyed. I notice his sleeves are rolled up again.
"Why'd you wear it then?" I pour him a glass of punch to make him feel better.
"You're the only one with an overbearing mother," Archer brushes a hand through his wild hair, messing it up even more. Strands of dark brown fly everywhere. Mrs. Raine would probably have fit over the way it looks.
Archer still has a scowl on his face. But, in a few minutes, he brightens up. Soon his face is its usual color, his arms are uncrossed and he's tapping his foot to the music again. I don't think it's possible for him to be grumpy for more than a few minutes.
"Seems a bit plain." Archer muses after tasting the punch.
"Really?" I pour myself a seventh cup - just to check the taste, of course - and down it one go. The sweet taste of berries and paradise washes over my taste buds. "I think it's pretty good."
I resist the urge to smack my lips.
"It seems like it's missing something to me," Archer waves and makes some sort of hand gesture to a couple of his friends before turning back to me. "I think we should add something - like coke."
"No drugs allowed." I announce, pouring myself another cup.
"Coke cola." Archer's lips twitch. Then, he starts to take one of the giant bottles of Pepsi at my countertop. I stop his hand midway.
"Hey. That's my job."
"Alright then," Without blink an eye, he hands me the bottle and his glass. "You do the honors."
Pleased, I unscrew the lid and pour some of the Pepsi into his cup.
Meanwhile, the DJ gives a shootout to Archer who winks and gives a thumbs up back at him.The black liquid mixes in with the pink, looking like a mysterious potion. It seems pretty unappetizing to me, but Archer takes it and tilts his head back.
He doesn't even make it halfway before having to stop and cough.
"Is it that bad?" I ask. My lips curve up of their own accord.
"Worse. It takes like Sebastion co - Oh, hang on, shut up for a second," He slams his hand over my mouth. I shove it away. "Kya, TJ, Tina, are you guys having fun?"
"I would if you wouldn't keep ditching me all the time," Kya jokes, stabbing her finger into his chest.
"I'm just saying hi to our friends."
"Please, with your friend amount, it would take all night.
"Ah, well," Archer shrugs and hands her his cup, which is still filed with soda and punch. "Here, Kya, why don't you try the punch? It's actually good."
Kya and her friends seems suspicious, but in the end, Kya just shrugs and downs the weird-looking liquid. My words of warning barely faze her. It takes a second for to notice the taste, but when she does, she spits it all out.
Over Archer.
"Kya," Archer groans. He doesn't move an inch, as if this what her normal reaction would be.
I burst out into laughter.
It comes out of me so suddenly that I clap my hands over my mouth in surprise. I haven't laughed in months, which isn't so bad, considering I barely laugh. Still, it's a shock hearing it again. I'm not the only one laughing - one of Kya's friends is on her knees - but mine is the loudest.
Archer stares at me with raised eyebrows.
"Hey, who made Peyton laugh?" Andrew, complete with a suit and tie, struts in, cutting of my giggles completely. But I still keep my hand over my lips. "That's quite a feat."
"I thought you weren't coming."
"I'd be a fool to miss you making fun of yourself," Andrew smirks. I drop my hand. "Looks like I came right on time - holy shit, are all of these your friends?"
"No."
"Archer and I am," Kya chirps, which is news to me. "I made Peyton laugh, so by default I'm Peyton's friend."
"Kya's your friend?" One of the guys - TJ, I think -demands.
"Yeah." I shrug.
Because why not? I've realized that trying not to have friends is a lot more time-consuming that just letting them be your friend.
"Wow, five friends," Andrew whistles. "That's got some record for you, Peyton."
"Looks like we're both breaking records. Where'd you even get that suit? Your tie doesn't even match."
"Yes, it does."
"It's SpongeBob. I thought you were going for an intimidating expression."
It seems like Andrew has just realized this. He eyes Kya and her friends, who are watching our conversation with interest, suspiciously. Archer takes out his crumpled up blue tie out of his pocket.
"You want mine?"
"Oh," Andrew perks up. He and Archer have gotten along after Archer got him a tattoo. "Thanks bro."
They fist bump each other. Then, Andrew turns to me so I can help him with his tie.
"I like your outfit," Kya tells me suddenly. "I wish I had thought of wearing pants. Very classy."
"Uh. Thanks."
"Please," Andrew scoffs. "The only reason Peyton doesn't wear a dress is because she hates showing off skin."
I glare at him. "Go away, Andrew."
"Go where?"
"Jake and Irene are trying to hack into the DJ system and play nursery rhymes. Why don't you try helping them?" Kya suggests.
I say, "What?" but Andrew's already gone.
"Anyways, I just came to here to tell that there's a group of Freshman boys who have been eyeing you for the last ten minutes." Kya leans in to whisper at me.
"Yeah. I noticed. They keep coming up to get punch."
"It's disgusting."
I nod in agreement.
"You don't talk much, do you?"
"Not really," Maybe it's because of the light-hearted music or the punch, but I find it easier to smile at her. She smiles back.
"Kya!" A boy cries her name from the crowd, making an air lasso for her to come in. Kya rolls her eyes and waves good-bye to me. I give her a glass of punch as a farewell. Meanwhile, Archer takes her place besides me.
"I think I'll just take Pepsi this time."
I hand him a glass of coke.
Archer takes a sip and leans his bare forearms on the table. "Enjoying yourself?"
"I guess."
"You haven't even danced."
"I don't like dancing."
"Or swimming."
"Or swimming."
"Or smiling."
I narrow my eyes at him, but not as mean as I want it to be. "Are you making fun of me?"
"Maybe," The soft blue lights twinkle in his grey eyes when he looks up at me. "Maybe I just want to make you laugh again."
"You got lucky the first time."
This time he laughs. "Is making you laugh that rare of an occurrence?"
Not until recently. I used to laugh a lot before Freshman year. Even though Jake, Irene and Andrew make me smile and giggle, they can't make me laugh as loudly as I did before. In response to his question, I just shrug.
"You work too hard. Try and relax once a while."
I snort. "Coming from you?"
"I have fun." Archer straightens up.
"Maybe. But you never relax. You're either writing your college applications, doing homeworking, working at the tattoo parlor, taking care of your pets or being captain of the swim team," I take a deep breath, think. "Oh - or hanging out with your friends."
"Hey. I like hanging out with my friends."
"I know."
And I do know. Archer always seems to take in more energy when he's around other people - it doesn't matter if they're his friends or not. No wonder he's so high and jumpy tonight, a party like this must be paradise for him.
"So, what's with the skepticism?"
"You do exciting things, but you never relax." I shrug. "It's not a bad thing. I'm just saying."
He opens his mouth, but the music cuts off, and he turns to the stage. The lights dim while the principal walks on stage, a spotlight hovering above her. A hush covers the crowd while she turns the microphone.
"Alright, it's time for the crowning ceremony!" Her words are drowned out by cheers.
"Well, that's my cue." Archer pulls his sleeves down, seeming a bit reluctant.
"What?" I say, catching the meaning of his words. "You won king?"
"Of course. Weren't you there when they announced it?"
"Only for five minutes."
Archer flashes his teeth, then goes up on stage when the principal calls his name. I applaud with the rest of the crowd, dumbfounded. Soon, the music starts up again and people come for more drinks. I hand them out and drink more punch, nodding my head to the beat. Although, it's getting really hot and smelly in here.
Melody and her friends approach me. Apparently, they got lost from their way from the restaurant and ended up at another city. They made for the last eyeliner. I give them one whole bottle of Sprite out of pity.
Soon, the crowd starts to thin as people start to go home. Slower songs fill the air. I search for Irene, Jake and Andrew, but they're nowhere to be found.
They must be working on the DJ system, I console myself. After all, the speakers haven't blasted Twinkle Twinkle Little Star even once. Still, nothing's exploded or broken yet, so I'm start to get worried.
Thirty minutes before ten, Archer approaches me.
"Nice crown."
"Here," He places it on my head. "Keep it. There's a photo booth nearby, you know."
"I know. Do you know where Andrew, Jake or Irene are?"
"No idea. Come take a picture with me. Everybody else has," Archer places his scepter down on the table. "It's free."
"I'm good. I just need to find my friends."
"Taking a picture with me would appease your my mom."
I finally turn my eyes towards Archer. As usual, he looks like he's trying not to laugh. "My mom wants us to hook up."
"I know." His grin becomes wider. "So, how about it?"
Before I can respond, a screech comes from the stage. The music cuts off as one of the speaker sways and then, tumbles to ground letting out a cascade of sparks. After a soft hissing noise, the bottom of the curtain sets on fire.
"There they are," I say, pleased. "I'll be right back."
- () -
Surprised at this quick update? So am I.
This chapter was surprisingly fun to write. The next chapter will introduce James, Peyton's older brother who went to college.
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You know who this is, you know what to do.
This week's dedication goes to both HeyPeopleOfTheWorld and bellakatriss123 for voting on all my chapters! I love when people do that. And to the people who continually vote on my chapters, thank you so much!
Thanks for reading!
QotC: What's your favorite drink?
(and also) Are any of you guys getting confused about the characters? I feel like I'm adding too many. Just let me know if you guys need clarification.