I wave at all of them one last time and then turn back to the party.
I’m sad that all my girlfriends are leaving but it makes sense that they have to get home or risk getting into trouble— even though I can’t really relate, except when it comes to Derek, who isn’t really my dad. He just plays the role, which isn’t the same thing as what Janice and Mary Ann and the others have, but I’m grateful I at least have a caring brother.
Still, I wonder what it must be like to have parents like that, who actually care about you and worry about you and actually get upset if you're not home on time.
It sounds as foreign to me as a different land.
But at least I have my brother to look out for me.
And sometimes he looks out for me a little too much.
As I take my drink and return to the party by myself, I can’t help but think that it would be nice if Derek wasn’t always breathing down my neck, because then I could hook up with his hot best friend without risking either of our lives!
Chapter 2 – Bella
The party continues as I stand here with my drink. The music is still blasting loudly from the speakers that Derek helped me set up, but the crowd seems to be thinning out now. Most of the people who are left are lying around drunkenly.
Those that are still able to stand are so drunk they can't carry on a conversation and sometimes they fall over a bit. Even Derek is passed out on the couch. I find that a bit odd, given that we were both raised by alcoholics, but I'm not in any position to judge him. Given who our parents are, we don't exactly have the best role models.
Besides, I remind myself, Derek doesn't drink that often. He deserves to let loose tonight just like I do. I know the reason behind his unusual love for alcohol tonight even if he would probably never admit it out loud.
As sad as I am about Steve leaving, I know that it's hit Derek even harder. That's only natural, though. No one is closer than the two of them. They’re more than friends; they’re like brothers. They were inseparable all throughout school and growing up.
They both go to the State college and play on the same football team. During tryouts in their third year, though, Steve was the only one to get drafted. I know that disappointed Derek, which only makes sense. They've always shared the same skill set when it comes to football. It just seems like Steve might be a tiny bit better than Derek.
That would bother anyone, so I can’t hold my brother’s drunkenness against him. He's never come out and actually said it, of course, but you can kind of tell from his facial expressions that it bothers him whenever the topic is mentioned.
Or at least I can, anyway. But maybe that’s just because I've grown up with him.
As I stand here thinking about all of this, I realize that my drink is empty. I debate whether I should get another one or if it would put me over the edge. I like being tipsy sometimes when celebrating like this, but not drunk!
I look around and see that all my friends are gone. Mostly it’s just Steve’s left and they’re as drunk as my parents, so they don’t really count as being “here.”
The party has definitely wound down now.
I need something to do, so I figure why not clean up?
Funny, I'm picking up after my own graduation party.
I lower the music until it's just noise in the background. Then I start taking the leftover food to the kitchen. I throw the scraps away, which fills up the trash bag, so I grab another empty one and unfold it. I walk around the house with it in my hand as I’m picking up empty beer cans and bottles.
Steve makes his way to my side, gently tapping my shoulder. My heart flutters and I can’t stop it.
"Want some help with that?" he asks with a smile.
Now I feel more fluttering inside me. It's so funny how he stayed behind to clean, considering this was his party too.
"Sure, if you want," I answer, trying not to let my excitement show.
He picks up some cans and throws them in the bag too. We walk together, cleaning up. The cans clank quietly as we toss more in.
Once that bag is full, I tie it up. Then Steve takes it from me and walks outside with it, where he puts it on the curb with the rest of the trash.
When he gets back, he finds me in the kitchen, putting away leftover food. So, he helps me once again, by throwing out plastic cups that are half full of drinks and paper plates that have half eaten food on them.
“It’s almost as if we had barnyard animals for our guests, instead of people,” he says, and I laugh as I wash the dishes and then wipe everything down.
Once everything’s been cleaned up, we take down the streamers and decorations and then Steve throws away the last of the trash.