"Seriously, man? This sucks," I groan as my buddy Kyle pulls up to my ex-girlfriend Belle's house. Every year since we were 15 Belle has a massive house party for her birthday, and her 21st birthday was no different and definitely the biggest one yet. Belle and I broke up three months ago after four years of a toxic relationship. I couldn't do it anymore, couldn't handle her rage fits of jealousy when she saw me talk to another girl, her crazy mind games with me. It wasn't worth it anymore, and I'm pretty sure she was fucking her professor on the side.
"Dude, she's going to be so black out she won't even notice you. Just get drunk and avoid her."
"Whatever," I roll my eyes as I slide out of the passenger seat and head up to driveway to Belle's parents 8,600 square foot mansion I've spent so much time in. I can hear music pumping through loud speakers from inside the house and wrapping to the back yard. Groups of people stand around the front of the house smoking joints and cigarettes, the smell of smoke permeating the air. I suck a breath in and push past them into the open front door to sweaty bodies wall to wall. With Kyle behind me, we push to the massive kitchen that's stocked with about a hundred bottle of liquor and various mixers all around. I instantly grab some whiskey and fill a good third of a SOLO cup up with it, splashing some Coke in afterwards.
"Hey, Auggie," I hear a sultry voice behind me. I whip around to see a platinum blonde I hooked up with a while ago standing in front of me and I cannot remember her name for the life of me.
Maddy?
Marcie?
Maybe Jessica?
"How's it going?" I lean down and kiss her cheek, feeling eyes from all around looking at me, probably wondering what I'm doing at my ex's party.
"It's going pretty good. It's been a while," she smiles at me, taking a sip of the clear bubbly drink in her cup.
"It has," I tell her, leaning into her ear, "I'll catch you later," I say and slink off away from her, not caring for any small talk at the moment.
I'm annoyed, I'm irritated and I'm pissed off that Kyle didn't tell me this is where we were heading. I take a large swig of my drink as I walk down the hallway into the massive foyer that wraps around to the open living room. I spot a few girls looking at me, huddled together and shoot them a wink and smile. I take another long sip of my drink and scan the crowd for someone I know. Anyone to distract me right now since Kyle already found a piece of ass he's most likely taking home. And tonight, I don't care about getting my dick sucked or getting laid, as long as I make it out of here without a scene.
I feel a hand smack my shoulder and I turn around to see my very drunk friend, Miles, sway back and forth with a Corona in his hand.
"You're the last person I expected to see here," he slurs, shouting over a remixed version of Post Malone's Rockstar.
"Yeah, dude, me too," I yell back, pouring more of my drink down my throat.
"Have you seen Belle?"
"No."
Miles laughs, shaking his head and then tells me he's been eyeing this black haired girl in the corner and to wish him luck. Pursing my lips, I lift the cup to cheers him and watch him slink towards her. Feeling a buzz, I push further into the crowd where I say what's up to a few other girls who catch my arm, begging me stay and dance with them. I hear Belle's drunken laugh coming from above me at the mezzanine and I glance up to see her talking to some total toolbag who looks like his name would be Tyson. I feel suffocated and need to top my drink off so I push back into the kitchen where I just exchange my SOLO cup for the whole bottle of Jack Daniels and slip down a dark hallway I know connects to the glass conservatory.
Walking into the dark greenhouse, I walk past all the plants and bookshelves Belle's mother treats like children and out into the empty backyard. I take a sharp inhale of the fresh air and bring the bottle up to my lips as the motion sensor lights turn on to reveal a tiny blonde sitting with her back to me. Her open back top reveals her smooth, tan back with loose curls falling against it. I take a swig from the bottle and take a step forward, just as she turns towards me, noticing the light turn on. Her familiar face smiles at me, as she wipes a small tear off her cheek.
Belle's best friend, Montana, sniffles before saying, "Hey August."
"What are you doing out here?"
"Just getting some air," she sighs, turning back around.
"What's wrong?"
"I didn't expect you to be here."
"Yeah, you're fucking telling me," I roll my eyes, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Belle can just be so fucking mean," Montana sniffles again. I pull a cigarette out with my free hand and then light it, exhaling the first breath of smoke.
"That's for damn sure," I tell her, walking over to sit on the outdoor daybed across from Montana. Taking another drag of my cigarette, I hold the bottle out to Montana who takes it from me and takes 3 small pulls, crinkling her face after every one. I look at Montana's thin fingers wrap around the neck of the bottle and for a split second I imagine her fingers curled around my dick like that.
I shift in my seat a tiny bit, watching her set the bottle down between us. Montana has always been a fucking babe and I've definitely had thoughts about fucking her, but it's been impossible with Belle as her best friend. I shake my head, trying to get those thoughts out of my head as Montana sighs again. I take another drag of my cigarette and then hold it out for her as well.
"So, what are you doing here? Isn't this weird?" Montana reaches up and takes the cigarette between two fingers, bringing it up to her lips as she purses them around the filter and breathes in.
"I have no idea. Kyle brought me here and didn't tell me where we were going before I got into his car," I roll my eyes, grabbing the bottle.
"Are you going to leave?" She asks, taking another drag of my cigarette.