'Are you sure you're okay?'
'Yeah I'm fine Corey. I told you: I'm not worried about me, I only care about you.' Reece said waving his hand airily.
Reece stumbled slightly. He was having some difficulty walking straight but that had little to do with the fact that he had just been punched in the face several times and more to do with the amount of alcohol he had consumed. I walked beside him, gripping his arm tightly to ensure his stability. It wasn't easy however. Reece was quite a big guy, with more muscle in one arm than on my entire body. Further, I had drunk my fair share that night. So all in all, the walk proved chaotic at best.
'Reece, I really appreciate that but Ben barely touched me. You're the one who was knocked to the ground!' I said, eyeing Reece's nose worriedly.
Reece had taken his shirt off and until recently, was holding it over his nose. The white fabric was now ruined; drenched in a surprising amount of blood. I hoped desperately that his nose wasn't broken.
'I'm fine.' He said again, though I knew he was lying.
Still stumbling but somehow managing to remain upright, we continued through the dark stillness of the suburbs of Melbourne. My mind was still racing, trying to piece together how everything had gotten so out of control so quickly. It was only twenty or so minutes ago yet it seemed like a lot longer. Vaguely, I saw myself standing with Reece playing beer pong before one of Noah's friends came up to us out of nowhere. Ben was so drunk, he could barely stand and looking back on it, it was obvious that he was looking for a fight. Why Ben started it I could not say but he called us both queer because we hadn't left each other's side the whole party. I thought that this was a bit rich considering Ben's closest friends, Nathan and Jarrod, were currently swimming naked in the pool together.
'Aren't you into any of these chicks?' Ben asked, jerking his head behind him at no one in particular.
'Not really.' Reece said before grabbing my arm and starting to pull me away.
'Where the fuck are you going you queer cunt?' Ben asked, grabbing my other arm tightly.
'Get the fuck off him!' Reece spat and before I knew it, Reece had thrown a punch at Ben.
Ben let go of me and dodged the punch easily. Then, before Reece could do so much as adjust his feet, Ben retaliated and smashed Reece in the side of the head. I jumped back in shock, as Ben threw another punch which hit Reece square in the nose with a sickening crunch. Reece shook his head and blood splattered everywhere. Before Ben could wipe the warm substance from his face, Reece advanced again. This time, Reece got Ben in the shoulder.
People were really beginning to crowd around now. The sound of their yelling and the weight of so many circling us was disorientating and the alcohol was only acting to increase the sensation. Not to mention, I had not a single ounce of fighting instinct in me to react to this situation. I had never thrown a punch in my life and watched on in a kind of horrified trance as Reece was eventually knocked to the ground with one clean sweep from Ben. Then, suddenly, Ben turned to me.
'Your turn now you gay fuck.' Ben said, raising his fist.
Then, so many things happened at once that my intoxicated mind had difficulty comprehending it all. Nick had pulled me away from Ben by the back of my shirt just as Ben was tackled to the ground by someone I couldn't see. I was so out of it that the world was momentarily incomprehensible. Nick caught me and threw me back forcefully into the crowd before he started shouting something I couldn't understand. Lachlan essentially caught me and asked if I was okay. He looked more amused than concerned however. Tom was next to him and I heard him ask something as he patted my back. Before I could stop myself, I leaned forward and threw up over Lachlan's bare feet. Tom jumped back and roared with laughter along with much of the crowd.
Little Lachy from the footy team looked pissed off for a second before joining in the laughter, 'You right there Matheson? Fuckin hell!'
As Lachlan sped off towards the pool to wash his feet, I suddenly remembered what had happened to Reece. But before I could act, a warm hand closed around my shoulder and walked me through the crowd.
'You okay?' Reece asked in a funny, nasally voice. Blood was protruding violently from his nose.
'Reece -' I began.
'I know, its fine.' Reece said before taking off his shirt and holding it over his bloody face.
Stopping only to rinse my mouth out in Tom Wilsons kitchen, Reece and myself left the party before anyone had a chance to stop us.
***
Reece and I rounded the bend into my street. As we did so, I noticed that a light was still on in the lounge room. Kane was probably still awake. He usually stayed up until three in the morning, watching European soccer and drinking heavily.
My suspicions were confirmed as we crossed the threshold. Kane, as ever, was sat on the lounge in his favourite pair of grey undies, watching TV. Blake had joined him tonight. He was wearing some grey track pants, his legs dangling over the coffee table which held many empty beer bottles and a heavily used bong.
'Heya broooos!' Blake practically yelled, jumping up to hug myself and then Reece.