The fast-moving truck flew into the intersection beating the red light by just a split second while I clung to my seat belt with one hand, and kept my other on the dashboard.
"You know, Wade, if we die trying to get to the party it is going to be a heck of a lot less fun for both of us," I shouted.
"I got this under control, Alex. I took defensive driving don't ya know!" said Wade.
Wade Miller had come into my life fairly recently, but it had been one of those connections where you feel like you have known each other forever. My parents had relocated to Hampton's Landing six-months ago forcing me to transfer to a college nearby because they couldn't afford to pay the expenses of me living on campus at my old school. Things had been lonely for me at the beginning since I had to start over at a new school not knowing anyone. I had always been shy, and meeting new people wasn't easy for me. Wade was in my Algebra 102 class, and he seemed to sense that I needed a friend. We hit it right off and quickly became inseparable. He was everything I wasn't, charming, outgoing, and he seemed to know everyone on campus, or at least they knew him. He took me under his wing deciding that I was going to be his project, and he was going to teach me how to meet girls, and have a good time.
Meeting women, and winning them over seemed to be second nature for Wade. His looks certainly didn't hurt his cause since he was a muscular six-foot tall guy with flowing blond locks that made him look like a Norse God. He carried himself with a natural confidence, flashing a winning smile that drew even more attention to his sun-tanned good looks, and steely blue eyes. I, on the other hand, was a much less striking individual. I mean I wasn't ugly, but standing next to Wade I suffered by comparison. We were the same height, but that was about all we had in common. My dark brown hair was cut far shorter than Wade's, which suited me since I didn't like hair tickling my neck or covering my ears. I took after my Mom with brown eyes that sat under some very dark, thick eyebrows, and mouth that seemed slightly too small for my face. My work out routine did keep me reasonably fit, and trim, but I lacked Wade's bulky muscles.
We were on our way to a party off campus. I wasn't exactly sure where, but Wade had a sixth sense for these things like he could smell single girls from dozens of miles away. He was in a hurry because he wanted to stop by his brothers first, and see if he could get him to buy us some beer for the festivities.
Wade's brother Brad was his senior by eight years and married. He lived with his wife, and kids in a townhouse not far from the edge of campus. I had met Brad a few times since he worked on the maintenance staff for the college. He was a lot like Wade only shorter, and with a worse temper. This was the first time I had ever been headed for his house.
The road we were on curved around and dead-ended at a driveway that led into the backside of an apartment complex. One side was traditional apartments stacked three stories high while on the other sat a long row of identical looking townhomes. Wade pulled into a parking spot behind one of those next to a giant red truck.
"Good, Brad's home," he said shutting off the engine.
Brad Miller answered the door on the second knock scowling at the two of us.
"What the fuck you do you two idiots want?"
"Hey, Brad! Is that any way to talk to your favorite brother?"
"You're my only brother, and you only suck up like this when you want something. Hell, come on in since you're here."
He stepped back from the door admitting us to the interior. I have to say, knowing Brad I had expected the place to be a dump, but it was actually kind of nice inside. The furniture was new, and the home was well decorated with pictures of his kids on the walls and a painting of an ocean scene above the couch.
"Alex, I don't think you've met my wife."
I turned from studying the ocean painting and reached out my hand toward the petite woman who stood in front of me.
"Valerie Miller. It's nice to meet you."
"Alex...uh...Alex Collins," I barely managed to get out.
I guess every guy has a type. That one woman who makes your blood boil when they pass by, and you can't take your eyes off them. My dream girl was a combination of Jamie Gertz, and Catherine Mary Stewart, the chick who had been in one of my guilty pleasure movies, The Last Star Fighter. Valerie Miller was the perfect mix of those two, and it made my heart leap into my throat. She was about five-foot-four with platinum blond hair that fell in waves and ringlets around her long gorgeous face. Her full lips pulled back into a radiant smile, and her blue eyes seemed to twinkle with amusement at my inability to articulate my name. Her skin was bronzed from time spent in the sun, and she smelled like wildflowers.
"You...Um...Have a very nice home," I finally said.
"Thank you, Alex. Can I get you anything? Some tea, maybe?"
"Don't worry about catering to these guys they won't be staying long," said Brad.
Valerie frowned at him, but excused herself, and went through a doorway into what turned out to be the kitchen.
"So what is it you guy's want?"
Wade quickly outlined our need for party supplies so that we could ingratiate ourselves to the young ladies at the off-campus get-together. At the mention of a party, Brad's eyes lit up like we had told him he had won the lottery.
"Party, huh? I think I could help you guys out. Come on we will take my truck."
He vanished down the hallway whistling to himself while I turned to Wade in confusion, "Is he coming with us?"
"Don't worry about it. Brad is attracted to parties like a moth to a flame," replied Wade with a shrug.
It turned out Valerie was less than thrilled that her husband was taking off in the middle of the evening to go hang out with a bunch of college kids. I could hear them arguing in the kitchen, but eventually, Brad emerged twirling his keys around one finger.
"Women! I tell you guys wives are just there to bust your fucking balls every time you want to have a bit of fun. Let's go!"
We piled into Brad's large pickup, and I took the window seat. He drove us to a convenience store where he bought a couple of cases of beer on our behalf. Wade navigated while Brad drove, and we arrived at the party in a big two story house. The place looked like a scene from every National Lampoon's movie I had ever watched. There was sin, and debauchery aplenty going on inside, and our arrival with a load of beer won us instant approval from the crowd. Wade was in his element pressing flesh like a politician on the campaign trail, and Brad seemed to transform from the grumpy man I had met an hour ago to a much more personable fellow. By the end of the night, he had his arm around me giving me advice as if he was a long lost and very drunk Uncle.
"Alex, buddy, you got to show some balls man. A woman wants a guy with...ya know..."
"Balls?" I supplied helpfully.
"YEAH! FUCKING BALLS!"
He sloshed his beer all over the floor gesturing with it.
"Hey, Brad! Take it easy, bro!"
Wade materialized from the crowd with two young ladies in tow. The first was a short, stocky little blond with breasts big enough for three girls, and the other a tall brunette with a massive head of curly hair. He put an arm around his brother to steady him while introducing the girls at the same time.
"Alex, this is Cindy, and...Um..."
"Cathy," supplied the tall brunette. They were both almost as wasted as Brad. Cathy especially seemed to be swaying precariously while she sidled up next to me looking me intently up, and down.
"Wade said he had a cute friend. Are you cute?"
