"You've never heard of a Lights Out Party?"
Mike stared at Sean incredulously as the two of them relaxed in Sean's living room. Having just turned eighteen near the end of their senior year of high school, the pair was left with noting to do on a Saturday than plan about future college parties. Mike's brother Alex happened to be pledging in a nearby frat house, and had alerted his younger brother about a party that was happening that night.
"Sorry," Sean said with a shrug. "It sounds... dark."
"That's the point nimrod," Mike said, throwing a cheeto at his friend. "The idea is that the lights are out in the entire house, okay? No one can see anything."
"Sounds like a lot of people bumping into each other."
"No!" Mike was getting irritated. "Just listen, alright? You get colored bands, so you know who's which gender, and where people are. The idea is since you can only see when people are alone, you go over, and, you know. Get to know them."
"Through intellectual conversation?" Sean guessed.
"Through fucking," Mike said bluntly. "God you're such a prude sometimes. You know, you're going to have to go to a few parties if you ever want to get your dick wet."
Sean sighed. It was true his luck with the ladies hadn't been stellar lately. A problem that Mike had taken to heart, and was doing everything in his power to fix. "I know, I know, but isn't this a little... shallow?"
"It's just the opposite! Normally you'd judge a chick by her looks. Here, all you have to go on is her voice, and maybe a little chika-chika." Mike started to grind his pelvis in the air.
It was at that moment that Jill, Sean's elder sister by two years, decided to walk into the room. She was home for the summer, her college session already over. With blue eyes and black curly hair to her shoulders, she was wearing some capri shorts and a pink top that stretched slightly around her B cup breasts. She stopped in her tracks as Mike awkwardly brought his gyrating to a halt.
"Hey Jill," Sean said as if nothing was going on.
"Yeah," she said, not taking her amused expression away from Mike. "If you two are busy I could always come back later..."
"Nah, we're cool," Mike said, straightening up. "Just giving your brother here some lovemaking tips."
"So you'll do the opposite of what he said, right?" Jill asked Sean, sharing a smile. "Anyway, I wanted to see if I could borrow your car for the night? Mine's still in the shop."
"Tonight? I don't know..." Sean looked to Mike for an answer.
"It's cool, I can drive us around town," Mike said with a non-subtle wink and nudge. Sean rolled his eyes, pushing his friend away.
"Yeah, that's fine then," Sean said, pointing to the door. "Keys are on the holder."
"You're the best!" Jill reached over to rough up her brother's hair, which he tried but failed to move out of the way of. "Later!" she said as she made her way to the door, grabbing the keys and heading out of the house.
"Man..." Mike said, still staring at the door. "How drunk do you think she'd have to be to have sex with me?"
"I don't think there's a non-lethal level on the spectrum," Sean said.
"I can work with that."
Sean threw back the cheeto projectile. "Easy man, that's my sister you're talking about."
"Yeah, but she's not MY sister," he retorted. "I can dream about her all I want."
"Not if you're trying to sell me on going out tonight," Sean said.
With a grin, Mike said, "What, thinking about your sister's hot, naked body rubbing up against you doesn't get you hard?"
"And we're done." Sean made a move to get up, but found himself surprisingly starting to get a little hard. He fell back in the couch, playing it off as if he never really intended to leave.
"Whatever," Mike said. "So you'll come, right? Be my wingman, maybe get a little something-something for yourself?"
With a shrug Sean said, "I guess. Not like there's much else to do. Plus what's the worst that could happen?"
—————
Later that evening, Mike and Sean pulled up in front of the local frat house. They could hear the music playing from the minute they turned onto the street, and found a number of cars parked around the house, some even on the grass.
Pulling into a spot, Mike turned to Sean. "I still think you should have worn something different," Mike said, commenting on Sean's simple black Metallica t-shirt and jeans. In contrast, Mike was wearing a button down green shirt with gym shorts and flip-flops.
"You said it's dark, who care's what I'm wearing?" Sean asked.
"The girls do man, the girls." Mike just shook his head. "See, everything I've got on is for quick, easy removal. I aim to get in, get some, and get out as quick as possible."
"You're a credit to our sex," Sean said with a laugh. The two got out of the car and made their way to the front door. Along the grass, couples were spread out drinking and laughing, a few of them having had their fill of the house. At the door, a buff looking guy who could snap them in two with a look stopped them.
"Password?" he asked, eyeing them up and down.
"Lazy lizards like lying lumps," Mike said in response. Smiling, the bouncer reached into a bag by the door and procured two wristbands, each glowing a faint red.
"Red is men, blue is woman," the bouncer explained. "We don't judge what you do, but if you're caught swapping bands, you'll face worse things than being thrown out of here. Understood?"
The boys nodded in turn, then paid the $15 entrance fee for booze, and walked inside.
As soon as the door was shut behind them, Sean saw the party for what it really was. No one had been standing in the entranceway, probably because the light from the opening door ruined the atmosphere. But here, in the dark of the house, all he could see were glowing red and blue bands scattered throughout the various rooms. Not a single electronic device shone, from clocks to charging lights. Even the windows were covered so as not to let night light in. There were some yellow glowing spots to mark walls and stairs, but beyond that, the house was alive with people and music.
"Check this out!" Sean heard Mike said. He turned to look, eyes instantly finding the red band that was spinning in the air around his crotch.
"Gross," Sean said, though he had to almost scream it over the music. "Come on, let's get some drinks."
The two made their way to the back of the house, and Sean was proud that he only bumped into five people on the way. There was a larger neon size for the kegs, which allowed them to vaguely see one another. They poured themselves drinks and, without the ability to check out who was there, stood around awkwardly, looking for something to do.
"I guess we go in?" Sean said, motioning with his band-hand to the dance floor.
"Only thing to do," Mike agreed. "Listen, it's too loud to stay together and there's no point in it anyway. Whenever you're done, just meet me outside. But don't be too quick... if you know what I mean. I plan to get laid at least five times tonight. Maybe more."
"To luck," Sean said, downing his beer. "Since you'll need it."
"Fuck you," Mike said. And with that he was off, the red band along his arm trailing off into the distance.
Sean stood there for a little while, smiling at the few people who came by the keg. Some of the girls were pretty, but none of them stayed too long, all desperate to escape into the anonymity of the party. When he couldn't take it any longer, Sean waited for an opening, and dove into the dance floor. He found a group of three blue bands dancing together, and made his way to one of them.
"Hi," he said at what he thought was a loud enough volume, but none of the girls heard him. Or if they did, they didn't respond, and kept dancing to themselves. He tried to say something again, but the music track changed to something much, much louder, and his words were drowned out.
Feeling discouraged, he made to retreat to the keg again, when an arm reached out to his banded one. He felt himself being pulled in, chest grinding against a feminine chest. Their fingers intermingled as they danced, sweat from each of them mixing together as their bodies pressed closer. Without being able to see the girl or know where anyone else was on the dance floor, he was forced to keep the girl pressed close to him at all times.
She was a little shorter than him, and as they danced, he could smell her hair, a lavender scent that was familiar. Was this a girl from his school, maybe a few years older that was at the party? The thought that this could be someone he knew was all the reasoning he needed to stay with this girl.
