Learning the Basics

The Kickback- 39

I watched Julius thoroughly clean up all the messes we made effortlessly, but I felt bad because I wasn't able to help him. Every time I tried to help, he would push me back down on the couch or swat my hand if I tried picking up any cleaning product. "Hey, guys! You guys wanna go to this hangout my friends are hosting? It's more like a kickback." Lucas came into the living room and jumped over the back of the couch and plopped next to me, sorting closely and pulling my legs over his lap.

I let out a weak laugh and looked at the way he eyed me funnily. He was looking at me the way Julius did before we had sex, like he was asking me with his eyes. Julius threw the cleaning rag he had in his hand down and stomped over to us, grabbed me by my thigh tightly, and spun me in the opposite direction of Lucas so my legs weren't on him. "Ave, stop being so fucking friendly. You're with me now, not him. Only I can fuck you, not him; he can't touch you. "I thought Lucas and I were friends, and friends can do this?" I said quietly. "Do you do that shit with Eden?" Julius yelled. "N-No." I shook my head and looked at him worriedly. "Didn't think so. Now don't piss me off. " Julius snatched the spray bottle off the coffee table and sprayed the table.

A moment of realization hit me. Who does he think he's talking to? "What you're not about to do is yell at me and talk to me however you want to!" My scratchy voice didn't sound intimidating at all. Julius ignored me and continued cleaning, walking off when he was done. "You know what. I'm going to the kickback." I crossed my arms angrily and plopped down on the couch next to Lucas, slouching. "hell yeah, you should, and make him jealous too, so he can start paying more attention to you and take you seriously." Lucas clapped. "Make him jealous? Isn't that a little too far?" I sat up slowly. "Nah, of course not. It's probably what he wants you to do."Lucas had a sinister-looking grin on his face.

"You're not setting me up, are you?" I leaned in, asking him curiously. "No, of course not!" He didn't sound convincing at all, but we're friends. We had sex. So I can trust him. "I don't know how to make people jealous." The sentence feels more embarrassing when saying it aloud. "Just hook up with someone from the kickback. Easy." Lucas scooted closer to me and wrapped his arm around me. His face is closer than it should be. "Hook up?" I tilted my head, confused. "You know what, I'm not even going to explain." Lucas laughed and hugged me, feeling on my chest with the hand wrapped around me. It felt wrong, but I didn't say anything.

"When is the kickback?" I pulled away so I could ease the feeling of discomfort. Usually, it would feel good, but since it was him and I'm in a relationship, it didn't feel right. "It's at ten." Lucas smiled. "Why is it so late? Wait...what even is kickback?" I hugged my knees and looked at a random object in my living room. "Don't worry, you'll see." He sighed, shaking his head, and got up, walking off. The day went by slowly, and over that time, I gradually began to feel better. My voice was still quiet and barely hoarse, but I was able to talk normally at least. Julius was still giving me the silent treatment, which kind of hurt my feelings because when I asked him for a kiss, he would ignore me, and when I offered sex for forgiveness, he wouldn't answer. I found myself crying in the bathroom over it, but I know he won't ignore me forever.

~~~

-10:47 pm-

Lucas, Julius, Eden, and I got out of Julius' car, which was badly parked in the homeowner's grass along with the other cars. The house was blasting music that we could hear from outside, and there were random teens and adults scattered on the porch, in the lawn, and entering and exiting the house. "Lucas, you said it was a kickback, not a fucking party!" Julius complained. "Calm down, so there were a few extra people, so what? We're here to have fun. We had to fight for Avery's mom's permission." Lucas exhaled heavily. We all nodded and walked up to the house.

My heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest. I've never been to a party before, so I don't know what to expect. Lucas had on a hoodie and some pants. Julius had on a black compression shirt and gray sweatpants, Eden had on shorts and a short-sleeved, cropped top, and I had on a plain blue shirt and some pants. "Don't worry, Avery. If you feel overwhelmed, you can always sit in the car or come find me, and I can call your Mom so she can come get you." Eden rubbed my shoulder and held my hand while we walked up the stairs. For some reason, her words upset me more than comforted me. I'm almost eighteen. Why would I need my mom?

"EDEN! HEY GIRL, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING!" A girl with long brown hair wearing little to no clothing greeted Eden. "VERONICA!!" Eden let go of my hand and walked off with her friend. Lucas was already gone as soon as we got inside. Julius glanced at me, then went in his own direction, leaving me alone. My hands got shaky, and my palms felt damp with sweat. Maybe I should calm myself down with a drink. I passed by the crowds of gyrating people that were all almost half-naked, trying to find my way to the kitchen. It was so loud, and the bass-boosted beat of the music hurt my ears.

I finally found my way to the kitchen and searched for an ounce of water; the only things on the countertops were alcohol and beer. "E-Excuse me... Where are the water bottles?" I tapped a guy who looked like he was minding his business. "Hey, what's a kid like you doing here?" He laughed and wrapped his arm around me. I think he's- intoxicated. "I-I'm seventeen," I said, barely audible. "Your favorite color is green?!" He shouted, not able to hear me. "N-No. I'm thirsty." I said to him, having to put his ear close to me so I could speak into it. "Ohh, here have some of this." He offered me his cup. "May I please have my own cup, and what is it?" I politely pushed his cup towards him so he could get it away from my face.

"It tastes just like juice. Come on and try it." The guy pulled me in front of him and turned me around so our bodies were pressed together but in opposite directions. "H-How old are you?" The question rolled off my tongue unintentionally. I start saying random things when I'm terrified sometimes to distract my mind. "If you drink this, I'll answer." He said in a teasing voice. What's the harm in that? I thought. "Okay." Maybe I should fake drink it and just hold the cup to my lips...was what I thought, until he rested his hand on my neck. "Just to make sure you swallow it." He chuckled in my ear. There goes my plan.