1
Aaron: In the Closet
I’d never admit it, but I don’t like parties. I don’t like how people pack into a room like sardines. I don’t like pop and rap music blasting from the speakers — and not because I’m a music snob. I like the mainstream stuff as much as anyone else, but only in small doses. And at a reasonable volume.
And I don’t like drinking. Sure, I’ll drink a beer. I’ll drink three if that’s how many my friends hand me. But if it were socially acceptable, I’d choose orange juice. Alcohol only givesme a headache.
Sure, it also loosens my inhibitions, but that isn’t fun. The few times I’ve gotten more than tipsy, a part of me would worry that I’d blurt out something I didn’t mean to. Or do something crazy, something I’d never do if sober.
Like, kiss a boy.
Tonight’s party is hosted by Ethan, who’s been one of my best mates since Year 7. His parents have gone on a business trip to Melbourne and gave him permission to host a “small” house party because he claimed he needed to celebrate the beginning of term 2, which starts this coming Monday. This party is definitely not small. There are people from our school, Easton Grammar, and the local public school, Easton High, and I only recognise half of the hundred-or-so faces here. Every table is covered with cider bottles and beer cans, and cigarette dust litters the carpet.
“Stop frowning, Aaron!” Ethan says, appearing out of nowhere and slinging an arm around my neck.
“I’m not frowning,” I reply as I paste on an easy smile.
“You were.” That’s Mimi’s voice. She appears beside Ethan, sliding a possessive arm around his waist.
My stomach sinks. Because where Mimi goes…
“I saw it too,” Lily says, arriving beside her.
I avert my eyes and look at Ethan. “Sorry. It’s not your party. I’m just tired. I had a long shift before this.”
Every Saturday afternoon, I work at my parents’ fan and lighting store, and I spent most of my shift moving stock around and helping customers. Afterwards, I had a few hours to eat dinner and rest before this party. I planned to study — I’m in Year 12, and there’s an ever-increasing pile of school work to do — but instead, I wasted most of my time wondering if I should pretend to be sick to get out of coming here.
But then I thought of how disappointed everyone would be, especially Ethan.
So I mustered up a smile, and here I am.
“Have another drink,” Ethan says. “I have a ton of spares.”
“I have some cruisers if you want them,” Lily says, giving me one of those smiles again. It’s such a sweet smile, and I hate the way I wish she’d direct it to anyone but me.
“Oh, uh, thanks,” I say. It’s rude to turn down an offer like that.
“Come,” she says, ushering me towards the kitchen. As I follow her, I catch Ethan giving me a waggle of his brows before turning to Mimi.
In the kitchen, painted dark green and decorated with rose-gold pots hanging from the wall, Lily opens the fridge and pulls out a glass bottle filled with pink liquid. “Raspberry. It’s the best flavour.”
“Cheers,” I say, taking it. I wish she’d given me the worst flavour, like lemon.
I try to open the bottle, but my hand is too sweaty. Lily laughs and opens it for me.
“Thanks,” I say and take a minuscule sip. “So, how have you been enjoying the party?”
“It’s fun,” she says. “I got ready at Mim’s, and we were both super excited. It’s been forever since Ethan's hosted a party.”
“I wouldn’t say forever,” I say. The last party he held was back in February, for his eighteenth.
“Well, I’m happy he’s hosting one. It’s nice to see everyone out of school.”
I nod and take another sip.
“Excuse me,” a cool voice says.
We turn to see Jude Seymour standing behind us. He’s new to Easton Grammar. His mum’s the new school principal, Ms Seymour, who replaced our old one, who retired. Apparently, the pair of them moved here from Melbourne.
