Page 61 of I Wish You All the Best

Even from here I can see the crowds gathering on the front porch. People already look drunk off their asses, and it’s barely eight thirty.

“Half an hour.” Nathan glances at the clock on the dashboard. “Nine o’clock, and if you’re having a bad time, we can leave.”

“Okay.” I nod.

And he grins from ear to ear.

“Nathan!” Meleika shouts from across the yard. She sprints toward us, something vaguely bottle-shaped tucked under her arms. “Y’all made it.”

“Yes, my dear.” Nathan chuckles. “We were worried too. Thought maybe we missed a turn or something.”

“Yeah, this place screams murder house,” she replies.

“That’s what Ben said.” Nathan looks at me over his shoulder, still smiling.

I follow them both closely, climbing the front steps of the house with as much enthusiasm as I can muster, which isn’t saying a lot. I can already feel my stomach twisting with the beat of the bass, the floors vibrating so hard I’m shocked the pictures on the walls aren’t falling off.

If the porch outside is crowded, then the inside of the house is most definitely filled to capacity. Seriously, I don’t think any fire marshal would let this go, even if you paid them. “Do you know if Sophie’s here?” Nathan asks, his voice barely registering over the music.

Meleika has to shout. “Should be!”

“Nathan! Mel!” Some humungous white dude waves, pushing through the crowd as he makes a beeline for us.

“God. Todd’s already wasted.” Meleika turns to me. And then I realize I do know Todd. Well, vaguely, anyway. He’s in my English class, but I pretty much only ever see the back of his head. “I’m going to go find Sophie, good luck.”

“Wait, don’t leave.” I try to catch her, but Meleika’s already gone.

“Hey, Todd.” Nathan steps in front of me, probably to hide Meleika running away.

“Hey, Nate.” Todd glares right at me. “And who is this?” Either he doesn’t pay attention during roll call, or he really is drunk off his ass.

“Ben,” Nathan answers for me.

“Hey, wait! I know this guy! We’re in Mrs. Williams’s class together.” He gives me his fist. I guess to bump it, but I just stand there, awkwardly, because my hands refuse to budge. And all I say is “Yeah.”

“You drinkin’ tonight?” he asks Nathan, unbothered by my rejection.

“Nah, driving.”

“What about you?” Todd looks down at me. Jesus. I never realized what a giant this guy is.

“Oh, I don’t—” I start to say, but it’s useless. Todd can’t hear me over the music.

“Hey, Megs!” He waves over to the table in the dining room and points to me. A girl, apparently Megs, hands me a red cup filled with something that looks like pee. “We’ve got the stronger stuff in the kitchen.” Todd smacks my back, nearly making me drop the whole thing.

“So, you’re drinking?” Nathan asks.

“I guess?” I stare at my cup, filled with the very pee-like liquid. I shouldn’t drink it, I know that I shouldn’t. I don’t want to in the first place, and all the warnings about my medication. But Todd’s staring at me, and there’s this desire bubbling inside me, almost like I need to impress him. And then I see Nathan, and I don’t want him to think I can’t handle this stuff.

I sip whatever is in my cup, and it takes everything in me not to spit it out. “Blegh, what is that?”

“No good?” Nathan tries, and fails, to hide his laughter.

“No!” I shout.

Nathan’s still trying his best not to giggle. “It’s beer. Try it again, first sip’s always terrible.”

I take another, but it’s still just as bad.