ALIAS ? Peter Parker?

07. A Little Party Never Killed Anything But My Self-Esteem

The past twitches in my eyelids and force myself to stay still, though my head betrays me, jerking with memories. Breathe. I remind myself, but I hear Rachel's voice.

My heart rate slows before I manage to break something. 

Great, check parties off the list of things I suck at.

I dry off my dress with a clean towel and leave the bathroom. The hunched-over figure on the bed jerks up, revealing familiar eyes.

"Thought that was you. That was quite a show." He says, voice uneven from crying. The whites of his eyes tinge pink, but his gaze is dark as ever.  Jonathan nods wiping his nose with the sleeve of his white button-up. His brown hair is a mess, and his shirt wrinkled, a far cry from his usual put-together looks. "I didn't know you cared about dresses that much." 

I glare, too tired to be scared for a moment, I'd rather deal with a bank robber right now.Biting down a few comments, I turn on my heel and begin walking out the door.

"Did you hear anything?" The question is put slowly and I stay planted near the doorway. The pieces adding up about the spat with what I assume to be his boyfriend, the only hole in that being one thing. As far as anyone in Mid-Town knew, Jonathan's taste didn't align with that. 

"Nothing."

"What ever you think you heard, you didn't. I don't that stuff. I can't-" He cuts himself off, defeated, but my eyes meet his. There's less anger. I've stumbled straight into his closet and it's dark. "Don't say anything."

I swallow. "Okay." 

I walk down the stairs and glance at my phone. It's not time yet, but I want to get the hell out of here. Jackie isn't hard to track down, just follow the biggest group of people. When I find her, her arm is around a tall almond skinned girl. At first, I think it's her being friendly, but then I realize it's for support.

I dive into the group without thinking, grabbing her limp head in my hands. "How much have you had to drink?"

"Not... much." She drags out, her breath stinks of vodka and kool-aid. "Guys- guys this is my friend Charlie, she has such big eyes."

I grab, Jackie back from the girl, shooting glares at the group. They mutter back excuses and hellos, but the mood lost me. I take a water bottle from a cooler as Jackie leans almost all of her body weight on me.

"You smell like ocean." Jackie slurs into my scalp as we walk out of the house. Her arms are around my shoulders and she moves like jello. We need to get to the subway or find a taxi. After a few minutes of walking, I notice she's missing something.

Dread forms in my stomach as I set her down gently on the sidewalk. "Jackie where's your purse?"

"The sparkly one?"

"Yeah, that one, Jackie. Where is it?"

"I um-" She put her hand on her face in deep thought, but her eyes are barely open. "I think I lost it."

"You lost it?" I ask, worry building up in my stomach. She nods, and I run my hand through my hair, cursing that I left my wallet at Jackie's and the fact the dress doesn't have pockets. "That's okay, just sit up for me please." Her body sways to the side, but she follows instructions.

I take out my phone and dial Alex's number. He's always had difficulty sleeping, on more than one occasion he's called me at an ungodly hour for a lullaby. Pick up, I mutter under my breath but I'm met with only his voicemail. Why is now the only time he can sleep? 

We'd have to walk, Jackie's house isn't too far, no more than a mile or so. If this had been more than a few months ago, I'd shut down the idea, but currently, I'm tired and willing to fry anyone in a five-mile radius to get us home. I gently coax Jackie up, and we begin walking.