After my shower I get dressed, starting to go slightly stir crazy with all my time off. Instinctively, I drive to JOINT. My job was as much my job as my second home, just like Chess was my boss as much as my friend. So I figured he wouldn't mind me hanging out in the back.

"Parker!" Chess rasps, "Someone who clearly doesn't understand the concept of a 'day off'."

"I got bored," I shrug, "And I missed you too."

He laughs, but it quickly turns into a coughing fit.

"Shit," I step back, out of the way of his germ attack, "Are you good?"

He clears his throat, "Yeah. I'll be okay."

He takes a seat next to me, "How was your brother's?"

I tell him, filling him in on Saide and his relationship. Occasionally he makes a joke about Karry from high school, and I pretend not to notice how terrible he sounds. 

"You sure you'll be good to work new years eve tomorrow?" I ask, genuinely concerned.

"I'm good," he promises, "I have to get back to work though. What are you doing?"

"College stuff," I reply.

"Nice. Good luck, kid," he stands, "Let me know if you need anything."

He heads back into the kitchen, leaving me to actually do some work. I pull up my essay for the first time in hellas. Actually, I haven't looked at it since before Thanksgiving.

"I'm going to get you into college..." 

Jesus... The memory jars me and I feel my heart pulled at. Crazy what a month could do to two people.

I start typing:

As it goes, children are supposed to bury their parents. But when we imagine the scene, it's adult children. Its not a middle schooler, just old enough to understand death, but not old enough to understand taxes. 

My eyes burn, remembering the truth-  that I wasn't even at my mother's funeral. I log out and pull up the application to St. Louis Community College. It doesn't take me long to apply.

And it technically is a college.

***

New Years Eve I'm awaken to my phone going crazy next to me. Chess.

"What's up?" I answer and am met with a staler, raspier version of Chess' voice.

"I need you to do an open to close," he turns into a fit of coughs, "I think I'm dying."

Told you so. "Ugh," I was originally going in at three to work the dinner rush and then heading to Lori's party. But I guess not, "Alright I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks. Niel's coming in to help out too. You guys can even close at eight, since it's New Years Eve."

"Bless," I sigh from relief, "Feel better."

I shower and dress, grabbing one of the shirts from Karry to wear to the party afterwards. I takes forever for me to close, as we get busiest near closing, everyone wanting to fill their bellies with greasy food before a night of drinking. We completely clear out until nearly ten thirty.

As soon as I'm off work. I strip off my uniform revealing a crew neck and blue jeans under it. I speed dress on the way to my truck to put the button up over it.

The house, or more accurately the mansion, is in almost the middle of nowhere. The massive home looms on the edge of a bousey, old, suburb. Trees surrounding the perimeter, giving the appearance of privacy.

Out of habit, I park on the next street over, just in case. I send a quick text to my dad, telling him I'll be spending the night at Nat's just in case some fuckery happens. I refuse to ring in the new year grounded. Again. 

The party is alive with loud music and influenced teens by the time I arrive. Immediately, I think about the last time I was at a party referred to me by a classmate. And by association, I think about Layne. Inside, I pour myself a ginger ale into a red solo, hoping not to have to answer any questions about why I'm not drinking.

"PARKER!" Lori emerges from the crowd, Nic by her side, "Bout mother fucking time!"

She grabs my cup, "What is this? Gimme that." She produces a large handle of tequila pours me a shot. 

"I have to drive home!" I yell over the music.

"Oh we'll get you home alright," she smirks. I accept the shot, throwing it back quickly. She pours me another, the liquor burning it's way down my throat.

"You're gonna have fun tonight," she smirks, "Let's go."

Lori introduces me to just about every damn person in the house, playing the revised 'How I Met Your Mother' game "Haavvvee you met KJ?"

I willingly take another two shots, this time of some marshmallow Smirnoff. My belly grumbles in protest, reminding me that I'd skipped my break today, since we were so swamped. Basically, there's nothing in there. Oh, this'll be fun alright.

After I've met all hundred something kids crowed into the house, I duck from Lori into the bathroom, all out of any socialization, but also, starting to feel the aftermath of my actions. My thoughts swim. I suddenly feel unfathomably hot and I open the window, trying to cool down. I stick my head under the sink, drinking as much water as I can catch in my mouth. I head back downstairs, less I fall down them later, and I see a couple kids I half recognize and join them, immediately blending into the crowd. Eventually the playlist hits something slower and they leave to find a smoke while I sink onto the couch, watching the other guests sway slowly to the music.

"Hey," Layne seemingly materializes in front of me. I scroll my gaze upward, my mouth dry. She falls into my lap, grinning. My arms immediately go around her waist, like a habit. She leans in, her lips by my ear, "I didn't know you'd be here."

I collect my thoughts, "Funny," I smirk, "I was hoping you wouldn't."

"Rude," she starts to stand up but I lock my arms around her waist, holding her close.

I try again, "I was kidding. I missed you, sort of."

"Just 'sort of'?" she leans in, placing a light kiss behind my ear. Her breath feathers across my face, letting me know she's had at least one shot herself. And one is a definite under estimation.

My pulse jumps and I shakily exhale, "Yeah. Sort of."

"Like we 'sort of' had sex? Like you 'sort of' are in love with me?" she teases, kissing the place where my jaw and neck meet, "Like I'm sort of kissing you?"

I swallow, "I don't want to fight," the words form on my lips, unsteady while I try not to focus too much on her's, "I just want to talk."

"Oh? So you do know how to verbalize feelings," she pulls away from me, teasing.

"It's the tequila talking. Lowered inhibitions and all," I laugh, but secretly wish that I would stop being stupid for one minute.

She starts to move off me again, "You don't ever fucking change do you?"

I pull her back and she let's me again, although I can tell that she won't if I say the wrong thing again, "Layne don't be like that," I allow a hint of withheld desperation into my voice, "Look...I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" she feigns confusion, "Whatever do you mean?"

"For everything. Sorry for hurting you, using you... I don't really know but I miss you and I really like you and please don't stop talking to me again I can't stand it," the words tumble out of my mouth faster than I can stop them, "I miss you."

A grin lights her face, "You're much nicer when you don't think anyone is watching."

And she's right. As her lips land on mine, I forget about the party around us and the people dancing and instead focus on her warm body against me and how soft her lips were against mine. It could almost just be me and her again. Except I know that it's not.

Suddenly I feel like I'm being watched and I crack an eye open and see a guy staring at me with hate in his eyes. I close my eyes again, relishing in Layne's kisses. Eventually she pulls away, breathing heavily.

"I missed you, too, " she murmurs, "All of you."

Fuck. I do a subtle sweep of the room, the creeper guy not visible.

"KJ?" Layne's voice draws my attention back to her. She looks up at me from under her lashes, "Can you show me where the bathroom is?"

She stands up and grabs my hand, pulling me upstairs to the bathroom herself. Inside, I catch on immediately, lifting her onto the sink and kissing her. Alone, she's more passionate, pulling me closer than imaginable. Fuck I missed us...

"I want you," she exhales, her breathe fanning my face.

It hits me that we're in a bathroom, "Now?"

"Right now," she reaches for my belt, struggling to undo it. The door jolts and we jump apart.

"Hurry up!"

Layne releases me, visibly upset, "Aarrrghhhh!"

She lets me leave first, and follows me back to the living room.

"Can you get me something to drink?" She asks.

"Of course," I agree.

"Water," she clarifies.

I nod and head to the kitchen. I search for two clean cups, filling one with water and another with a soda, deciding any more liquor is a trip straight to the police station for drunk driving. Satisfied, I  head back to Layne. As I turn, I slam into the creepy guy from earlier.

"Hey, man! What the hell!?" I look down at our shirts, both of which are soaked, "I just got this shirt, asshole!"

"Who are you talking to?" He pushes me like I'm a grown man, "Bitch!"

The crowd in the kitchen turns toward us. "Do you have a problem kid? First you were watching me and shit and now this?"

Layne must hear me yelling, because she slides past everyone and comes to my side, "Baby are you alright?"

"Yeah this ass-hat over here just ran into me," he glares at me harder. She looks at him and surprise mixed with anger flashes across her face, "Garret?"

"Layne," he reaches for her and I block him.

"Don't touch her!"

He scoffs, "What are you? Her girlfriend?"

"I don't know," I blurt as I glance at her and hesitate, "It's irrelevant. But I know you are not her boyfriend. And she doesn't want you touching her."

He turns back to Layne, "So what, baby? I broke your heart and now you're back fucking girls, huh? You like licking pussies now, huh, you broken in bitch?"

Layne stares at him, unflinching under his heavy berate of her.

We've attracted a small audience at this point, and they surround us. "Hey man, calm down," somebody attempts to grab Garret but he jerks away.

"Is your girl toy a slut like you too?" he gestures towards me, "Do you think she'd like me to fuck her like a dirty whore, just like you? What if I did, huh? What if she liked it?"

Before I can react, he grabs a handful of my shirt and kisses me. Oh helllllllllllllllllllllll nah. I pull away immediately, anger consuming me as I proceed to hand him his ass on a silver platter. I land hit after hit, mainly aiming for the ribs and gut area, as he swings blindly at me, only landing maybe every third hit. I pin him against the island in the middle of the kitchen, slapping him, "Who you gonna fuck? Huh, GARRET? Huh?"

In a last effort to stop me from feeding him bricks, he grabs the cutting board just in reach of him and slams it into my face. My vision goes black and I'm knocked off of him as he takes the opportune moment to run from the house.

"KJ, are you okay?" Layne and some kids from earlier kneel next to me as I struggle back to my feet.

"Yeah it's cool," I stand without problem and Layne walks me to my car. As I walk, I touch my eye, feeling it wet with blood. I shake it off, ignoring the pain.

"Baby that eye looks kind of rough-- Can you see out of it? I'm pretty sure you're gonna need stitches or what? Are you gonna be okay?"

"I'm cool," I reach for my keys and as soon as I palm them Layne takes them, "Kaylie Jane Parker, get your ass in the passenger seat. I won't let you drive like this."

I reluctantly obey, immediately blacking out as soon as the engine roars to life.