“Toasted,” he responded happily and popped the top of his beer. “I think I might have to cut off Alycia pretty soon, though.”
“I know. She can be a handful even when she’s stone-cold sober,” I said, nodding.
“That’s for sure,” he agreed with a smile. “But she’s so much fun. And so cute!” he added, his cheeks blushing lightly. He glanced down at the floor and turned the bottle around in his hands. “You know, I really like her,” he said. “I know she just broke up with her boyfriend, but I’m pretty serious about her,” he confided awkwardly.
It was kinda cute, hearing him nervously express his feelings. He was looking for my approval; after all, I was her older brother and he was her suitor. But he knew he already had my approval.
“I think she’s serious about you, too, but I think she’s scared of moving too fast. Just go along at her pace,” I said, taking a long sip of beer.
Jeremy’s face brightened and he grinned. His mood was transparent, but I thought the alcohol might be to blame. He slapped my back and laughed.
“You’re all right, Tor,” he said, still slapping my back. “I mean it too. You and Wes are a perfect match. We grew up together, you know, and he’s always been a moody bastard, but since you guys started going out, he’s actually happy! So, just so you know, I’ll always be cheering for you guys.”
I blushed and looked at the bottle in my hands. “Th-thanks,” I murmured, feeling my cheeks flare. It was an odd, but good, feeling, hearing Jeremy say that he’d be cheering for us. I smiled and felt a warmth in the pit of my stomach that I knew wasn’t just the alcohol.
“Hey, Carroll! What’s going on? I haven’t seen you in forever!”
I looked up as I heard Wesley’s last name and saw Alan Dunne walking in the front door, followed by Benny Wright.
“Alan, it has been a while, man. How you doing? S’up, Ben?” Wesley answered, bumping fists with Alan and nodding his head at Benny.
“Pretty good. Where’ve you been? I haven’t seen you since graduation,” Alan said, glancing around at the people in the living room.
“Hey, Wes! C’mon, let’s play another game!” Alycia interrupted, walking up from nowhere. Alan’s eyes widened as he looked her up and down and a smile crept across his lips. She coiled her arm around Wesley’s and tugged impatiently.
“Well now, who’s this?” Alan asked, glancing at Wesley, but quickly returning his attention to Alycia.
“Hi! I’m Alycia,” she answered, dropping Wesley’s arm, bowing slightly, and smiling broadly. She twisted her body so that the fringe of her dress spun out. I chuckled in spite of myself. She was always outgoing and friendly, but it was blatant when she was drunk.
“Not bad, man. Not bad at all,” Alan said, smiling slyly at Wesley. My heart skipped when he thought Wesley and Alycia were together. “You had me so worried there for a while, especially with those rumors Jen’s spreading around,” Alan continued, looking Alycia over one more time.
I gritted my teeth just hearing Jen’s name, but I forced myself to calm down. I took a long drink and turned the bottle around in my hands.
“What? What are you talking about?” Wesley asked, glancing at Alycia briefly. “Just what is Jen saying?”
“She’s making shit up about you ‘switching teams,’ if you get me. I mean, you did start hanging out with that little queer all of a sudden. But, I can see you got your priorities straight,” Alan explained with a laugh.
My stomach dropped. He was talking about me. No one had ever called me that before, and it stuck in my ears. I gripped my hands tightly around the bottle, and I could feel Jeremy glance at me.
“What? Who are you talking about?” Alycia asked, her chipper voice gaining an edge.
“You know, that little fag from school. I forgot his name.”
“Toren?” Wesley said.
“Yeah, him. I don’t know why….”
“You’re really an asshole, aren’t you?” Alycia said, her voice an octave deeper.
“What’d you say?” Alan asked, narrowing his eyes.
“Didn’t know you were hard of hearing too. I said: you’re an asshole.”
“Who the hell do you think you are, bitch?” Alan retorted.
“She’s my boyfriend’s sister, jackass,” Wesley said, his voice deep and sharp. “And you better watch your fucking mouth,” he warned, lifting his head and staring into Alan’s eyes.
I swallowed hard and Jeremy left my side, walking up to Wesley, Alycia, and Alan. My stomach felt hollow as I watched from the kitchen, unable to will myself to take a step forward.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me!” Alan said, shaking his head. He saw Jeremy walking toward him and held his hands up in inquiry. “Did you know about this?”
“Look, if you’re gonna be a dick, why don’t you just take off?” Jeremy said, standing next to Alycia and folding his arms on his chest.
Alan shook his head. “What the fuck? Am I supposed to believe you like guys now because some fag came on to you?”
Each time he said that word, my chest felt a little tighter. I swallowed hard and bit my lower lip, trying to keep my tears at bay. Wesley was standing up for me and I couldn’t even bring myself to stand next to him. I felt like a coward; even Alycia and Jeremy were sticking up for me, but I couldn’t do anything.
“I told you to watch your fucking mouth!” Wesley shouted, throwing his fist forward and hitting Alan squarely in the jaw.
Alan recoiled, covering his chin with his hand and looking at Wesley with angry eyes. “What the hell?”
“Why don’t you just leave, Alan?” Jeremy said, stepping in front of Alycia in case Alan retaliated.
“Like I’d wanna hang out with a buncha fags,” Alan said, still holding his chin and glaring at Wesley. He glanced at Jeremy, then turned around and left, followed by Benny, who never said a word the entire time.
Wesley shook
