Kane hops off Clark’s back & they both run into the party. Eryn walks in behind them & asks, “Why are you two so peppy?”
Clark spins around. “What do you mean? It's our first highschool party. Why are you not excited? We can do all the highschool party things. Kiss a stranger. Become blood brothers with someone. Start a cult. Drinking. The possibilities are endless.”
Eryn walks away & says, “Kane, you handle this.”
Kane puts their hands on Clark’s shoulder. “Babe, I love you, but I need you to know that sounded really sus. Like the first one’s fine, but please don’t cut your hand open. Like. Ever. You’re too young to start a cult & you can’t drink.”
“What! Why not?”
“You’re driving, remember.”
“Oh no, I forgot.” He droops over.
“Don’t worry honey, it’s not all bad. You can...do sober things.”
“...what does tha-”
“Okay, I’m going to get drunk with Eryn bye.”
Kane ran to catch up with Eryn. Clark ran after them. “Kane, wait up.”
Kane stops & turns around. “Yeah, what?”
“What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to be the only one not drinking.”
“Just find other people who aren’t drinking. It can’t be that hard. See, I’ll find you someone to talk to.” Kane searches around them trying to find someone without a drink but fails to find anyone. “Um...”
“I’ll just stick with you for a while. I’ll make sure you stay out of trouble.”
Kane laughed. “God, you’re such a nerd.”
“I mean, I didn’t choose for this to happen!”
“You’re right, but,” Kane grabs a cup & fills it up with beer. “I don’t have a license & Eryn’s probably super drunk already.”
Clark sighs. “Yeah, you’re I guess right. I’ll just stay by your side.”
Kane gulps down the whole cup. “Nah man, don’t be so lame. Do the first thing on your list. Go kiss someone by the end of tonight.”
“Easy.” Clark leans in to smooch Kane, but they block it with their hand & pushes him back.
“Stop trying to cheat. You’ve got to kiss a stranger Clark.” They fill up another cup. “And then tell me about them.”
“Alright, I will. Can I just have a little sip?”
“No. Go kiss someone.”
“Fine.” Clark stomps off.
*****
Fifteen minutes later, Clark’s walking around when he sees someone crying on a log. He walks up toward them & says, “Hey, are okay?”
They wipe their eyes. “Um...bad. Like really bad.”
Clark sits down next to them. “Uh, you wanna talk about it?”
“Um, I think something’s like trying *sniffle* to get in my head. And it really hurts. And I can’t go home yet. And I just want someone to smash my head open with a brick!” They start to sob into their hands.
Clark starts to freak out and spends 20 seconds laughing awkwardly before saying, “Um, I can take you home. Or like somewhere else. I-If you want me to.”
They stop crying, lookup & say, “Really? Oh my god, thank you!” They hug Clark & then kiss him.
Clark stands still, dumbfounded for a while before saying, “Uh...okay. Let’s go” He texts Kane that he’s leaving before walking to his car. “Um...by the way, I’m Clark.”
“I’m Naomi. Nice to meet ya.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
*****
Kane’s phone buzzed in their pocket. They pull it out, but before they get to read the notification, Eryn pulls on their hand. “Kaaaaaaannnneeee, let’s do something. I’m bored.”
Kane snatches their hand away, placing their phone back in their pocket. “So am I, what you wanna do.”
“Heh heh.” Eryn pulls out a slingshot & pretends to shoot Kane in the face.
Kane jumps back, trips over their shoelaces & falls on their back. “Dude! What the hell!?”
“I brought a slingshot.” She waggles the slingshot over Kane.
“Woah, got any rocks?”
“Nah. I did, but I don’t know where they are anymore.”
Just then, a chanting & reached their ears. “Knife fight. Knife fight! Knife fight! KNIFE FIGHT! KNIFE FIGHT!”
“Kane, c’mon! We gotta watch this!” Eryn helps them up & they both run up to the crowd. Eryn stands on her tippy toes, but still can’t see the fight. “We gotta get up theeeerrrrrrre.”
Eryn grabs Kane’s hand & they both elbow their way through the crowd. After a few minutes, they get to the front. They see two people in animal masks repeatedly jab each other in the hand before one of them dropped the knife & walked away. The crowd erupts into cheers for the victor.
“Noooooo! I wanted to see it!” Kane swings around their arms.
“Kane, don’t be sad I have an idea.” Eryn grabs their arm.
“What?”
“We should be up there having a knife fight!”
“Oh my god yes!”
They high five & Eryn runs forward, yelling, “Us next!”
The person who won the fight gives Eryn the knife & says, “Good luck, kid.”
Kane picks up the other knife from the ground. “Wait, wait. Let me do a trick first.” Kane throws the knife up from under their legs. It spins around in the air, peaking about 2 feet in the air. Kane puts out their hand to catch it, but it slices in between their pointer & index fingers. It then goes through Kane’s sandal into their foot. Kane whimpers & drops to their knees.
“Oh shit.” Eryn steps back & pulls out her phone. “Um, I’ll get Clark. Yeah. He has a first aid kit. Stay right there okay.” She calls Clark as she runs to the parking lot.
Kane yelps as they pull the knife out. The blood dripping off of it radiates heat.
A stranger with a first aid kit walks up to Kane. “Hey, u, take off your shoe.”
Kane raises one eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“I want to clean your cut, so it doesn’t get infected. But first I need you to take off your shoe.”
“Uh, okay.” Kane slips off their left sandal & the stranger takes it in their hand.
“Okay, I’m just gonna clean it with alcohol.” They pour some alcohol on the cut & tears stream down Kane’s face.
“Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Please.” Kane breathes heavily.
“Relax, you’re fi-” The stranger looks up & stumbles backward. “What is wrong with you!”
“What?” Kane looks at their foot. It is covered in eyes. They look at their arms. They’re covered in arms. “Oh no! Not again. Not again. Not again.” Kane breath quickens & everything made of glass at the party shatters. A wind picks up & storm clouds roll in. Everyone steps back away from Kane. Some run out of the park. Kane stands up & the fire roars for a second before being down by the blood pouring down from the sky. The crowd of people scatters
Kane stares at their arms as they collect blood. As the blood drips down their face. As the wind blows through their hair. They stand there for a minute just hyperventilating. Unable to process anything that’s happening around them. “I-I...I just-” Kane dashes off into the forest where they collapse
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