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Chris left walking back inside being welcomed by the warmth of shelter. “Chris!” a voice called. Chris searched around the lounge area, seeing John standing by a painting of green, purple and gold, trickling down the canvas. Chris made his way over to the lone boy.

“Where's Davie?”

“With mates, I think, I'm not sure, lost track of him awhile.” he giggled, his words moving fast.

Chris smirked, “easy to, with how short he is.”

“If drug dealing doesn't work out for him, he’s always got a place in Willy Wonka's factory.” he laughed hard.

Chris joined John's laugh, and they chuckled and giggled for several minutes, forgetting what the joke may have been.

John took a long gulp from his drink nearly staggering back, Chris rested both his hands on johns shoulders steadying him.

“Alright?”

“Just dandy.” he smiled.

Chris smirked, “great,” Chris pulled him to the ground so they could sit down. “Did you get in trouble at the registry?”

“No, never even noticed.”

“Hows-” he stopped, forgetting what he was saying then quickly continued, “the blackouts?” John slurred.

“Chipper,” Chris giggled, “i had one last night, and guess what?”

“What?” John said, sounding like a child.

“I went skinny dipping at the east beach and lost my clothes,” he laughed “and the best part is, i don’t even remember getting home, but i did, cause I woke up in my bed.”

John looked shocked and amazed, “wow,” he whispered, “that-that's trippy, like mate you can’t remember how you got home, like did you walk home naked?” John shrugged at his own question moving closer to Chris, “we’ll never know, and that,” he tapped Chris's nose, “will be a mystery for a lifetime.” he spread his arms out, “a lifetime!” he shouted.

“Ssshhh,” Chris laughed, “you're being loud.”

John began touching Chris's face, and Chris did the same. “Are you high?” John said.

“Are you?” Chris questioned.

“I asked first,”

“What if i don’t want to answer.”

“Then you are.”

Chris snorted. John began to look pale after a moment,“Chris?” John said.

“Yeah?”

“I think i’m gonna-”

“John, no, don’t you bloody-” Chris's words were stopped when John lunged his upper body forward, puking on the lovely maroon carpet.

“Christ no!” a boy yelled. “Fuck, fuck, that carpet was vintage, shit! Shit!” Chris looked up to see Roger Hather, he wasn’t the skinniest of people, with a round face, but his ice blue eyes were memorizing, and his choral hair was a nice contrast, but his face was going red with panic and his hands pulled at his hair.

“John, are you okay?” Chris asked looking back down at the ill boy, leaning forward to where John was groaning. John placed a thumb up, but Chris only sighed, helping the boy up, “come on, there's must be a loo somewhere in this place.”

He dragged John up, swinging his arm around his shoulder, “you know,” John began, “I think I may have had too much to drink.”

“I think so.” Chris said, leading them both up a flight of steps to the next floor. Chris explored many rooms, finally finding a bedroom with a bathroom. Chris guided John through to a smaller room, closing the door behind him, then flopping down on the bed opposite the bathroom door.

Chris looked around at the room, decorated in oranges and reds. Soon Chris could hear flushing, and John began to stumble his way out of the room and towards the bed.

“My head hurts.” he moaned, his face on the sheets.

Chris patted his head, “you're going to have the worst hangover tomorrow.”

John groaned more. Chris could only laugh.

“It’s not funny, i’m dying here.”

“You're just a bit drunk john, it’s not the end of the world.” John granted more and Chris fell into the silence around them, the music downstairs vibrating on the walls, a far sound to their ears. it was quiet for a second till john began to speak.

“Chris, would you be opposed if I requested that we maybe kiss for a bit-” Chris was about to say something till John spoke again, “and there was mouthwash in that bathroom, before you start wondering.”

Chris started to laugh, laugh harder than he thought he ever would, tears swelling in his eyes.

John's face turned up to them, he felt a warmth grow at the brightening eyes. He smiled, “you know i really like your eyes.”

“Is that a pick up line?” Chris asked, still laughing.

“Just an observation.”

Chris calmed down his laughter, looking down to john. “Well,” he started, “i have fuck all to do, so why not.”

Both boys leaned close together till their lips met, it was sloppy and wet, John trying to plunge his tongue in Chris's mouth with no avail, only achieving to lick around his lips. They awkwardly stayed in that position for minutes, till John pushed Chris back rushing off the bed and back into the bathroom, uncomfortable sounds erupting out from the gap he left between the door.

Chris wiped his mouth, sighing, throwing his head back, trying to drown out whatever sounds John was making in the bathroom, that was when the door to the hallway opened. Dalmir walked in looking about.

“Oh, sorry I didn't think anyone would be-Chris?” his head tilted ever so slightly at the sight of him

“Looking for the loo?” Chris asked.

“Can’t seem to find one,” Dalmir answered in his usual tone. “What are you doing in here?”

“A guy i know was feeling sick so i-”

“Didn’t think you’d care about people.”

“The more we talk,” Chris began, “the more I realize what a low option you have of me.”

“Well you are a bit of an arsehole.”

Chris scoffed,” says the guy who offered me weed after finding out i have-”

“Okay, i’m feeling better now. So where were we?”John stopped in tracks seeing Dalmir. “Oh hi,” he waved.

“Hi,” Dalmir grumbled back. “Friend?” he asked Chris,

Chris nodded.

Dalmir stared at John for a long moment, then he looked to the bathroom, beginning to stride towards John stepped in front of him stopping him in steps.

“I wouldn’t, the smell isn’t great.”

Dalmir took a deep sigh, turning and walking out the room.

“Who was that?” John asked, “never seen him before.”

“He’s in my computing class, I've seen a lot of him over the last few days.”

John jumped back onto the bed, “do you want to forget what we did, i’m pretty sure I'm still buzzed.”

“I know you are. And sure, it wasn’t going to lead to anything anyway.”

John looked at him doubtfully, “it could have.”

“But it won’t.” he patted his leg and got off the bed. “If you're alright now, I'm going to head back down stairs.”

“Sure, i think i’m gonna lay down for a bit.”

Chris smirked, “nice seeing you john.”

“You too.” he muttered back, falling onto the bed, shifting to be more comfortable before going completely still.

Chris walked out, closing the door gently. He turned nearly jumping for the second time that night seeing Dalmir, standing against a door watching him.

“Your friend okay?”

“Sleeping, hopefully he won’t vomit on the sheets.”

Dalmir looked to his side, towards the party. “The guy throwin’ the party is crying downstairs, a blubberin’ mess.”

“Roger, yeah i figured as much, with the amount of people here and the amount of shitty expensive art lying about.”

“In a way he was asking for it.”

Chris sniggered then began to immediately sigh, "god, i need a drink." he sounded in pain, his arm started to itch and revel in irritation.it was sudden and unbearable, and found himself unable to ignore it. He scratched them, his nail piercing into his flesh, burning traveling up and down his arms, as he dug deep, trying as he may to rid of the sensation. He hardly noticed the blood, beading along the thin cuts, till Dalmir grabbed his hand, his grip tightening, Chris turning to the iron grip knew it would leave a bruise. He dragged Chris down the hall pushing open a door, being led into a sizable bathroom.

“Great finally found a bathroom, but not so i can pee.” he grumbled, he pulled Chris to the sink, turning on the cold tab, running his arms under it.

“Better?” he asked.

Chris nodded. He was quiet for a moment. ”Sorry.” he said, “i don’t normally-”

“It’s fine,” Dalmir said, sounding tired. “You’re just got off it a bit.”

Chris didn’t say anything, looking down at his arms. He could see the parts of a strange layer of skin that glimmers crackling off and draining down the sink, but Dalmir seemed not to notice that, as he tenderly rubbed the red skin, soothing it. After Dalmir was done caring for Chris's arms, he sat down on the toilet lid, he let out an exhausted sigh.

“Thanks,” Chris said.

“Your welcome,” he said with a grunt.

Chris smiled stiffly as he turned and left walking back down the hall and the steps entering the party once more. He quickly found his way to the kitchen, where a ray of bottles stood, he took a plastic cup, filling it up to the brim with gin. He downed as much as he could, ignoring the burning in his throat. He wandered through the crowd in his drunkenness swaying along to the repeats of ABBA, even singing along to some songs.

“Chris!” he heard someone yell, “Chris, for fuck sake I've been calling you for five minuets it’s time to go,” grace appeared in front of him, quickly grabbing onto his arm, forcing him through the crowd nearing towards the door.

Chris felt a tap on his shoulder, turning to see Dalmir, “Here,” he said handing him over a scrap piece of paper, “it’s my number, we should go hang out sometime,” then he spun away from Chris back into the crowd, Chris shoved the paper into his pocket as his sister carried on to drag him through the front door and back to Michael's car. She muttered to her about something but Chris didn’t catch the exact words. He only watched the moon, feeling the pull he had recently begun to feel, it made him want to cry, and run out, but he simply closed his eyes and went to sleep...