“'Blegh'! 'Cough'! 'Cough'!”

“I told ya Ci! Jesus you’re gonna lose your lungs and stomach!”

Ciro tried to talk back in between barfs of acidic vomit. “I..l.mngh…couldn’t…lose….”

“Ugh….!” Vargo exaggerated a sigh, bending his head back. “I hate your stubborn Italian ass sometimes. I mean we all stubborn Easts but damn dude this is bad!”

“Water…..'blagh'!” Ciro waved his arm. “Wa...ter! 'Cough'! 'Hack'!”

“Let me grab some bottle water, saw some when that prick gave us the grand tour.” He patted Ciro's back. “I’ll be right back, okay?” 

Ciro slowly nodded.

Five minutes passed by and each second felt like forever. Ciro rolled out toilet paper to wipe his face. He flushed and shakingly got up. Where’s Vargo? He stumbled. The room was spinning. I’m drunk…ugh high too…mmmn I'm faded...shit... .he washed his face and mouth out in the granite sink. Not caring about the vomit he spilt near and around the fancy European toilet. That’ll teach that rich prick a lesson. He stumbled out of the bathroom, everything was double vision. No one cared about his state as he miracously made it down to the ground floor. He called out his friend's name. Making it into the kitchen he thumbed through the fridge and grabbed a bottled water. He drank it in seconds. 

Still no Vargo… where the hell is he? After being humiliated all he wanted was to go home…

 A girl's obnoxious laughter rang near him and his eyes glared at the scene. 

Vargo was at the patio screen talking to some West End gal, probably two years our senior. So That’s where he disappeared off to…. He bit his lip. I’ll just make my own way home. By myself.

Ciro placed his hand on the walls to guide himself to the corridor. He pushed through drunken teenagers with his head hung low in shame and anger. This was a mistake. I should’ve listened to Vargo. 

Nearing the entrance, Ciro stopped dead in his tracks. His lips quivered a bit at seeing Vance. Two small arms wrapped around his waist, a pair of plump lips neared his. Ciro's eyes burned. Before he could witness more, he turned back to the entrance.

Ciro stumbled from the party feeling off. He knows it's not the alcohol. He knows what it is. He fumbled out the pack of cigarettes and lit one up. His eyes tingling, he holds back the water works. The puffs of nicotine hyped the effects of the alcohol.

Ciro you're an idiot. He looked back at the house. The deep rooted feelings spring up. The ones he constantly tried to suppress. 

I....wish I could replace her. 

Shocked by his own intrusive thoughts, he smacked his cheek. "Whad the feck is wrong mph me!?" He drunkenly uttered under his breath. I should've just did as Dad asked and went to help Father Walshe at the church....

Vance stopped the kiss short, he softly created a distance between them. The girl, confused, asked, “What's wrong handsome?”

“I…ugh….” 

Her face reminds me too much of him. He mumbled a sorry before turning around. The girl scoffed and spat at him in anger. He ignored her. 

I should leave…. Upon nearing the entrance, Vance noticed the back of Ciro. "Sicily?" He's alone? Ah! I can't let him wonder out by himself! Where the fuck is his friend? He attempted to run to the boy but a hand grabbed his shoulder. 

It’s Chester.

“Where you heading off to man?”

“Just don’t feel it, ya know? These big crowds ain’t my thing, you know that."

“Yo seriously Van? I hook you up with all my shit and even that East slut and-“

Van had cut him off. “I ain’t feeling it Chester.” 

Chester waved him off. “Shiiiit, go on dude, okay? Jo and Andrew at least know how to fucking party. See you the fuck later.”

Vance rolled his eyes. “Don’t be all hurt, 'kay? I'll call you later man, it’s just me. I'm not feeling good after all those drags ya know?"

“Tch, fine man, go.”

Vance rushed past Chester, trying to reach the boy quick. 

Wobbling down the road. A hand reached out and pulled Ciro back. "Ah!" He swung his arm around. 

"Whoah! Whoah! Whoah! It's me!"

Vargo? 

Ciro held his chest.

"Dammit… you…. fuckin'…scared me.."

"Hey man why's you walk out? You okay Ci?" He double checked his friend. "Damn dude you're more wasted than I thought." 

"Ain't feckin...fuckin wasted." He slumped into Vargo's chest mumbling incoherent sentences.

"Dude, come on you can crash at my place, my parents are still on vacation." 

"That fu..cker" 

"What?" 

"Van..."

"Vance? What 'bout him? You still pissed he beat you?"

Ciro shook his head dramatically back and forth. "He...ghj....ggtv...." 

Vargo leaned in, "Dude I can't understand you." 

"Girl..."

"Girl?"

"Kissing..." 

His friend laughed, "You jealous that Van was kissing a girl? Alright Ci, you're officially gone!" 

"No....her...."

Vargo's hand twitched. What? 

A bit uncertain what his friend meant, he remained silent. 

Behind him a deep voice echoed.

"Everything okay?" 

Vargo jolted from the startling voice. Vance?

"Dude yeah, I got it under control." He snipped back.

"Dont look it."

"Fuck off, you got him into this state."

"How're you getting him home?"

"I'm taking him to my place." 

"He can't walk like that, my place is closer." Vance tried to reach for Ciro but Vargo smacked his hand away. 

"Dude!" Vance growled.

"I said I got it!" Vargo snarled. What the fuck is this guy tryin'?!

Vance glared. "Let's ask him. Yo Sicily!" 

Ciro barely lifted his head. "P...Paddy?"

"My place is a 10 minute walk, Vargo's is 20. Where you wanna go?"

"Mmhbb..." 

"Sounds like a yes to me." Vance once more tried to grab Ciro but Vargo again thwarts his hand away. Ciro, in his ineberated state, surprisingly swiped his friend's hand away and stumbled to Vance.

Vargo's face dropped. Ci.... What the hell? He was hurt no doubt his best friend would do this. "Fine! Whatever Ci, if you want to go with that dumb shit, go fucking ahead?" He seethed through his teeth.

"Chill out Vargo." Vance slipped Ciro's arm around his neck and slithering his arm around the tiny waist. This is the time he's been this close and touching him. He's tinier then I thought ... He gulped feeling his body like this.

Maybe this was a bad idea.