“Not sure about that one”. Calian said, sitting down on a couch inside a motel room. Arnold had gotten them rooms to stay in, two each with Arnold having a room all to himself. Takoda and Wiyot were standing around inside Calian’s and Halian’s two bed motel room complete with green and yellow stripped wallpaper, blue and red checked carper floors, a 33-inch flat screen Toshiba, a painting of a Mallard flying over a lake, two nightstands with two lamps, and one remote control with a flickering green light.
“It’s not that big of deal a though”. Takoda said.
“What kind of party is it?” Halian asked.
“I don’t know”. Takoda said. “A party just for fucks sake?”
“Sounds fun”. Wiyot said.
“That’s what I’m saying!”
“What about those two fools that were after us?” Calian asked. “Should we really be partying while they’re still out there looking for us?”
“If we’re not safe there, then were not going to be safe here!” Takoda exclaimed.
Takoda’s eyes widen at his own words. Calian’s did as well. Calian stepped back in an ever so slight manner while Wiyot and Halian watched the two of them. Takoda stood there, staring Calian as Calian’s eyes and eyebrows tensed up.
“All I am saying is, we can’t just hide forever”. Takoda said. “Gotta keep living”.mk
“Yeah, perhaps that is the case”. Calian responded with. Takoda was caught off guard as Calian jumped off the couch and went into the motel room’s bathroom.
“Looks like that’s settled”. Takoda stated. “We partying tonight!”
“Why is this so important to you?” Wiyot asked. “This is all because of Penny, right?”
“Wha, what?” Takoda went. “Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no. This has nothing to do with Penny”.
“But didn’t she invite you?” Halian asked.
“She did, but so what? There’s plenty of fish in the sea and I want to cast out my net out”.
“I see”. Wiyot said.
“I’m as free a bird baby”. Takoda said, Calian looking at him with his eyes and eyebrows tensed down before shaking his head.
Hours later and it was party time. Takoda was in the bathroom of his motel room below a robust bright light bulb fixing himself up. He had changed into another hoody that he had bought from a nearby thrift store for $5. He got the five dollars from a kind stranger who felt bad watching Takoda try and exchange positive messages in exchange for a $1 donation. Takoda was using a comb provided by the hotel to weave through his fair as he began to pose in the mirror.
“Are we going or not?” Calian asked on the outside”.
“Yeah man just relax!” Takoda responded.
Takoda took one more good look in the mirror before he short himself two thumbs up. He then looked into the mirror and stared into his reflection. The corner of his mouth rose as he stared at himself. His face then went flat before he went for the door.
“About time”. Calian said, standing with Wiyot and Halian. Aside from having taken shower, Wiyot, Calian, and Halian had not done anything to change their appearance in anyway.
“Perfection can’t be rushed”. Takoda said.
“Then we’ll be here all night”.
The party was within walking distance of where they were staying, about 15 minutes away. The gps that Takoda had turned out stopped in front of a two-story old New England style house complete with a Delta flag hanging from the second story. The lights were on and music was playing as college boys and girls walked in, out, and all around the house.
“You sure this is our scene?” Wiyot asked.
“Yeah of course!” Takoda reassured. “No worries, everyone’s cool here”.
“Ever see a film called Animal house?” Calian asked.
“No”. Takoda answered. “What is that? A movie about a zoo or something?”
“I’ll be able to get in, right?” Halian asked.
“Don’t worry!” Takoda told Halian, putting his arm around Halian’s shoudlers. “These guys are all far too drunk to care”.
Takoda, Wiyot, Calian, and Halian walked up to the front porch of the frat house and then got to the door. At the door was a young Indian American man named Lionel. Lionel had a purple and red Delta on, with a clipboard at the door.
“Hey now”. Lionel greeted the four with. “Name?”
“Takoda”. Takoda said an introduction. “These are my homies, ya heard?”
“Right”. Lionel said before he pointed towards Halian. “That guy is not 18 huh?”
“I mean, he’s just a small person”. Takoda said.
“How old is he?” Lionel asked.
“What?” Takoda responded with. “You got something against short people?”
“Sorry, he can’t get it”.
“What?!?” Halian said.
“Oh c’om”. Takoda said. “He’s cool, I swear”.
“I’d love to take your word for it, but we’re cracking down on high schoolers coming into these parties”.
“Really bro?”
“Hate that he’s gotten caught up in the wreckage, but I am not the one who makes the rules”.
“But you enforce them”. Takoda said.
“Glad we have come to an understanding”. Lionel said.
“Well then”. Calian said, walking into the party. “Guess that’s settled.
“Hey!” Halian cried out.
“Sorry bro”. Wiyot said as he walked into the party as well.
“Are you serious?”
“Just hang tight bud”. Takoda told Halian as he walked in. “Stick around. You never know what’ll happen”.
“The hell does that even mean?!?” Halian cried out as the other three walked further away and out of his sight.
Halian faded away from sight as Takoda, Wiyot, and Calian found themselves in a whirldwind. There were at least 150 college aged kids inside of the frat house. They walked inside of the living room where people were sitting down in bunches, talking and drink on these bright red couches wrapped in plastic.
The three of them made their way into the kitchen where there were more people doing the exact same thing, talking and drink. There was however a table that was filled with alcoholic beverages. Southern Comfort, Jose Cuervo, Smirnoff Vodka, Smirnoff Ice, New Amsterdam Gin, and a keg that poured out rolling rock.
“You made it!” Penny said, rushing to hug Takoda, Wiyot, and Calian. Penny was wearing a black light sweater with a purple undershirt, smooth long black pants, and black dress shoes. Her eyelashes curled up as her pupils felt more exposed than ever.
“Felt like a can’t miss event”. Takoda said with a smirk. “Looks about right so far”.
“What’s the occasion anyway?” Calian asked.
“This is a frat house so they do this like every week”. Penny said.
“Sounds exhausting”. Wiyot said.
“It’s not so bad when you get into the swing of things”. Zack said, putting his arms around Penny. Zack was a Caucasian young man around 19 or 20 who was wearing a blue and white polo, navy blue pants, and white tennis shoes. He had a bit of a bowl cut that almost hid his blue eyes.
“Uhhh”. Takoda went, his face becoming crossed and scrunched up as his shoulders rose up.
“Oh, sorry”. Penny said. “Takoda, Zack. Zack, Takoda”.