Cinco de WASTED: The First Party

The night started out how any party night started, I think, us getting ready by playing a round of Halo and wondering where we are going to head out to. This night we had an extra member in this rag tag group that formed over the semester. There were the normal faces; Me, Steve, Nick, BLT, and Eddie. Then there was the special guest appearance by Miss Longwood Sorority girl Joanna. Steve told me about a party thrown by friends of his from high school. I’ve met them once, don't remember them well, but I’ll remember if I see them, I think. I do remember that their names are typical “every-names”, something WASPy. For some reason I arrived at the party later than the others in my group, or earlier, all I know is that we didn't show up at the same time. The way over there was easy, they lived in the same building that the awkward Gayler “party” took place, plus it was a frequent party spot to begin with.

I enter into the party, the scene was, let me put this gently, the scene sucked. A few people sitting on the couch. A couple in the drink area, and I was greeted by someone scanning me with their “radar”. I make my way over to Steve and Joanna and make myself look occupied. The party was sparse. 3 year old top 40 music was playing on the radio and there was a table with a paint can and some cups.

Joanna was talking, a lot, she does that often. I was looking past her to the window behind her as she goes on about how something or other is annoying, or that she liked it, I don't know. Out the window I could see a decent crowd of people, attractive people, chatting laughing and having a good time.

I go over to the table where the drinks are being served. The guy I supposedly
knew is serving drinks. “How are ya doin?” He’s wearing a sleeveless black tee. And a bandana, I think.

“Good, could be a bit better.” He hands me a cup filled to the brim with a deep crimson juice and with fruits floating in it. I sip, its sweet, with a bite. Back in the group with Joanna and Steve I keep sipping at my drink. Joanna keeps urging Steve to take the drink from her. I make out “Its too strong,” through the many noises in the room. Steve replies, “Of course, its Everclear.”

Hmm, Everclear? This isn’t as bad as they make it out to be, even though it is 190 proof and all. I pace around the scene, watching two guys fight on rolling chairs, the people in the kitchen passing around “Drunk Watermelon”, and a steady stream of people roll in. Among those people are BLT, Nick, Eddie, and Volpe. They join our group and we stand around and talk the normal talk we do.

They begin talking about something I don’t remember, so I turn away and start assessing the situation again. The party size has doubled and I am now standing uncomfortably close to a guy I barely know. He’s uncomfortable too, I can see in the way he looks over, then down to his shoes, then over again. I introduce myself, or at least say hi, but its drowned out in the commotion and the situation is still awkward. I notice my cup is empty so I go for a refill, but the table is unmanned.

I fill up my cup halfway and drink it down. My face is warm, damn this works fast. Steve comes over to me and asks if I’m ok, a way to gauge the rate of inebriation. I say I’m fine, and he adds in that I have a very obvious “Asian Glow,” great, not only do I barely know anyone in this party, I’m this close to being wasted in front of complete strangers. They crack open another paint can and I fill my cup to the brim.

[more to come]