The Night You Took Away a Little More Than Just My Breath

"Party!" Garret shouted through the halls. "Party, this Saturday at Johno's place!" He yelled as he held up the bright pink fliers we printed the night before.

Kids stopped putting their books in their lockers, talking to friends, and came out of their classrooms to get one. Garrett handed them to anyone and everyone, except for the freshman. "Don't let the administration see." He repeated over and over to every kid he gave a flier to, making sure no freshman got a hold of one.

"Okay, this hall is good." I said, seeing that we barely had any left.

"No, we're good." He said, handing a few to a circle of pretty girls. "Kennedy and Jamie have the main hall, and Jared and Pat have the back of the school."

"You printed that many?!" I said.

"Duh," He said. "We want this party to be huge, right? Kids everywhere in your house!" Garrett freaked out, which caused me to laugh.

"How much money did that cost?" I asked.

"Free as fuck." Garrett said as he continued to hand out bright sheets of pink paper. "April 8th! 8 o'clock! Party at this goodlookin' kids place!" Garrett yelled again and messed up my hair. More kids came over to us as we walked down the long hall and took some fliers. "BYOB!" Garrett shouted as he pointed to the four letters on the flier. "You guys know what that means?"

"Bring your own beer!" Half the kids shouted and threw their hands up. I laughed at the sight of a bunch of kids standing in their high school hallway screaming those four words. Garrett really knew how to get a crowd going.

"Yeah, best party of spring break '06!" Garrett shouted again.

"How was it free?" I asked garrett as he handed me a few to give out.

"My dads friends son knows a guy and got them printed for me." Garret said. "Don't let the administration see! If they do, we're dead!"

I was handing out fliers in every direction, not noticing who I was giving them to until I saw a familiar ring on someones finger, reaching towards me to take one. I looked up at the blonde girl and my heart stopped.

"What's this?" Jourdan took a flier from me. "Oooh, a party." She winked and then threw herself at me, pressing her body against mine and placing her hand on my chest she said, "Can I come?"

"Uh, uh yeah." I spat out quickly so she would get off me.

"What is it for?" She asked, still close to me.

"Uh," I stepped back a little. "It's after my parents wedding, their leaving to go to cancun right after so we're throwing a party." I said.

"Oh, that's-"

"Bring your own beer." I said quickly and jogged away to catch up with Garrett who was turning the corner.

"Falling behind?" Garrett asked.

"Uh, yeah." I said quickly, with my mind racing about if she would really show up. "How many more we got left?"

"Uhh." Garrett said, counting the fliers that he held. "Seven."

"Well that's good, considering it's the end of 8th period and we've been handing them out all day." I said.

"Yeah," He agreed. "But what are you doing tonight?"

"It's friday night..." I sighed. "The first night of spring break and I'm working."

"Bummer." Garrett said as he handed out the last flier to a short, brown haired girl. "But tomorrow will definitley make up for it."

"Yeah." I said. "But hey, remember to be at the lake before 5 tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah." Garrett swatted his hand. "I know, before sunset all that crap."

"Yeah, and remind the guys!" I yelled as he started to walk out the main entrance.

"I will!" He yelled back.

"You driving them home, right?!"

"Right!" He said and threw a peace sign in the air before he exited the school with all of the other kids.

"Right." I said to myself and started to walk towards the nearest exit that lead to my car.

- - - - - - -

"Where have you been?!" Jamie asked as she leaned against my car, kennedy beside her.

"I was passing out fliers, what are you doing here Kennedy?" I said.

"Going home with you guys!" He said.

"I'm not going home. I'm going to work." I said. "And Jamie, our parents said no kids over tonight. They're getting ready for the wedding and stuff."

"So." Jamie said as she moved towards the back door. "We won't be bothering them."

"Okay, well it isn't my fault if you get in trouble." I said. "I warned you."

"Yeah, yeah." Kennedy said. "Now let us in." He said as he grabbed the handle to the car door.

I unlocked my car and got in the drivers seat as Jamie and Kennedy got in the back. I started up the car and turned on the AC since it was pretty warm outside. I put on my blinker and pulled out of the parking spot slowly. "Got music for saturday night?" Kennedy asked.

"Yep." I said as I reached over to the passenger seat. I grabbed my Cd case and took out the first mix Cd I made for the party. "Wanna hear it?" I asked.

"Hell yeah." Kennedy exclaimed. I popped it into my Cd player and Its Alright by fotograph came on. Kennedy began to laugh at the song, which caused me to chuckle a little too. "Got any rap on here?" He asked.

"Old school." I said smoothly and skipped a few tracks. The song began and I laughed. "Will Smith."

"Oh my god." Jamie laughed. "I remember this song."

"Miami, straight outta '97." I said, naming the song and the year it came out.

"Damn, you look sexy. Let's go to my yacht, in the West Keys ride my jetskis, loungin in the palm trees." Kennedy rapped.

"Oh my god," I laughed. "I can't believe you know the words."

"Dude, I loved this song." Kennedy laughed. "What else you have on there?"

"Uhh," I said, skipping a few more tracks. "Justice, Crookers, Does it offend you, yeah? All that good stuff."

"Oh, oh keep it here!" Jamie said as We Are Your Friends by Justice started to play.

"Justice too?" I said. "You just keep surprising me." I smiled at her through the rear view mirror.

She smirked and started to sing and dance along with kennedy. They both started to laugh and I turned the volume all the way up as we left the school parking lot. Kids stopped and looked at us as they walked passed. I started to dance and sing along aswell.

I pulled up infront of my house after a short, trafficless drive and looked at the two in the mirror since they weren't getting out. They were making out and completely ignoring me as I yelled at them. "Guys!" I yelled. "Come on, get out."

"Mmmm." Kennedy moaned to me into the kiss as a signal for me to shut up.

"Oh god," I laughed. "That was gross."

Jamie pulled away and started to laugh. "Is anyone home?" Kennedy asked her.

"Hmm," She said as she looked in the drive way. "Nope." She smiled.

"Good." Kennedy winked at her and opened the door to get out of the car. Jamie got out as he ran up to our front door. I rolled down my window since Jamie was now standing beside my door.

"Sorry, you had to see that." She gave me a slight frown.

"It's-it's alright." I shrugged and she walked away to go inside with my best friend. It didn't really make me jealous to see Kennedy making out with her, because I knew I could never get her. Jamie didn't know I had feelings for her, slight feelings. And I'm trying to shake them away so there was no point in telling her. I could tell she was interested in me, too. She hasn't told me exactly, and I haven't snooped around in her diary. I can just feel it, and see it.

I changed the Cd to a Death Cab for Cutie mix and began to drive to work. As I pulled into an employee parking spot, I saw taylor standing by the front door smoking a cigarette. I got out of my car and ran up to her. "Taylor!" I yelled and ran up to her. I picked her up and spun her around in the air, causing her to drop her cigarette.

"John," She laughed. "You made me drop my cigarette!" She bent down and picked it up.

"No." I said, as I smacked the cigarette out of her hand. "Don't smoke. It's unhealthy."

"You know, if I had a dime for every time you told me that, I'd be rich." She laughed as she stepped on the cigarette to put it out.

"It's because I care about you." I smiled and put my arm around her shoulder.

I took my thin, black hoodie off to reveal my work shirt. Then, I took my hat out of my back pocket and put it on. "So." I said, as I leaned against the building with Taylor. I figured I'd stand outside with her while she was on break, since I was a few minutes early anyways. "I'm having a party."

"A party, huh?" She laughed. "For what?"

"My dads going to cancun all spring break, and they're leaving tomorrow, right after the wedding." I said.

"Oh really?" She smiled. "When's the party?"

"Tomorrow," I laughed. "My house at 8."

"What's your address?" She asked.

"I'll write it down when we get inside," I said. "You have to bring your own alcohol, though."

"What kind of party is tha- Just kidding," She laughed. "I got it. Want me to get you any thing?" She asked as she looked at the time.

"I'll drink anything you drink." I winked at her.

"Good." She laughed. "We better get going inside. Boss is a grump today."

I laughed. "Okay," I said and opened the door for her. She walked in and I went over to clock myself in.

"So, how is she?" Taylor asked as she threw her appron on.

"She likes me." I sighed as I turned away from the computer.

"No." Taylor said in a shocked tone.

"Yeah." I said. "And-and I like her too?" I asked myself, more than I told taylor.

"But that's-that's not right." Taylor stuttered.

"Yeah." I sighed in frustration. "I know."

This was the first time I had told Taylor, or anyone anything about Jamie and I. She still doesn't know anything about that one time when she tried to kiss me, that time in the dressing room when I teased her. Taylor had no clue about any of that because one, we haven't really worked together, and two, because I am too afraid to tell anyone.

"How do you know she likes you?" She asked as she looked for tables to be waited on.

"I read her diary and, and she's tried to kiss me once." I looked down.

Taylor laughed and looked at me. "Man, if I didn't know you were in high school I would have thought this was some junior high situation." She smirked.

I couldn't help but laugh at myself but the situation was awkward, weird, just not right. Even if Jamie and I did get together, what would everyone else think? How would my best friend Kennedy take it? What about Jamie's best friend, allison, alyssa? I don't even remember her name, I'm such a bad person. But what would she think about it? I know Jamies friend has really no relationship at all with me, but how would anyone handle or think of this situation?

"Johno?" Taylor snapped in my face. "Hellooo?" She sang.

"Wha-what?" I looked up quickly as she snapped me out of my train of thought.

She laughed and leaned against the counter. "Don't put yourself through that." She said. "Find someone else. With a perfect boy like you, it can't be that hard."

"Hmm." I said, and let all her words soak in. Then I chuckled, "Did I mention that she's dating my best friend?" I said as I took a wet paper towel and wiped down the counter to look more productive.

"It just keeps getting worse and worse." She said. I nodded in agreement and she continued, "But seriously. Find someone else, make her not like you. Skip showers for a week and take a nap in her bed. Do whatever you gross high school boys do to make her unattracted towards you. And try to look at just her flaws." She said. "Fight like brother and sister, make her want to rip her hair out. All that will work... hopefully." She sighed.

I sighed along with her and stopped washing the counter. "I'll keep that in mind." I said.

Afterall, it can't be that hard to stop only liking someone. It's not like I was in love with her or anything. She's just really, really attractive, has such a nice, caring personality, and she's very trustworthy.

A few minutes went by and I kept thinking what Taylor had said about finding someone else. After I got done waiting on my fourth table, I walked up to her as she filled up cups with ice and soda. I leaned against the machine and smirked, "So uh, would you like to go to the park with me af-after work?"

"Look, if this is about what I said..." Taylor said. "About finding someone else? Then no." She said as got another cup. "But if it's because we're friends, then yes." She looked up at me and smiled.

I smiled as I bit my bottom lip. "You won't regret this, girl." I shook my head and nudged her side a little.

- - - - - -

"You're looking for love in all the wrong places, boy." Taylor said as we sat beneath a willow tree and ate custard from ritas.

"I'm not even looking for love." I said as I licked my cone.

"You are, you just don't realize it." She said. "Looking for it in ex girlfriends you have no interest in, future step-sisters, best friends of your future step-sister that you don't even know, and a twenty one year old college kid that works at a shitty restuarant, and let's not forget... It'd be illegal if you and that college kid dated."

"Okay, I will admit that you're right." I said. "And I will also admit that yes, yes, I did ask you to come to the park with me because you said to find someone else." I laughed.

"See?" Taylor said. "Lookin' for love."

"Shut up." I joked.

"You're just mad because you know I'm right."

"You're right." I laughed.

"I'm always right." She said as she took a bite of her custard.

I looked up through the limbs of the willow tree and saw the stars that rested above our heads. "You know," I thought out loud. "Jamie tried to kiss me once."

"What?!" Taylor choked on her custard, which caused me to laugh and pat her back.

"Jamie tried to ki-"

"Yeah, I heard you but, when?" She asked. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

I just shrugged and laughed at her reaction. "I don't know." I said.

"Where?" She asked.

"School, under a tree." I said. "I moved away though, so she couldn't kiss me. I read her diary later and she said it was because I was 'acting like her ex'."

"Maybe it was." Taylor said. "Maybe she doesn't like you. You just think she likes you because you like her."

"Oh, okay okay." I said. "I understand Dr. Philis."

"Haha, shut up." Taylor laughed and pushed me. I laughed along with her and finished up my cone.

"We should get outta here." I said. "It's getting late."

"Eleven o'clock on a friday night is not late." Taylor laughed at me. I stood up and held my hand out to her.

"Well, it is for me." I said. "At least, this friday."

"Oh." She said as she took my hand and I helped her up. "Why?" She asked.

"Tomorrows the wedding and I have to wake up early." I said as we began walking to my car. "Did you drive or walk to work today?"

"Walk." Taylor said. "You don't have to drive me home."

"Ah, no." I said. "It's fine. I'll take you home."

As we approached the car, I used my car keys to unlock the car and Taylor got in the passenger seat. I turned on the car after I got in the drivers seat and the Death Cab mix started playing really loud, which caused me to jump. Taylor laughed and put on her seat belt. I turned the music down and asked, "So, where's your house?"

As I pulled up to her easy to get to house, I turned the music down and smiled at her. "That was nice."

"Mhm, it was." She said as she took off her seatbelt. "So, tomorrow at 8?"

"Tomorrow at 8!" I repeated. "And oh! I forgot to give you my address."

"Oh, yeah." Taylor laughed.

I got a pen out of the dashboard and took taylors hand since there was nothing to write on in my car, and wrote my address down on her hand. "See you, tomorrow." I winked.

"See you." She smiled and got out of the car.

"Oh, and taylor!" I shouted. She came back to the door as I rolled the window down. "Dress nice." I said. "Since we'll already be wearing nice clothes. Throw on a sexy dress or something." I laughed.

She laughed as she rolled her eyes and said okay, then turned towards her house. I watched her walk up to her door and then drove off, thinking about taylor finally getting to meet everyone and how huge the party is going to be. I am going to get so wasted.