The Brat Pack

"Ally, you're here!" Andy says as Ally helps pull him to his feet. He sways and begins to fall forward, Ally catching him at the last minute. He mutters a thank you as Ally pulls him through the crowd.

Fresh air feels like a smack across Andy's face as the pair stumble out front. Ally helps him sit on the stoop, dropping down gently next to him. He leans forward and takes deep breaths, shuttering and dry heaving. When he finishes he looks over at her, wincing at the look of disgust all over her face.

"How drunk are you?" she asks as a group of kids run yelling out of the house, the smell of weed following close behind them.

"Only a little," he says with the lift of one shoulder. He reaches out for her and she draws back. "I-I've been looking all over for you. I wasn't even sure you were gonna show up."

Ally is quiet for a minute. "Neither was I," she says, unsure if he heard her.

"I was playing spin the bottle," he blabbers on as if she hadn't said anything.

"Really?"

"Yeah, and this girl. Holly? Hannah? Whatever, I kept thinking she was you." He laughs, his grin going from ear to ear. "And she," he stops and slaps his knee, he's laughing so hard now. He wipes tears from his eyes. "Oh, Ally, you should've seen how mad she was."

"I bet. Did you kiss her?"

Andy hiccups through his laugh. "No, of course not. I only wanna kiss you."

Ally is tense, her hands pressed together between her legs. "Do you now?"

"Right now?"

"What?" Ally finally looks over at him.

"Right now? Do I want to kiss you right now?"

"Andy, that's not-"

"Because I do. I'd kiss you forever, if I could. And hold your hand. And let you wear my jacket. Do you still have my patch?"

Ally is silent for a minute before she reaches into her bag, handing the patch over to Andy. He takes it gently, turning it over in his hands. He smiles at her warmly.

"I'm glad you kept it."

"Andy-"

"Ally." He scoots closer to her, throwing an arm around her shoulders and dragging her towards him. She claws at his wrist until he lets go. "I don't get it, what's wrong? Don't you love me back?"

There are tears in Ally's eyes now. She shakes her head, letting out a small sob. "You don't mean that."

"Yes. Yes, I do. I love you Ally."

"No, you don't." She stares at him hard, her face red and watery. "You're saying that because the alcohol messed with your brain." She motions to the kids on the lawn, to the ones standing inside by the door. "What are your friends gonna think, huh?"

"I don't care what they think. Not about you."

She stands up. "Yes, you do. When they tell you about this tomorrow, about how you were crying out for the headcase Allison Reynolds, you're gonna laugh. You're gonna laugh and claim you don't remember a thing."

He stands up, wavering a little. He reaches for her arm but she pulls back.

"And you know what? You're lucky. You're lucky because you won't have to remember any of this. You won't have to remember me." She jabs a finger into her chest. "But I will. So thanks for that."

She runs into the house, knocking into people as she goes. Andy calls out for her, but she disappears into the crowd.

She finds herself in the kitchen, leaning over the island counter and sobbing. A bunch of kids stare at her and point, whispering behind their hands. She wipes her eyes on her sleeve, looking up.

"Someone pass me a drink," she demands. A boy slides a red cup her way and she lifts it to her mouth, taking a large sip. It burns as it goes down.

"Hey." Someone touches her shoulder and she pulls away, ready to snap before she realizes it's not Andy.

"Hello," Allison mutters quietly, taking another sip.

"Are you Ally?"

She nearly chokes on her drink, wiping her mouth. She studies the redhead, not someone she's familiar with.

"Who wants to know?"

"I'm Haley. I-"

Ally tunes her out as someone moving through the crowd catches her eye. She thinks it's Claire, squinting to see.

Ally turns back to the girl when the figure disappears, seeing her arms crossed and eyebrows raised. Oh shit, did she ask her something?

Ally leans forward. "Huh?" she asks. She notices a boy not too far behind the redhead eavesdropping, a slight grin on his face. It's Stubbie, Andy's friend, the host of the party.

"OH SHIT!" Someone runs through the crowd, waving his arms hysterically. "EVERYONE OUT. COPS!"