The spring went by and was almost over. There was not really anything exciting in school, and everyone in the year was prepared for the party to celebrate the end of their high school life.
The party was planned for one Friday in June after the last play of the theatre club this school year. A lot of people were supposed to come to see the young actors on the stage. At least that was what Jade said to me. And so, there we were, sitting in the dimmed room, waiting for the play to begin.
"I can't believe Henry's gonna be a real actor," Leah muttered, her eyes staring at nothing in front of us.
"Jealous much?" Amani asked, making me chuckle. This topic was here all the time, and I could not understand Leah sometimes. She and Henry often acted like an old married couple. Maybe even more than her twin and Henry. How was this fun for them?
The play began soon enough, thankfully, as the light above the stage lit up. Henry and Ava were playing two of the main characters once again. And I was happy for them. Both seemed to be good and getting better at this.
My eyes went over the scenery, paying as much attention to the play as I could. However, I didn't actually know what this one was about and I forgot the title as soon as I read it on the notice board a few days ago. I got a bit too much on my mind… what can I say?
The theatre kids moved from one side to the other, exchanging words. Henry, as the great one he was, apparently, had a pretty long monologue. At least it felt long. I knew at that moment he would be someone one day.
I watched the action curiously, not knowing anything about the play even after it was halfway through. Maybe I had liked the orchestral concerts, but many classical plays were unknown to me. I didn't even like to read drama—it never really talked to me, if you know what I mean. This surprised Ava, to tell the truth, when we talked about their plays one time she was over.
When the play felt like it had been ongoing for a little too long and I was not the only one who seemed to be slowly falling asleep—just kidding, I only yawned once or twice, unlike the guy sitting in front of me—the stage darkened. People all around started applauding the actors and actresses for their performance, and I joined them.
The stage was soon covered in light again as every one of the theatre kids, who performed this evening, bowed to us—to the audience. I smiled as I saw the expression on Ava's face. She seemed to be beyond happy. Like every other time she performed, or when she played the piano.
Moments later, I was waiting together with others in the school hallway that was quite full of parents and our other schoolmates. My friends were discussing the play, but I had nothing to say to them, so I stayed quiet as my eyes scanned our surroundings.
I saw Ava's family standing there like the last time. Or at least they looked like them. And there was also Henry's family. I was sure they were his relatives by the time my eyes fell on his mother. She wore her friendly smile just like the last time I saw her.
"Mr Walker, the greatest actor!" Liam called, making me glance in Henry's direction.
The said one was walking through the crowd of people, smiling at us, but stopping when he reached his family. I wasn't surprised. He was joining us and coming with us to the party in the upcoming while, after all.
Leah scoffed at her brother's words, "The greatest actor? Seriously, Liam?"
"I'm just being supportive."
I shook my head at their exchange, eyes back on the crowd. It seemed like everyone was with their family or friends by now, talking. Even though the hallway was still full of people, it wasn't so loud anymore. Fortunately.
The dirty blonde girl I spent a bit too much time with shot me a sweet smile from where she stood with her family. I did the same, glancing at my friends right after just to be sure they didn't catch that. For the sake of Ava. Although they seemed to be paying me no attention at the moment. And I was glad for that as I grinned at Ava once again before shifting my gaze to Henry, who was finally walking towards our group.
"No praises?" the blond boy asked the moment he stood in front of us.
"The applause wasn't enough for ya?" Leah asked, rolling her eyes while taking out her phone.
"So?"
I couldn't help but scoff at the way he ignored Leah's question. They truly were one kind of friends. But as much as they always went for the other one's neck, they could still grin at each other like their arguments accomplished something.
"It was alright," Jade shrugged at him and then turned her attention to the rest of us, "so, can we go now?"
Henry left his things with his parents before we left the school. The rest of us visited our homes earlier today, so we didn't have to worry about our school bags and uniforms. And so with only our party outfits, we were on our way to someone's house again.
"Jeez, it seems we came right into the chaos," Jade laughed at the sight of the house. I could only agree with her—the party seemed to be in full swing. With the noise all around and the light coming from the inside.
In the destined house of someone, whose family clearly had money, there seemed to be fewer people than at the last party I attended. Obviously, since only our year was invited.
The first thing I did after we took a look around us was join Leah by the table with drinks while we left the rest somewhere behind us. Not that they all stayed standing there like a bunch of lost kids; I could see Liam and Henry joining some other guys from our year in the living room already.
"Whatcha wanna drink?" Leah asked as she scanned the drinks with her dark eyes.
I took a quick look at the table and fixed my gaze on the beer. If I didn't want to drink too much, I would have to stay by that one. Other liquor would be much more dangerous, and I didn't want to end up too drunk.
"Beer."
Leah smiled at my answer and immediately took two cans of the said drink, handing one of them to me. After I said my thanks to her, we turned around, intending to find the others. It wasn't too hard since we saw the boys enter the living room just a moment ago, but Jade and Amani were harder to find.
When we finally gave up on finding the two, we joined the boys in the living room. They were sitting with some others around the couches and armchairs, talking, drinking, and laughing.
I leaned on my elbows onto the backrest of the couch behind Liam and scanned the people around with my eyes. I knew some—obviously, we went to the same school—but I didn't really pay much attention to them since I didn't have the need to do that. I felt like I saw many of them for the first time tonight.
As the night went slowly by, we found Amani and Jade sitting outside on the porch with some of our other classmates. They were in a deep discussion on some problems of this century, and I just listened to their slightly different opinions for a while. Some were interesting and some I didn't agree with, naturally.
"I feel like I'm at some parliament gathering," Leah, who stood next to me, whispered like she was afraid to disturb them.
Chuckling, I looked around us. She was right, with the difference of being in someone's backyard. But the vibe was for sure there. It was so serious that I needed to get another drink, which I had announced to Leah before I went back inside the house.
Getting through all of those people was a bit hard, but when I finally got my drink, I didn't know what to do. Sure, joining my friends would be nice, but it was not much fun to listen to a little too serious conversation. Not on this supposedly great night. And so, with a sigh, I went to look around the house.
My legs led me upstairs where it seemed to be less crowded—much less crowded, to tell the truth. There wasn't even any big light lit, so the surroundings were quite dim. However, my eyes could still make out that some of our schoolmates were sitting by the stairs and not only one couple was making out next to some of the doors.
Shaking my head, I turned around to find a better place to spend my time when my eyes fell on a familiar figure. Ava was heading upstairs just like I did a moment ago. And then she just stood there, staring right back at me with a slight smile on her lips. At least it looked like that since the only light up here was coming from downstairs.
I nodded my head to the side in a silent question. There was surely a place for the two of us somewhere around. At least for a moment—I hoped so. A small wave of happiness went through me when Ava nodded.
Turning around, I took a sip of my beer as I made my way further into the first floor. No one seemed to be paying us any attention, and I was glad for that. Especially when I knocked on a random door. There was no sign of no-entering, thankfully, and when no one answered, I went in.
My eyes roamed around. The room was indeed empty. It looked like we entered a girl's bedroom. Everything in there was so clean and, well, the posters with mostly female pop singers gave it away, kind of.
Smiling to myself, I put my half-empty can of beer on the closest piece of furniture, which happened to be a wardrobe. On it were some cute decorations. The person who was sleeping here must have been pretty creative.
"So?" Ava made herself known behind me, making me turn around to face her.
"Well," I shrugged, taking a step towards her. And then another one and another one until her back was against the once again closed door. "Can I kiss you?"
Ava nodded, biting her lips as she stared at mine. However, I didn't kiss her just yet. Instead, I extended my arm and locked the door, glancing at it briefly before looking back into Ava's eyes, which I couldn't see very well thanks to the light that was not on. Maybe… it was not so bad though.
The girl in front of me put her arms around my neck, bringing me closer to her but still not connecting our lips. I felt her breath on my face and then on the side of it as she brought herself closer to my ear, whispering like someone could overhear us.
"Whatcha waitin' for?"
"Ah, just… y'know, enjoyin' the moment," I answered, putting one of my hands on her waist. I was indeed looking forward to enjoying this moment. While I still could.
"Mhm…" I heard from Ava, to which I felt her lips on mine, not quite catching when she got fully back in front of me. However, before I could anyhow react—return the kiss—I felt her lips near my ear again. I sighed, closing my eyes before I heard her whisper again. "You like this, huh?"
A weird sound escaped my throat, making Ava chuckle at my response. She visibly liked the effect she had on me. Not that I didn't like it. I did, very much, and I was making sure she knew that… even though the way I did was kind of unintentional.
I let my hands wander under her t-shirt, feeling her smooth skin under the tips of my fingers. She seemed to like what I was doing to her too; according to the way she shivered and bit the skin on my neck, where she was currently putting a few kisses.
"Ava…" I sighed into the air, bringing her closer to me by her hips. She only hummed into my skin, feeling the cold press of her lips. She pulled back, yearning for her touch rushing through me.
"How much time do we have?" she asked, standing fully to her height in front of me.
"An hour?" I asked back, not knowing what time of night it even was at the moment. "Don't talk. Just… kiss me," I mumbled, putting one of my hands on the back of her neck to bring her lips closer to mine.
A chuckle escaped her soft lips before I felt them right against mine. Just where I wanted them to be. Just how I liked them. And I felt myself smile into that soft kiss as it slowly deepened.
The night was finally getting entertaining…