Page 77 of The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar
“I don’t think we’ve met,” Sasha says to Avery next, like he’s trying to diffuse the awkwardness. Does he know about me andJamal? Thankfully, it seems like I’m the only one who remembers Avery was at that open mic.
Avery introduces himself, and Jamal sways a little as he looks between me and Avery. He looks way too drunk to even try piecing together why we might possibly be hanging out. He’d probably tip over if you tapped his shoulder at this point.
Avery and Sasha make small talk for a bit while I try not to stare at Jamal and pretend not to notice him staring too. He’s probably too drunk to realize how awkward this is, but I’m not.
He’s never been one to look away when I catch him looking, but I guess things are different now. Now, he practically flinches when I look at him and immediately looks the other way. He’s not exactly slick with the staring, but I don’t know if it’s because he’s too drunk to pretend, or if he’s just not used to pretending with me at all.
Eventually Sasha seems to catch on that Jamal doesn’t want to be talking to us, so they go somewhere else.
Hunter comes back just as Sasha and Jamal are walking away, precariously balancing three red cups in his hands. “Got us some drinks!”
“Oh, sorry, I shouldn’t,” Avery says. “I may not have that bootleg Rolex anymore, but I’m still on probation.”
“Bootleg Rolex!” Hunter lets out the biggest belly laugh I’ve heard from him at Avery’s not-even-that-funny joke. “All right, I’ll get you something else.”
And he turns around and leaves us alone once again. He could have at least given memydrink before walking off. That way I’d have something to distract myself from being stuck at a party with only Avery.
“So, I didn’t know you were coming... ,” Avery says without looking at me.
“Do you have a problem?” I snap back, not even trying to hide my irritation.
“I’m trying to say, you probably didn’t know I was coming either. So... I guess, sorry if I caught you off guard.”
“Oh, that’s what you’re sorry about?” I roll my eyes.
“Well, yeah. And... the other stuff.”
I narrow my eyes on him. What the hell is his angle here? Does he think I’ll lower my guard from some fuck-ass non-apology?
“Could you, uh... not tell Nick you saw me here?” Avery sounds a little on edge.
I want to ask why he’d think I would have any desire to talk to Nick in the first place, but Hunter’s back before I have to answer.
He hands one cup to Avery and the other to me, and I eagerly start chugging mine. Anything to make tonight less awkward. But the disappointment just keeps coming.
“Is this just... regular Coke?” I ask.
“Yeah!” Hunter smiles like this is somehow agoodthing. “I thought Avery might feel pressured if we drink in front of him, you know?”
I almost spit out my regular Coke. Why the fuck would I care how Avery feels about me drinking? I. Do. Not. Care. About. Avery.
“Oh, um, that’s really nice, but y’all can drink if you want,” Avery says.
“I’m gonna get a real drink.” I walk off at that and head to the kitchen.
The counter is littered with red cups, even though whoeverthrew this party clearly put out a bunch of trash bins to keep people from doing just that.
I scan the room while I pour my drink, looking for something to distract myself with. Jamal and Sasha are the opposite of a distraction, so I quickly look back down and decide it’s better to focus on my drink.
Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I turn to see Zo. It looks like Aaron stayed behind to say hi to Avery and Hunter first.
“Everything okay?” Zo asks.
“Everything’s great why wouldn’t it be I’m obviously fine,” I say in one cramped stream of words.
“Right,” Zo says with an awkward laugh. “So, wanna pour an extra shot for me?”
I nod and pour one more, but when I look up to hand it to Zo, I catch a glimpse of the back of Jamal’s head from across the room, and my stomach twists. He and Sasha are grinding on each other like they’re the only ones here.
