The floor felt like it was going to cave in. Barefoot, Madison and I both decided it was time to take off our party hats and get a little crazy. I thought of you and danced harder, harder, and harder. I didn't stop until my knee's were weak and my forehead was damp with sweat. And when the bass dropped, the people went nuts. I let go, and so did everyone around me. We jumped and bumped into random people, random people that would no longer be strangers by the end of the night.
The three of us were on our way to Checkers, a Friday night routine of alcohol induced hunger for french fries. Checkers french fries. The third person, a boy named Micheal, was in the back seat of my car. We had just met him at Mars Pub, and he ran outside after us, "heard you guys were going to Checkers?!" He was really stoned. "I'll come back for my bike later." He had glasses and looked kind of nerdy. What threw me off though was his undying love for weed and his septum piercing that kept falling to one side. He was probably the funniest person I had met that night, a real character.
Checkers was packed and I couldn't stop laughing. The black girls were hollering. The boys had our party hats back at Mars. The man wouldn't give me ketchup. I needed water. Some kid didn't believe I was 19. Madison wouldn't stop yelling and she bought Micheal (or Galactus) a large fry. He then bought a huge burger just because it looked good in the picture. We ran into friends. We always did. Checkers was the college melting pot after two in the morning.
I needed hydration so badly I went to the gas station next door. Water had never tasted so good.
"You guys still coming over?" I walked outside right in front of Conrad's car. I thought he was too drunk to drive, but there he was, proving me wrong with a smile. He wore the smile all night, not too big, not too sly, just content. He touched my dress with that smile. "Hounds tooth, I love it." I couldn't bear it, or maybe it was the beer sloshing around in my stomach, so I just turned away and said behind my shoulder, "stop being so cute."
And then I ran back to Checkers with butterflies in my gut and the feeling of moving forward.
Taylor, Richie, and Conrad had the perfect set up. They had another roommate who I didn't really get introduced to, but he fed me pizza and refused the money I tried to give him for it. He and he his girlfriend we're in love, obviously, and all night they were inseparable.
There was a large snake, beautiful and strong. At one point in the night I couldn't let it go, he was so warm and colorful, like a life-like scarf. But then he wrapped around my neck, tightened. I hardly felt terrified. The boys also had a dog, Claude. Claude was the sweetest thing.
They all loved dubstep, good pot, beer, cigarettes, and loud music. They were all in sync.
Richie was into Madison, like mad. They hit it off better than I had expected and it made me smile all night.
Taylor was talking really, really fast, telling hilarious and exciting drug experiences. We all chimed in.
Conrad was just everywhere. Controlling the music, dancing by himself, chugging some beer, and from time to time, talking to me.
I think he's kinda cool.
Abby had a bad night, and as he walked by I asked if he remembered her from high school. He smiled that really happy, content smile. "Abby was a nice girl." I put her on speaker.
He got close to my face. "Hey Abby, remember that time you passed out in Aerospace class at Embry Riddle? I just want to let you know I was really worried," he said sincerely and walked away.
I think it should have made her terrible night, her night that made her feel like humanity had turned it's back on her. "Abby, you can't let one person ruin it for the rest of us, the rest of your life." She didn't want to listen.
I walked inside feeling sad, and then a song came on. A beautiful, sexy, familiar song. I couldn't handle it yet though, so I stepped outside to have smoke.
The air was crisp and I smiled as everyone around me conversed and connected. These were the nights I lived for, longed for, and hoped for in Gainesville. I looked at Madison and knew there were many, many more to come.
I woke up in an unfamiliar shirt that smelled like boy and to a kitten sleeping on my shoulder.
Madison rolled over. We giggled.
Summer's almost here.
