Sober Thoughts

The Snowdrop Tavern buzzed with activity; dozens packed inside the snow-covered lodge with music just barely reaching the street with soft thumping. Inside, the graduating class were celebrating their newfound freedom, even sneaking a few drinks to one another when the owners weren't paying close attention. Laughter, voices that carried, and cheers filled every corner of the main room as friend groups made their plans for the summer ahead and their futures afterward. And outside, Kenneth Clark, stood at the stairway with his best friend Mindy Long just a step behind him.

"Not our usual thing, huh?" The brown-haired teen glanced back to his friend, "You still good with this?"

Mindy exhaled slowly, her hands tucked within her black hoodie as she stared at the tavern, "I think I get why Avery was refusing to come tonight now. That's...a lot of people, Kenny."

"Well, it's our friends, right?" Mindy gave him a glare laced with a dry sarcasm, "Okay, a few of them are friends, and the rest we at least tolerate."

"You might." She corrected with a little half scoff, "I don't think I'll be missing the cheer squad too much...hmm, or the jocks really."

"Careful, Julie and JJ might take a little offense to that."

Her lips curled, "Asshole. You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do." He turned crossing his arms and rolled back on his heels, "Your call, Captain. We heading in or we heading out? Makes zero difference to me, we'll just need to figure out a game or movie if it's the latter."

"Oh good, good, put it on me." A pit of anxiety relaxed in her stomach as she stared back at Kenny's ever-genuine brown eyes, "Okay, we go in, we say hi to Julie and JJ, then we bounce before Brian spots you."

Kenny gave a little clap, "Sounds like a plan to me, we in and out before desert, you got it." He moved a hand to Mindy's back and offered the gentlest of encouragement. Expectedly, Mindy let out a grimacing exhale as she made her way into the crowded building. Only Kenny could make me walk into this bullshit again...

Inside the building the bumping music overtook them, and they **** their way through the dancing groups of teenagers, being jostled around left and right until they reached the far corner where a few tables and booths still lingered open. "Do you see anyone?!" Kenny called out

"Oh plenty! Just not anyone I really wanted to see again so soon!" Mindy retorted as she scanned the tables. With a bump of her brow she tugged at Kenny's arm and pointed, "There's JJ!"

"Good catch!" Kenny reached down and took Mindy's hand and immediately felt her fingers curl against his as he led her through the teens once more and finally reached the table where their athletic friend stood. "Yo!"

JJ turned his eyes and his eyes lit up, "Heyyyyy!" He exclaimed as he moved giving Mindy a quick hug and then clasped Kenny on the shoulder, "I honestly through you two were gonna stiff me!"

Mindy tilted her head, "Yeah, well, this is more a you thing than an us thing, Mister Varsity."

JJ let out a hearty laugh and then mockingly fixed his team jacket, "Oh come on now, Mindy, don't hate. Appreciate." Mindy smirked back, "No, but seriously really happy you guys decided to come. Hard to celebrate if I don't have you two with me!"

"Of course, man!" Kenny glanced around once more, "Where's Julie?"

"Oh your cousin was pulled into the other swarm of bees awhile ago." He pointed toward the front of the tavern where cheer squad continued to linger, "I mean, if you want to brave that group -- including Kennedy -- Be my guest!"

"Gag me with a fucking fork." Mindy stuck her tongue out as she glared at the group, her gaze lingering at the back of a short blonde

"Yeahhhh, I think I'm good." Kenny turned away just as easily, "We aren't gonna be here too long, but we wanted to, you know, make the appearance."

"Oh Damn, for real? You guys already want to go?" JJ groaned with a bit more of an exaggerated slump in his shoulders, "You gotta at least stay for a drink!"

"How many would that make for you already, bud?" JJ gave Kenny a smirk, "Ah, that many?"

Mindy gave a teasing push on his shoulder, "And we expected so much more from you."

"We all gotta celebrate, even a goody goody like me." JJ motioned for the two to come closer to his table, "Brian snuck a few bottles around," He grabbed a set of cups and poured a little bit into two cups, "Come on, live a little. I'm not saying go crazy, but would it really be so bad for you two to have a little fun with your friends? The TV isn't going anywhere for months, but tonight is only tonight." He offered the pair the cups

Kenny once again glanced to Mindy who lingered, "I can already feel my ears ringing!"

"It goes away, don't worry!" JJ grinned

The Asian girl blew out a sharp breath out and up, the air tousling a few strings of her black hair, "One Drink."

JJ passed the duo their cups, "One Drink."

Kenny gave a nod, "Totally, one drink, and then we go. Man of my word, I'm not trapping you here any longer than you want to."

Mindy felt a hint of excitement as she swirled the liquor in her cup for a moment. She never had gone to a real party before, certainly not one set up like this. Everyone that lived on that upper end within the school food chain. Real drinks snuck. The hint of danger that came from being caught even. It was all so foreign but being here with JJ and most importantly Kenny. It made giving it a shot at least worth it.

"Yeah, you better not." Mindy lifted her cup and took a sip as her two friends followed.