(cut to some chick called Caitlin's party)

The party was relatively, shall we say, 'pumping', by the time we arrived. There were tons of people dancing and yelling, but the main attraction seemed to be the monstrous supply of alcohol in the yard. 

"Um...Rye...I just realized something,"

"What..."

"How are we supposed to find Zac?"

Reilly groaned as he looked over the huge crowd of people outside, not recognizing any of them as Zac. We didn't even want to think how many people were inside the house. 

"Um....Let's just get a drink and mingle. We might find him...you never know..." I said, walking ahead of Reilly.

"We have more of a chance of finding the meaning of life,"

"Oh hey Reilly, I didn't recognize you," A guy from my History class started talking to Reilly at the table of booze and Reilly seemed to relish in the fact that someone other than a member of the Bloom family noticed his change of wardrobe. 

Soon, I was left relatively on my own. Reilly was well and truly immersed in the conversation with the guy from my History class which soon grew to include three of the girls from my computer class, another guy from my Literature class and the guy with the locker next to Zac's. That seems to be one of the only flaws in Reilly's character. Once he has captivated his audience, any excess baggage is lost along the way. 

"Pondering our meager existence on this feeble planet we call Earth?" A voice asked me, I spun around to catch a glimpse of the culprit, "Or are you just bored,"

Taylor...

"Both actually...I tend to ponder life when I'm desperately bored,"

"It's good to see you,"

"So do you," 

"How long have you been here for?"

"About half an hour, maybe more. What about you?"

"Oh, we just got here. Zac's just inside the house, wanna go find him?"

"Sure,"

I followed Taylor towards the open door of the house where we found a whole new brand of people. Everyone seemed to be far more sober than those outside and were all deep in conversation. Taylor greeted some people he obviously knew as we weaved our way through the house.

"Kirby!"

I heard my name coming from someone I couldn't see and looked all around, still unable to find the person.

"Kiiiiirbbbyyyyy....which way is Heaven?"

I looked up to see Zac leaning over the railing of the top of the grand stair case, smiling like the Cheshire Cat. I bolted up the stairs.

"Which way is Heaven? That was clever,"

"Why thank you. You look gorgeous,"

"Thanks Zac, so do you,"

"The party's not too bad, hey?"

"It's pretty good. You were right though, about the music," I smiled.

"Let me guess, they haven't played anything but RnB all night?"

"That's exactly right,"

"Aren't you glad I came to save you?"

"Zac!" Before I could answer, Aimee came rushing over with her arms extended. She held a firm grip on Zac and yanked him away.

He looked back over his shoulder, "I'll find you, ok??"

But he had disappeared into one of the rooms before I could answer, yet again.

I didn't really know what to do after that, so I just stayed where I was, leaning against the railing and nursing the same drink I'd had since I arrived.

Soon after, I heard my name being called once again. I looked down onto the people downstairs and saw Taylor staring up at me with a big grin on his face.

"Why on earth were you up there, all on your own?" He asked once I was down on the bottom level again.

"Oh I dunno...I'm feeling a little inadequate,"

"How so?"

"I don't really know anyone..."

"You know me!"

"That's true, but, oh I dunno..."

"Just hang out with me and you'll be ok," He put an arm around my shoulders, and suddenly, I had no problem being at the party. We were getting along really well and with his arm around me like that, some people may have even thought we were a couple, so that alone was enough to make the night a success for me.

-    -    -    -    -   ; -    -    -    -   ; -    

(cut to later on at the party)

"I'm gonna get another drink," I said to Taylor, "Want one?"

"Sure, thanks Kirb,"

I left Taylor with the group of arty people that he used to go to school with and went out into the yard.

"Hey Kirby,"

"Zac!"

"I told you I'd find you,"

"That you did,"

"Sorry about before..."

"It's ok, I totally understand,"

Once I grabbed two drinks and Zac took one as well, we went back inside.

"Oh, you found Zac!" Taylor yelled over the music that had become louder inside the house.

I smiled and Taylor continued talking to the people whose names I don't know.

"So what have you been doing?" Zac asked.

"Oh nothing, just listening to them talk,"

"Interesting?"

"Sort of...not really," I smiled.

"I'm sorry for deserting you like this..."

"No Zac, it's ok, I told you that already,"

"I know, but I was really looking forward to hanging out with you,"

"We hung out at the movies already," I said.

Zac nodded, "True, but we should have hung out for longer,"

"Zac!"

Yet again, Aimee was calling Zac like a lost puppy. We looked around to see her standing in a doorway looking rather impatient.

"What is it?" Zac yelled back to her.

"Come here!"

"Wait a minute,"

Zac sighed and frowned, "I'm so sorry Kirby,"

"Zac, what did I tell you?"

"It's totally ok, I know, I know,"

"You better go,"

"Can I have a hug first?"

I hesitated for a moment and watched Aimee, for a second there I thought steam was going to jet from her nostrils.

"O...k,"

Zac reached out and hugged me tightly and warmly, "I might see ya later on...but in case I don't," He kissed me on the cheek, "Have fun,"

Zac gave me an odd look that I couldn't read and went to join Aimee, hugging and kissing her straight away. I looked out the window and saw Reilly still blabbing on to a group that had grown even more.

I looked back at Taylor to see the arty people had left and he was standing against the wall all alone, sipping his beer.

"The tables have turned," I said.

He smiled, "It happens to the best of us,"

Taylor and I spent the following couple of hours drinking beer and intensely discussing all sorts of topics from world peace to Tasmania, the forgotten Australian state.

In fact, we were talking so much that we lost track of how much we were drinking and found ourselves not drunk, but definitely tipsy. Our words weren't slurring and we could walk in a straight line, but we were at that stage where all you feel is happiness and energy.

Towards the end of the party, everyone had started dancing and I found myself hanging off Taylor and dancing rather horribly. I guess that just comes with being happy.

"We're shit dancers," Taylor laughed.

"Oh my god, I know. We should be shot or something,"

I laughed, Taylor laughed.

"You still look really good though," Taylor said.

"Oh do I?"

"Yeah, really good,"

Taylor pulled me closer to him as the crowd swelled and even more people joined onto our makeshift dance floor. Taylor's hand found my hip and my arms encircled his neck, and then...we kissed. And boy, did we ever. We kissed and we gave it hell, until we couldn't taste anything but each other.

Then, just as teenagers do, we forgot about each other and went our separate ways. I kissed Taylor goodbye and he caught a cab home.

"Kirby,"

"Oh hey Reilly," I pushed my hair out of my face. 

"You look kinda wasted,"

"Kinda,"

"It's past 4, wanna go home now?"

I nodded slowly and yawned, "Ok."