Chapter One

"you'll have a gay old time!"

i sat on the couch in the living room of our neighbors house as the final crescendo of the song rang throughout the room. Another one of their monthly parties. This months theme was "February Flintstones" how creative.

As much as i hated these parties, i found myself involuntarily humming along to the last few words. Even i'll admit, it's a catchy tune. After song ended, i unconsciously lifted my red solo cup off the worn footrest to find my drink was empty. Did i really need another soda after the two i had chugged already? Yes. Yes i did. i told myself as i got up of the couch to satisfy my craving.

These neighborhood parties were hosted on the first Friday of every month. The parties were always packed with crowds of overweight, middle aged women looking to relive their high school days when every guy fell at their feet and they could get black-out drunk without consequences. Sorry to break it to ya Jessica, but you've got four kids, an unsatisfied husband and a communications degree. You've got bigger things to worry about than if Jeff from around the corner is flirting with you.

Speaking of unsatisfied husbands, most of the men here are middle aged or young adults who want to live in a cheap neighborhood. I can say with 100% accuracy that at least thirty out of the thirty-three men here are waiting for the day their kids leave so they can pack up and leave their baggy wives for some blond bimbo. They only show up to these parties so they can have "guy time" with their dude friends since their wives banned them from strip clubs back in 09'.

But there are men who show up to these parties who are angels on earth. Garret, Julian and Peter.

Garret. Where do i begin? He's a hot guy who's a firefighter! What else is there to say?hes tall, with a gorgeous set of baby blue eyes. But the main attraction is his hair. its fluffy and brown like has so much definition, moisture. His curls bounce with each little step he takes and his eyes sparkle with every chuckle. he's the only man i would ever catch a case for. the only thing is he's happily married to his wife, Francine. She's nice enough, but she always leaves these get togethers with no memory of where she is. Garrett's a bit of an introvert, so we don't talk a lot, but his booming laughter and deep voice is conversation enough. Julian is a literal lifesaver. he's a twenty-two year old single dad of one daughter. her name is Leila. Julian is the only person getting me through the monthly parties. He's one of the only single parents in the entire neighborhood. He always brings me some sort of cool vinyl record at one one the parties. This month he brought me "ABBA's BEST HITS". It might just be the best thing i've ever looked at. Plus, i babysit for him on tuesday's and he pays VERY generously. lastly Peter. Peter's the definition of sweet old man. i don't really like old people, they're usually racist or some shit, but Peters the exception. He's been in this neighborhood for over forty-five years and he's seventy now. He moved her when his kids were very little. my parents remember them briefly, but they slowly stopped visiting as much and they stopped visiting all together as of last year when their mom died of breast cancer. He always says hi when i get off the bus or when i walk the dog. he's got this look on his face that resembles sort of like a sad old pug. i pity him a lot, but he's chill.

As i maneuvered my way into the kitchen to fill my cup, i was nearly knocked to the ground by the large rumps and swinging arms of the drunk moms who were congregated in the kitchen dancing to music. i hadn't even realized the music had completely changed from the theme until "get ugly" by jason derulo started playing. i smirked to myself as i saw all of the moms stop the mediocre boogying and go straight into shaking their asses on the floor. i was almost at my destination, when the host of the party suddenly stopped me in the tracks.

"Well *burp* hello Evelyn!" Polly slurred as she tossed her light brown hair over her broad shoulders. "Nice to see you dressed to the theme this time!" She let out an unnerving cackle and spat all over me in the process.

"uh yeah." i said looking her up and down. "nice costume too."

her costume was indeed the best out of all of the others. the women half -assed it by only wearing some sort of flintstone graphic tee or a flintstone hat. the guys didn't even dress up for the most part. I usually didn't dress up, but i already had a wilma costume from that previous halloween.

Polly on the other hand went all out. She was wearing a short dress that barely covered her underwear, her meaty thighs and hips bulging out of it. the only things covering her tatas weas the small halter-style top the dress had. the side boob she has was extremely noticeable.

"It better look nice." she sipped her drink, making her double chin more pronounced. "i spent almost ninety dollars on this." rolling her eyes and giggling, she finally scooted away from me and bombarded another guest with questions.

i leapt at the opportunity and practically sprinted to the drink table. i could hear the conversations around me as i filled up my drink.

"so do you want to get an abortion?"

"i mean, financially i can't support another one"

"....so i went down to the school and *hiccup* told them she did not cheat on that test"

"i swear on my life miranda, if you so much as even LOOK at my husband again i will-"

i was interrupted of my ease dropping by my cup spilling over onto my shoes.

"dammit" i whispered to myself as the brown soda stained my white sneakers.

i walked over to the table with the foods and napkins making squeaking noises as i went. i started wiping my shoes off as best as i could but there was no use. they were pretty much ruined. Suddenly, my phone rang. it was my brother, Dylan.

"hello?" i said.

"Eve, why aren't you home yet?"

confused, i replied,

"why are you home?"

i heard a sigh on the other line.

"it's mom. she's undergoing treatment tomorrow, remember? you were supposed to be back at 11. "

"shit, you're right. bye"

i hung up fast and scurried out the front door without saying goodbye to anyone to get back home ASAP. i was in BIG trouble.

i took off. i ran down the steps leading up to the front door waving at Polly's husband Oscar who was out taking a smoke break.

"in a rush kiddio?" he said chuckling

i didn't respond.

"you can't say goodbye to ol' Oscar?" he shouted after me. he was definitely drunk. i have no idea what came over me. but i stopped running. i stood there, looked him dead in the eye and said "Fuck you, Oscar" and have him the middle finger. it's not like he would remember anyways.

he stood there, speechless. he rubbed his bald head, like some sort of good luck charm.

i took off again, the cool night's breeze blowing my curly hair around like a tornado. i jumped over fences, speeding across backyards just to get home before 11. i looked at the clock on my phone in desperation.

"10:57, i can make it" i spoke, breathing heavily before taking off again.

i arrived at our small cape cod home. i took a deep breath, ABBA vinyl in hand, preparing myself for the lecture i was about to get for staying to late at parties i didn't even want to go to. i slowly opened the white door of our home to see that my dad and brother were sitting at the dinner table playing uno.

they stopped what they were doing to look at me.

"hey." i said timidly

dylan and my dad stared at me.

"don't just stand there! join in!" my dad said re- shuffling the pile of cards.

"he only said that because i was winning " dylan said huffing while reluctantly scooting a chair over to the table for me to sit in.

"and you can't put plus 4's over another plus 4"

we spent the rest of the night laughing together, debating rules, shouting uno before someone foiled our plans by slapping down a color change card, and sipping on homemade lemonade. The only thing missing was mom.

"how was the party?" my dad said putting the cards back into their box. 
"the usual. also i'm pretty sure Wanda's husband is sleeping with Miranda." i blurted out that last part with 0 uncertainty. it made sense, right? her comment at the party, her husband always working late ( they both worked at the same company), how they would go to "company dinners" until 3AM, and he always smiled around miranda but looked like a boy who's xbox had just been taken away around wanda.

"Called it." Dylan said from across the room.

Me and Dylan chucked while dad gave us a "dont try it" stare.

"what's her buisness is hers." he said. "you wouldn't want someone spreading rumors about you, huh?"

"They do." Dylan said walking upstairs. "or they did , i guess. all i'm saying is that i handled it" and with that he disappeared into his room and shut the door.

my dad paid no attention to this and continued watching "how it's made", but i knew better.

i stormed upstairs after my brother. i was RED HOT. fuming. i could push him back down these fucking stairs.

"did you use it, dylan?" i whispered.

no answer.

"DID YOU FUCKING USE IT DYLAN?" i whisper screamed at him, banging on his door.

no answer again.

"you used it didn't you." i sank down to my knees and began to cry. "dylan, we vowed too-"

"i know what we vowed." he spoke to me, door still shut. "but it felt so good, Eve. watching that little bitch scream as i put that knife in his chest. so yeah, i used it. and it felt good."