Parties weren’t his usual affair. At least, not since he’d gotten through freshman year, barely unscathed by the fog of liquor. To him, parties and celebrations were merely another vehicle for alcoholism, something he’d avoided throughout the entirety of his academic career. A feat worthy of pasting onto his resume, had anyone else understood the profound significance.
That night was no different, only the liquor was the least concerning part of the town’s memorial. Jamie had never been particularly good with crowds of people, his prickly exterior only extending as far as anyone could hear him and the music was aptly drowning his barbs out. Maggie’s riffs were going especially hard that evening and while he couldn’t blame her, for once he wished she’d just tone it down for a moment so that he could think.
It was the noise, the people, the smell of beer and bourbon. Sweat pooled under his sweater as his his eyes darted from one head to another, their rueful smiles all twisting into one, big wicked one. Jamie’s gaze locked onto one particular face of some guy whose hair was as loud as his grin, his upturned nose elongating until it’d become a snout.
He jumped when his shoulder connected with someone else’s.
“Someone’s gotta tell that dude it’s my job to be early for Halloween,” Jamie said quickly, in an attempt of cool recovery when he realized he’d bumped into someone he knew. When he looked back at the guy, his face had returned to its charming, freckled glory.
“I... gotta go outside. You don’t have to come.”
