Home For The Weekend

Brock

I sigh as I set down the last case of beer on the kitchen counter. I've already stocked the fridge downstairs, now I just have to stock the one here in the kitchen. This party is going to be fucking huge.

As I start putting the beer in the fridge, my mind wanders back to yesterday, to Liam. I still don't know what came over me. My run didn't help get anything off of my mind. I went home more confused than ever. I'm brought back to reality when a voice calls out. 

"Brock!"

"Brock! Where you at?"

"In the kitchen," I call out.

I hear the sound of footsteps near, and soon someone walks into the kitchen. I stand up from where I was bent down by the fridge and I see my friend Mike. Mike and I have been friends since we started school.  We came from similar lifestyles and we instantly stuck together. We played every sport, dated all the popular girls; we were inseparable, and we made a good team. Sadly, when it came to college, he stayed close to home, and I moved away.

Mike and I are also similar physically. Like me, he stands at about 6'2 and has a muscular body. Although, his body is thicker, while I am more lean. He has light brown eyes and blond hair that he keeps cut short. All in all, a basic jock.

"Hey Mike," I say after I stand up. "Thanks for coming early to help set up."

"No problem," he replies nonchalant. "What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to set up the stereo and speakers, both up here and downstairs."

"I'm on it," he says and turns to leave the kitchen.

I smile as I pick up all the empty beer boxes. Tonight is going to be a good night.

Liam

I look at myself in the mirror, scenario after scenario about what could happen tonight swirling through my head. This is stupid. He's straight. But, I haven't been able to think about anything else since I talked to Brock at the track.

I went and met up with my friends Sara and Lexi yesterday after I left the track. I was completely spaced out the entire time. I did manage to mention the party to them, but I didn't tell them how I knew about it, or about what happened at the track. I really didn't need to listen to their endless "advice."

I hear a car honk outside in the drive, and I'm brought back to reality. I quickly put my hair up, grab my phone and keys, and head out the door. I open the back door of Sara's car, Lexi already in the front, and climb in. As soon as I shut the door, Lexi turns around. 

"Your slow ass took forever," she says. There is laughter behind her blue eyes, and her long blonde hair sways back and forth as she shakes her head.

I roll my eyes and smile. "I walked out like five seconds after Sara honked the horn," I reply. 

"Actually," Sara interrupted. "Lexi honked the horn." Her brown eyes always serious, showed a hint of amusement. Like Lexi, Sara's hair was long, but her's was a dark brown that matched her eyes.

Lexi smiles and turns back around. "Let's get going already. I need a drink."

Brock

It's been a couple hours now since people started arriving, and I haven't seen Liam yet. Try as I might, I haven't been able to get him off of my mind. I've been in the kitchen most of the night, making sure the beer is out and people don't break shit.

As I open another beer, someone bumps into me from behind, and I spill beer all over my shirt.

"What the fuck!" I yell, although I doubt anyone can hear me over the blaring music. I turn around and see a girl standing there with a beer of her own. She looks up at me, and by the slightly scared look on her face, I must look pissed. 

"Sorry," she mouths.

My anger ebbs and a give the girl a small smile to show I'm not angry. The fright in her eyes dissipates and is replaced with something else. I notice her eyes looking up and down my body, and a small smile crosses her lips. She places a hand on my chest and leans close to my ear, somewhat shouting to be heard over the music.

"I could come upstairs and help you find a new shirt." She pulls her face away and looks at me, waiting for a response. Normally, I might go for it, but I'm not really feeling it. I shake my head, telling her no, and grab her arm, pulling her hand away from me. She puts on a pout, but I turn away from her head towards the stairs. Not how I thought this night was going to go.

Liam

We slowly drive by the large, two story house, but we can't find a place to park, so Sara drives down the road until she is able to park on the side. It looks like the party has been going on for a couple of hours. There are people everywhere, both inside and out, and the lawn is covered in solo cups and beer cans. 

We walk through the front door and it's like we go deaf. The music is blaring at full blast, so much so that I can't even tell what song is playing. As soon as we are through the initial throng of people, Lexi disappears. Sara tries to tell me something, but I have no clue what she is trying to say. She finally gives up and turns towards the crowd.

I scan the faces of the people in the room, but I don't see Brock. I turn around at a tap on my shoulder to find Lexi standing with a pair of solo cups. She hands one to me and then takes a sip of her own. I look down at mine but don't take a drink. I've never been a fan of beer. I'm more into wine, or whiskey, or vodka, or pretty much any other type of alcohol. 

I look up from my cup to find Lexi has disappeared again. I turn around to find Sara, but she has also disappeared. With my friends gone, I decide to wander through the house, keeping an eye out for Brock. 

About fifteen minutes later of wandering and bumping into random people, I still haven't found Brock, so I make my way down to the basement. The scene down here is different than upstairs. The music isn't so loud down here and it's darker, with people standing around everywhere making out.

In a corner I spot Brock's best friend Mike. He seems to be talking to a couple of girls, no doubt trying to get with one of them. I walk over to where Mike and the girls are standing, and I tap him on the shoulder. He turns around and looks at me. 

"Do I know you?" He asks.

"I'm Liam," I reply. "We went to high school together."

He still doesn't recognize me, so I go on.

"I used to be bigger, had acne and shorter hair. I came out as gay senior year."

A look of recognition passes over his face.

"Liam," he says. "You look better."

"Thanks...I guess. Look. Have you seen Brock?"

"Nope. Haven't seen him for a whiles now."

"Oh. Well, thanks anyway."

"No problem."

With no help from Mike, I walk back up the stairs. Taking a sip of my beer, I start to push away any hopes I had about maybe something happening tonight. All of sudden, I remember that I haven't checked the second floor. 

I walk up the stairs and stop at the top of the landing. There aren't any people up here, and all of the doors are shut except for the one at the end of the hall. I walk towards the door and stop outside of it. I hear a rustling noise inside and I ease the door the rest of the way open, cringing as it makes a slight squeak. There, standing next to a dresser and rummaging through it with no shirt on, is Brock.