I blinked down at my hand as I started off down the street, wondering if my knuckles had always been that shade of pink.
I kept replaying the moment in my head: my fist, crashing into David's cheek.
It started to make me freak out a little bit. I mean, had he really deserved that? It had felt super cathartic, but I wasn't sure it was the Right Thing to do. I should've just shit-talked him back, or called him out on his words.
Then again, Summer was the best person I knew, so I couldn't have let him talk about her as if she wasn't worth his time. Especially not while they were supposedly dating. That was shitty of him, and I had zero doubt about that. He should've been talking to her about everything, if anyone, and he probably shouldn't have poured himself such a strong drink.
Still... maybe he didn't need to get punched in the face. Oh, God. Everyone was going to be so pissed at me. What if I'd ruined his party? I couldn't tell what he deserved and what he didn't: my Summer bias was really throwing me off.
While I was examining my knuckles, I realised my hands were shaking now that the adrenaline was fading and reality was setting in.
My phone buzzed, and I stuck my hand into my pocket eagerly, happy for the distraction.
did u just walk into the party
punch davey boy in the face
then walk out of the party
???????????????????????
Summer.
I blinked down at my phone. News had travelled faster than I'd anticipated, because I hadn't even gotten off David's street yet.
potensh, I replied, feeling butterflies kick up a fuss in my stomach. I wasn't sure how Summer was going to feel about me picking a fight with her boyfriend. This was potentially very, very bad.
like wow
my HERO
I stopped in my tracks, staring down at my phone.
he's been an ass all of tonight
i tried to do something cool for him and he basically spat in my face l m a o what a freakin dork
i don't need a jar-opener anymore
well i do but maybe i'll just stop eating things that come out of jars
¯\_(ã)_/¯
I laughed at my screen, feeling pure relief rush through me.
enough of an ass to deserve getting punched in the face?? I replied.
Y E S, Summer shot back.
like, he's wasted. trashed. he got pretty drunk before the party even began and he's been a nightmare ever since
and apparently wasted david is asshole david
it's super unattractive, i need to talk to him when he sobers up bc ya gal does not f w that!!!
I realised I was just stunned, staring down at my phone in the middle of the pavement, when two of my classmates tried to pass by me.
"Jess! Lookin' good, you coming to David's?"
I blinked up at them, and then smiled at Jake, the guy who'd asked me the question. I shook my head, trying not to laugh. "Uhh, I just punched David in the face because he's a dick when he's drunk," I said. "So, I guess not?"
Jake's eyebrows shot up and he chuckled.
"Wow, alright," he laughed. "Didn't expect that answer." He turned to his friend. "We missed all the drama already! I knew we should've gotten here earlier."
I laughed, and shook my head. "Hey, do me a favor? Tell David I'm sorry. He was being a dummy, but it was probably just the alcohol."
"He might be too drunk to remember," Jake teased, moving slowly ahead to start continuing on to the party.
"Tell him anyway," I laughed. "Thanks!" I called to them both as they disappeared.
My phone buzzed, but it was just Dad checking in on me, so I checked Summer's thread again.
you think you two can patch this up then?? I asked her, trying to continue our conversation. I watched my classmates disappear into the house, and I wondered how things were going inside. I hoped I hadn't thrown the vibe off too badly by snapping and like, assaulting the host. I did feel bad, I realised. I was coming to the conclusion that he definitely had deserved something, but maybe not that.
OMINOUS PAUSE MUCH? Summer replied. but idk. maybe? he's not a bad guy, really
but do i wanna date someone who's this sloshed before midnight????
ahh, i don't know, I texted back. maybe he's worth it?? maybe he can drink less?? maybe he doesn't even know how tragic a drunk he is??
I felt obliged to go to bat for him at least a little. He'd always been a super chill dude until now, after all. He wasn't a monster, just a bit of a dick. I hadn't been primed to deal with that, and my Summer Situation definitely meant I was extra sensitive when it came to her. It wasn't an excuse, but it definitely explained the way I'd exploded.
hm hm hm Summer replied, and I could almost see her mulling over all the information, her little crinkle appearing on her forehead as she frowned.
I put my phone back in my pocket when she seemed to need a breather, her three dots appearing and disappearing a few times before taking a longer pause.
I wandered slowly to the end of the street, trudging more than walking, and then perched myself on a low wall that separated a house's well-manicured garden from the sidewalk. I sighed and brushed down my skirt, then tied my hair back off my face. While I had my hands up, enmeshed in my hair, my phone buzzed again, twice, but I couldn't check it.
I managed to secure my hair well with an extra twist of my hair-tie and then reached for my phone, but before I could get there, I saw Summer heading towards me.
"Hey girl," she smiled, calling out to me from the other side of the street. "How're you doing? Punch any douchebags lately?" Summer was grinning as she crossed over, coming closer.
"Okay, stop it," I said, trying to suppress a smile. "I didn't mean to."
A pause, in which Summer raised an eyebrow at me.
"Alright, I kind of did," I admitted. "But I totally shouldn't have. I should've talked to him. I don't know," I sighed. "Boys are weird."
Summer laughed, and her warm, happy, goofy laugh felt like the sun was washing over me.
"You're a rockstar, Jess. Everyone's talking about it. His friends were telling me he always gets himself into trouble when he drinks, he has zero filter and zero chill, it's a bad combo."
I rolled my eyes, because it still wasn't necessarily justification. I tilted my head up at her, and frowned a little, looking back at the house.
"What're you doing out here, anyway? How did you know I'd be here?"
Summer smirked and tapped her temple. "I know everything," she teased. "...And, actually I was going to walk to your place, but you were just sat here, so. Thanks for saving me the trip."
I didn't know what to say, so I just smiled and then leaned into her when she perched herself beside me. She pushed back lightly.
"What a mess," I eventually said. "I hope everyone else is enjoying the party, 'cause I kinda blew this one for myself."
"Nah, it's okay," Summer said. "I'm having a shitty time too. We can be miserable together," she grinned, kicking one of her pink Converse into the gravel. "Even though I'm actually pretty happy. God, I wish I'd seen you punch David," she said, cackling.
"Please can we not talk about it?" I said, looking up at the clouds and hoping David would sober up and forgive me (and deal with his weird Summer stress).
Summer groaned. "Why not? It's like, the wildest thing you've ever done," she smirked, squinting her eyes up as she tried to think of any other incidents that could rival this. "Well, alright, there was that time you flung a hockey stick at Justine Kaplan, but that was an accident," she chuckled, before looking at me with wide bug eyes. "Or was it?" Summer said, as if she'd just uncovered a huge conspiracy.
I laughed and gave her a shove.
"You were there," I said, pretending to be outraged. "You saw it. You know it was an accident. Don't play that shit. My mean streak is non-existent," I said, a little more seriously. I didn't think I was capable of having a mean streak. Not when I felt this guilty about one stupid punch.
"Sure, tell yourself that," Summer replied. "But I know you're a badass bitch, and it's awesome," she grinned.
"Have you even met me?" I said, cracking up, reasonably certain that no one had ever thought of me as a badass bitch before.
"Once or twice," Summer shrugged.
I smiled at her, my heart fit to burst.