SCOUT
Desi grumbled allthe way to the party about how it ruined his plans, and that this was a bad idea.
“Oh stop. I like your friends.”
“I don’t. They’re obnoxious. Or don’t you remember, one of them came to your house like a weird stalker and confessed his love on your lawn?”
“Look, are you that against it? This little fight we’ve got going isn’t fun anymore. Why don’t you want to go?”
He was silent for a moment and then shrugged. “I just don’t think it will be fun. It’s fine. We’ll go for a bit, talk, drink, enjoy the music, and then go do what I had planned.”
“What exactly do you have planned?” It was already seven. There wasn’t much time left anyways.
“I want to wait and show you,” he said.
We arrived and parked behind a long line of cars. Half the guests were in costumes, half weren’t, but everyone had drinks in their hands. Marco saw us and waved as we went into the house and down into the basement. The music was so loud it almost hurt my ears. The band was set up on one side of the room and blasting a cover of The Ramones.
“You want a drink?” Desi shouted. I nodded, and he disappeared into the crowd. I stood awkwardly, looking for someone I knew, and when I didn’t find anyone, I forced myself to bob my head and dance a little.
Desi returned with two bottles of ice-cold beer. We toasted and clinked our bottles and drank. People began to recognize him. He introduced me quickly to everyone but there were so many people it was hard to remember names. Despite him drinking a beer and chatting with a few of his friends, he still stood stiffly and looked uncomfortable. He was constantly looking around as if he was expecting someone.
“I’ve got to use the bathroom,” I announced, and Randy pointed me upstairs and to the left. I didn’t really have to go, but Desi’s mood about the party was starting to make me uncomfortable. As I descended the stairs, the band began to play a familiar tune.
“This song is for the birthday girl, is she down here?” I blushed and looked around for Desi. He was standing by the stage, shaking the singer’s hand and smiling at me. The singer returned to his microphone and the band burst into their version of Journey’s song, “Lights.”
The mood in the room shifted, and couples paired up to slow dance. I went to Desi, and he took me in his arms. We began to sway with the others.
“I’m sorry I made you come,” I told him.
“I can’t say no to the birthday girl. Plus, it’s not midnight yet. I’ve still got time to get you alone.” His smile spread into a devious one.
“Alone?” My belly fluttered. “What are we doing alone?”
Desi whispered in my ear, “If I told you, I’d have to kill you.” His words, while playful, held a small edge to it that sent shivers down my body. The song ended and the band decided to play “Don’t Stop Believing”, which made me remember that I had Desi’s birthday gift, resting in my pocket. I planned on giving it to him at midnight.
“Well, I can’t wait until midnight,” I told him. “I have your present. I’ve been working on it for almost a year.”
“A full year?” He laughed. We pulled apart and went back to his friends.
“Since that night in the park. Do you remember?”
“I do. We stayed out until the sun came up. I think that’s when I knew I was in love with you.”
“What a line.”
We joined his circle again, and no sooner did we stop dancing did Desi resume his weird behavior.
“Dude, what are you doing?” Eric asked when he jerked and spun around quickly.
“What? I thought I heard someone.” He was becoming more and more weird the longer we stayed.
“I wonder who Desiderio Amato would be afraid of.” Tommy smirked and elbowed Eric. I raised my eyebrows. Did they know about Desi’s job?
“Fuck off,” he snarled at them.
“Are we still doing that thing next week then?” Mick’s eyes flicked to me and then back to Desi’s. He grinned, but there was something behind his eyes. Something dark. Desi didn’t respond to him. Instead, he tugged on my arm.
“Let’s get out of here.”
