Ostensible

01: Observation

×________

Spend my time worrying of broken promises. Focused on the smell of all the burnt out cigarettes. My thoughts play on repeat, only comfort that I keep. 'Cause in a moment I'll be something you will forget.

The soulful voice of Khalid causes Matias to sway as he lets out a large cloud of smoke. "Fuck that feels good," he says as he passes the lighter to Gael. His best friend takes the lighter and smokes the refilled bowl of the bong.

As the captain of the soccer team, he hardly ever associates with anyone outside his team, but a chill party like this it leads him to hangout with whoever is willing to smoke with him. At the moment, he is sorrounded by his two closest friends and some sophomores and juniors. They are all stoned out of their minds and giggling at their own thoughts. Matias watches the crowd of the party and smiles at those that catch him looking. The small group around him are talking about things that probably wouldn't have brought up if they were sober.

"I swear I thought I saw Mia Khalifa at the mall yesterday," claimed one of the underclassmen. They boys around him giggled. "Dude, we live in a tiny ass town in the huge ass state Texas. I really doubt that you saw one of the most famous pornstars in the nation," another underclassmen argued.

Matias chuckled as the first underclassmen tried to argue that he just knew because of the size of her "tits" (his words not Matias'). He looked up as a blonde stranger and a girl he recognized from the volleyball team joined their smoking circle.

"Mind if we join you," asked the girl.

Everyone either shrugged or shook their head. Perhaps the were too high to use their words. The blonde guy removed a joint that was previously on his ear and lit it with his own lighter. He took several puffs and passed it to his friend beside him. "I'm Eames by the way," the blonde introduced himself. Matias looked at the people in the circle and it seemed like the blonde wasn't a stranger just to him. Most people nodded in recognition, and a few introduced themselves.

"I'm Matias, the host. Welcome to my party," he said dutifully. The girl and the blonde, no Eames, looked at each other then at him and smiled. The girl reached out to shake his hand, "Name's Ingrid."

"Nice to meet you both," he nodded. They all went back to their meaningless conversations. He observed Eames and Ingrid as they interacted with the group. He remembered seeing Ingrid play volleyball at the couple games his girlfriend made him attend. The blonde, however, he's never seen around the school. "Do you go to Premiere," he asked. Eames looked up and nodded, "I'm a sophomore. Been going since freshman year."

Matias was about to answer, but someone fell into his lap. "Hey princess," he greeted. Rosita wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. He felt her beathe in his scent and she placed her head on his chest. "Are you drunk, baby?" She just nodded and snuggled against him. Matias smiled fondly and rubbed her back. He whispered for her to take a nap, and she sighed in agreement. He adjusted her against his lap, and let her sleep. When he looked up, Eames was still looking at him. Matias smiled, "she's a lightweight." The blonde nodded in acknowledgment so he switched his attention to Rosita who was clinging on to him.

×----

The night went by smoothly and people came and went from Matias' house. Eventually, the crowd became a small group of people he was familiar with and some new faces he was introduced to throughout the night. He had laid Rosita about an hour ago in his room, but he saw her wonder out a couple minutes ago. The smoking circle broke apart and everyone was scattered around the house. Matias was currently sitting on a loveseat with Gael at his side and they were watching a small group of underclassmen dancing without a care in mind. In the middle of the group he recognized his friend JJ's blonde hair. "What the fuck? I didn't know JJ was here." Gael nodded, "he got here with some chick about an hour ago."