The Killings of Brown and Blue

chapter one- evie/ everest

EVEREST

That was the most beautiful sound- one of music, cheers and the freedom of youth. The kind of sound I could bask in like a lizard in summer. The kind of sound that made my blood buzz within my veins and my heart rattle within my ribcage. The music wasn't loud like heavy metal or dubstep, it was deep. It was rock music, rock music with bass so deep that I could feel it enveloping my heart, drowning me in its depths. 

I just graduated from high school, an event that was surprisingly anticlimactic. We threw our caps and our parents clapped. Slow and mopey music played. I took pictures with classmates I never knew and wouldn't miss. It all went by in a meaningless and fast blur. My mom and step-dad showed up, did their part as the dutiful parents and then left. My step-sister played on her phone and my half-sister watched attentively but with boredom.

A boy from a neighboring town invited Alyssa and I to this party. We weren't planning to come but the alternatives were depressing. My private school was throwing a party with chaperones and staying home wasn't an option on our graduation weekend. Of course we feared we'd be crashing, but a place so full wouldn't notice a few strays.

The whole drive here Alyssa was doing a dance and she bolted to find a bathroom as soon as we pulled up. I decided to distract myself by finding the alcohol. I immediately spotted it, a mass of bottles and plastic cups being fought over. People fell over each other, pushing and hitting.

With hesitation, I squirmed my way to the island, my fingers clasping around the only bottle I could reach. I pulled it back with great effort, retreating as soon as I could. Relieved, I let the music roll down my body, hurdling over every curve and every bump, cascading to the ground and spilling around me. I brought the bottle to my lips and threw my head back, letting the snake venom slowly poison my throat, burning and healing all at once.

The bottle is ripped from my hand harshly and I whip towards the villain. Alyssa stands at the ready, her small and petite figure ready to pounce.

"That was rude." I said, narrowing my eyes and sulking.

She looked offended as she pointed a small finger at me. "You promised you'd take it easy. We just got here, you can't already be chugging."

"I know, I know." I dramatically threw myself in her arms, gripping her in a hug. She noticed my mischievous play to get the bottle back. I trailed her hand as she hurried to hand the bottle off before I could grab it.

I tried to grab the bottle back, stretching my arm as far as it would go. A girl passively grabbed the bottle being handed to her, looking up in confusion. Her dark brown skin glowed under the harsh lights of the house. Her eyes were dark but surprisingly deep, like a mug of black coffee. She had long eyelashes to adorn them, fluttering like butterflies in a field. Her nose was small and round and her lips were full and heart-shaped. She had a moon-like face, one that could capture the sun's eyes and entrap them forever. Her hair fell in soft coils around her, framing and molding her round face to give it more depth. I could feel myself falling deeper and deeper. So deep that even one more second and I would have been teetering on the edge. But her body was jerked to the side by someone else and she broke contact with me. It was only a split second, a split second of eye contact, but in just that second, I could feel warmth radiate between us and I could imagine everyone else slipping away like a vapid dream.

Alyssa's hand waved in front of my face and I swatted it away. "Stop that." I said. "You looked like you were going to pass out. I was just checking." she crossed her arms, looking around.

This is the first party we've been to and I had to convince her to come. Crowds and teenagers aren't her thing, especially when they're drunk. She started compulsively biting her lip. In a sudden act of heroism, I took her arm and lead her to the sliding glass door. It was already open, the warm air bathing us as we walked outside. The music was a little quieter outside and the people weren't acting as rowdy. There were only a few people. A group of handsome boys played beer pong, shouting and cheering as one made a shot. Royal blue porch-couches formed a halo around them and a canopy hung Christmas lights down.