"Wow, you guys came here to rub it in?" Adrian stood behind the counter, as Brody, Ashley and Adam came into the restaurant.

Fixing her ponytail that was stuck in her jacket, "Technically I'm working too."

"We thought it would be fun to hangout with you before we go to The Highway." Adam said.

"You mean when I'm serving you food?" Adrian sarcastically laughed. "I can see how that is fun, yes..."

Adrian took them to one of the empty tables, handing them a menu as he served them their drinks. "You guys just want the usual?"

They all nodded as Adrian took the menus back, placing their order in the kitchen.

~~~~~~~~~~

Adrian was now taking his break, sitting with his group of friends as Ashley was sharing something that happened during her latest date with Adam.

"We were having lunch together at our school, everything seemed normal, and then we hear all this commotion outside. All of these moms suddenly come out of their cars and march their way through the cafeteria. They were all heading to Principal Chamerlain's office, all looking pissed off as hell."

Adrian was just as interested in the school drama as everyone else at the table, "Is this still about missing money?"

After the rumours first came up in the Stonebrook message board, it spread like wildfire across Craftswood Academy too. Everybody became interested in the major gossip, but they were all still rumours at this point of time.

Ashley nodded her head. "Holly has an uncle at the school, and he heard it through the grapevines and all that."

"So this is getting more serious?"

"Anybody could be involved, the Chairman, people from the Board of Education, maybe even Principal Chamberlain himself?! Ashley speculated. "We don't know the extent of what's happened, but it's been a month and like no progress has been made with the reconstruction. Something is definitely up..."

Adam asked Ashley and Brody, the people who were effected by this, "So what are you going to do?"

Brody didn't know what they could do, it seemed like they were being nudged into a difficult spot as time progressed. "Nothing yet, we have to wait for a meeting to be held so they can address everything. Doubt they would do that anytime soon though, it would be like admitting there's a problem and risk losing the parent's funding."

And like that, the mood was slightly dampened by the reality of the situation. Their school was starting to look bleak, and they could only sit back and watch everything unfold before they hastily do anything.

Adrian clapped his hand together, alerting the group. "Come on guys, let's not spoil your night, you're going to go out, get shit faced and have tons of fun!"

Adrian went behind the bar to grab a bottle of vodka with 3 shot glasses. Pouring one each for his friends, they all clinked their glasses as a sober Adrian watched their spirits perk up.

It seemed to do to the trick as they all began to radiate positive energy. So Adrian decided to pour another shot of vodka, making sure his friends started the night the right way.

~~~~~~~~~~

"You guys ready to start heading out?" Ashley asked Adam and Brody.

Brody wanted to say goodbye to Adrian, so he left his share of the bill on the table as he snuck round the back to find his boyfriend.

He didn't find Adrian in the kitchen, so he made his way into the stock room, hoping he wouldn't get caught by anyone else but him.

With his back facing him, Brody hugged Adrian from behind before spinning him round.

"Brody! You can't be back he-"

Brody pushed him against the food rack and crashed their lips together in a intense battle to assert dominance.

Adrian wrapped his arms around Brody, pulling him closer as he held on tighter. At the same time Brody was still persistent on leaving a memorable goodbye to Adrian before he left.

"We're going to head out now."

Adrian nodded, he gave Brody one last farewell kiss before going back to stock the knocked over cans that fell from knocking the food rack.

Brody went back to his friends, with both of them matching a knowing look, as if they knew what he was doing back there.

"Got it out of your system yet?" Adam smirked at a confident walking Brody.

"Yep, lets go." Brody gleamed.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ashley led the way as she took them both round the back of the building. Standing outside the building, they could hear the bass from the music pumping through the building as they could feel the vibrations on their skin.

Fog from a smoke machine emerged through the door as they all made their way in. The music became louder and colourful lights flickered around the dance floor, hundreds of people kicking loose and enjoying themselves.

Ashley was behind the bar, already feeling like she was at home as she naturally started pouring drinks to the thirsty customers. As rowdy as the customers were, Ashley was patient and easy going, making small chat with everyone before serving them all.

Already feeling the mood and vibe from everyone else, Brody and Adam headed towards the dance floor, with a drink in their hand.

~~~~~~~~~~

They were at the club for over an hour already, and Brody was already starting to get a little sweaty, with the fabric of his clothes sticking to his chest.

Already feeling buzzed, Brody went to get another drink from the bar while Adam was already occupied on the dance floor.

At the counter, Brody ordered a drink when he noticed someone at the bar kept eyeing him up. She was with a group of friends but she was looking around the room for a good minute before they landed on Brody.

As a gentlemen, Brody gave her a courtesy nod when she looked at him again. She seemed to be shy about it before she walked over to Brody.

The sound of her sequins jingled as she made her way over. "Hi, I'm Michelle."

"Brody." He replied as his drink arrived.

"You here alone?" Michelle asked, sipping her cocktail through a straw.

Adam came through the cloud of fog, resting his arm around Brody as he ordered another drink. "This is my friend, Adam."

Michelle gave Adam a wave hello. "You guys want to join us? We need help drinking a 53oz cocktail and so far we have only 2 of us."

Not seeing the harm in any of it, "The more the merrier."

~~~~~~~~~~

Brain freeze quickly sank in as the 3 of them, plus one of Michelle's friend downed the entire cocktail. Followed by the cocktail were several rounds of tequila and jäger bombs.

"I think we should take a break from the alcohol." Adam laughed as they all dropped their glasses down on the table.

"He's right, let's dance it off!" Sabrina called out loud.

Heading towards the centre of the dance floor, they kicked the smoke out of the way as bubbles started raining down in the room.

Bodies were jumping, people were singing along as more people joined the floor. It suddenly turned into a mosh pit around the DJ booth as people were now bouncing of each other, creating havoc.

Brody quickly swerved his way out of the situation and sat at one of the tables. He was enjoying his night so far, and for someone as tall as Brody it took longer for the effects of alcohol to truly kick in.

Handing Brody a drink, "Mind if I sit here? Mosh pits aren't really my thing."

"Sure Michelle." They both clinked their glasses as they took a drink. "Your dress is really pretty."

Michelle brushed the imaginary dust of her dress. "Thanks! It's 2 weeks of my wages but it's so worth it."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a private tutor for this rich couple's kids. So if you want to know anything about medieval history then let me know!" Michelle boasted.

"Huh, that's the lost topic I imagined for you." Brody admitted. Judging a book by its cover, Michelle was definitely gorgeous and the outfit only supported the statement. So a topic that Brody found particularly boring was an odd mix.

Michelle just shrugged as if she usually hears this, "I get that all the time, I have brains, beauty and a love for history."

Michelle leaned on the table, inspecting Brody. "From the way I see your shirt clinging to your muscles, I'm guessing you're the athletic type? That or some sort of model with your natural physique."

Brody was used to the flattery as well, he got it a lot. And honestly he loved it. But he also knew how to be modest in front of people and reign it in without becoming arrogant. "Yeah, I play hockey for my school's team."

"And a dazzling smile with no missing teeth?!" Michelle exaggerated.

Brody liked talking to Michelle, it was very easy to do so. "I don't want to mislead you or anything, but I have a boyfriend."

Michelle was very understanding even though the attractive guy next to her was rejecting her. "You know what, that's very noble of you. It's a shame you're unavailable then."

Brody drank one of the shots that another one of Michelle's friend had quickly brought over to them. "Very much so."

"Mind if I see a picture? I want to know which boy stole your heart." Michelle was curious to know.

Brody unlocked his phone and showed her the photo they took at the carnival.

Approving the other person in the photo, "That boy is cute. Handsome and cute meets handsome and cute, I love it."

Brody lovingly looked at the photo of Adrian before putting his phone away. "Bit cocky, ridiculously seductive and sweet like honey. A perfect mix of everything to me."

"Is he not here tonight? Would love to see the guy in person."

Brody told her about why Adrian couldn't make it tonight. Work and responsibilities, just grown up things really.

"Well I'm at least glad you have someone, me on the other hand is hoping Prince Charming is just round the corner - and doesn't have a perfect boyfriend too."

By chance Brody looked up from the table and saw someone looking towards them. Sensing that he was checking out Michelle, he whispered to her discretely. "I don't know if he's Prince Charming, but that cute brunette is checking you out."

Michelle turned and made eye contact with the guy, both of them showing a hint of smile. "Good taste."

"Better something than nothing."

~~~~~~~~~~

After playing wingman for Michelle, she brought Brody one last round of drinks before leaving to talk to the brunette guy.

It had been another 2 hour at the club and Brody was definitely drunk now. He was at the point where his words were slurring and he vomited once in the bathroom when Ashley came round from the bar to send him home.

"N-not, y-yet! I want- I want another, drink thingy!" Brody came out with.

Ashley handed Brody a bottle of water before calling a taxi for him. She spotted Adam from afar and told him about Brody's inebriated state.

"I think you should have stopped after the third punch bowl, mate." Adam shouted over the loud music, slightly unstable as he gripped the bar.

Since she was still working, Ashley made sure they both made it into the taxi before going back inside The Highway.

"Heading home?" The taxi driver asked.

===========