“Don't read too much into Rachel. She's just mouthing off.” Though Daniel knew as well as I did, that Rachel didn't just “mouth” off. That when she spoke, she spoke her mind. “I didn't realize you guys disliked Kylie so much.” He muttered, hanging his head, his elbows propped on his knees. “We don't dislike Kylie so much as we just don't like how she treats you.” Daniel just shook his head. He looked up at me and I felt bad that he was so miserable. He loathed fighting with Rachel and I as much as I did. “Is there more to this? Is there something you're not telling me?” He asked me, frowning.
When did Daniel become so perceptive? But there was no way I would tell him about Rachel's crush. That would be breaking her confidence, and if she wanted him to know, she would have told him. So I just shrugged my shoulders. “Not that I know of.” But then I added. “Just be gentle with her, Danny. You know how sensitive Rachel can get. She gets her feelings hurt easily. Just be aware of the things you say and how it affects others, alright?” I put my arm around his shoulders and gave him an affectionate squeeze.
Daniel laid his cheek against mine. “I love you, Mags.” He patted my knee and stood up. “Okay enough of this girlie crap. Let's go find Rachel and Clay so I can make this right.” I stood up ready to follow him, but then paused. “What about Kylie?” I asked, surprised he didn't choose to go find his girlfriend first.
Daniel snorted. “I don't feel like hearing her particular brand of bullshit right now. Besides, Rachel comes first.” I grinned. Daniel did have a good heart. Perhaps I've never given him enough credit. “Let's go get a drink and find our friends.” Daniel tugged on my hand and I laughed as he pulled me after him. My heart warmed that he included Clayton in our circle of friends, despite his wariness toward him. Daniel was a good guy.
We made our way through the backyard. It felt like trying to part the Red Sea, there were people everywhere. Melissa would have a nasty mess on her hands tomorrow morning. I would be too paranoid to throw a party like this at my place. Though looking at the huge house, I figured she could afford to have cleaners come in and take care of it for her.
Daniel led the way and we went in through the kitchen. A few kids were mixing drinks with Melissa's parents' liquor, sloshing liquid all over the counter. “Hey, Daniel! Maggie! Want a Long Island Ice Tea?” Jake Fitzpatrick asked, pushing a full cup in our direction. Daniel took the cup and sniffed. “Damn! What did you put in here? It smells like cat piss.” Daniel gagged and handed the drink back. Jake laughed. “I little of this, a little of that. You know.” I shook my head at the inebriated idiots.
“You want anything?” Daniel asked as we headed down the hallway toward the garage. “Yeah, I'll grab a beer. But I'm DD tonight, so I can't drink much.” We followed the wave of voices that drifted from the end of the hallway. This was obviously the way to the keg.
There were people crowded around the entrance to the garage. Daniel grabbed my hand and tugged me through the door. “You have got to be kidding me.” Daniel muttered in apparent amusement. He had stopped just short of the keg and I ran into his back. “Danny! What are you doing?” I called out. “Get a load of your good buddy Clayton Reed.” Daniel said, pointing in front of him. I moved around Daniel and was stunned to see Clay being held upside down by two football players with his mouth underneath the keg tap.
It was then that I noticed the people circling him, chanting “Go, Go, Go!” Rachel was jumping up and down, clapping her hands and cheering louder than anyone. “What the hell?” I asked, not as amused as Danny had been. “We have to stop him, Daniel!” I pulled on his arm. Daniel looked at me questioningly. “Why? It's not like you haven't done a few keg stands in your time, Miss Judgmental. Let the boy have some fun, he could use some loosening up.”
I groaned. “You don't get it, Danny. Clay has a...uh...history with drinking and it's not a good one. This will end badly.” I was becoming panicked as the keg stand seemed to never end. Daniel looked at me, frowning. “If you say so. I think you might be overreacting. But whatever. You take care of Clay, I'll get Rachel.” I smiled in relief, appreciating his help.
Daniel and I parted ways. He headed over to Rachel, who tried to push away from him as he put his arm around her shoulder and started leading her out of the garage. Daniel firmly held her by her upper arms and herded her outside.
I turned toward Clay who was just now being put on his feet. He stumbled and one of the football guys put out a hand to steady him. “You all right, man?” he asked, laughing at my friend's drunken state. Clayton gave him a thumbs up. “I'm fantastic.” He slurred. Good god, this was going to be just super.
Before I could get over to Clay, Melissa, the hostess extraordinaire, rushed to his side and plastered herself against him like a second skin. “That was amazing, Clay.” She cooed in his ear. Oh gag. I grabbed a hold of Clay's arm and squeezed. “What the hell are you doing?” I asked quietly in his ear. Clayton looked over at me, only now realizing that I was standing there.
He grinned at me and pulled me into a hug. Renee looked miffed that she had been discarded. “Mags. I'm so happy you're here! Did you see that? That was epic!” He told me, ridiculously pleased with himself. I pulled on him and we moved toward the door. “Yeah, I saw you. I thought you said you didn't want to be doing that stuff.” I replied, looking at him with concern.
A dark look crossed Clay's face and he yanked his arm from my grasp. “What are you? The party police? I'm having fun. I thought that's what you wanted. For me to meet people and you know, socialize.” I didn't say anything. Clearly, Clayton was not a friendly drunk. “I did want that, but you were the one who said you had a history with this stuff. That drinking isn't good for you.” I tried to grab his hand again and get him out of the garage.