I Had A Goat With No Nose

Worthy Opponents (part 2)

"Oh my god, are you okay?" The laughter in his voice was obvious, but she would have seen the concern written all over his face had she been able to look anywhere but his feet.

"You're wearing PF Flyers." Slowly, Tasha hoisted herself up off the floor, using the banister and Connor's left arm for support. He smiled once she got to her feet.

"Of course. They're guaranteed to make any kid run faster..." Connor's smile got wider.

"And jump higher." Tasha swore if he tried to smile any more his face would split in half. He dropped his head with a chuckle, then looked back at her.

"You're killin' me, Smalls." She grinned at him as they walked through the kitchen which was, thankfully, only inhabited by a few lonely drunks trying to get every last drop out of the party ball. Tasha hesitated at the door to the living room, the thumping music creating a sort of invisible barrier. When Connor realized she wasn't behind him anymore he turned and walked the two steps back to where she was frozen.

"You change your mind about that empanada?" He looked confused, but hopeful.

"No... it's just... there's a lot of people in there."

"Well, it is a party..."

"Exactly. Do you think there's another way out?" She was slowly backing farther into the kitchen.

"Not any that can get us to my car. C'mon. Pretend you're Whitney Houston and I'm Kevin Costner. We'll do this Bodyguard style." Tasha laughed as Connor grabbed her hand and dragged her into the mob. About halfway to the front door, Tasha spotted the friend who had dragged her here and hollered over the house music.

"Emily! I made a new friend! He's taking me to Taco Bell!"

"Tasha! I made a new friend, too!" She held up her partner's hand. "He's taking me upstairs!"

"Okay! Make him wrap it up!" She released Connor's hand to make an obscene gesture, and was promptly dragged into a line of humping foreign exchange students, shrieking a little as she went. Before she could drown in their excess cologne Connor grabbed hold of her forearms, pulling her behind him as he finished the journey, all the while singing at the top of his lungs.

"And I-ee-I-ee-I will always love you!" Tasha couldn't help but laugh as they ran out the front door, falling back against it as it shut.

"Well, as fun as that was... shall we?" Connor swept his arm over the street, pointing to a beat up old sedan covered in bumper stickers. Tasha was a little wary.

"Is that thing going to make it to Taco Bell?"

"What, Louie? Louie's a trooper." Tasha just looked at him as they walked to the hunk of rusting metal.

"Louie?" Connor looked hurt.

"Yes, Louie. Doesn't he look like a Louie?" He leaned over the hood of the car, his right hand tapping a gentle rhythm against the metal. "I love my Louie." Tasha slowly started backing away from the display in front of her.

"Yeah, I think I'm going to go back and brave the party... let you two have some alone time..."

"That would probably be good." Connor lifted his left leg and draped it over the hood. "Oh Louie, it's been too long! Ooooo!" Eventually he gave up and climbed off the car, walking around to let Tasha in, not even acknowledging the scene that had just taken place.

posted by emily @ 1:49 AM