Colourful, bright spot-lights circulated the living room floorboards, illuminating the smog of bodies as they danced to thunderous music which flooded the air. Others stood in small clumps – gesturing violently to explain themselves over the heavy noise; their faces flushed pink; cups filled with multi-coloured liquids; clothing glamourous and chic. Many females wore bold, sparkling makeup and had styled their hair into high-knotted pony-tails or tight curls.
"Epic way to end the school year!" Holly yelled over the blare of pop.
"Debateable." Toby pitched in, anxiously dodging as some older, drunk boys stumbled past – his drink sloshing onto the carpet.
"You know, this is it now. You old pensioners will be going into year twelve and starting you're a-levels." She teased, raising her eyebrows at me.
"Don't remind me." I blushed, beaming warmly as I shook my head. "Besides you're so much older than me, Miss eighteen-on-november-20th."
"Still only ten-and-a-bit-months ahead of this one." She smirked, punching Toby gentle in the arm.
"Fortunately, being born in October means I'm statistically older than the mean for our year, giving me a slight advantage in the relative academic performance compared –"
"Yeah, yeah..." Holly joked, playfully. "I'm going to get us some more drinks; see you in a minute."
She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek, before turning around and slamming straight into Adrain Black – a tall boy from year thirteen, with lime-green eyes and spikey, black hair thick with gel.
"Watch it, lesbo." He bellowed; face contorted into a malevolent smirk.
"Hey!" Toby piped up, breathing deeply with nerves, "There's no need to talk to her like that."
Laughter exploded from him, as others joined in echoes. "But what are you going to do 'bout it?"
"Look," Toby sighed, "I have no quality (besides perhaps intellect) which gives me superiority over you, and thus, I cannot control your actions; however morally, I do believe it best you avoid treating others in that way."
Adrain blinked – face blank.
Before his eyes flickered with rage and he stepped closer, towering menacingly over Toby.
Tension chewed at the silence.
"Get out."
Nobody moved.
"Get out." He spat, violently throwing his plastic cup at Toby, soaking his crimson t-shirt with his beer.
"Loser." He hissed.
"Nerd!"
A different cup emerged from the crowd.
Staining his blue jeans.
One by one, others joined in.
Screaming.
Shouting.
Acting like animals.
I stared open-mouthed. Willing myself to move. To help him. But I couldn't. The energy drained from my limbs as I stared on. Each hit stronger. Him cowering. Afraid. Eyes hooked to mine. Pleading. As I stood. Frozen.
He lowered his head.
Ashamed.
Clothes drenched and messy.
The air drowned in cruel, iced laughter.
Slowly he backed away from us, before turning to run.
"Toby!" I called – suddenly finding my voice. "Toby!"
But he was already gone.
…
Adrenalin boiling in my blood, I sprinted down the street, yelling Toby's name, desperately.
Nobody there.
I ran, faster.
The wind lashing my skin and hair, which glowed silver at the mercy of the moon.
The pounding of my footsteps on the hard, concrete pavement was the only thing louder than the screams of panic in my head and frenzied pulsing of my heart.
Anxiety taking control, I dodged around aged, oak trees and mazed buildings until I reached the park.
A lonesome figure perched on one of the swings, silhouetted against the sleeping town.
"Toby?" I whispered, sheepishly; feeling the shadows claw at my bare arms – knowing there was nowhere to escape from them. "Toby?"
Silence haunted the space between us.
"Why do they hate me?" He murmured.
I paused, "I... I... don't know..."
It doesn't even matter." He shook his head, as I took a seat on the swing beside his. "Never did; never will."
"You matter to me." I swallowed. "And to Holly. You always have; always will."
A small smile crept across his face. "Why do you care so much?"
I gazed, blankly, up into the spiralling night sky, stars glistening like fairy dust; the moon crouched in a peaceful slumber. "I just –"
He cupped my face in his hands, pressing his lips to mine.
Shocked, I shoved him from me. "No."
He gaped at me, agog. "But I thought –"
"It doesn't matter what you thought, Toby." I whispered – muscles tense and aching in sadness. "We will never be together. I'm sorry."
I reached out to hold his hand, in a pitiful attempt at comfort.
He pulled away sharply, lower lip trembling, a silent year shining from underneath his glasses, before he stepped away, disappearing into the chilling darkness.
"Don't go..." I begged.
But the shadows stayed empty.
Un-answering.
Unforgiving.