Topic ideas:
.greek myth modernized
.small town happenings
.A DRUNKEN NIGHT
.a journey in a foreign land
Rodney and Alison walk hand in hand down the same road that they always wander past, the familiarity of the routine is comforting, but at they same time both are starting to get bored and not just with the road, but with each other. They are both staring off into space, in two different worlds thinking completely different thoughts. Alison is thinking of how much she misses summer, how carefree it is, unlike now with the pressure of finals. She feels like one bad decision could leave her in shambles. She can't afford to make any mistakes. She has pushed herself so hard to be a doctor, it's been her one and only goal all of her life it seems, but the future seems so uncertain to her now because she's not getting answers. She had never been in a truly serious relationship before because she knew what a distraction it would be. It wasn't planned, but somewhere along the line she fell in love with Rodney. She fell in love with his silly half grin, and the way he got before telling her about his half-baked, wacky ideas. She knew she was a goner when she couldn't stop thinking about the next time she could kiss him, when it consumed her thoughts so much that she didn't hear the professors lectures anymore and they started to ask her in a concerned manner if everything was okay. This went on for some time, years even, and she went from being the top of her class to averaging C's. She sort of resented Rodney for that because she knew she could never go back, and now he was drifting away. None of her plans seemed to be going her way anymore. Now she feels like she needs to pressure Rodney into telling her where he sees the relationship going. She wants to get married, but does he? Is he as committed to the relationship as she is? She's given up everything to make it work between them and is starting to wonder how much he can really give her. While Rodney contimplates feelings of indiciveness, feeling lost, and like he doesn't belong here. He feels like he's doing what everyone else wants him to do and because of that he doesn't know what he wants anymore. But none of that matters as the snow gently falls on their hats and coats. The snow makes them smile because it brings them back to freshman year of college. Rodney glances down at Alison and she looks up at him, he towers over her by at least two feet, and at that moment they know they are thinking the same thought. That's the good thing about being with someone for such a long time, you can hear what the other person is saying without them saying a word. They begin enjoying themselves until they hear the muffled sound of Rodney's phone ringing. He doesn't intend to answer it, he already knows who it's going to be. "Come on, just answer it." Alison urges. Resistance is futile he realizes, Alison is too stubborn, he never wins with her, and so though annoyed, he answers. "Hey man, what's up?" It's who he thought it was, Eliot, his best friend from high school. Eliot calls every weekend to ask the same thing if Rodney wants to party. Eliot doesn't seem to get that Rodney has moved on, Eliot wants to re-live high school and hasn't really matured since then. Eliot is slow to respond. "Dudeee, major party tonight, are you coming or are you gonna be a pussy like always?" It's offical, Eliot is baked like a cake. That's no surprise. What is a surprise is that he hasn't been kicked out school yet, somehow he still hasn't fried his brains and manages to get a B average. "Maybe dude, I'll see what I can do." is Rodney's typical response which he uses yet again. This time he's really considering going because he doesn't want to have a typical Friday night, he wants to forget his problems for a night. Eliot seems sobered up a bit as he says "Alright man, just don't forget to ask permission from your mom, you might get grounded." he says refering to Alison who he has never liked. The first time they met he could sense that she was judging him which he hated and so he was rude to her to "teach her a lesson". Which cases Rodney to lash back in anger, "You know what? Maybe I will come!" You can hear Eliot's approval as he says "Good. I think it would be good for you. You're so serious all the time. Me casa, be there at ocho, I want to talk to you." At this point Rodney hangs up on Eliot. Alison rolls her eyes, "Let me guess, that was Eliot and he wants to partayyy?" "Yeah and I think I'm going to go." Rodney says still angry. "You can't be serious." Alison says in shock. "Why not? You don't approve? I'm a big boy." Rodney vents. "Well you're certainly not acting like it. I'm going home. Call me when you're done having a tantrum." Alison says before she starts to walk away. At this point Rodney would usually chase after her appologizing, but he is too heated. He needs to let off a little steam. He punches a brick wall which causes his knuckles to bleed. Alison looks back in anticipation of seeing Rodney, but he's no where to be found. Her feelings are hurt, but she has to much pride to admit it, she walks even faster back to her apartment. When she gets back she tells her roommate and best friend Amanda everything. Amanda nodds her head simpathetically at all the right points while secretly thinking that Rodney isn't good enough for Alison. "Come on honey, let's get you all dolled up, we're going to have a girls night!" Amanda says with as much enthusiam as she can muster. Alison is reluctant. "I don't know. I don't really feel up for a night on the town. What if he calls? I want to be here." "You can't keep waiting around for him. You deserve a little fun." "Oh alright, I suppose one night of fun won't hurt." Rodney decided roaming around campus would be the best thing to do at the time being. The cold didn't bother him, his anger was like his own personal heater. After a while he was able to stop thinking and just observe his surroundings. The snow covered rooftops, the kids making snowmen and building snowforts, the frost on the store windows. He loves this time of year because the cool air always keeps him awake and full of energy. The walk almost lifts his spirits, but then he sees the liquor store and realizes that it's almost time to go to the party. Rodney casually drops into the store to pick up some cheap vodka, he's sure that it will be needed. Rodney recognizes the store clerk and laughs to himself because this is the same guy he used to show his fake id to in high school, they were acquanances until he quit the party scene. Ted squints at Rodney for a few moments trying to gather where he knows him from and then it hits him. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes. Rodney, my boy, how have ya been holding up?" "Just fine sir, and yourself?" he says as he fishes for his id. As he's about to place the id on the counter Ted lets out a hardy chuckle. "You've been 21 for how many years? Do you really think that I need to see your id?" Rodney laughs back. "I guess not. So how could you tell that I wasn't 21 back then. I thought I was pretty convincing." "Oh you were I recall, it was that Eliot character you were always hanging around that gave you away. If you were to come in by yourself I never would have guessed, you sure looked 21. I mean you were tall enough and had a goatee. I'm sure it helped with the ladies too." "Haha, I guess so. Listen man, it was good catching up with you, but I should get going." "I suppose so, you party animal you. Have fun!" "Just not too much" Ted adds as Rodney walks out the door. "Oh I will. You have no idea." Rodney mutters to himself in a somewhat dark manner.
On his walk to Eliot's, Rodney makes the executive decision to get the party started early, he opens one of the bottles of smirnoff. Rodney grimaces at his first few chugs of the vodka, he's never liked the taste as much as beer or rum, but right now the taste doesn't really matter to him. With half a bottle gone Rodney isn't even tipsy, it appears his reputation for being able to hold his liquor proceeds him. Rodney pauses at Eliot's door step, does he really want to do this? "What have I got to lose?" he figures, as he's about to knock on the door Eliot opens it, he must have seen Rodney standing out there. "Come here" Eliot slurs before giving Rodney a bear hug. "It's good to see you! What have you been doing with yourself lately? Actually forget that I asked, I already know, but it is good to see you." Rodney knew it was a good idea to start drinking before he came here, same old Eliot, just with more facial hair. Rodney judges the best thing to do at this point would be to crack a joke and so the first thing that comes out of his mouth is "I would saw the same thing, but I can't even see you under all that beard." Eliot roars with laughter even though the joke wasn't very good. Rodney shrugs, "I guess things just seem funnier when you're drunk." he thinks to himself. After his laughter ceases in a way that is more matter of fact than cocky he says "I know, isn't it great?" still beaming he motions for Rodney to come in, even though he has already stepped inside. Not sure what to say Rodney just says "Sure. So listen, I got some Smirnoff, I figured it'd be a good mixer. You have pop right?" "No man, actually I'm all out. I'm pretty much tapped out of alcohol too. Would you mind running that errand with me? It'll be like the good ol' days, we can even chat up Ted, he still works at the same place you know. He's a pretty cool guy, for an old geezer I mean." "Yeah, I actually ran into him earlier, but I wouldn't mind seeing him again. And you wish you could be as cool as him when you get that age." Eliot nodds, "I do, I do."
"Haha, that guy is too much." Eliot declares in between chugs of whiskey. Rodney couldn't agree more. Ted had gone home early and his snotty nephew Daniel was left in charge. The whole time Eliot and Rodney were in the store, Daniel stood there eyeballing them as if they were going to steal something. Even as Eliot fished for his wallet Daniel stared at him with obvious disdain. "I almost felt like stealing something just to shove it in his face. We obviously weren't going to, we've been good customers there for years, and it's not like he didn't recognize us." says Rodney started to get worked up. "I know. You should have, it would have been priceless. Then again he would call the cops on you in a blink of an eye." "This is true, but to tell you the truth I don't think I would have cared all that much if I did." "You would care! You know I'm right!" Eliot says obnoxiously. "Okay then. I'm just going to take that bottle from you. Sharing is caring and you've had quite a bit." "It's not too much unless you're passed out. Drink tell you drop I always say." and then he accidentally spills a good amount on his black and red ecko hoodie. "See, you're wasting it." Rodney punches his arm and then grabs the bottle. Eliot swings back, but Rodney ducks. "You can't touch this." retorts Rodney in a cocky manner. "Oh yeah?" replies Eliot with a raised eye brow. "Watch me." and then Eliot plows Rodney into a snow bank. Rodney works his way out of the snow slowly, dusting it off for a good five minutes. "Not cool." At this point Eliot is on the ground in a fit of laugther. In between gasps Eliot says "Ohh that was too funny." he laughs again. "Kind of like this?" responds Rodney before throwing a snowball at his face. Eliot doesn't even care, he shrugs and says "Yeah, kinda like that." With that in a team effort they then pick up the bags filled to the brim with alcohol and head back to Eliot's place. When they get inside they see that people have already arrived. Sidney and Bob are on the sofa and appear to be in the middle of a deep philosophical discussion, when really they're just stoned. A few other people are strewn about the house doing various things. The stereo is blasting some weird techno beats. Rodney forgot that Eliot never locks his door and that he draws in a strange and interesting crowd. Eliot seems to recognize the song as he bounces up and down "Yeah, that's my jam!" "Hey!" everybody in the room shouts in unison, they are just noticing Eliot and Rodney's arrival. "Awesome, the liquor's here. Did you get anything good?" a girl with bleach blond hair showing way to much skin asks as she tries to peek into the bag. "I sure did sexy. Let me just put in down over here and then you can dig in." he motions to the floor next to the fridge. HE makes no attempt to hide his glaze as he stares at her ass when she's bending over. Rodney just smiles and shakes his head at Eliot's behavior. And then he sees her, his ex Sarah. She looks better than ever and she isn't even trying. Her skin has a golden glow, her lips are a natural berry color, and her eyes seem to be twinkling. Rodney never really got over Sarah who was his high school sweetheart. Sarah broke up with Rodney when she found out that she got accepted to UCLA. She said that she didn't want to get in the way of him wanting to be with someone else which might happen because of the distance, he knew that she really meant in case she found someone else. She seemed to look quite happy with that guys arms around her. He looked like a dumb jock. He was even taller than Rodney and was built, Rodney could tell this of course because the guy had on a tight white tee shirt. Rodney couldn't help but judge the guy in ten seconds flat and he hadn't even been introduced to him yet, then again he hadn't spoken to Sarah yet either. Rodney thought it would be best to avoid her as long as possible so he made his way up the stairs.
Alison spend a good two hours getting ready, she tried on all the clothes in her closet, but didn't see anything she wanted to wear. "All of my clothes are so boring. The only cute thing I have is that silver shirt with no back, but Rodney gave it to me, so I don't feel like wearing that right now." Alison looks at Amanda expectantly. Amanda seems to look reluctant before saying "Okay, I give in you can take a look in my closest to see if you can find something." Amanda stutters at the thought of all of her ruined designer clothes that she has let Alison borrow, but she knows that Alison could use some cheering up and so she lets her. Alison looks uplifted when Amanda agrees to let her scrounge through her closet. "Great, I love all of your clothes." "I know you do sweetie." Alison settles on a red dress that laces up in the back. "Now for your hair and make-up, do you want me to do it for you?" Amanda asks even though she already knows that answer. "Sure!" says Alison. Amanda straightens Alison's hair and gives her smokey eyes with tons of mascara. Amanda has mastered this look after countless nights of partying and clubbing. Amanda never leaves the house unless she looks perfect. Right now she has an edgy cut with her hair dyed auburn and she gave herself cat eyes and a little bit of lip gloss. Amanda did Alison's hair and makeup more intricately because she wanted to make her feel like she was getting special treatment, which she was. "All done. I really love the highlights in your hair by the way." "Thanks." Alison beams, "I think I'm ready."
All of the alcohol that Rodney consumed first effected his bladder, he headed to the bathroom, luckily there wasn't much of a line, one person waiting patiently. The kid must have been about 13, Rodney wanted to tell him to go home and go to bed. Rodney waited about ten minutes before pounding on the door. "Open up. I've really got to piss." he pressed his ear against the door and heard a grown and then the sound he was certain was someone throwing up. "Ugg, great, a sick person. Guess who's going to have to clean in up... wait, not me. I'll just make this kid get a mop." Rodney thought he was just thinking it, but he must have said it out loud. The kid shrugged and headed downstairs. Rodney opened the door slowly, inside was another ex of his, Alex. She had once been a beautiful and spunky redhead, but now she looked completely different.
