“Thanks for the Distraction Grove man! You took one for the team!”

“Oh no I left my backpack at Wesley’s.” Grover groaned and shivered his clothes still soaking wet.

 

 ----------------------------------

 

Back at Lachance’s….

 

“Hey what the fuck do you think you’re doing! Hey you! stop those fuckers!” Wesley yelled at Roger and Grover as Marquis and Georgie ran towards them and passed the pool towards the driveway. Georgie took a sharp left and clumsily hopped over a fence. Roger, drunk and excited Ran toward Marquis eager to help him. Boom! Marquis lowered his shoulder to plow Roger out of the way. “Sorry bro. You were in my way.” he whispered as they continued to run out of the yard. 

Wesley in pursuit grabbed the basketball and chucked it toward Marquis with all his might. The ball flew through the air and blasted Grover right in the face. Dazed and extremely confused Grover sputtered around for a bit then back-stepped straight into the pool and sank like a stone. 

 

He saw the lights from the backyard above him as he started to sink lower and lower into the pool. He hadn’t even moved his legs and arms even though he knew how to swim. Grover wasn’t thinking at all. Everything had happened so fast and he couldn’t process any of it. He started to need oxygen. The pain on his head started getting worse and worse. Splash! A shirtless figure grabbed the chubby little teenager and swam him to the edge of the pool.

 

The whole party turned their attention to Grover and away from the two masked men as he fell into the pool and didn’t come back up. “Shit, does he know how to swim?” some guy asked

“Somebody do something! Wesley save him! Oh My god!!” yelled Katie.

Wesley who had had his attention on the jersey thieves roared in frustration and ran toward the pool and dove in with perfect form.

 

 

“Dammit Porky. I would have beat those fuckers up if it weren’t for you.” Wesley said when they were back on the grass.

“Alright! Everybody clear out!”

“HEY! He yelled and then whistled. “Party’s over. Everybody scram.” The partygoers started to grab their things and leave the residence gossiping to one another as they heard voices from the neighbors next door. 

“Alright boys. Everyone in my dad’s car. We’re going after those punks!.” Wesley commanded. Derek, Jonathon, and Kyle all stood up in unison and marched towards Wesley’s dad’s Jeep.

“Hey Bender” Wesley called to Danny. “You coming or what?”

“Na, I gotta head back home Wes. I’ve got family stuff early tomorrow.”

“Alright Bender. But I won’t forget this. Second time this week you’ve blown me off.”

“Nice try Germany.” Derek said and dapped Roger up.

“Yeah Germany. He knocked your ass down. But, I admire the loyalty.” Wesley said as he patted Rogers back.

“I don’t know why you’re always hang out with Porky here. You’re a cool guy.”

“Yeah Germany’s sweet!” Yelled Jonathon.

“You should have seen him shotgun that beer.” Kyle chimed in.

“Goodbye Wesley! I know you’ll get those two thieves. Text me when you do!” Yelled Katie.

Wesley looked over at Katie confused. “Uh.. yeah sure. Seeya.”

“Alright boys! Everybody in!”

 

Roger and Georgie quickly walked down the street as everyone dispersed around them. “Grover, are you okay, You’re so wet!

“Yeah I’m fine.” Grover said shivering as he started to process things normally again.

“Holy shit! What the fuck just happened?” Roger said. “I can’t believe they got away.”

“And you’re fine! I didn’t think you were gonna come up for a second.” 

Roger got a call form Georgie and they found the two older kids in Georgie’s car on the next street over. As they drove away Grover noticed a tall kid from the party walking back home. Danny Bender and him made eye contact. Danny’s expression unchanging as he noticed who was in the front seat. “Shit they’re right behind us!” Georgie yelled…

 

-------------------------------------------------

 

“Wow, that’s one hell of a story.” Sean said as Marquis had recounted the nights events. 

 

Marquis, Roger, and Georgie were all seated on Sean couched while watching Rick and Morty.

 

“Wow this show is great! Said Roger. That kid’s grandpa is hilarious. He’s such an asshole but it doesn’t matter cuz he’s a genius.”

“Yeah that hipsta is the real deal. I’m gonna be a rich inventor if my rapping career never pans out.” Said Marquis

“Hell. Might as well do both.”

“You can rap too? Show me?” Requested roger

Marquis started rapping along to rick and Morty.

 

Georgie sat staring at his drink. He was quiet, deep in thought. Georgie was not usually one for introspection, yet something about the night felt off to him. Usually he loved fun and adventures like this so he couldn’t really understand why he was feeling this way. He loved entertaining and helping people and he thought getting Grover back his jersey would make him feel better. Or important in some way. But Grover didn’t even care about the jersey he just let Marquis have it. The whole thing wasn’t even about Grover, it was about him Georgie. He had invented this whole idea in his head. The idea that this kid was bullying Grover and stole his prized possession, but it wasn’t like that. Really some assholes in their late twenties crashed some 15 year olds house party and made a fool out of themselves. It was embarrassing to be chased and hated by those kids. The girls there screamed when they saw them; He wasn’t helping anyone he was just terrorizing the neighborhood. He just couldn’t stand being home, at his place anymore. He had to do anything to get out. To feel some sort of thrill. He had no hobbies outside of work none. All he did was smoke weed with Marquis, obsess over crypto, and go various parties with his friends and distract himself in some way. Before he dropped out of college he would organize art parties and write murder mysteries with his friend. It didn’t matter if they lead to anything or were able to get paid for their stuff. It just made him feel like he was accomplishing some tangible thing. He had all sorts of friends who did amazing things with their time. Friends who went to medical school. He knew a semi-successful artist in New York. Even Marquis wrote and recorded his own music. I guess he knew how to have a good time and bring happiness to people. But he couldn’t figure out what else he had to offer. Maybe it was no good to get into these things. Better to just roll with the punches.

 

“Batman: The Dark Knight returns” Grover read aloud as he held Sean’s book.

“Yeah, that’s probably the best Batman comic. Bruce Wayne goes back into fighting after being retired. He even fights Superman”

“Superman?” questioned Grover. “But Superman is a hero? Why would two hero’s fight each other.”

“Well the book goes over that. Anyways, heroes aren’t always perfect. They’re human. Every human has the capacity for darkness.”

“I don’t think Superman is a human. Is he?”

“Haha, you’re right. He’s an alien from another planet. But even superman had to make choices and face the consequences of his actions. But superman is kind of boring because he’s so good.”

“Yeah, I’ve always preferred Batman. His villains are the best.” Said Grover. “But Batman never does anything evil? Why would he go bad?”

“Every person has their breaking point. Once they get pushed over the edge it’s a dark slippery slope.”

“Marquis was kind of the villain tonight. But I wanted him to win in the end.”

“Haha. Even villains can have noble causes. Like rescuing a boy’s stolen jersey.”

“Wanna borrow the book?.”

“Yeah thanks. I promise not to lose it.”

“Here why don’t you change out of those wet clothes. Charlottes going to be here soon.”

“Put on these.”