Find You in the Dark

Rachel.
    “What the hell is that bitch's problem?” Kylie growled. My back stiffened. Yeah, Rachel was a little out of line, but no one could call my best friend a bitch but me. “Watch your mouth, Kylie, don't say shit about her like that.” My voice was hard and I gave the smaller junior girl a look of steel. Kylie shrank a bit under my stare.
    I turned to Daniel. “Danny, can I talk to you a moment?” I looked pointedly at Kylie. “Alone, please.” Kylie's face turned red again. It seemed to be her natural coloring tonight. She let out a dramatic harrumph and stomped off. Kylie wouldn't be joining the Maggie Young fan club anytime soon, that's for sure.
    Daniel rubbed his hand across his face. “Seriously, Mags? I'm gonna get so much flack for this. I really didn't need all of this drama. I thought you girls were cooler than that.” Daniel's shoulders sagged and for a moment I felt bad for him. He was my friend and I loved him. “Sorry Danny, but Kylie kind of grates on my nerves.” I sat beside him on a large boulder along the edge of the bonfire.
    “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.”