It was a risk even being here. I took another sip from the cup; the beer tasted great. I looked around at the other party goers, all types.
"Ur looking fine," Julia whispered as she bumped into me and felt my chest through my shirt.
"Uh, thanks," I replied.
She finished what remained of her drink and rested her head on my shoulder. "Why aren't all guys like you? You know--fit."
I felt my cheeks flush a little. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just lucky." In truth it was a lot of effort, time spent in the gym and training with the rest of the team.
She grinned. "You're a good guy," she mumbled, kissing me on the cheek. "I need another drink," she added and headed to the kitchen.
I watched her, admiring her booty, tight and round in those jeans.
My cup was almost empty. Even though I'd been here for a few hours this was still my first. The coach had threatened the team, saying if he'd found anyone partying they'd be cut from the team the rest of the season. Through the crowds I spotted Jackson--our old running back, he'd been cut from the team for drinking at a BBQ. That was harsh, and freaked everyone out because he was the fastest we had. He'd begged the coach to let him return, but he was flatly refused. After that he dropped out of school, some say he'd killed himself.
I wanted to be a good player, work hard for the school and my team but I didn't like being told what to do. Maybe that's why I was here, just because coach had told me I couldn't--stupid, I was beginning to regret even coming.
Somebody bumped into me, a tall guy. I recognised him from the basketball team--Richards. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "I thought your coach had banned all partying for you guys?"
I stared at him. "He said something about that," I muttered. "But a man's got to live a little right?"
"Too right bro'," he said with a laugh and punched my arm.
"Even so, you never saw me right?" I said in a low voice. He winked and headed back into the crowd.
I finished my drink, yet I was still thirsty, so I headed for the kitchen. Many faces I recognised, many too drunk to even register who I was, even though I towered above them.
Picking through the many bottles strewn across the tables, I thought about coaches words again. This was my last year, I was risking a lot. Then his voice rung in my ears and reached for a soda.
Through the noise I could hear shouting, Richards ran into the kitchen. "Fuck the cops are at the door."
"What?" I yelled at him as he pushed past me.
"They're checking all the people at the party, drugs or something. Shit I don't want to be caught--not here," he said and dived out the back door. I thought about coaches words and was about to follow him when I heard him shouting; pleading his innocence.
There were people running all over the place, all the exits and windows crammed with drunken students. There was no way out. I could hear coaches words, my position on the team and maybe my professional career slipping away.
I was already panicking, my heart was pumping like I was on the field. I turned a corner and spotted Jacob, a player from the Junior Varsity team sitting with a friend. He looked up at me, his eye wide. "What's going on?"
Grinning, I grabbed him by his vest and pulled him up the stairs. "The cops are here, you're going to help me get out of here!"
"How am I going to do that?" he complained stumbling up the stairs. I said nothing just kept pushing him.
At the top I pushed him towards a door. "Start looking for a way out, through a window or something. Anything!" He blinked nervously and headed through a door.
I started to look for an exit myself, in another bedroom I looked for a window, hoping for a way to escape. I leaned on the sill and peered out; it was a twenty foot drop, I'd break something if I tried to jump. Then I felt a pinch at the base of my neck, "What the hell?" I tried to move, but my hands were locked; still grasped to the sill. The pinch sensation turned to a burning line that breached my shoulders and then streaked down my back. I shuddered and let out a groan and tumbled backwards.
---
I heard my name. "Devin, Devin." Then somebody shook me. "Wake up!"
Groaning I opened my eyes and saw Julia kneeling over me. "Where am I?" I pulled myself up, looking around the room. It was the bedroom Jackson had called me into.
"You're still at the party, but everyone's gone now," she told me.
There was little light coming from the window, only lamps from outside. "How long have I been here?" I asked struggling to my feet.
"Well, I saw you about three hours ago--downstairs. The police turned up and the place went crazy."
"Three hours?" I stammered. "I've been out for three hours!"
"I don't know, I just found you here. They asked me to come back and help tidy the place up."
I remembered the burning across my back and felt a tightness. I reached back and felt the back of my neck and shoulders; there was nothing.
"I got to go home, I shouldn't be here if coach finds out I'm off the team." I headed for the door, staggering and bouncing off its frame.
"Are you going to be OK?" Julia asked.
"Yeah, I'll just shake it off," I muttered.
I made it home, but my body ached--all cramped up, like I'd been working out for a whole day. All my energy was sapped away, so I just pulled on some sleepwear and hit the sack.
---
Sensing light and I took a breath. My head felt like a swarm of bees; rushing, buzzing and tied in knots. I felt myself sliding and my eyes snapped open. I was sliding down the wall! I quickly grabbed at the wall and steadied myself.
How did I get out of bed? What was I doing here at the window? I rubbed my head, it felt like my skull was just too small.
A shower might help, I told myself, but it didn't. My whole body felt tight, right through my muscles to my core. I tried to flex; to warm up my muscles but was shocked to see my pictorials spasm. I relaxed again and tried to remember the name of that masseuse I'd used before.
I dried off and checked my schedule while I pulled on a t-shirt and jeans. Sunday, nothing planned. I thought about the sauna at the gym, that might easy the tightness in my body.
Grabbing my gym bag I locked up and sat in my car for a while looking at my reflection in the rear-view. What the fuck happened last night?
I was trying to remember when a spasm ripped through my body. It started in my feet, and rose like a wave up my torso. My whole body tightened and stiffened, I couldn't move as my back arched by itself, my eyes flicked towards the mirror again, beads of sweat dripped from my brow. The shirt I was wearing was tight across my inflated chest.
The sensation I'd felt earlier where my head felt too small now covered my whole body. My 6'5" 200lbs body felt too small! I felt myself starting to writhe in my seat; twisting and pushing inside, I looked at my reflection again and lost consciousness again.
End of Part 1, read Part 2
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