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[color=35996B]“Yeah, illegal indeed! Take it from a lawyer’s son, you want to wash your hands from this mess as quickly as possible.”[/color] Declan laughed. 
[color=c1a259]“Ah, I never knew your dad was a lawyer. I guess I know who to contact next time I’m in trouble, eh? And of that roofie plot, consider it forgotten,”[/color] he said, rubbing his hands together in a mime of washing them. On Mara’s entrance, he gave Archer a smile and leaned back against the wall further. [color=c1a259]“She looks soo pissed,”[/color] he laughed. [color=c1a259]“Time to sit back and watch the fireworks.”[/color]

[color=35996B]“Nah, Mara would never start anything, at least not in public anyway, she cares way too much about graduating,”[/color] Archer said. He gave a lazy smile before straightening up, discarding his cigarette and clamping a hand on Declan’s shoulder.

[color=35996B]“Well this has been very pleasant Dekkie! We should make this a regular thing!” [/color]

[color=c1a259]“You supply the smokes and the chat and I’ll be there, Archie,”[/color] Declan smirked. He raised a hand in goodbye as the other boy turned away before matching Archer’s motion of throwing his cig away. Locking both hands behind his head, he gave a languid stretch and his back cracked satisfactorily. The smoke had left him feeling lethargic and he didn’t particularly relish the thought of going back inside to the pounding music and hordes of classmates. 

The night was a good one- the sky free of clouds and full of stars. The numbers in the carpark were thinning with Archer and Penelope’s departures and he was in no rush to follow them back into the marquee. By the entrance, Kavan and Bea stood, the smaller girl with a cigarette in hand. Declan knew them both a little- Bea from art class and Kavan from music. It had been a while since he’d chatted to either of the pair but they seemed to be having a moment together that he was probably better off not interrupting. 

His gaze dragged out further to where Santiago stood. He seemed to have a revolving door of girls, as another joined him just as Penelope left. The newcomer was unfamiliar, but the distance between them was too close for the two to be just friends. Declan didn’t rate her chances. Santiago seemed to have more than enough girls around him already.

His pocket rattled, and the soothing tunes of his ringtone emanated from his phone. Fishing it out, Declan saw the name of one of his friends from the music scene. He hit the answer button and put it to his ear.

[color=f8ffaf]”Aaay, my boy Dekkie! Where you at? Queens is [i]popping[/i] right now- they’ve got this new DJ and he’s been playing bangers all night! You gotta be here!”[/color] Declan sighed.

[color=c1a259]“Max, you dope. I told you yesterday about this homecoming deal. I’m not getting out of here any time soon with my grades intact. No matter how ‘popping’ the club is.”[/color] Max sounded vaguely drunk. He snorted derisively, but his words were more light-hearted teasing than mean-spirited.

[color=f8ffaf]“Yeah, cause you’ve always been big on those A grades, eh Declan? If you change your mind, we’re staying till close man. Have fun drinking punch and slow dancing with your school-assigned date.” [/color]

[color=c1a259]“I’ll see you round Max.”[/color]

[color=f8ffaf]“See you round, Dekkie.”[/color]

The phone fell silent as Declan hung up. For a moment he stared longingly at his van parked across the street, feeling awful tempted to take the keys from his pocket and leave a strip of rubber and a squeal of tyres. But his better judgement prevailed. His dad would be mighty pissed if he showed up at Declan’s graduation and Declan didn’t walk. Plus, he couldn’t just dog Penelope like that. 

With another exaggerated sigh, he spun on his heel and trudged back into the flashing lights and loud music of the dance.