This was not the first high school party that the chipper chipmunks had been to. Nor would it probably be the last, them still being juniors. Still a whole year away from graduating. Yet, there was one thing that set this party apart from the rest.
Alcohol.
Whispers and rumors spread through the attendees the day of the party, asking who was going to be bringing what. `What are you sneaking?' was a common question heard through the upperclassmen throughout the day, but all made sure that the only ones who heard it were those who wouldn't snitch. And everyone knew that the two funniest guys in the school would not be the ones to rat them out. So they were in.
Chip and Dale arrived at the party together, as always. Joined at the hip, two peas in a pod, inseparable as they always were. When they arrived by 8pm, it looked like just a normal high school party. Just juice and dancing and conversations and jokes aplenty to go around. By the time the sun was fully down and the moon high in the sky, people started pulling bottles out of backpacks and purses, sharing their drinks with those less fortunate not to have been able to sneak any in. To Chip's surprise, they wouldn't have to schmooze off of their many ``friends'', as Dale pulled a bottle of whiskey seemingly out of nowhere. As a buck-toothed grin spread across his face, he winked at his friend and mouthed ``Dad'' at him, implying that he had snagged it from his father's supply.
Chip smiled back, albeit a bit nervously. He may be one of the class clowns, but his single mother made sure he led a mostly sheltered life. The most he had ever had of alcohol would be little tastes from his mother's glass, just to know what it tasted like. Never enough to feel anything. Never enough to get anywhere close to being drunk. ``Suppose there's a first for everything, huh?'' he muttered to himself, chuckling nervously and eyeing the bottle of liquor. Chip's eyes followed as the cap was screwed off, being hastily shoved into Dale's shirt pocket. Dale lifted the bottle in a small cheer, and then quickly put his lips to the top and tipped it back, taking a swig of the strong smelling drink. Chip watched the liquid in the bottle slightly go down, and could feel his heart in his throat by the time Dale's lips disconnected from the bottle, tipping over and coughing lightly. After clearing his throat, Chip saw Dale's eyes meet his, and offered the bottle to him.
Chip steadied his shaking hand and took the bottle, looking it over. The black label against the bright honey colored liquid sloshing caused his nerves to shoot up. His free hand clasped at the bottom of the square bottle, trying to steady both it and himself so as to not drop the precious intoxicant. He nearly did anyway when he felt a gentle hand against his shoulder and his head swung around to look at his best friend. He looked concerned.
``You don't have to do this if you don't want to, okay?'' Dale squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, giving him that signature goofy smile. ``I won't think you're lame or not cool, I just wanna make sure you're okie, dokie, and all artichokie, Chippie.'' He counted off the words of the phrase on his fingers, and with each word Chip felt his shoulders ease and his nerves calm.
With new determination, Chip glared at the bottle, taking a deep breath before putting it to his lips and tilting the bottle back. The sudden intrusion of the whiskey on his tongue and down his throat was a new sensation, and mere seconds later his body reacted. He tilted over, pulling the bottle away and coughing furiously, afraid he was about to throw up. Holding back from losing his lunch, the coughing went away but left an ever present sensation of needing to clear his throat constantly. The drinking was easier the more it was done. The tickle in his throat went away the more he drank. The anxiety he had felt for as long as he remembered eased, and he understood why people become alcoholics. And most curiously, the more he drank the more he found his eyes and mind drifting to the man who had been beside him for 8 years now.
Chip had known that something in his heart and mind felt something more than just friendship for Dale. Buried, suffocating, and yearning for more, but kept under wraps for fear. Fear that it would ruin their friendship. Fear that Dale wouldn't feel the same way. Always so much fear. It didn't help that the small daring flirts that Chip dared to utter flew over the other's head. Tonight was different. The fear that was usually there was no longer a barrier. The alcohol burning in his chest burned it down. He felt his half lidded eyes land on his best friend. The room in the background blurring, unsure if it was from the toxin in his veins or simply from unadulterated love. He watched the other swagger from side to side, slurring his words and trying to make small conversation and tell jokes to anybody that came within distance of him.
As feet and legs passed them as they walked around, Dale turned to give his talking attention to Chip. His inebriated mind couldn't come up with any responses to him but Dale seemed more than content to simply flap his gums at the other. Half the bottle was gone by now, plenty enough to get them both to the point of no return. They found themselves in one of the less populated rooms, Dale nearly tripping over the threshold of the door. Chip reached out and grabbed him, saving him from his fate of slamming into the floor. As Dale looked up at his savior, he gave that signature goofy smile. Somehow, it looked even goofier than usual. His mouth opened and the scent of the whiskey on his breath filled the room as Chip finally registered something that Dale was saying.
``Has anybody ever told you just how, just how pretty you are, Chippie?''
Chip almost dropped him.
His jaw did drop.
He felt his face flush and his eyes blow wide. ``W.. What?'' It barely came out as a whisper. Chip was legitimately surprised Dale heard it over all of the other commotion and noise.
Dale steadied himself on his own feet again, standing a few centimeters above Chip. ``Y, Yeah! Anybody would be lucky to have you dude! I have the prettiest best friend ever!'' He shouted the last line, and Chip felt his social anxiety rise again as he dragged him away from the doorway. Hiding under a nearby table from prying eyes, Chip turned his attention back to the very very drunk chipmunk leaning against the wall.
``W, what do you mean, I'm pretty?'' Chip finally managed to spit out. He tried to hide his face, sure that his red face could be seen even through his thick fur. He glanced out from between his fingers and saw Dale laughing against the wall.
``I mean what I say, and I say what I mean.'' Dale grabbed Chip's wrist, pulling him a bit closer to hear his muttered words better. ``You're the prettiest boy I've ever seen, Chip.''
He wasn't sure if it was just hearing what he wanted to hear, but the way the affection dripped off of Dale's words caused Chip's breathing to halt and his back go rigid. He shook his head, trying to pull away from the red-nosed friend. ``D, Dude, you're really drunk-''
``I'm NOT-'' Dale interrupted his own thought by pushing Chip against the wall and pinning him there between his arms. He took a deep breath. ``I'm not that drunk.''
``W-We went through half a bottle of alcohol,'' Chip swallowed and sputtered out, staring into Dale's eyes.
``...Ok aaayyy, so MAYBE we're drunk.'' Dale smiled, easing Chip's mind. ``That doesn't mean I'm lying though. You're preettyyyy,'' he slurred, giggling and leaning a bit closer.
Chip was speechless. His wide blown honey-liquid colored eyes locking intensely with Dale's half lidded ocean blues. Before he knew it, the eyes were closed, and instead of eyes being locked, or lips being locked with a bottle, their lips were locked together. Chip could feel his heart beat faster, chest stopping mid breath. As the shock wore off, his own eyes fluttered to a close and he threw his arms around the other, not believing that the scenario that he'd been dreaming of for so long was actually happening now. He felt the other's weight lean into him, and he so readily accepted it. They were locked like that for what seemed like hours; hands roaming, knees knocking, tongues tangling, and light moans mingling together as they both let their hearts flame together.
Dale eventually pulled away to pant and breathe heavily, leaving a whine in Chip's mouth and his tongue dangling out of it. Dale held him close, resting his head against his shoulder. Chip let his head rest against the wall, a million thoughts swirling around his head. The thoughts slowed to a stop as he heard soft snoring coming from his shoulder. He looked down, and sure enough, his best friend fell asleep against him. He couldn't help but smile, as he slowly shifted their weight so that Dale was supported by his shoulder. Dragging him out of the party and out of the door, he used his free hand to get out his phone and call his mom to come pick them up.
Chip sat in the back with Dale as his mom gave him the lecture of a lifetime, but it just went in one ear and out the other as he stared at his best friend. He couldn't help but think just how peaceful he looked while sleeping, even if passed out and snoring like a freight train. He reached over and took Dale's hand in his, and Dale's fingers reactively curled around his own. As they pulled up to Dale's house, he gently pulled his hand away and shook his friend awake. Dale woke with a start, dazed and confused about his surroundings, but quickly realized what was happening when he looked out the window. He opened up the door and slowly slid out of the car, shooting a smile and a wave at Chip, who sheepishly gave a smile and wave back. As the car door shut and the car sped away, Chip could feel his own eyelids growing heavy and ended up falling asleep in the back of the car, the rumble of the road lulling him out.
He woke up with the worst headache he's ever experienced, and a small bucket next to his bed, thankfully unused. He groaned and glanced at his alarm clock, looking at the time. As he rolled over, memories of last night suddenly rushed into his head and he jolted upright. Ignoring the pounding in his head, he slung on some clothes and ran down the stairs to the phone. He grabbed it off the receiver and frantically dialed a number. The dial tone played, and after a few moments of ringing a voice was heard on the other end.
`` Ughhh, my head... mmmhh, hello?''
Chip nearly yelled at the sound of Dale's voice. ``Dale! U-Uhm, hi! How are you feeling this morning?''
``Hungover,'' he laughed from over the phone. ``It feels like someone beat me with a pipe. And not as a gag...''
Chip laughed nervously. ``Yeah, I can say.. Much the same.'' He twirled the cord around his fingers. ``Hey, uhm, about last night-''
``Oh man, last night was crazy!'' Dale interrupted. ``It was so much fun, everyone loved us! God, we were really drunk huh?''
``Y, yeah...'' Chip sighed. ``A, About that, how much do you remember from last night?''
``Honestly?'' Dale hesitated, and Chip could hear his breathing on the line. ``I don't remember that much. I was out of it for... a long time, probably. I don't remember anything of note, really.''
Chip's heart sank. He didn't even remember it. Did he even mean any of it? Was it just a drunken mistake? ``Ah, yeah, me neither, haha. Sure was crazy though.''
``Yeah.'' Dale's response was brief and ended soon, as he heard another groan of pain from the other end.
``Ah, we should probably just... rest for now. We can catch up later, okay Dale?''
``Sounds like a plan dude! I'm gonna go... hide under my blankets for the entire day...''
``Sounds like a plan, hehe. I'll talk to you later.''
``Yeah, bye Chippie.''
Hot tears streamed down his cheeks as he choked out a ``bye'' and put the phone back on the receiver. Chip sank to the floor and couldn't hold back the tears that came, and the thoughts of how could you ever believe that was real? And you're a real funny guy if you really think that he could ever LOVE you! filled his head. He clutched at his fur and willed the thoughts to go away, but they just wouldn?t.
It was just a drunken mistake, right?
He could never love you.
Unknowing to both of them, sharing the same thoughts. Like always.
