"No, this is not the beginning of a new chapter in my life; this is the beginning of a new book! That first book is already closed, ended, and tossed into the seas; this new book is newly opened, has just begun! Look, it is the first page! And it is a beautiful one!" 

― C. JoyBell C.   

  Even though I didn't know whether or not Zoey Graves was alive and well, I didn't know why at first I showed up at another party of Ryan Farrow's. Maybe it was to drink away my sorrows, and party like a freaking animal.

  Maybe I wanted to forget for an instant that I had never been in a time loop, never met Lawrie Odin, and never tried to save Zoey Graves. I wanted to escape this deep trail of regret and misery that was trying to follow me.

  I parked on Ryan Farrow's lawn like some others had done, and got out my car. 

  Walking up to the porch, I already did see some familiar faces. Chandler Leeds gave me a pat on the back, and handed me a beer. "What up Stints?"

  I didn't take the beer because I wanted to get my own beer, and secondly, I just didn't trust some people; anybody could do anything to a drink at a party. Even if they appeared to be the nicest person, friendliest person—it just didn't matter.

  Travis Durant who stood beside Chandler Leeds acknowledged me with a fist bump.

  Once I entered the house, I could hear a song by Big Sean blaring from the big stereo.

  A lot of people had their red solo cups out. I saw one group of guys I was acquainted with from school playing beer pong. A guy wearing a fake Red Sox jersey was trying to rap to the words of the Big Sean song like they were the shit, ignoring the boos and words like dumbass! and shit-singer! coming his way.

  I kind of laughed.

  "Isaac?"

  I turned my head to see who had said my name, and it was none other than Peyton. He didn't look too happy to see me. But I was used to the look.

  "So, what's been up with you lately?" He asked. "You broke up with Justice, and talked shit about me."

  I took a sip of my beer, and looked at Peyton for a long time. He wasn't trying to acknowledge the big-ass elephant that was standing in the room between us.

  "You know why," I simply said. "It's really not the time to actually play dumb."

  "You're an asshole."

  "Yeah, whatever. You sound like Justice." I looked behind him, and looked both ways. "Yeah, where is she by the way? Isn't she with you?"

  I took another sip of my beer, and this time I saw Peyton's lame ass punch coming my way.

  I dodged it, and delivered him an uppercut to the stomach. Some people turned their heads our way, trying to see what was going on. I shrugged off the looks and turned around and refilled my cup of beer.

  I wasn't paying attention when I left myself open, and Peyton came in with a head-butt.

  That's when things escalated into a fight quickly.

  The fight really wasn't the kind of fight where you could easily decide who won. I'm sure tomorrow I'd have a black and blue spot near my mouth.

  Everybody was hollering, and chanting fight! Fight! Fight! Like we were in school right now. But we weren't.

  I slammed Peyton against the wall, attempting to give him a couple punches in the face. But we ended up on the floor again, wrestling each other. It was very hard trying to get a punch in, and that may've had to do with my alcohol consumption.

  Eventually, the fight settled itself out when two guys grabbed me from behind; the same said for Peyton.

  He had a bloody nose.

  My right knuckle was throbbing.

  "Asshole!" Peyton yelled.

  "Go to hell!" I shot back, trying to get out of the two guys' grasp. "Let go of me!"

  Then that's when the music stopped playing. Everyone's eyes had been on Peyton and me the minute the fight had started, and they continued to be on us.

  "I'm sick of this!" I yelled. "Everybody just doesn't realize shit!"

  I saw Simon Moore among the crowd giving me the stank eye. Peyton was giving me the stank eye too.

  Everybody else looked at me like I was practically nothing. 

  "This party is stupid too! Everybody's just fake, and I can't take it anymore! A girl I care about is in the hospital right now, and I'm at this party right now fucking off! 'Cause I'm scared and feeling shitty! But why go to a party full of fake ass people?! I just don't understand!"

  "Understand what?! That you're a pussy?!" 

  I looked at Simon Moore while clenching my fist tightly. "You're the fuckin' asshole! Everybody just follows you around like you're the shit! And that's some fake-ass shit right there!"

  I looked at everybody around the room, and shook my head. "I understand now that this isn't the kind of life I want to be living! I'm through with everybody! I'm going to go and see that girl I care about, now!"

  "You're still a pussy!"

  I ignored the person who said that, and this time it wasn't Simon Moore. I kept my dignity as I walked through the crowd of people who were gawking at me. Some people moved out the way to let me get through, and others—well, some attempted to trip me, and someone almost got me too. But I still walked out of that party with a straight face, and continued to ignore the insults and snickers that came my way.

  "Do you need a ride?"

  I saw Tucker Leeds standing next to his car, and I saw Kate who was sitting in the passengers seat.

  I'm sure they didn't remember the Take Me There concert, or anything after that, 'cause of the time loop. Yet, I'm pretty sure they were still cool and nice people. 

  I smiled. "Yeah." I wasn't in the state to drive anyway.

  Getting into the backseat of Tucker's car, I took one more look at Ryan Farrow's house. 

  I was glad to be leaving it.

  Zoey Graves was all that mattered now.