Lost Boy Tootles

Hey guys. I just gave this a re-read. I think I’d write it differently today, but I still like it. Anyway, presented in original format, I wish to have feedback. Story time.

Hallow’s Eve

It was dark by the time they arrived. The windows were dimly lit and vague figures played against the panes. Music crept reluctantly from beneath the door, sagging in cobwebs and spiders. Evelyn knocked. It opened quickly, and a woman with blood dripping from her mouth stood leering at them.
‘Hi Jules.’
She began gasping and reached for Evelyn, grabbing his t-shirt. He kissed her.
‘Hey! Fuck off!’
He laughed. ‘Happy Halloween.’
Evelyn, Daniel and Bernard followed Jules inside. A group of people were chatting beside a table covered in bottles. Cobwebs were strung from the fans, arcing across to lamps or chairs. A coffin was propped against the wall, and it read ‘Here lies Billy Balwyn, killed in moste evil fashion, said to seek his revenge on Hallow’s eve. TONIGHT HE RISES.’

Evelyn and Daniel walked with Jules into the kitchen. Evelyn gave Bernard a wink before leaving the room. He smiled, and walked over to an armchair in the corner of the room.
Inside the house the music throbbed. Some of the chatting group broke away and started dancing sluggishly. Bernard picked at his fingernails. A girl wandered over to him, spilling white wine on the carpet.
‘Hey, what are you doing here on your own? I’m Addie by the way.’
‘I suppose I’m not feeling the best. Bernard.’
‘Oh, really? That’s no good! Here, want a drink?’
He politely refused, and she stumbled back to dance and throw looks in his direction. Daniel came back from the kitchen carrying a beer. Bernard looked at him. Daniel’s shoulder blades were visible through his t-shirt, which Bernard had picked out for him. He smiled to himself.

The dancers continued to dance, the drinkers continued to drink and the music gave the house a pulse. Bernard rose after a time and walked towards Daniel.
‘Hey man. How’s it going?’
‘Yeah fine. What’re you doing over there?’
I dunno. I guess I’m feeling kinda shit. You wanna go outside for a smoke?’
‘Oh, look you go. I might be out in a minute’.
He rolled himself a cigarette in silence, kneeling at a coffee table. He pushed through a few people chatting in the doorway and sat on the landing, closing the door behind him. He sparked his lighter, but the breeze blew out the flame. He tried again.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake.’
On the fourth go he managed to get it lit. A gum tree rustled it’s disapproval.
The smoke lingered longer than it ought to have done. Bernard took long drags on his cigarette, holding the tar in his belly until it grew uncomfortable. It whispered through his lips. Whenever he got like this part of his mind imagined that if he smoked like he had a joint, he would somehow get high. Bernard threw his head around and looked in one of the windows. Daniel sat on the couch he had just left, laughing with Addie. Wow, really bitch? Trying to chat up Daniel? Since when do you even hang out with us?
He sat, and after a while the door opened. Evelyn was with Daniel and Addie. All three had alcohol in their hands.
‘Hey Bern! What the fuck are you doing out here? Everyone’s inside ya dick.’
Bernard chewed his bottom lip.
‘I thought I’d take a moment to myself, Evelyn. I’m not feeling overly sociable tonight. But please, you’re more than welcome to join me.’ 
They sat, lit cigarettes and drank. Their laughter was intensified by the small enclosure of the landing. Evelyn winked at Bernard and asked if he wanted some of his beer. His shirt had a few brown patches where his drink had spilled. Bernard finished the beer in one and went inside.

There were several half-full bottles of spirits on the table. Bernard helped himself to a scotch, tipping the yellow spirit into a glass. He wished he thought it looked the colour of honey. It was closer to piss. He had another. Evelyn and ‘Daddie’ stumbled inside, all holding hands. Evelyn had half a cigarette hanging from his lips. ‘Evelyn, are you aware that your cigarette is unfinished? I think it’d be a poor repayment to our gracious host to be smoking it inside.’
He scowled slowly.
‘Fuck off, Bern. Just cause you’re in a shit mood. Can’t ever fuckin’ relax, can ya?’
He grinned.
‘Not like you, eh Dan? Come here, ya fuck!’
Evelyn launched himself at Daniel, who took the impact right on his chest. He tumbled to the carpet with a great ‘ooof’ and a laugh. They began to wrestle. Bernard couldn’t keep the sneer off his face. He poured himself a third scotch and rolled another cigarette. He skulled the scotch and lit the cigarette. Other members of the party began to laugh at Daniel and Evelyn. They rolled around the room, sometimes engaging a third or fourth party for a few unenthusiastic moments, sometimes locking horns in the centre of the room, always commanding attention.
‘Hey Bern, who’s scotch ya drinkin?’
‘Fuckin shut up, Evelyn!’
Bernard’s speech was slurred. He refused to look at his two friends, and was taking shaky drags. In his peripherals he saw them take one another’s hands, and saw Evelyn put his left hand around Daniel’s waist. They waltzed to the music of their own fists. They spun the circumference of the room again and again. The other guests looked on solemnly. Evelyn’s hand was on the small of Daniel’s back, and began to draw their hips closer together, until they touched.

Bernard stood up. He looked at Evelyn and Daniel. They rolled on the floor, punching and kicking at one another. The others laughed casually or ignored them. Evelyn got on top of Daniel, sitting on his chest.
‘Get the fuck off him, Evelyn! Get the fuck off him now!’
Evelyn glanced over at Bernard, and gave him a wink.
Bernard ran. He struck Evelyn square on the jaw. Somebody swore.
‘What the fuck Evelyn, you’re fucking hurting him!’
He looked down at Daniel. He seemed shocked. Bernard’s limbs were on fire, his fists bunched so his nails cut into his palm.
‘Fuck, Bern.’ Said Daniel. ‘You just hit Ev.’
He laughed.

Bernard kicked him across his face. The snap of his nose encouraged him. He hit Daniel on the jaw, and kept hitting him. He kicked him in the temple. He brought his heel down on one of Daniel’s eye sockets. It was only after Daniel had stopped moving that Bernard thought to stop. The room was silent. Bernard took a deep breath. His hands were covered in blood and mucus. He lent down and put his ear to the heart of his friend. He heard nothing.