The Party

Setting up
Joey was thrown into the chaos of pre-party preparation the moment she arrived. She was whisked away to the kitchen where her sweatshirt was thrown aside and a white apron was tossed at her to be put on. The moment she finished that, four plates of small but elegant party foods were handed to her to be set out on the long buffet table.
"Straighten your bowtie!" The man in charge snapped at her. "Stand up straight."
Joey bit her lip but did as she was told. Her paycheck depended on this idiot.

Anger
Dero was pissed. He had told his parents, god knows how many times, he didn't want to go to some business executive's party. He was busy tonight. He and his friends were going to the Tower Theater to see a movie. He could've have been going to the moon for all they cared.

Party Clothes
Dero disliked his party clothes. The stylish black jacket was tight on his shoulders and his dark red shirt was itchy.

The Realm of the Wealthy
Joey sighed as she walked through the crowds, her right wrist aching from the heavily loaded serving tray loaded with various drinks.
Soft music drifted through the crowd, blending in with the idle laughter and chatter of the guests. The last rays of the setting sun illuminated the room, casting a warm glow to the atmosphere. Smartly dressed businessmen discussed politics and economics while stylishly dressed women gossiped about the latest celebrity scandal. Waiters and waitresses smoothly slipped in and out of the crowds, offering small but elegant tidbits of food and dainty glasses filled with colorful drinks.
Isn't there anybody from reality attending this party? Joey wondered.

Boredom
He sat at one of the small tables along the wall, watching the crowds. Dero's sketchbook had been confiscated in the car before they had arrived at the hotel. With no paper to sketch on, he had nothing to do but watch the guests of the party mingle and discuss trivial matters. With a sigh, he rested his cheek in his hand and prepared to lose all sense of time.

Relief
Joey refilled her empty tray for a full one and headed back out into the party. She moved along the tables, offering drinks and smiles. Her last table was a teenager, clearly bored by the trendily attired people around him.
"Care for a drink?" She asked.
He cast one glance at her and shook his head. "Unless you have a glass of sanity on that tray, no thanks."
"Sanity? Here? You must be joking." The words were out of Joey's mouth before she could bite her tongue.
The teenager chuckled much to her relief. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that." He held out his hand. "Dero."
"Joey." Joey shook his hand.

Common Ground
"You ink your own tattoos?" Joey asked interested. She was on break and sitting with Dero who appreciated the company. "I didn't think you rich kids were allowed to do that."
"Usually, we don't." Dero said shrugging. "I enjoy it and it keeps me out of trouble for the most part."
"Most part?" Joey asked raising her eyebrows.
"My parents don't agree with my choice of friends." Dero admitted. "Wrong side of the tracks."
Joey smirked. "I bet they'd be just as thrilled to discover that one of their high-class waiters was from the wrong side of the tracks." She remarked.
Dero grinned for the first time that night.

Choice
Back inside the crowd of the wealthy and privileged, Joey was accepted empty glasses. She glanced every so often at where Dero sat, bored. She traded her full tray for an empty one and made her way onto the floor again.
Dero was arguing with a middle aged man. Joey edged closer, pretending to collect unused glasses and refill empty ones as she listened.
"You will stop pretending to be a lifeless lump and join the party." The man was telling a seething Dero. "Or else you and your worthless friends will pay for it." He turned and walked in the direction of Joey.
Joey looked at Dero's face and stuck her foot out as the man passed by.

Comrades
Dero's uncle flew face first onto the wooden floor, his flailing hands grabbing the nearest tablecloth and dragging it down with him. The dainty glasses shattered on impact, half eaten food flew everywhere and the two ladies who were occupying the table's chairs jumped to their feet with a shriek.
Dero stood up as several people, including the waiter who had tripped him, rushed over to help him up. His uncle pushed them all away, assuring them that he was fine and that he had merely tripped on a chair.  
However, Dero saw the waiter wink at him before bending down to clean up the mess. Smiling, he sat down to endure the rest of the party.