"I didn't think you were gonna make it, Isaac," Micah Fisher said with a massive, lopsided grin as his body swayed, fighting against gravity to stay vertical. Behind him, a house stood; chaos engulfed it. Music blasted out, shattering the quietness of the neighbourhood and lights blared. Even from the garden gate, I could feel the heavy bass of the music.

Cars swamped the curb, and bright lights flickered from the windows as teenagers staggered through the garden. It looked a half-hour away from the police being called.

"Wouldn't miss it," I said, forcing a smile. This was my kind of scene. Half naked girls stumbling out of the doorway,...