House Party

Lara    

 “Girl what’s your address.  I’ll come over and get ready at your place” Shantel said over my speaker phone.  “Geez, it’s just a backyard party, there’s no need to go over the top” I said.  “Hey, I never go out, so I’d like to look my best” Shantel replied.  “Seriously” I asked exasperated.  “Yes, it’s been a while and I’m single so I’d like to look at least decent.  Come on, I live in scrubs, so why not dress up” she replied in a whinny way. I chuckled and said, “alright, alright.  I’ll drop a location pin for you.  Come over. We’ll get ready together.”  “Great” she replied, then we hung.  30 minutes later, I was still just lounging around listening to an audiobook and playing on my phone.  Basically, doing a whole bunch of nothing.  That’s when I heard a knock on my door.  I got up, walked over to the door and opened it.  As the door was being open I her Shantel’s voice saying, “I’m here” in a singy songy way.  I smiled and said, “come on in,” then I stepped back.  As I was closing the door, I asked “would you like a drink.  I don’t drink alcohol, but I have water, soda, or juice?”  Shantel looked at me, a little confused.  “You don’t drink alcohol” she asked.  I shook my head side to side and said, “nope.  I’ve tried it, but it’s not something I need.”  “Oh. OK, I’ll have water” she answered.  I walked over to the refrigerator and took out a little bottled water and gave it to her.  “So, who’s party are we going to” she asked, as she twisted open the bottle cap.  “A friend” I said.  “What kind of friend” she asked.  I glanced at her and said, “Just a friend.  I knew him from when I lived here before.”  Well, I thought about it and then added, “sort of.”  “What does that mean” she asked.  “We have mutual friends.  I met him again when I was having dinner with one of our mutual friends, Eliza” I answered.  “Ah, well that was nice of him to invite you and bring a plus one” she said with a smirk on her lips.  I laughed at that.  “Can you tell me a little about him then.  What’s his name” she asked.  I thought about it for a bit, I don’t really know much about him.  “His name is Orion. He is a little younger than me.  He works on cars.  That’s pretty much all I know.  We never hung out before. At that time, I was dating his friend and Orion was never around when I was around.  He would be leaving as I was just arriving at a house gathering or dinner or something like that. So, there were not many chances to talk to him.  But then again, I was dating his friend at that time, so I didn’t talk to any friends.  However, Eliza, the mutual friend, who I had dinner with the first night I was back, is the only one that I would talk to.  But I met her at work” I relayed to Shantel.  “Oh. Well, we are going to have a great time.  I’m looking forward to tonight.  If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be home doing nothing” Shantel said in a depressing way.  “Me too” I agreed with her.  “What are you wearing tonight” Shantel asked a bit gleefully.  “I was just going to put on dark denim, a simple blouse, and heeled boots” I answered.  “Is it skinny jeans” she asked. “Yes” I answered.  After hearing my response, she looked at me with her mouth open.  I asked “what” as I shrugged my shoulders upwards.  “Seriously” she said.  “Yes, what’s wrong with it” I asked.  “I only bought dress’” she said.  “So, what’s wrong with it” I asked.  “I’ll feel too overdressed” she responded.  “Who cares.  If you are comfortable with it wear it.  As long as it’s not skimpy then we can walk in together” I said with a chuckle.  However, the look on her face was in total shock, which made me laugh even more.  “Aright, what did you bring” I asked trying to calm my laughter down.  “I bought a long black spaghetti maxi dress with wedges” she said.  “Oh, my goodness, what's wrong with that? I think it’ll blend right in.  I just don’t feel like wearing a dress tonight” I supplied to her.  “Come on let’s start to get ready” I stated.  The response I got was a high pitch “Yes” from Shantel.  As we were walking towards the back of the house, I heard a knock on my door.  “Go ahead and start getting ready, I’ll answer the door” I slightly urged her.  When I got to the door and opened it, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Orion

I looked at my watch.  Again. It was already 8:30pm.  I glanced at the door when I saw it open, but then got disappointed.  I checked my phone, no messages.  “Hey, why do you keep checking your watch” I heard a feminine voice ask.  I looked at the source of the voice, “Because I want to” I replied rudely.  I looked around at the people gathered, some I knew others I didn’t.  This isn’t the first time I’ve had a party here.  This is the first time Lara will be here, so I’m kind all over the place with my emotions.  I don’t understand half of my feelings, so I try to keep it contained.  When I spoke with Lara this morning, I didn’t ask what time she will be coming.  I only know that she said she will come.  It’s still early, maybe she isn’t going to come until later.  “Are you expecting someone” the feminine voice said again.  I turned to look at her.  Her name is Johanna Green.  She’s beautiful.  Sunkissed skin.  Light brown hair hanging over her shoulders. Lips not to full and not to thin. Her height is about 5’8.  Her face is naturally beautiful.  She doesn’t need makeup, but when she wears makeup her beautiful rises up to gorgeous.  All the boys in school wanted her, and she knew it.  “What’s it to you” I respond.  “Orion I’m just asking” she says as she shrugs her shoulders and tilts her head to the right.  “You don’t need to ask.  Why don’t you mingle with your friends” I suggested.  “Now why would I want to do that.  I came here to see you” she said with a slight smile on her face.  “I didn’t invite you” I told her.  By this point I am getting completely annoyed.  So, instead of losing it and getting mad, I turned around and headed to the back part of the yard.  She didn’t follow.  As I walked out of the house, I see Crown.  Crown sees me approaching him and says “hey man” then he puts out his fist and I bump his fist with mine.  “Hey, what’s going on here” I ask trying to find something to occupy my mind with.  “Nothing much, just chillin.  I see you have an old friend here” Crown said.  I glare at him than said “I didn’t invite her.”  “How did she show up here” he asks.  “I sort of mentioned it when she called earlier, and she invited herself” I said. Crown chuckled.  “She invited herself and you told her about it” he said.  “I just told her about it because she asked what I was doing.  At the time I was on my way to buy stuff for tonight.  Apparently, she took that as an invitation.  Even though I did tell her she wasn’t invited, she still showed up” I said.  Crowns chuckle became full blown laugh out loud now.  “She still trying to get into your bed” he said in between his laughter.  “Who knows.  And I don’t care.  No matter how beautiful she is, I am not going there” I said with conviction.  “Who’s beautiful” I hear from behind me.  I groan out loud.  “Not you” I said coldly.  She giggled a little and said “of course I am.  I am told that all the time by many people” she acknowledged proudly lifting her cup in a salute and she drinks.  And that is why I want nothing to do with her, I thought to myself.

Around 10pm I glanced around the yard and noticed Lara.  She came.  When did she come, I thought to myself.  Why didn’t she say hi.  I was about to walk over to her when I notice that she was talking with a guy.  I don’t remember seeing that guy before, so he must have come with someone.  Before I made my approach to Lara, I went to see Crown who was also in the yard and asked, “Who’s that guy with Lara?”  Crown turned his head then said, “I don’t know, but I saw him come in with Jackson.”  Crown and I stood there in silence looking in Lara’s direction.  “It’s been a long time.  She looks good,” Crown said in appreciation.  “Yes” I replied, and we continued watching her.  Her conversation with that guy seemed like they knew each other.  They were talking and laughing.  Possibly, flirting.  With that thought my emotions started to simmer with anger.