The Elementals [Watty Awards 2012 Action Winner]

“Wow Val, you look... wow, so beautiful” he said as he stared at me. I winked and looked him up and down. He wore slightly loose fitted jeans with a sky blue button down long sleeve shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and white sneakers, the look suited him well.

“You don’t look half bad hot shot” I replied.

The sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted us and we saw Helena playfully crossing her arms.

“Guys! Don’t leave me out now!” she pouted making us laugh.

“Helena, you look absolutely outstanding, no stunning, no breath taking!” Max cried playfully placing his hand over his heart.

His outburst made us burst into laughter but that too was interrupted by the knocking coming from the door. I could hear the muffled sound of voices from the other side and a my lips curved into a large grin. “Looks like the party has arrived”

***

The party was booming and so many people turned up we eventually had to leave the door open letting the party spread out to the corridor. I was getting greeted and congratulated on throwing such a great party and even had a few guys ask me to dance with them. The usually big apartment felt cramped with the amount of people squashing together and the floral scent had been replaced by the scent of sweat and alcohol.

“Hey Val! Can we go somewhere quieter!” Max shouted into my ear. The music and people were so loud it came out as though he was just talking to me. I nodded, not bothering to try to shout back, and took his outstretched hand. We trudged through the crowd of partiers and finally he was able to  pulled me outside the apartment and walked down towards his room.

“Crazy party eh?” he huffed.

“You’re telling me! I can barely hear myself think anymore!”  I replied, “Where are we going by the way?”

“My room, I have something to give you.”  He tugged me again and pushed open his door. We walked into his apartment, which would have looked exactly the same for mine minus the forest of plants, then into his and Derrek’s room. It had that distinct ‘boy smell’ and was actually cleaner than I thought it would be. Kudos to them.

“Here” he called to me. I turned and saw him holding out a little delicate box with a blue ribbon carefully wrapped around.

“Aw Max, you seriously didn’t need to!” I tried to say but he waved me off instead telling me to open it.

I slid the ribbon off and opened the velvet box. Inside was a necklace with a sapphire pendant in the shape of a tear drop, there was a fine wire of silver wrapping around it in an elaborate fashion and it was absolutely beautiful. I’d never seen anything like it before.

“Max... it’s beautiful! Can you put it on for me?” I held it out to him and turned around. He fiddled with the lock and secured it around my neck brushing his smooth fingers down the top of my spine.

“I saw it and thought it suited you perfectly” he told me. He was looking straight into my eyes and leaning forward. I could tell he was going to kiss me but I leaned back sending him a nervous smile.

“Sorry... I shouldn’t have-“ he started to say.

“No, no it’s ok Max. It’s just... I only just met you, you know?” I cleared my throat, “So uh... where’s your room –mate?”I asked sneering on ‘room-mate’ a little.

His chuckle broke the awkward atmosphere and he rubbed his hands over his hair. “He’s at your party Val, didn’t you see him?”

I furrowed my eyebrows. How did I not see Derrek? Obviously there were plenty of people there but still... I should have at least glanced at him once. Oh well, I thought, it wasn’t as though he was important.

“Nope” I shrugged, “But speaking of which, we should probably head back there.”

He nodded and slipped his arm around my shoulders leading me back to the raging party. I almost forgot what it was like to have my brain bounce around my skull from the bass but alas, I now remembered.

I joined in a few drinking games, drank some shots, danced with Helena and Max then drank more shots. I was buzzing and pretty sure I couldn’t feel my toes anymore. I was laughing hysterically at something Max said, but couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was, when I was offered another shot.