A slender, but relatively tall person blocks my path.
"Hey." Vicky's brother has a calming and quiet voice. It surprises me, he doesn't look like the type who would dare to talk to a girl first. He holds up a cup with beer. I think. "I haven't seen you with a drink, so I thought I would bring you one."
I smile as a thank you and he hands me the cup. "My sis told me just now you like playing music?"
I nod. "Yeah, I play the piano." My attention gets drawn behind him, to a group of people dancing in the living room. A particular person with brown hair is dancing and jumping a bit too heavily. He will probably enjoy a nice hangover tomorrow morning.
"You haven't told me your name yet."
I hesitate, like I would ever forget my name. "Ehm, my name is Giselle."
He repeats it in a whisper. "Beautiful."
I take a sip of my drink. He is friendly, but something about him gives me goosebumps. I stay polite and ask his name, but before he can answer me, Pete literally jumps in between us. He mumbles something and lays his arm around my shoulders, pulling me towards him like we had been friends for years.
I'm not sure what he's saying, but I suspect he's telling a joke. I assume he was the energetic guy I saw dancing a minute ago. Then, he insisted on a toast, although I didn't hear why. Vicky's brother doesn't look amused. He's rather annoyed by Pete's interruption. Hey, this is a party sad-face: people who act all weird are inevitable.
I played along, because Pete looks so happy and I didn't want to ruin his fun. He will feel bad enough tomorrow morning. But when I place the edge of the cup at my mouth, Pete suddenly reaches for it and places the bottom higher up in the air.
An unexpected big amount of alcohol pours through my throat. I immediately hit the cup out of Pete's hand and accidentally spill the fluid on my shirt. Is he crazy? I cough multiple times with tears in my eyes. The inside of my body burns from the alcohol. Argh, I hate this feeling. Pete finds me suffocating amusing apparently, because he's laughing very hard. I support myself against the wall with one hand, holding another against my chest. I feel my face becoming heated while listening to Pete's drunken laughter.
Come on Ell, don't throw up here.
I hear Pete saying something amusive about a stain on my shirt. I can see his hand reach for my chest from the corner of my eye and I suspect he's going to do something very inappropriate, when suddenly his laughter abruptly stops.
As I look up, Vicky's brother is nowhere to be found, Pete sits on the ground with confusion in his eyes and a fierce posture stands only a meter away. Frank.
He doesn't seem quite happy and his voice sounds sharp. "Let's go."
I nod, being afraid I might throw up if I speak. Enough partying for me tonight.
I follow Frank through the hallway to the front door. He holds it open for me, but all of a sudden Lucas appears and keeps me from walking outside. "Ell, what are you doing? You're not going already, are you?"
Oh god, my stomach doesn't feel very stable. Please don't make me speak.
Frank shoves Lucas out of the way and pulls me outside by my arm. "She's going."
We leave behind a speechless Lucas while walking to the car. I feel bad about not saying goodbye, but I'll send him a text later, when I feel better.
Sorry Lucas, for the third time already...