"Did... did you just do what I think you just did?" Kia splutters out in shock.
"Guess I did." I laugh in response finishing off my drink happily.
The crowd has thinned out a little but still the atmosphere of the room is brilliant, people watching on and willing either sides to win.
"The ladies can start." The Oaf booms out over the thundering crowd.
Kia takes the ping pong ball delicately, rolling it around in her hands slowly before bouncing it against the table. The room is hushed suddenly, meaning the plop of the ball hitting the alcoholic concoction inside is more like a boom. Roars once again echo around the room and the Oaf looks less than impressed as he swiftly picks up the cup and drinks it down whole.
We continue on in an odd yet entertaining tension that only adds to the game. Finally, there are only two cups left, one on either side of the table. Kia passes me the ping pong ball and grins in encouragement. I can tell she's dying to kick the boys' asses. I line the shot up and as quickly as the game started it's over, the boys groan in defeat and the Oaf's friend quickly drinks the contents of the final cup.
The crowd that once were watching begin to disperse out of the room and towards the kitchen and music, leaving behind only a few who mingle between themselves.
"Kia I wouldn't have volunteered to play you guys if I knew you were beasts when it comes to beer pong." The Oaf's voice booms in disbelief, as him and his friend walk towards us.
I'm confused as to how he already knows Kia's name and attempt to portray this to her whilst also trying not to give away my confusion to the two in front of us. Kia only rolls her eyes at my childish behaviour and laughs along with the Oaf.
"Jake this is my good friend Jessie Clarke," She motions towards me and I quickly snap my attention back towards the two male figures, "Jess this is Jake and his friend Blake."
I can't help but let a small laugh burst from my lips, instantly earning myself the attention from all three of them,
"Sorry it's uhm... just... Jake and Blake you know it rhymes." Kia facepalms herself and shakes her head in embarrassment, I'm not too bothered though and instead move to inspecting the empty can in my hand.
However, I'm pulled from my distraction to a rumbly laugh. The friend, Blake, is laughing to himself softly at what I presume was my comment,
"Jake you really know how to pick them, I like this one." He stifles his laughter as he points over at me, shaking his head in silent amusement. Blake seems to notice my empty can and nods his head in the direction of the kitchen,
"Want to go grab another?"
I look to Kia, "Want one?" I ask but she shakes her head,
"I'm driving remember, go I'll meet you back here." She encourages me cheekily and I ignore her immature behaviour.
I follow Blake's figure towards the room we had previously come from. I notice, yet again, how comfortable he appears to be here. He moves easily through the groups of people and happily greets those that recognise him, patting the odd person on the back. When we finally approach the kitchen counter he looks to my drink,
"Same again?"
"Yeh if that's alright?" I answer simply.
He walks towards the fridge, before pulling it open and grabbing another can out,
"Do you know the person who lives here then?" I ask, trying to start conversation.
Blake chuckles again, "Yeh you could say that." He turns back to me handing me the can,
"Don't worry it's a personal stash," He indicates around the room, "I live here."
"Oh." I answer plainly and he simply chuckles in the same rumbly way as before, "You don't have much to say for yourself."
I shrug, cracking open the can and taking a sip, "What's there to say?"
I feel him observing me and I battle to look anywhere except at him, but my curiosity wins out and I end up giving in and meeting his gaze. His lips quirk up into a smile and I swoon.
Jesus Jessie get a grip. You've literally known this guy for all of ten minutes, I scold myself.
"What?" I question my smile mirroring his,
"I don't know, you just seem different." My eyebrows knit together at his comment,
"You barely know me how could you make that assumption?" I reply confidently.
"I don't need to know you; I just know other people." Blake replies softly, "Come on we better go find Jake and your friend."
He begins to walk away, and I follow swiftly behind my mind turning his comment over and over again in my head. As we make our way back towards Kia and Jake a loud crashing echoes around the house,
"What the fuck was that?" Blake breathes out, panic setting in. I follow his frantic movement towards the source of the noise. Thudding can be heard, and Blake and I emerge into a room to find a crowd surrounding two guys fighting.
"Shit." Blake mutters shoving his drink into my hand and pushing his way through the crowd and towards the two fighting figures. I notice a broken vase laying across the ground and presume it to be the culprit of the crashing sound earlier.
Blake attempts to get between the two boys but they still shuffle against each other, shoving and jostling in an attempt to resume the fight. Suddenly a body goes flying, losing their footing, and landing right beside the broken parts of the vase. A gasp can be heard as the figure grasps his left hand as blood seeps from a wound.
I push past the crowd, abandoning both drinks and find Blake cussing as blood drips from his hand onto the floor. The silence now is deafening, and I realise someone must have cut the music after Blake fell. I look around at those who are standing and watching and notice a boy that I once shared an English class with,
"Give me your jacket." I demand calmly.
"My what?" He asks confused.
"Your jacket. Give me it." I repeat.
"But this is Jack Will..." He notices my glare and reluctantly obliges, passing me his jacket.
I take the jacket sleeve and wind it around the gash on Blake's hand, he winces, and I hear him groan in pain.
"I know I'm sorry, I promise I'm nearly done." I apologise, attempting to wrap his hand slightly more gently. I notice that the crowd has begun to thin and soon see that Jake and Kia have managed to find their way to us, Jake shooing people out the front door and arranging lifts for those left behind.
Kia crouches down by my side, carefully trying to avoid the rest of the broken vase, "You two ok?" She asks in a motherly tone that I'm more than used to.
"I'm fine, this one however, he's gonna have to go to the hospital. I've just about stopped the bleeding but it's gonna need some stitches." I respond as I finish wrapping Blake's hand.
Kia nods in understanding before returning back to Jake and exchanging a few rushed words and walking back to us,
"Jake is going to stay here and make sure everyone is gone, get Blake into the car and I'll meet you out front." I nod and turn back to Blake,
"You ok to get up?"
"Yeh... yeh I'm fine." He murmurs and we slowly make our way to Kia's polo.
A&E is pretty quiet considering it's a Friday night. Blake and I make our way towards the reception desk as he turns to face me,
"You know you don't have to stay, I'm ok from here."
"You lost quite a bit of blood, so I'd feel better to wait until you're seen." I chuckle at his macho façade and nod towards the desk.
As we near the front I soon recognise the familiar face checking patients in,
"Well shit." I mumble.
"Now, now is that little miss Jessie Clarke?" Laura's voice sings as we finally reach the front of the queue, "You know your mum isn't working tonight darl?"
"Ah yeh I'm not actually here for her, he needs to check in." I motion to Blake and he awkwardly waves his good hand.
"Oh dear, high school celebrations gone wrong is it?" Laura giggles before turning back to her computer, "Don't tell me I don't want to know. What's your name then hun?"
"Blake Woods." He replies and he continues to answer Laura's questions.
As we settle into the waiting room I turn back to Blake's hunched figure,
"Blake Woods huh?"
"What, my reputation precedes me does it?" He chuckles in my recognition of his last name.
"No, I just uh... didn't think I'd spent my last day of high school sat in A&E with the Blake Woods." I reply stupidly.
"Oh god please don't say that, it makes me sound like a right arse."
"I mean..."
"Hey what're you trying to say." He laughs at my inability to form words.
"How's the hand?" I ask, quickly changing the conversation.
"Hurts, but I'm probably better off thanks to your handy work," He replies, thinking for a second before continuing, "I take it you got that from your Mum?"
I nod, "Yeh she works between here and the paediatric ward."
We lapse into a short silence; it isn't awkward like I'd expect but I'm unsure what I should say to carry on the conversation.
"Look I..." Blake begins but he's cut off by a nurse calling his name,
"Go on I'll wait here." I smile reassuringly.
Blake stands to leave before turning,
"Thanks for your help Jess, and uh... if you don't mind maybe we could forget this ever happened and start over?"
I chuckle at this, "Sure."
I stand and offer my hand, "Hi I'm Jessie Clarke."
Blake scoffs at my seriousness but uses his good hand to shake mine,
"Blake Woods." He grins eventually.
"Well Woods, it's very nice to meet you but I think you should get that seen to." We break away and I watch as he enters another room still smirking slightly.