"Not like I'm countin' the days
But it's been twenty-five
You're out there killin' the game
But damn, I miss you tonight"
Aliya took a sip of chardonnay and leaned against the bar behind her, glancing around the crowded backyard. Some vaguely familiar faces were sprinkled in here and there, but they were mostly former colleagues she had never really talked to.
Well, shit.
Aliya took another sip, this one a bit longer than the last. She usually did well at parties, was able to slip in with a small group and coast with them for the night. Tonight just didn't feel right, something was missing.
Maybe I can just finish this, and casually slip out.. Aliya thought to herself, nervously tucking a strand of her long, ash-blonde hair behind her ear. She sighed and brought the glass to her lips, tilting her head back as she quickly finished off the glass.
"Yo, what the fuck? Where have you been?"
A body suddenly collided with hers and she choked on the liquid sliding down her throat. Startled, she looked up at the much larger body latched onto hers. It was her friend and coworker Pete, a Saturday Night Live cast member.
"Fuck, I'm sorry!" Pete shouted, roughly patting Aliya on the back.
"Pete, hi, Jesus Christ!" She coughed out, looking up at his tall figure hovering over her. "What do you mean?"
"I've been blowing your phone up trying to find you out here, I barely know anyone at this thing!"
Aliya's eyes widened apologetically as she took her phone out of her back pocket. She had put her phone on 'Do Not Disturb' and was trying to steer clear of it, a couple of unanswered texts from...a friend..making her anxious. Pete continued to talk to her about his night but she tuned him out when she unlocked her phone. Her heartbeat picked up as she looked at her notification screen:
Pete Davidson
Missed calls (2)
Bill Hader
Missed FaceTime call
"And I'm out at a party, they're playing our song
I cry on the dancefloor, it's so embarrassing
Don't send me photos, you're makin' it worse
'Cause you're so hot, it's hurting my feelings"
"Anyway, I think John is around here somewhere, I'm just trying to find a crew to stick with because this shit makes me anxious." Pete sighed and looked around. "Where's your dude?"
Aliya felt her cheeks start to turn pink as she furrowed her brow. "My dude? Who?" She fumbled with her phone. Pete snorted.
"C'mon, Bill? Don't act like you aren't constantly, like, attached at the hip."
Aliya felt her stomach flip in a bad way? A good way? Unsure. Okay, chill the fuck out. Play it cool.
"Oh yeah, Bill. He's out of town doing some Barry shit I think." She made it sound like she was asking a question. "Yeah some press shit." She nodded. Yeah, cool. Real cool.
Before Pete could open his mouth to respond she blurted out, "Okay I'm going to get another drink, then we can find John."
Turning around, she ordered another chardonnay. While she waited for her drink she unlocked her phone and composed a text to Bill:
What's goin on? Sorry at a thing at Kristen's right now
Immediately a little chat bubble popped up.
