Unrequited desires

Reality pt.2: Old friends

Iris and Lee had spent the next couples hours getting ready and goofing around. Lee had been her best friend since they were 11, they had the kind of connection that could only be built through years of friendship. He was one of the only people Iris really, truly trusted. She told him everything and he told her everything. Their parents thought they were going to end up married eventually but it became quite obvious quickly that even though they loved each other, they would be doing nothing of the sort. Anyways Lee had already been going steady with a girl he met at the Cafe Iris and him used to work at. She was beautiful and sweet and everytime Iris saw them together her heart swelled with happiness for her friend.

Iris was sitting at her vanity and Lee was laying on her bed waiting for her to be done doing her makeup. After his constant complaining, she peered in the mirror at her completed makeup and smiled at the end results. ¨Ok, i'm ready. Let my just grab my bag and we can go.¨ She shot him a soft smile followed with an eye roll and a chuckle. Lee propped himself up on his elbows so that he was facing her fully. ¨Finally. I don't know why you spend so much time doing makeup to come out looking almost the same.¨ Iris turned around to face him with an annoyed look. With a soft chuckle she stood up swinging her bag over her shoulder. ¨I am going for a natural look, I'm not going to look worlds different.¨ He just sighed and made his way to the door.

¨After you ma'lady.¨ A smug smile laid on his face. ¨Why thank you¨ She played along reaching her hand to where he held his out for her to grab. She did so and they walked hand in hand to the car excited for the night as it was occasional that they go to parties anymore.

The music was blaring and as expected there were drunk young adults all over the place. Iris stood a bit on her tippy toes to see if she saw anyone she recognized. Not any of her close friends, so her and Lee made their way to the bar. They poured themselves drinks and made their way to the dance floor. As Iris was swinging her head with the music she spotted her friend, Olive, across the dance floor. ¨Hey i'm gonna go say hi to a friend, catch up with you later?¨ She yelled to Lee over the music. He simply nodded and started dancing with the people that were next to them. Iris used all her arm strength to push through the sea of people, finally she stopped in front of her friend.

¨Iris!¨ A large smile forming on her lips. Iris always loved having Olive around, she was fun and sweet and when Iris didn't know many people Olive would invite her places. ¨How are you? Having fun?¨ She said handing Iris another beer. ¨Oh yeah loads! I've been so caught up with everything I forgot how fun it is to let loose.¨ Iris responded with a laugh. The two still straining their voices to be heard over the music. ¨Believe me I get it. , who did you come with?¨ I turned my head a bit to see if Lee was in my line of sight. But he was not. ¨Lee. Lee Jay, I'm sure you have met him before.¨ Olive took a moment to register and then snapped back. ¨Oh yes! I do know him, I think him and my boyfriend used to be close some time ago.¨ Iris took a moment and then her eyes lit up. ¨Boyfriend?! What oh my goodness, when did this happen.¨ Iris smirked a her friend. ¨Who is he?¨ Olive giggled and turned to point to a tall redhead across the party by the makeshift bar. ¨George? Of course, you two were inseparable how could I not guess.¨ We went on catching up with each other. Until eventually a few drinks in the two women ended up stumbling around the party catching up with people they saw that they knew.
Iris and Olive

(This is not an exact representation of how the two look that is up to your imagination)

Though most of the party Iris was occupied with old friends and new ones. She found her eyes wandering around every so often looking for a certain pair of eyes, waiting for them to land on her. Eventually Iris decided she wasn't coming. She couldn't deny she was a little disappointed. She hadn't seen Odessa since she practically kidnapped her. The night when she looked at Odessa and felt something. Maybe something that was already there, but stronger. A feeling that sent mountains down her back. Iris had not stopped thinking about her since, or the way her smile was so perfect. So big and genuine no matter what. Odessa had opened up to Iris a bit on their last hang out, about what life has thrown at her. So the fact her smile was always so genuine made it even more captifying. That was something the two bonded over. Their past trauma. Odessa barely liked talking about her emotions and Iris just pretended they weren't there so it was easy to talk to one another and go on like nothing happened. They talked about it some but mostly just knew it was there and that was enough for the two.

Eventually Iris found herself swaying on the dance floor holding Olive's hand while George held her friends other. Lee was behind Iris dancing against her. She couldn't tell what was going on around her other than that. As it got later more people ended up on the couches and the stairs and in random rooms around the house. Iris could barely support her body with her feet anymore and she could tell Olive, Lee, and George were pretty far gone as well. They all four walked as well as they could to an empty couch and slouched into it relieved to not be standing anymore. Olive sat up to get a better look at all of them. ¨So how are we getting home? I mean I'll only speak for myself but I am pretty drunk. I can't drive I know you can't¨ She looked at the three on the couch next to her and laughed. George to her right then Iris then Lee. The three all shook their heads simultaneously. George pulled himself up and stretched his hand out to Olive. ¨Don't worry i've called my brother for a ride. I wish I would've known we were going to run into you guys tonight, there's no room in the car.¨ Iris looked away from Olive and shifted her eyes to george. ¨No it's ok we'll figure it out, believe it or not this is not our first time being stranded drunk at a party¨ The couple in front of us laughed and latched their arms together for support and walked away with a final wave.

To Iris's surprise it was only 1:00am when Olive and George left so her and Lee decided that a bit more dancing couldn't hurt. Iris was really getting into it, maybe a little too much because for a second she closed her eyes and jumped higher as she felt Lee's body against hers doing the same. The she felt her feet get tangled in each other but before she could even feel herself falling she felt someone's chest. Her eyes shot open to see who was holding her up from falling smackdown on her face. It was Odessa. Her hands felt cold on Iris's skin, and she smelled of cedar trees and lavender masked with fire whiskey indicating she had been drinking as well. Iris used her hands to stable herself letting Odessa loosen her grip on her. She shifted her eyes to her face, her smile. Iris just kind of stared until Odessa began to say something.

¨Are you ok? Lost your footing a bit.¨ She giggled as she helped Iris back to her balance. Iris felt her stomach flip at her laugh. She stumbled on her words a bit as well before fully answering. ¨Yeah, Yes I'm fine. I'm just a little drunk that's all.¨ She awkwardly laughed trying to act like she didn't just almost eat shit in front of Odessa. ¨A little? Yeah ok, did you come alone?¨ Her eyes looked worried but also like she was about to burst out into laughter. ¨Hm no I came with my friend Lee.¨ She turned around only to see he was by the bar with a bunch of his guy friends. ¨Well I came with Lee, I am now alone.¨ Iris turned back to Odessa with a cheeky smile. ¨Right well it's ok you can come hang out with me for the meantime.¨