Better Together

Chapter ten

Mei and I were surprisingly taken away from the crowd of the party to a corridor near the back with some doors.

 We were leaded into one of them.

 I think it was some sort of relaxing room because there were blankets thrown onto the floor with bean bags and pillows randomly placed on top. 

There were 4 people already sitting comfortably and they cheered when they saw us.

 I think Mei sensed my fear and she told me to sit next to her. 

I stroked my fingers repeatedly on the fluffy blanket next to us, seeking comfort. 

"Now we're all here we can begin."

 She stumbled over to some bottles of drink, already looking drunk but she picked out an empty one. 

I've never been to a party before but it all made sense now why Mei was acting so strangely, hiding out in the kitchen, repeatedly trying to decline the girl's offer. 

The feeling of dread sunk into me. 

I have read about this in books and I'm not the type who wants to try it out. 

"Ay Sara watcha doing?" One guy called though it was obvious he wasn't oblivious to the situation.

 I glanced at Mei trying to communicate through my eyes but I was returned with a sad smile. 

I felt responsible, I should of at least attempted to persuade Sara to leave us alone.

 Sara almost fell over but sat down in between her friends and placed the bottle in the middle of the lopsided circle we had unintentionally made. 

"So you probably know what will happen blah de dah," Her friends let out laughs that made me even more uncomfortable. 

"So yea um the bottle picks you a partner and you spend a few minutes with them next door." 

I didn't want to be forced into a room with some random with no self control. 

While I was worrying about how this will play out, a guy snatched the bottle and spun it. 

Thankfully it landed on one of Sara's friends. 

A girl whose face didn't match her skin tone. 

The atmosphere here felt so unnatural as if Mei and I were the only one's not pretending we're in a teen movie with a cheesy title. 

They guy took the girl next door and I was relieved I heard nothing. 

They came back after their time was up with swollen lips.

 I was trying to avoid eye contact with anyone to reduce my chances of being picked but there is no way I could know who the bottle would choose. 

There was an awkward silence like this was where the movie was supposed to be cut off but then Sara handed over the bottle.

 To me. 

"Your turn..uh i forgot your name but you look interesting so." 

Unwillingly I got ready to spin this pathetic piece of glass, my hands were close to shaking. I sighed and let it spin.

 As it whirled round a few times I hoped that it wouldn't be too awful.

 The bottle was edging close to this guy and I was almost in tears, but luck somehow shifted it in the last few seconds, though I swear I noticed Mei slightly tug the rug, to face Mei directly. 

I wasn't too upset, we are friends we can just talk maybe joke around how horrible this situation is.

 On the other hand, the other girls just gave glances of disgust towards each other and another guy whistled. 

This night has turned sour. 

Unexpectedly, Sara stopped them "I better not hear protests when you lot get paired up with the same sex, honestly they're just friends, right?" I nodded in panic, I didn't expect Sara of all people to stick up for me. 

Mei indicated for me to follow her out of the room. 

The room next door was actually a laundry room but it didn't matter too much. 

I climbed up onto a laundry machine and Mei stood in front of me. 

"I'm glad it's you, I felt really uncomfortable in there" I began.

 "So what do you want to talk-."

 Mei was close to my face, I didn't understand, is this how friends are? 

My thought process was interrupted by her lips on mine.

 I was taken aback. 

It was a quick gesture but I didn't know how to act.

 She looked at me but her eyes looked unhappy and lost now. 

I was speechless, Mei went to leave the room so I trailed behind her like her shadow, the clock still counting down the couple of minutes that were spared.