Another Summer in Allercana

three.

"I see you've met Oliver!"

The first thing out of my grandmas mouth, of course. Anastasia turns around and looks at us both with raised eyebrows.

"Have fun," she whispers with a mischievous smile, running off back the way we came.

"Yes we did, I was trying to find the bathroom and-"

She cuts me off.

"Isn't she beautiful?" She asks Oliver who is incredibly amused by the current game of matchmaking she is playing right now.

"She most certainly is," he clears his throat, trying to hold back his laughter.

I raise my eyebrows at him, hinting him to just go along with it.

"But she's not my type."

Mine and my grandmother's eyebrows furrow now, waiting for a follow up.

"I have a boyfriend back home, his name is William and we've been together for almost a year now."

I could see my grandma's face of confusion and embarrassment.

"Oliver, I am so sorry I had no idea!" Abuela was now in panic mode as she clearly did not even check in with Josephine for this round of matchmaker.

"It's okay, Mrs. Hughes. I couldn't have expected you to know, you are entirely forgiven," he assures her, giving her a hug.

"Now if you'll excuse us, Rory and I are gonna go grab a drink by the bar," he says firmly, my grandmother lets go of her grip on me. "Alright, have fun you two!"

I can sense the looming defeat on her face and I have to imagine she will definitely do much deeper investigating now on any prospects she'll line up for me.

"So, the best I can offer you is friendship," Oliver says, pouring us a tequila shot each.

"Well then in that case, cheers to new friendship," I say aloud, downing the cold liquid which quickly burns my throat.

I start making myself a gin martini meanwhile Oliver takes another three tequila shots and the sun sets before us.

Soon after, dinner is served and the crowd spreads out to eat in different tables set up around the backyard. My grandmother saves me a seat next to her at a table filled with practically every male older than 22 at this party. They all have their tailored Ralph Lauren shirts on, ranging in all pastel colors. Each smelling like either Burberry Touch or Dior Sauvage and Rolex's decorated their wrists. While at the surface, there definitely was some eye candy, no conversation was worthwhile at this table.

I push my food around the plate with my fork, trying to tune out Bradley and Scott talking about the stock market with my grandmother, who is eating all this up by the way. It's like she's trying to live vicariously through me. I look at my empty glass and arrange my escape.

"I'm gonna go refill-"

Before I could finish my statement, three of the men at the table were already standing, ready to get me a fresh drink. I roll my eyes at which my grandmother pinches my leg, signaling my bad manners.

"I can handle a bottle of gin, thank you though," I flash them all a smile, waiting for them to take their seats and heading towards the bar.

I try to use the flashlight on my phone to find the bottle of gin which takes me at least five minutes to do. Once I find it on the never ending table of booze, I quickly fix up my martini. As I finish, I start thinking of all the quiet places on these grounds where I could get away from Cupid Clara.

I see a trail towards the beach.

"Jackpot," I whisper to myself, slipping off my sandals and shoving them into my purse as I grab the bottle of vodka from the bar and take it with me as well.