BANALITY : Draco Malfoy

01

I try to forget that boy. Draco, or whatever stupid name he had. My roommates won't let me.

"I can't believe you let someone that hot just walk away!" Ali leans her head back against the sofa. Her hair is full of alcohol and hairspray. It practically sticks to the cushions. "He was obviously obsessed with you."

"I doubt it," it may be the early hours of the morning, but I am still pouring mixed drinks for the three of us. "His eyes were allergic to looking at me."

"Maybe he was nervous," Amanda shrugs.

Ali throws a decorative pillow at Amanda. It hits her in the chest, and she drops it on the floor next to her.

"You're just as bad as her. Andrew clearly was trying to get your attention all night," Ali's voice has a punch to it, but I've known her long enough that I can tell when she isn't serious. "It's honestly like neither of you ever want to have sex again!"

"Andrew was only talking to me because Paul was hanging off you," Amanda has a soft smile, despite her shaking head. "I'm certain Paul is much more of Andrew's taste than I am if you catch my drift."

"Don't mention Paul," Ali groans, putting her head in her hands. "I can't believe I ever was interested in a guy named Paul. Paul! Such a bland name."

Once I've finished pouring the last of our drinks, I bring them over. There is never a shortage of alcohol in our flat. Sure, we go out to pubs, bars, and clubs like every other person our age, but once it's time to head home for the night we continue discussions with a war debrief about the night. The dating scene up here is practically the trenches.

Anyway, we rotate who mixes the drinks and it is my night. Ali likes any fruity drink. Whenever we go out, she'll always order us shots and pretend not to hate them. She avoids anything that isn't as sugary as Pixy Stix. Tonight, she is drunk enough that I just put vodka into the fruit juice in the fridge and hope that it is enough to satiate her.

Amanda really isn't picky. She avoids shots unless dragged into them by Ali, but I've seen her drink beer, wine and liquor on different occasions. She was drinking beer earlier tonight, so I grab an ale out of the fridge. It's from a brewery she visits on occasion.

I just make myself a rum and coke. Ali really got me hooked on them. The rum we buy is cheap, and as long as I mix the two together properly, I can get drunk quickly and cheaply. It sucks, having a higher alcohol tolerance than both of them, but such is my life.

As I am bringing the drinks over, both of them are having a good laugh about how bland they find the name Paul. I say nothing because my name is Jane. Plain Jane.

"Jane, did you figure out what year he's in?" Ali asks, turning her attention back to me. "You know, mysterious suit guy?"

"No," I tell her. I find my seat next to Ali on the sofa.

"What's he studying?" Ali presses on. "I bet it's something strange, like archeology. What do you think, Amanda?"

"Maybe engineering?"

"What? No, it's got to be something like Egyptology," Ali nearly chortles. "What did he say?"

"I didn't ask," I tell them. It wasn't a question that really even occurred to me.

"We'll ask around," Ali says. "Right Amanda? You know the host. What's his name?"

"John," Amanda says, "but-"