Sunken ships

20

"Tommy, you're here!" Elise comes running towards me in the hallway with her arms open and hugs me real tight.

"Sorry I am late. I forgot something at home."

"Don't be sorry. We were just getting started so you missed nothing." I hear chatter from the living room and the sound of music.

"Here these are for you. Happy Birthday to you," I say while giving her the flowers and the present.

"Oh, you didn't have to do that! Thank you so much! These are beautiful!" She exclaimed enthusiastically.

"You're welcome."

"Come in, come in. We can't be standing in the hallway the whole night can we?" She asks laughing. She turns around and walks back into the living room. When I walk in after her I see that there are not as many people as I expected. there are only three people sitting in the living room. A man and a woman sitting on the couch and the woman named Jane is sitting on the chair in front of them.

"I will find a beautiful vase for them." I hear Elise say as she walks off to the kitchen.

The people sitting in the living room turn their heads to me and when they see me they smile and immediately stand up from their seats.

"So you are Tommy?" The man asks, walking up to me with a big smile.

"Yes, I am. Nice to meet you all." Before I know it the man puts his arms around me to give me a hug. "Nice to meet to, Tommy. My name is Leo."

"And my name is Emily." The other woman says right before she gives me a kiss on each of my cheeks. I am startled by how comfortable these people are with welcoming new people. But then again, they are friends of Elise. "I am so glad you could come. We've heard so much about you."

"You have?"

"Oh yes, we did," Jane answers from across the room with a sneaky smile on her face.

Leo and Emily sit back down when Elise comes back from the kitchen. She offers me a drink which I take with a thank you. This seems to be a very fun friend group. I am glad I came. I am looking around to see where I can take a seat when I realize somebody isn't there. He is supposed to come right? Maybe he suddenly had other plans or he fell ill? Oh no, what if he is sick? I will have to visit him when that's the case.

Out of nowhere, I feel a hand on my lower back and a body coming closer to whisper something in my ear.

"I am really happy you came, Tommy." I quickly turn to the person next to me. It's Alex. Our faces are very close together and I freeze completely.

"Alex, finally! How long can it take to go to the toilet?"

"Mind your own business, Elise." He says walking past me and taking his hand off my lower back. He takes a seat next to Leo on the couch. He doesn't leave any space between them and starts talking and laughing with him. An irritated feeling emerges in my body like I'm bothered seeing those two having a good time. I want it to be me next to him. I want to be laughing with him and have a good time.

I pull my thoughts back together and take a seat on the chair next to Elise and take a sip from my drink. It's pretty good. I think it's some kind of cocktail with gin and lemon. It is pretty strong though so I'll have to watch myself so I don't go over my limit.

I am a few drinks in and I can feel the alcohol in my head when Jane suggests we should play a drinking game. "Guys, we have to play that drinking game we always play."

"That is the best thing I have heard you say this evening," Elise laughs and stands up from her chair. "Emily, could you please explain the rules to Tommy?" Jane asks.