...And I Am Going Home

Oliver 37

Rheanna and Zeke's place was quintessentially them, a mixture of high-tech gadgets and vintage knickknacks that looked like they belonged to a haunted castle. And then there were the rather sexual and sensual art pieces on the walls and ornaments, which, according to Kal, were the least risqué ones on display since a few of Rheanna and Zeke's relatives would be coming over and would perhaps be uncomfortable seeing their cousin dressed in quite scantily burlesque costumes in a pin-up style pose, or maybe even wearing nothing at all. Oliver was shown the hidden artworks later, alongside a whole album of photos of Rheanna in lingerie that she had sent Zeke during their year of long-distance relationship. Apparently, Rheanna and Zeke's idea of 'send nudes' was at a whole other level compared to everyone else with professional lighting and staging. Zeke was about to show the pictures he had sent in return, but fortunately, Oliver was saved by the doorbell as another guest had arrived.

Like how Rheanna and Zeke usually operated, going against heteronormative stereotypes and gender norms, their 'hen' and 'stag' dos were the same by not dividing their friends by gender. Instead, they had split activities planned, followed by eventually joining up as one big group for drinks. Oliver had been assigned to Zeke's group, along with Sasha as the non-musician members of the band, with Darren, Kara and Kal in Rheanna's group as the musician members of the friend group. When Oliver found out about this arrangement, he almost didn't want to go, as he was used to having Kara around to cling to in these social situations; even after knowing Zeke and Sasha and everyone else for so long, Kara was at least always there too. But he forced himself to go for the happy couple, for his friends, and besides, once he got a few drinks in himself, he should be fine.

The pre-party was still going, with everyone arriving before splitting off into the two groups. In the meantime, Rheanna had gotten out her keyboard and was playing random songs with people attempting to guess them and sing along, Zeke being especially pitchy and wrong about the lyrics. The musical activities had gotten so loud that it drowned out the sound of the doorbell. Fortunately Oliver had heard it from being close to the window overlooking their front porch and seeing silhouettes through the curtain. He would have felt it rude to answer someone else's door but he head the distinct sigh of frustration from Darren, commenting on Zeke's singing and Sasha laughing in return.

Oliver unlocked the door before they even had the time to knock. As he had expected, Darren and Sasha were on the other side, with Darren plugging his ears, face scrunched up in disgust as Zeke attempted a high note.

"Welcome to the party," said Oliver in his usual dry and non-enthusiastic tone.

"We brought wine," said Sasha, grinning at her husband's suffering.

"We'll need it to get through all this," grumbled Darren.

"I think they're just waiting on a few other people," explained Oliver. "And then we'll be leaving-" His voice caught in his throat as he saw another person making their way to the door after having locked their car.

An all too familiar person that had almost become a stranger.

It was Cody.