Brewed to Perfection

Part 23

"Maeve, slow down. You know drinking straight vodka is a terrible idea." Bev warned, and somewhere in my mind I knew she was right. But that part of me was hidden by the other more overbearing bit of my brain that was yelling and screaming for alcohol.

I finished my third shot of vodka, letting out a burst of air.

"It's a party Bev, so let's party" I replied, whilst taking off my jacket and walking into Bev's living room.

We had only been in Bev's house for five minutes.

When the car pulled up, I got out without looking at Benjamin and headed straight to Bev's kitchen.

I had been to Bev's before for drinks, most recently last christmas. I remembered leaving a half bottle of Vodka. I knew Bev didn't drink Vodka so I had hoped it was somewhere still in her kitchen.

Luckily for me, she had already placed all of her spirits and mixers on her kitchen island ready for when we all got back to hers.

I didn't even take off my shoes, I was so focused on drinking vodka and dulling the shitty mix of emotions that the horrible prom memory had brought up.

I walked to Bev's living room and found Benjamin sitting a little too comfortably on one of her brown leather sofas. Bev's living room was huge. She had a massive TV, three leather sofas. A glass coffee table, a variety of exotic looking plants and a great collection of fluffy cushions and fashionable throws.

Benjamin sat on the sofa nearest the Tv, therefore I sat on the sofa furthest from the TV.

It was only once I sat down, did he turn and face me. "Seriously?" he raised an eyebrow, whilst letting out an annoyed huff.

I rolled my eyes. "What?" My tone was harsh.

"I've not got leprosy you know?" Benjamin shrugged his shoulders, looking oddly offended by my seating choice.

I made a face of disbelief before deciding to respond. "I like having room to sprawl" I lied. I just didn't want to be anywhere near him.

"You can sprawl over here" he replied whilst pointing to the position next to him on the sofa.

I almost laughed. I think the three vodka shots I had went straight to my head.

"You want me to sprawl next to you on the sofa?" My pitch was higher than I had ever heard it before.

Benjamin just nodded, whilst keeping his gaze on me.

"Yeah i don't think so buddy" i replied, without realising i had just called that ass 'buddy'

Benjamin exhaled, pushing his fingers through his hair. He looked at the ground for a second. "Fine" he said, whilst lifting off the sofa he was sat on and moving towards me.

"No no no. You stay over there" I warned, quickly swinging my legs up and over the remaining space on the sofa I was sitting on.

Before he reached my sofa, Bev shouted from the kitchen "You two okay with margaritas?"

We both replied in unison "Yes please"

That was when I locked my eyes on him. Hoping my venomous glare would be read as a non verbal 'get the fuck away from my sofa you ass'

Sadly, this did not translate, as Benjamin grabbed both of my ankles, and lifted my legs in the air. With his writs wrapped around my ankles, he turned and planted himself down next to me.

I was so shocked at his actions, I coudln't even react.

It was then, he decided to add to my shock by lowering my legs back down and placing them back to their original position.

Which was now, over his lap.

Hell to the no.

I quickly retracted my legs and swung back around to a normal seated position.

Benjamin laughed. It didn't sound like his cartoonish- evil laugh that i had heard so often. But this sounded softer, almost genuine.

It was weird.

"What the hell was tha-"

The door to the living room swung open, and interrupted what would have been my outrage at Benjamin's actions.

"Did someone say Party time?" Bev cheered whilst handing me and Benjamin two very large margaritas.

Not that i was complaining, If i was going to get through this night, Alcohol was going to be a necessity.

"This looks insane Bev" Benjamin complimented, taking a huge gulp of his drink.

I couldn't argue with him there. The drink looked good. So good in fact I would happily sit on this sofa with dipshit over there, just so I could have a few of them.

Bev blushed whilst taking a seat on the sofa next to them one Benjamin and I were now sitting on.

"This aint my first rodeo" she giggled and reached for the TV remote.

"Now.. What are people in the mood for? Bad Xfactor auditions, spotify or top 50 eurovision entries" Bev asked.

Both me and Benjamin looked at each other before replying "X Factor auditions"

Bev looked at Benjamin, then studied my face for a minute before smiling and switching on the Youtube app on her TV. "Yeah, i think so too"

–

"Nooo- They told her to sing a pink song" I yelled at Benjamin whose face was looking blurrier than I remember it being 6 or 7 drinks previously.

Benjamin leaned closer to the tv screen before pointing at Gary Barlow, taking a deep breath whilst swallowing a hiccup "Gary never told her to sing a Pink song, nobody would ever ask someone to sing a shitty Pink song!" He yelled back, whilst gesturing for Bev to rewind the clip again.

"Now now Pink has a few good tunes Lad. That one about raising your glasses was very good in my opinion." Bev argued whilst handing over an open bottle of prosecco to my outreached arm.

"Don't rewind it again Bev" I ordered. Unable to watch the clip for another time, six was my limit.

I grabbed my glass and started to fill it up again, using my other hand to grab Benjamin's shoulder. "How many times do I need to explain it to you? - THE PRODUCERS told her-"

Benjamin moved closer to my face and put his index finger over my mouth. Shushing me. It was effective.

"Keep your pretty lips sealed and pass me the bottle" he ordered.

Benjamin then grabbed the bottle out of my hand, removed his finger from my now- sealed lips and fell back deeper into the couch.

"What the f-" I almost screamed.

I heard Bev take an intake of breath, "Oh sweet baby jesus"

"-UCKIDAYFUCK was that?" I continued, flabbergasted.

Benjamin turned to face Bev and shrugged his shoulders. "Any idea what she's screaming about now?" Benjamin asked nonchalantly to Bev.

Bev sipped her prosecco, giggling into her glass. What a traitor.

I grabbed Benjamin by the jaw, turning his face back towards me.

"Im screaming about your dirty, god knows where the hell it's been- finger that was just touching my mouth ten seconds ago and I don't know whether to scream or puke. Or scream then puke!" I yelled. Using my shirt to wipe harshly across my lips.

Benjamin rolled his eyes "always such a drama queen. What would you do if I kissed you? Run boiling water over your lips till they blister?" he retorted, looking sleepy.

Did he just say what I thought he said?

Even Bev gasped.

I just sat in silence, my eyeballs almost bugging out of my head.

Not knowing how to even respond to that, I took another swig of prosecco and looked over to Bev again.