Unexpected [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter Two

The Party

   "Now, I know you're a big Nike fan," Lauren said, indicating at my Nike shorts, shoe, and jumper, "but since this is a party you are not allowed to wear any Nike at all."

   "But, Nike has the comfiest clothes," I argued. "They're the easiest to wear with my cast and crutches. Plus, they sponsored me! I've got Nike gear coming out of my ears. I can't not wear Nike."

   "You can and you will." Lauren placed her hands on her hips. "I'm dressing you up and making you look nice. You've got a nice body and I'm going to take this opportunity to show it to everyone."

   I had no choice but to sit down on the toilet in Lauren and Jaime's shared bathroom and allow them to put makeup on my face. I wasn't against makeup but I tended to barely do any myself as I wasn't particularly skilled. I was more inclined to a touch of concealer and setting powder, never really having the need to go all out. Soccer was a sweaty game and I didn't see the point of putting on makeup to sweat it off after ten minutes.

   After Lauren and Jaime had finished applying makeup on my face ("We went for a very natural, highlight-y look, with a slightly smokey eye. And obviously skipped the bronzer because you're already naturally bronzed."), they searched through my suitcase that I had dropped off before heading to the show, looking for anything that they would deem suitable for a party. They settled on my only skirt, my black Doc Martins, and borrowed a purple crop top from Jaime.

   "You are going to look so f*cking badass, I cannot wait." Jaime squealed.

   "Okay, accessories: I'm thinking the black leather rope necklace choker thingy, a gold ring and put a fancy septum piercing instead of your plain one."

   I complied with Lauren's demands and swapped out my septum piercing. I thought I looked pretty good, I had to admit.

   After my makeover was completed, I had to wait for Lauren and Jaime to get ready. As an impatient person, it seemed like they took forever. I spent my time waiting on the couch, playing games on my phone. Eventually they walked out of their rooms, Lauren in a figure-hugging grey dress and black boots, and Jaime in white jeans, a peach 'cold shoulder' shirt, black bomber jacket and grey boots.

   "Wow, you guys look amazing!" I exclaimed. I had known Lauren for a long time but I had never seen her look this ... well, sexy. Not that she didn't look good, but she never wore tight clothes or anything like this. It was just different; very different.

   We spent a few minutes deciding on how to get to Jeff's. Lauren and Jaime were planning on drinking and therefore wouldn't be able to drive, and I could drive but Lauren's car was a manual, which required both feet. Lauren and Jaime debated between getting a taxi and getting a lift from someone else before I suggested that a taxi would be easiest.

   The ride to Jeff's house was quick and uneventful, with the three of us chipping in cash to pay for the taxi. Inside the music (I'm assuming the songs were show tunes, from popular musicals) was loud and everyone was sitting or standing around, talking to each other. Lauren and Jaime immediately left me, which I'm not going to lie about, really pissed me off. I knew a total of five people by name here: Jeff, Joey, Rachael, Lauren and Jaime. It wasn't exactly comfortable being surrounded by people I didn't know.

   I spied a couch on the other side of the room and made a bee-line for it, knowing that my leg would be very grateful for the break. I swear, it felt like I was always sitting down. I couldn't wait for the cast to come off and I would be unencumbered. I sat down with a sigh of relief, glad to be off my leg. I could now only hope that one of the few people I knew would see me sitting by myself and join me.

   I was spotted but not by someone I knew.

   "Hi, I'm Joe." His breath smelt faintly of alcohol but not so much that I was immediately turned off.

   "Maia." I shook his hand. He smiled widely, as if he was genuinely happy to know my name. I assumed that it was because of the alcohol.

   "Oh, I know you! Joey was talking about you. He said you had really nice eyes." Joe leaned forward, his forehead almost touching mine. "And he was right! Wow, you do have nice eyes."

   I laughed. "Thanks."

   "You're not from America, are you?"

   "No, I'm from New Zealand. I'm from the Ngati Ruanui iwi, from Taranaki."

   Joe's face was blank. He had no clue what I had just said.

   "I'm an indigenous New Zealander, or a Maori. Iwi, in a loose sense, means tribe. So I'm from the Ngati Ruanui tribe."

   "Whoa! That's so cool! Oh my god. What?! Crazy!" After saying a few more adjectives (including "totally awesome"), Joe made me explain what being Ngati Ruanui meant and all the ceremonies I had been through. I felt a little self conscious, as I wasn't used to talking about myself. Eventually, I managed to steer the conversation to acting and Starkid.

   "Starkid is, like, the best thing that has happened to me," Joe slurred. "They're kinda like the family I never, uh ... I never had. Know what I mean?"

   Having been super close with my family, I didn't know what he meant. But I could understand the feeling of love and comfort you get from being surrounded by loved ones, so I nodded my head.

   "Hey! Why aren't you drinking?"

   I laughed. Trust the drunk guy not to notice until over an hour of talking. "I broke my leg and I can't mix alcohol and the medication."

   "Ooh, smart. What did'ya do?"

   "I was taming a lion and it didn't like to be tamed."

   Joe laughed loudly, throwing his head back in the process. "You're funny, Maia. I like you. You should stick around."

   That's the plan, Joe. That's the plan.