7:05 PM
"George, my boy!" A loud, accented voice greets us the moment the front door opens, and the voice is matched with the face of a tall, lanky man with messy, long hair. He's holding not one, but two bottles of beer, and he's very clearly drunk.
"Max, are you really already drunk?" Joji asks, but there's no surprised tone in his voice. This must be a normal thing.
"That's none of your concern, kid." Max says, his words slurring slightly as he points his finger at Joji. He turns his attention to me, his face lighting up with a smile. "You must be Corinne! George has told us so much about you! He says- he says- George, what is it you say?" He asks loudly, and Joji laughs nervously and pulls me into the house gently by the waist before Max can continue.
"He's drunk, he doesn't know what he's talking about." Joji says to me loudly, although I can tell it's directed at Max.
"Like hell I don't!" Max yells, his words even more slurred than before.
Joji pulls me away from Max's shouts and through hordes of people to the kitchen, and he stops behind another tall, lanky guy, although less so than Max. Joji clears his throat, and the guy turns around. He adjusts his glasses and a grin grows across his face when he sees Joji.
"Wow, George, you actually showed up. I'm damn shocked." He says, his voice seeping attitude, though it seems joking. "And you brought a date, I see." He adds, smiling towards me.
"She's- she's not a date." Joji stutters, his cheeks reddening with each word. "This is Corinne, my friend." He emphasises the word 'friend', but he sounds unsure of his own words.
"Just a friend, then?" Ian nods and looks to me, then back to Joji. "So you'd be cool if I were to ask her out for a drink sometime?" He asks. He's very clearly joking, but I notice Joji's grip on my waist tighten regardless.
I laugh uncomfortably, looking up at Joji, desperate to escape the room, which is slowly filling with people looking to get drinks. He nods at me and grabs two bottles of beer before pulling me out to the back, where we sit on the porch step. Joji opens both bottles and hands me one before taking a sip from his own.
"I hate parties." He says simply. I hold back a laugh, nodding my head.
"Nothing has really changed, then." I joke, taking a gulp of the bitter liquid.
"Honestly? Literally nothing has changed since we were teenagers, except for who I'm friends with." He says quietly, looking out at the quickly setting December sun.
We sit in silence for a few minutes, drinking from our bottles.
After about five minutes, Joji stands up, empty bottle in hand. "I'll be back. I need another drink." He says, and I smile gently as he walks back inside.
Less than a minute after Joji walks inside, Max stumbles out and manages to sit next to me without falling. "Heyyy, Corinne!" He slurs out. "Let's- hic- talk about George."
I sigh and turn my head to see George talking to Ian, and they both quickly look at me, then look away. I look to Max, shrugging. "What is there to talk about?"
"Honey." Max snorts, shaking his head. "You're- hic- all he's talked about since- hic- we met." He waves his hand wildly, taking a long gulp from his beer. "Two years ago." Max adds.
"I feel bad for you, then. Hearing him talk about the same thing for two years straight- it must've been mad annoying." I say quietly, looking down at my bottle.
"No, you don't- hic- get what I'm saying." Max shakes his head again, growing irritated.
"Okay, then what are you saying, Max?" I sigh impatiently. "You know, I should really go find George." I say, getting up. Max grabs my wrist gently.
"When he saw you, the first thing he did was call me. He was so fucking happy, Corinne."
I scoff and shake my head. "I'm sure he was, Max."
"You don't even see it, do you?" He asks. I turn to face him, raising my left eyebrow.
"See what?"
Max looks up at me, his face full of sadness. "He's still in love with you, Corinne."
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Song - Problem (Natalia Kills)
