A Thin Line Between Love AnD Friendship (completed)

The office party!

It had been a month since I bumped into Tom and I still felt uncomfortable around him, every now and then our eyes met each other either in the cafeteria or in the lift area but after a short eye to eye to contact we both always used to look elsewhere. Thank God I had Steve in the office to keep my mind away from Tom.

Our office had made good profits in the previous quarter and to celebrate that the office was throwing a party for all the employees. Steve asked me to be his date to the office party and I said Yes! The only thing troubling me was the fact that Tom would also be coming to this party and just thinking about this made a little uncomfortable. I never thought that I would face such a situation with Tom, who was my best friend not too long ago, but I guess that's how life is, its unpredictable!

Back home I was in touch with Rachel and told her about my little encounter with Tom and how we have been ignoring each other since we got to know we are in the same office, Rachel was surprised to know about me and Tom working in the same place, "talk about coincidence she said", she advised me to be civil with him and try talking to him since we did share a history together and after all, "It was Tom, she said"! But I was still unsure about interacting with him and guilty too I guess, because it was me who broke the communication, I stopped replying to his messages after few months, we both were busy in our lives and long-distance friendships don't last I convinced myself, moreover I started feeling insecure after Tom began telling me about his dates and girls he was seeing! The heart makes you do crazy things, you see!!

The party was this Friday after office and it was Wednesday today since Steve and I were going together he told me to be ready by 7 and that he'll pick me up by that time. I had found a studio apartment a few blocks away from main Manhattan, where my office was located, I bagged a decent deal for my apartment because the owner was leaving the country for a few months and he was desperately looking for someone to take care of his apartment and his Dog! I promised him I'll take care of both, wink and bang I got the apartment! 

I had to go shopping to look for a nice dress that I could wear on Friday for the party. The whole of the Thursday evening after the office was spent looking for the dress, poor Steve was dragged along since I didn't want to go alone and I needed someone for choice and selection. Steve has been such a good friend to me, the office would be so dull and boring without him. 

I was trying my 20th dress (i know I'm too picky) and Steve was irritated to the core, he warned me that this was the last dress that I was trying otherwise he would just leave me here on my own. I looked at my self in the mirror, it was a nice little black dress, with lace around the shoulders, I had to make sure that I looked appropriate for the office party, I didn't want to look too slutty! Steve took a look at my dress and gasped, "you look beautiful", he said, I got a little blush on my cheeks and I took a second look at the mirror, I looked alright I thought to myself! Finally, we bought the black dress and headed on our way back home. Steve stopped the car in front of my apartment and looked at me, I gave him a peck on the cheek and thanked him for being so patient with me today, his cheeks became a little red when I kissed him and he looked at me and said, " see you tomorrow in office Tiffany", we said goodnight to each other and then he headed back home. 

The next morning after finishing my work early, I headed back home to get dressed and all the way to my house I kept on thinking what I would do if I saw Tom or if our eyes meet! I was nervous not about the party but about seeing Tom there. 

While I was lost in my thoughts I received a call from Steve and all my worries suddenly vanished away  and a smile crept on my lips, "oh, stop it Tiffany", I thought to myself. Steve and I had gotten really close in the past few days and I felt really happy around him, he had a very positive aura that made me very comfortable around him.  Steve spoke from the other end of the phone in his chirpy voice asking me about how much time I'm gonna take to get ready and I informed him that I'll be done in 1-hour max and Steve said, "I'll be there to pick up my date around 8 then", and I just smiled hearing that. 

As promised, Steve was there outside my door at exactly 8 p.m and when I opened the door he let out a little gasp and said," you look beautiful Tiffany!" and I couldn't help but blush. Steve had brought me roses that smelled really nice, I put the flowers in the vase and quickly made my way to his car, being the gentleman that Steve is, he opened the car door and let me inside. Then he quickly made it to the driver's seat and we drove to the party. 

The drive on way to the party was quiet, Steve was a big fan of jazz so he played some jazz music on way, after I said that let us hear some party music since we were headed to a party he started playing some pop and hip hop songs. We started singing along the lyrics of some of the songs, and I realized that Steve was really goofy if he wanted to be. We were singing our lungs out and after 40 minutes of screaming rather than singing the songs, we reached our destination and Steve opened the door for me to exit and handed over his car keys for Valet parking!

The party was at a lounge not too far away from where our office was located and as we entered the first person I saw was........ [no points for guessing ;)] none other than TOM!