The Greenhill Experiment

Chapter Three

The party started slowly from the kitchen, Charlie handing Kimmi and Alyssa poorly mixed drinks, the energy mellow and anti-climatic between just the three of them. Alyssa took a seat at the breakfast bar watching as Kimmi knocked back her first drink in seconds, groaning loudly at the aftertaste.

"Here," the blonde hummed licking her lips. "This one's yours."

Alyssa swirled the plastic cup in her hand. The alcohol was so potent she could smell it. She tipped her head back and swallowed with her eyes squeezed shut.

The usual party anthems blared from the living room speakers, Kimmi having somehow persuaded Charlie to let her DJ. Perched on the counter next to the sink, she swayed her head to the beat and hummed the tunes contently. There was an airiness to her expression which made her seem detached from the rest of the world, completely absorbed in a moment that nobody else was invited to. She was dressed in a midnight blue body suit which plunged at her chest and a leather skirt which enhanced her slender frame, but she was also the kind of person who could make a bin bag look like a high fashion piece, so it was never a surprise when she looked good. She'd gone particularly heavy on the eyeshadow and jewellery, her hair was curled perfectly and fell just below her shoulders, and she couldn't stop touching it, flicking it over her shoulder and pulling it forward again mindlessly as she spoke, drank and sang.

Never far enough to lift his hand from her thigh for more than a few seconds, Charlie was still wearing the same black jeans, but had now chosen a green shirt which Alyssa couldn't help but notice complimented the emerald tones of his eyes. He kissed Kimmi's cheek and she grinned appreciatively. It was like looking at Barbie and Ken, only Barbie would never be caught complain about her heels hurting her feet and Ken's shirt was for once buttoned all the way up.

"You're a scientist, right?" Alyssa asked seemingly out of nowhere, conscious that she'd made the awkward silence worse. She took a sip of whatever new alcoholic concoction had been shoved into her hand.

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, I work for the council doing medical research," he responded promptly, leaning back against the counter. "I'm only at a junior level so I'm hoping to get promoted to an official lab partner soon."

"That's really cool," she replied, wincing at how uncool her response probably sounded.

"Yeah. It's not bad. I'm good at it, keeps me busy and the pay isn't too bad either."

"Right, I bet."

"Yep..." He threw a shot back and began to pour himself another. For a second Alyssa assumed the conversation was over but once he'd swallowed whatever he was drinking, he pointed his index finger at her and continued. "English lit, right?"

"Uh, yeah. I just thought it was a great excuse to read. Would love to make money out of that somehow."

"Oh, all she does is read," Kimmi sighed, rolling her eyes.

"That's not a bad thing," he argued, raising his eyebrows at Kimmi, a subtle warning look.

"Ugh, you're both too clever for me," she joked, waving her hand flippantly.

"Don't be ridiculous, I bet your drama degree is really challenging," came a voice from the hallway.

He was tall, lanky and had a mouth that was constantly pulled into a smirk. He smelt faintly of cigarette ash and something sickly and Kimmi apparently disliked him based on her sour facial expression the second he appeared in the kitchen and opened a beer before anyone could greet him.

"Dale, this is Alyssa," Charlie said with a nod.

"Oooh, new house mate," he said, crossing the room and stepping uncomfortably close to her face. "I'm Dale and I apologise if I puke on you tonight - it happens." He shrugged before smoothing over his dirty blonde hair.