serendipity | wroetoshaw

The Night That Started Everything

16th November, 2019

*Ping*

I look down at my phone and see a text from the one and only Calfreezy.

Freez☃️

yo, early birthday party round mine at 7. you down?

fuckkk, it's already 5, wyd to me :(

nahhh come on, lit everybody is coming n I want you to meet them

who's everybody?

come onnnn, I'll see u at 7 then yeah?

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Cal and I have been friends for a few years now. I used to edit his videos back in 2015, but when I stopped, we carried on being good mates. Cal persuaded me to move to London earlier this year, to 'better my career' apparently, so really, he's the only proper friend I have down here. I know a few of his friends, like Lux and Harry, as I've been around Cal's a handful of times to hang out, however, I wouldn't necessarily classify them as my good mates. My main source of income is Twitch and Instagram. I stream on there nearly every day and have a decent following, so I know a few others like Talia and Gee, whom I've met before at a few Twitch events. I do have a Youtube where I post the occasional video, however, I mostly reupload my best clips from Twitch.

I was nervous. This wasn't normally like me. I love meeting new people, however coming down to London, really knocked my confidence. London is such a big city and everybody is obsessed with followers and connections, but I was just trying to have fun; apparently, that doesn't work around here.

'Fuck,' I said to myself. I hopped into the shower, so hopefully, I at least looked somewhat presentable. After that, I applied a bit of makeup, curled my hair, and by that time it was already 6:50. Cal had said that drink would have been provided, but I couldn't just show up without anything, so I grabbed my water bottle, filled with sambuca, placed it into my handbag and ordered an Uber. I only drink sambuca as I can't drink volume, and frankly, vodka is disgusting.

I had around 10 minutes before the uber arrived, so I decided to choose an outfit. I slipped on my favourite light blue dress and my white Nike air max 97's. The dress had thin spaghetti straps that crossed at the back, which is why it was my favourite dress: simple but not boring. I exited my apartment, locked the door, and headed to downstairs to my uber.

---

As I stepped out of my uber, I could already hear the music. I took a deep breath and began to walk to the front door, but as I was about to knock, the door flung open.

'Lil!' a drunk Freezy shouted while flinging his arms around me, 'I knew you'd come.' He tightly pulled me into an embrace, placing his chin on my head.

'And I knew you'd already be drunk.' I pulled away from Cal, trying to contain my laughter. I rolled my eyes and shot him a big smile.

'Everybody got here like half an hour ago, but I told you 7 because I know you hate being the first one there.' Cal placed his hand on my head and ruffled my hair; a smile beaming from his face. 'Come on, let's get inside.'

'You know me too well,' I laughed. I stepped into the house, with Cal's arm around my shoulder, not knowing what to expect as I walked into the living room.

'Yo guys, this is Lillia, she's been my friend for bare now so I thought it was about time for everybody else to meet her,' Cal shouts, 'but please make her feel welcome.' Everybody turned to face me. I recognised a few faces: Talia was here, latched onto Simon's hip on the sofa, Josh and Freya next to them also. Harry, Lux and JJ were in the kitchen by the drinks and Gee was sitting with a few lads I didn't recognise. Apparently, they were Chip and Gib, and the rest of the Sidemen, Vik, Tobi and Ethan, were scattered around the living room.

'No way Lil! As if, I haven't seen you in bare,' Talia screamed and jumped off the sofa, pulling me into a hug.

'Omg hi, it's literally been forever.' I squeeze Talia slightly and pull away, before shooting her a big grin.

'Gee look! It's Lillia, from twitch, you remember right?' Talia grabbed my hand and pulled me over to Gee. Gee hadn't noticed me when I walked in, but she sure did now.

'Shit Lil!!! How've you been,' Gee said standing up and walking towards me.

'Yeah, I've been great thank you. How are you? I feel like we haven't spoken in ages,' I replied. It was so lovely seeing the girls again and it was nice to have a few familiar faces here too.

'Yeah yeah, I've been ace thanks. You got a drink yet or...?'

'Not yet, but I'll go get one now,' I laughed. I walked over to the kitchen counter and pulled out a few shot glasses from the pile in the centre. I turned my back to everybody as I grabbed my sambuca-filled water bottle from my handbag and began to fill up the 4 empty shot glasses.

'Hi Lil, I- you know we have drink here right? You didn't have to bring your own.' I jumped out of my skin and turned around to see Harry standing behind me. 

'Aha yeah, I know, but I only drink sambuca,' I replied.

'Wait there,' Harry said. I watched as he rushed upstairs, presumably to his bedroom, and returned back with a large clear bottle. 'Me too, I, er, have mine upstairs so nobody steals it. You can have this if you want.' Harry hands me his glass bottle.

'Nooo Boggo, it's good seriously, thank you though. I'll be fine with this,' I said while pointing to my water bottle.

'Oh okay, no worries, you're going to need more than 4 to catch up with us all though. JJ's already nearly passed out.' Harry pointed to JJ, now lying across one of the sofas, looking quite literally dead. 'He's still celebrating after his big win if you know what I mean,' Harry winks.

I let out a small laugh and hit Harry's arm. 'You're a fucking idiot. You know that don't you?'

Harry rolled his eyes, shooting me a knowingly smile. We locked eyes for a moment, holding Harry's gaze before Cal interrupted us.

'Go on Lil, show Harry what you do best,' he winked, placing his hand on Harry's back.

'I-uh,' I muttered, 'Cal, what the fuck are you talking about?'

'Your drink! Fuck sake Lil, down them all,' he shouts, 'don't pretend like I haven't seen you down 5 shots and a pint, straight after another!' Cal pushed Harry out of the way and begins to finish pouring my drinks.

I shoot Harry a confused glace, before letting out a little giggle. 'Cal, you know me better than anybody and you think 4 is a challenge? Fuck it,' I laughed. I threw back the shots, one after the other, without flinching; sambuca didn't even taste like alcohol anymore.

'Damnnnnnn,' JJ shouted from across the room. He seemed to have woken up by now, and as I looked around, I realised everybody had just silently watched me.

'How did you not even flinch?' Talia exclaimed; even the music had been turned down.

Slapping his hand against my back, Cal laughed, 'It's the only thing she's good at.' A huge smile formed on my face.

'Shit,' I thought to myself. 'I hope they like me.'