Everyone Joins the Fun

"Well, damn, I feel overdressed!" Trish decides as I answer the door. She's wearing tight yellow t-shirt with a high-waisted green pleated skirt, showing off her long legs. She's definitely less dressed up than the rest of us, but isn't that just Trish all over?

"Wait until you see Elise!" I warn her. "Come on in, you got booze?" I ask, gesturing for her to follow me to the living room. I moved the chairs from the kitchen in here, that way there should be enough for all of us. Trish snags one of the sofa seats, figures she'd get in good and early.

"Here, brought a spare in case we run low." She offers me a bottle of whisky, this doesn't look like the same brand as the one she had at Elise's. "I got the strong stuff this time, so sorry if I get drunk and steal your girlfriend." She jokes.

Yeah, not likely... Unless I'm invited... Damn, it's been too many hours since I got laid. "I'll put it in the kitchen, Elise should be down in a minute" I assure her before putting the bottle on the side in the kitchen. I hear footsteps down the stairs, but I can't tell who it is. The voice answers my question.

"What's up, bitch?" Rouge greets her... Friend? I guess.

I follow the sound back to the living to find Rouge has taken the other sofa seat and is laying her legs across Trish. She's wearing a patterned grey dress that looks like black tendrils are spreading across her body, with equally root-like patterns on her tights, like she's being overtaken by some malevolent ****. Or so I assume is the point. I decide to take the big chair that Jasper usually sits in, I deserve to be comfy too!

"Where is Elise anyway?" Trish asks, pushing Rouge's legs off her, soliciting a protest from my sister.

"Finishing her make-up, I'm a bit scared of what she's gonna look like, because when I left... Woah..." I admit.

"You two make me a little sick, you know that?" Rouge states, adjusting herself to sit straight. "You should be banned from being happy, you make the rest of us look depressed." I'd feel bad, but I've earned it, there's been enough negativity.

Another knock at the door, I wait to see if Rouge will volunteer to get it. I guess not. Back to the door I go. This time it's the people I expected to turn up last.

"Wow, looks like I made the right choice getting here on time." Skye decides as she looks at my dress. Then my tits. Still my tits. Okay, at what point does it get obvious? I snap my fingers in front of my chest, snapping Skye out of her trance. Her hair's pulled into a side pony tail, and she's wearing a lacey white dress with long sleeves, but more translucent across her chest, so she could still show off her boobs... Which I'm suddenly insanely jealous of, wow, they're bigger than I remember.

Rob on the other hand looks... The same. I think he changed his T-Shirt. Go Rob. "I think what she means is, thank you for inviting us." He translates, handing me a bottle of vodka. "I brought a spare, in case we run out." Okay, how many people thought we'd have no ****? I mean they're right, but still... I gesture for them to follow me inside, leading them to the living room.

"Guys, this is my friend Trish, and my sister Rouge." I introduce them. "This is Skye and her brother Rob." I add, gesturing to each. The everyone's silent for a moment. Silence is never a good time at a party. Is it? I'm pretty sure it's not.

Rouge stands and turns to out guests. "Sorry about the other night, I was in a bad mood." She states. Oh, okay, no trying to ignore it or anything? That's convenient I guess.

"Wait, you were the girl who shouted at me!" Rob realises. Huh. So he did forget. Smooth, sis. "Nah, it's cool, you in a better mood now?" He asks. Well, no blood feud there.

"Well, why did no one tell me there was another one of you that's single?" Skye interrupts, floating closer to Rouge. "How do you do?" She asks, extending her hand like she's expecting Rouge to kiss it.

She looks at Skye's hand before looking to Trish. "What is it with virgins and trying to turn me? Is it something I'm putting out there?" She asks, sitting back down without even looking at Skye. Ouch. Weirdest thing, I didn't even tell her Skye was a virgin. Rouge scares me sometimes. Rob seems to find it hilarious, however, as he guides her to sit down. I decide to put away the extra bottle before they can start tearing each other apart, which is when my patience pays off.

Elise descends the stairs, now adorned in all her make-up and my choker... Who am I kidding, it's her choker now. She looks like a movie star, I'd pay to see her. I'd pay double for the x-rated version. Leaving the bottle on the side I meet her at the bottom of the stairs.

"You know, sometimes I think you can't get prettier. Then I see you again." I admit, pulling her into my arms. I lean forward, but her finger stops my lips.

"Let my lipstick settle first." She demands. It's a hard bargain. I take her hand, and plant a kiss on the back of it instead. Elise fails to hold back a smile as I escort her to the living room, where conversation's turned to Trish.

"Oh, we know each other from school, we just kind of all fell in with each other..." Trish trails up as she realises everyone's looking at the doorway. Elise has that kind of aura tonight. I can't blame people for getting distracted.

Rouge is the one to break the stalemate. "Fuck, you picked that out and you thought that other dress was cute? Your sense of style is fucked up." She observes. Elise curtsies as she passes to rub it in, taking a seat next to mine. "This one's a new addition, she turned up one day and punched a girl in the face so now she's stuck with us." Rouge explains badly.

"There were a few other details you left-" I attempt to argue before getting cut off.

"Anyway, what're you guys drinking?" Trish interrupts. Yeah, probably better to leave the drama until we're at least a few drinks in. Rouge, Rob, and Skye each raise a bottle of vodka... Guess we're not running out of that. "Who knew, the rockers all drink the same cheap shit!" Trish laughs. Glasses. I haven't brought out any glasses. Shit.

"Speaking of, I'm gonna go get you something to drink out of." I announce, Rouge nods and follows me to help carry them. "So, what do you think?" I whisper to her on the way through.

"They're fine. He's bangable enough, she's **** enough to fuck Trish, wins all round." She answers... Not quite what I meant.

"Right, and as people?" I specify.

Rouge just shrugs. "Haven't decided yet." We return to the living room and hand out glasses, I'd picked up one of the wine bottles while I was in there so we can finally relax.

Another knock at the door. Hosting is hard. Luckily Rouge is still standing so she takes this one, exiting the room.

"Well, your sister's a character." Skye tells me. Trust me, I know.

Elise pipes up after taking a sip of wine. "Oh, you've no idea. You have to learn we're all part of the Rouge show, she's unstoppable." She advises euphemistically.

"And that show doesn't have a love interest?" Skye clarifies. Oh, poor girl. She's like a young me... Who's older than me... Socialisation is a tricky thing.

"That's a tricky subject." I answer, one eye on Trish. "But I'm the only gay one in the family, so I wouldn't get your hopes up." I add, weirdly, this seems to make Skye's smile bigger.

"What about you?" She asks, looking to Trish. Shit. Elise and Rouge don't even need to coax her into sniffing around Trish, I'm so getting fucked. Figuratively and literally.

Trish smirks before replying. "Single by choice, with short-term exceptions." She explains. Wow, we went from radical honesty to subtext really quickly. Rouge returns, followed by a couple of familiar faces. "Geek Chic and Himbo!" Trish declares. Gabriel and Henry follow Rouge through... Huh, it's occurring to me that I didn't last part with either of these two on good terms. Elise appears to sense my tension, her fingers interlocking with mine. I take a sip of wine. I'm gonna need it.

"Patty!" Henry answers in a jolly tone. Himbo definitely fits Henry, he's not the brightest, but his nickname for Trish is...

"Again, my name isn't Patricia, it's just Tricia, but I'm still happy to see you, you goof." She explains slowly, standing up and offering him a hug. Gabriel stays quiet, guess he's still scared after last time. Guess I have to play the hostess with the joint-mostess. I wave him to come over, I'm not standing up again right now... My legs are a little shaky under this dress.

"Hey, I realised you haven't been introduced properly yet, Gabriel, this is my girlfriend Elise." I offer. Poor kid looks more scared than me, and that's saying something... I suppose the only thing he knows about Elise is that she beat up Amanda... Hell of a reputation.

Elise offers her hand to shake, to which he responds in kind, but also greets her in French. Which I don't understand. Oh good. She answers in kind, before returning to English. "Could use some work but you're not bad." She affirms. He seems to relax at this acceptance. He and Henry take up a couple of chairs next to Trish, our ranks are growing, almost feels like a proper party.

Our new additions made the effort to at least wear shirts, Gabriel's black with matching trousers, Henry's white with blue jeans. They sort of look like a waiter and a cowboy. It's cute in a weird way.

"Hey Scarlet, like the new style!" Henry greets me cheerfully. He really doesn't seem to remember what happened with Amanda... Or doesn't want to... Can't say I blame him either way. "You're the band from Free Ride, right?" He asks Skye and Rob, who nod and introduce themselves. Of course Henry knows Free Ride, makes me wonder... How long was he in the closet exactly? Poor guy.

"I'd play some music, but someone blocked me from bringing my guitar..." He offers, giving a side-eye to his sister.

"I did you a favour, trust me, you'd hear nothing else all night." Skye explains succinctly. "But I wouldn't mind hearing some of your tunes." She adds, looking to Rouge. Back to Rouge again? This girl switches who she's flirting with on a dime, just pick one... Wow, she really is like me.

My sister, being the conscientious host she is, walks over to the stereo in the corner and sets up the music. As expected it's some punk rock band I've never heard of. Some things never change. This does prove beneficial to me, however, as that means she's standing when the final knock occurs. Only fair that Rouge go, right? She seems to disagree from the look on her face, but exits the room anyway.

"That'll be Anya, and whoever it was she was bringing." I tell Elise. Everyone's chatting away, it's hard to keep up, until the life of the party arrives.

"Howdy all!" Anya declares loudly, following Rouge through the living room door. "You guys remember Kara, right?" She adds to Skye and Rob, as a younger looking Japanese girl with jet black hair follows her in... She looks familiar.

"Doesn't she go to our school?" Elise asks. Yeah, kind of blends into the background, she's in our PE class... But how does Anya know her? Wait, was she gay this whole time? She's wearing a sparkly blue dress, which seems to match with the red version Anya's wearing...

"Seems like it's finally party time!" Trish announces, raising her glass, before everyone mimics her with various cheers.

I've made a horrible mistake, haven't I?