Meeting the party

The doorbell rings just as I finish my last bite. To my surprise, Sila shoots out of her seat before I can react. Waiting in my chair, I hear Sila say "Elliot!"

The sound of wet lips meeting rings out before Sila leads who I assume is Elliot inside. The scrawny guy has messy blonde curls and wears a shoulder bag.

"So, this is Roxy." Sila says.

"Hey Roxy." Elliot states. "Nice hair."

"Thanks Elliot."

"No problem." His voice whimpers out, hinting at some anxiety.

"Well, I guess you need to set up?"

"Yeah that'd be good."

"Come with me."

I lead him to the table in the living room. It might be a little cramped, but I'm not gonna be able to pull a bigger one out of my ass. Elliot doesn't seem to comment and plants his bag on the table, before noticing my picture.

"Did you draw this?"

"Oh yeah. I dabble in art."

"Well it's pretty cool. I mean better than what I can do."

"Thanks. You uhh, need anything?" I ask.

"Oh uh, no I'm good thanks."

"Drink?"

"Uh, actually a coffee might be good."

"I'll get it." Sila calls out.

Elliot proceeds to sit down before pulling out some screen with fantasy art on it. I decide to grab a White Claw for +1 drunkness before the doorbell rings once more. This time I answer the door, finding a slight Asian kid who's about the same age as my other two guests, wearing a hoodie that says 'Nuka Cola', which is a reference that escapes my mind.

"Hey. This Sila's place?" He asks.

"Yep. I'm her roommate Roxy."

"Craig."

"Nice to meet you."

That's when a girl walks up behind Craig. The brunette is tall, like too tall. Easily six feet, if not more, and slender, dressed in a casual set of jeans and a purple top. When she nears, her doe-like brown eyes look to me before she says "Hi."

"Hey there." I say.

"Oh, hey Beth." Craig says with a nervous stutter.

Beth looks to me. "You must be Roxy?"

"And you must be Beth."

"Well, come on in guys."

I lead the two to the kitchen before Beth asks "So is everyone here?"

"Uhh, we're waiting on one."

" Jayden."

"I guess."

"Probably Jayden." Beth rolls her eyes. "He's always late."

"Well, can I get you anything whilst you wait?" I ask, before stealing a sip from my can.

"I'm good."

"Same."

Sila then pops in to say hi, before grabbing the snacks she had pre-purchased and planting them on the table.

"So what are you guys playing?" I ask.

"Paladin." Beth says.

"Haran Ironclad, Half-Orc Barbarian." Craig boasts.

"Okay so you break shit. What does a Paladin do?"

"Break shit and heal stuff."

"Okay, so I'll be extra nice to you."

A small smile lights up Beth's mouth before Craig says "What are you playing?"

"Bard. I mean it's probably an odd choice for a first-time player, but I guess that's why it appealed to me."

"Fair enough."

"I mean I dunno, I saw Bard and I just went 'The fuck is a bard gonna do?'"

We all share a laugh, before the doorbell rings once more, signaling the arrival of our final party member. Heading to the door, I find a guy with long blondish brown hair, wearing a plaid top over some Every Time I Die merch. He looks up to my mohawk as I say "Nice shirt."

"Thanks."

"You must be Jayden?"

"Yeah. You Sila's roommate?"

I give him a nod. "Roxy. Come on in."

We head inside to see Sila grabbing some bottles of soda from the fridge. "Oh, hey Jayden."

"Hey."

Following Sila to the table, we find everyone seated and waiting for the two of us.

"'Sup guys." Jayden says.

"Hey Jay. Glad you could make it." Elliot replies.

"No problem."

He proceeds to sit down next to Craig, who's at the right end of the table. I find myself between Beth and Jayden, before Sila sits down with Beth, on the left end of the table. Elliot looks up to us, and proceeds to ask "You all ready?"

"I think so." Beth meekly replies, to which we all agree.