Party Games

‘Um, Sophie,’ Emily tried to speak over the laughter once her friend’s version of the Science Museum story came to an end, ‘Would it be okay if –‘

‘So, Emily,’ interrupted Vanessa, leaning in conspiratorially, ‘it sounds as though you are quite comfortable in your own skin?’

‘What? Well…’

‘Well you should be, you have quite lovely skin.’ Vanessa patted Emily’s thigh in a friendly manner.

‘Oh, thank you,’ Emily blushed. ‘Sophie, would you mind…’

Melody poured a large glass of wine and offered it to Emily with a broad smile. ‘I’m glad you’re here, you seem like a lot of fun.’ Emily tucked the lower edge of the towel between her thighs to ensure it stayed in place, then reached for the wine. As her arm was outstretched Melody drew back so the glass was out of reach.

‘Oh, I’m so sorry,’ the tall girl seemed shocked, as though she had just committed an awful faux pa. ‘Is red okay? I didn’t ask. I can get you white?’

‘Oh, no, red is fine,’ Emily smiled, reaching out further. Her torso was now leaning forward, the towel hanging from her breasts in an arc to her crotch.

‘Are you sure?’ Melody took a small step back as Emily’s hand came close to the glass. ‘It’s no bother. I’ll give you anything you want.’

‘This is perfect,’ Emily felt her smile turning into a grimace as she reached even further, her bottom just rising from the sofa.

‘It’s a Malbec, is that okay? I can see if there is anything else? If you could have anything, what would it be?’

The backs of Emily’s thighs were straining, keeping her in this position, leaning forward, arm outstretched, with her naked bottom just above the seat cushion. ‘Malbec is perfect, it’s my favourite.’

Melody looked at the bottle. ‘Oh, silly me! This isn’t Malbec, it’s Rioja. Too spicy, I’ll bet you like plums.’ She winked and smiled at Emily and whisked the glass away. ‘I’ll go get you a Malbec.’ And she was gone.

Emily sank back onto the sofa. Susan was staring at her, smiling, eyes wide.

‘You have wonderfully strong legs,’ Vanessa whispered, her hand still on Emily’s thigh.

‘Okay, Sophie,’ Emily said a little louder than she intended, ‘Could you get me some clothes?’

Sophie glanced over. ‘Oh, yes, sure. Back in a second.’ She stood up to leave as Emily sighed with relief. Finally!

Melody stopped Sophie at the doorway. ‘I’ve just had a wonderful idea! We should have a game of charades! We haven’t played that in years!’

‘Charades?’ Sophie looked surprised. ‘We haven’t played that for years because we are not five years old.’

Melody handed Emily a wine glass. Emily assumed this was different wine, although it looked the same as the earlier glass. Turning back to Sophie she said, ‘Oh, I think it might be a lot of fun. Why don’t we give it a try?’

Sophie paused, then smiled broadly. ‘Oh, yes. It has been a long time. Okay! I’ll be the referee!’ She sat back down and started scribbling on a piece of paper, then tearing strips off and folding them before dropping them into an empty glass.

‘Erm, I don’t think I’m going to be able to play,’ grimaced Emily.

‘Oh, nonsense!’ replied Susan. ‘It’s easy! You just pick a thing to mime, then we try to guess what it is!’

‘No, I know how to play, it’s just…’ she looked down at herself, noticing Vanessa’s hand still on her thigh.

‘Look, gorgeous,’ Melody tried to reassure her. ‘We’ll go first, you’ll pick it up.’

This at least gave Emily a little more time, maybe before it came to her turn Sophie might get her something to wear.

Vanessa went first, and Emily took the opportunity of having some space to try to adjust her towel. It didn’t seem to make much difference, she was aware of her breasts spilling out at the sides, and of course her hips were quite exposed. At least from the front she was sort of covered.

The blonde girl stood in front of the group. ‘Okay,’ shouted Sophie, ‘Two minutes. Go!’ She mimed a movie camera. ‘Oh, a movie!’ Susan and Melody cried out in unison. Vanessa pointed at them. Correct.

She held two fingers up. Two words. One finger. First word. She pointed into the air. ‘Sky?’ queried Melody. Vanessa shook her head, jabbing a finger into the air. ‘Sun? Moon?’ She wiggled the fingers of both hands in a ball shape. ‘Jellyfish?’ ventured Susan.

Vanessa thought for a moment, then drew a five pointed shape in the air. ‘Star?’ She pointed at Susan, correct! Second word. She wiggled her earlobe with her fingers. Sounds like… She held four fingers up. ‘Sounds like four?’ Melody tried. Correct. ‘Four.. Saw? Door? More? Pour?’

‘War?’ said Emily sheepishly. Vanessa pointed, overjoyed, and made a stretching motion with her hands. Keep going. ‘Star Wars?’ Emily tried. Vanessa pointed excitedly, then rushed over for a huge hug, squishing Emily’s face into her breasts. Melody and Susan clapped and cheered.

‘Well done!’ Sophie laughed. ‘Star Wars. Susan. Your turn.’

Susan’s mime was a film and a book. Two words. First word, she held her fists up like a boxer. Fight. Second word, sounds like… she rubbed her arm. Sounds like rub. Again, the guesses were all over the place, and Emily had to step in. ‘Fight Club.’ Again, cheers, and Susan rushed over to hug Emily, rubbing her back.

Melody’s turn was a TV show. Emily was becoming nervous; it was supposed to be her turn next and she was still wearing just the towel. Surely Sophie would remember that she had forgotten to get those clothes in time?

Three words. First word: Melody made a T shape with her hands. The.

Second word: she walked across the room. ‘Walk? Walks? Walking?’ Correct, walking.

Third word: she tugged her ear. Sounds like… she pointed at her head. ‘Sounds like… head?’ Correct.

‘Okay,’ said Vanessa, ‘I’ve got this!’ She put her arm around Emily, excited. ‘The Walking…’ Melody pointed at her head again, then wiggled her earlobe. ‘The Walking Hair?’ Melody wrinkled her eyebrows.

‘No,’ said Susan, ‘it sounds like head.’

‘Oh, sorry. The Walking… No, it’s gone.’

‘The Walking Dead,’ sighed Emily. It was time.

‘Sophie, I can’t do my turn, I need some clothes!’

‘Oh, Emily,’ soothed Melody, hugging her, ‘nobody minds! Also, you seem quite comfortable like this! I wish I was as sassy and as confident as you.'

‘I’m not comfortable!’ exclaimed Emily. ‘Sophie, please!’

‘Okay,’ agreed Sophie. ‘I’ll do you a deal. You have your go, we’ll stop for a break, then I’ll get you some clothes. You are so good at this, you’ve guessed all of them so far. I know you’ll be brilliant at miming and you don’t want to spoil the game now, surely.’ It was true, of course, Emily had guessed everything correctly. Maybe she was just really good at charades? Who knew? Okay, she would be able to get away with this. At worst it was only two minutes, then Sophie would get her some clothes.

She quickly stood, turning her bare bottom away from the group. Sidling over to Sophie, trying to keep the towel in place over herself, she picked the last slip of paper from the glass. Unfolding it, she read the words and tried to think how to mime this.

A Movie.

Two words.

The Hunt.