This is the pre-party, they explain...

"Uh, where are all the other girls?" you ask, starting to feel a touch nervous.

The host and Mark exchange a look before Mark answers. "This is the pre-party. The preparations before the actual party. There'll be more people along later."

"Oh," you say, the question not really answered, and feeling more exposed than you feel comfortable with, even if the male part of your mind seems to be seeing this as a fantasy or erotic computer game. "So what do we do now?"

"First, I say we have a drink," the host says, and dares Mark's possessiveness by putting his arm around your waist, his hand nearly reaching all the way around to the front of your thigh, resting on the short hem of your dress.

"Drinks?" your eyes light up. Being a nerd you haven't exactly been to many parties, and though you've always wanted to try it you've never tasted beer before. "Lead on!"

The boys smile at your eagerness, their smiles seemingly anticipatory, which amuses you. Apparently they're as eager to drink as you are.

"Afterwards I think she ought to have a dance with each of us five, seeing as we're the first to greet her," one of the boys says as you walk into a large side-room, supported in either side by Matt, who's idly twisting one strap around his finger, and the host, whose daring fingers have ventured beneath the hem of your dress and ventured a little ways upward.

"Umm..." you hedge, uncertain about the suggestion and worrying about the hands when you're not focussing on walking. Besides, you've never danced before and you're not sure you wouldn't make a fool of yourself.

One of the boys who isn't walking behind you goes over to a small fridge and pulls out some bottles. He pops off the tops, hands them around to the guys. As he pops the top off yours he turns toward the bar, turning back a moment later with a glass.

"Unless you want to drink from the bottle?" he asks. You shake your head minutely and he turns away again to pour the drink, handing you a frosty mug of frothy beer.

"To party girls," the host says with a wink, raising his mug. The others repeat his words, and you're left feeling at a bit of a loss as to what you should say or do. Finally you give a slight smile and clink your glass against theirs.

"To party boys," you say with a teasing smile and wink, then take your first sip of beer.

"Damn Sue, you normally chug the stuff," Mark says, sounding disappointed.

"Chug? I can chug..." you say, and just like you've done many times with soda you pour the mug into your mouth and down your throat.

The boys cheer, and the responding quirk of your lips makes a small stream of beer run down your chin and neck before disappearing into your extremely exposed cleavage.

"More drinks or dance?" Mark asks as you come up for air. You wipe your chin, realizing you didn't even get the chance to actually taste the beer before you chugged it.