Things turn a little more eventful later on.

About an hour later, after everyone had arrived, you were relieved of your welcoming duties and instructed to go help with the drinks. Finding the once empty function room now packed to the brim with people as you weaved your way through them towards the kitchen. The faint sound of classical music (courtesy of a small orchestra in the back) barely audible over the loud chatter. Most of which came courtesy of the legions of housewives that were in attendance. Having dragged along their slightly less enthusiastic looking husbands.

You also spotted Bryce on your way. Joking around with Brandi, Gretchen and Lisa as he handed them each a glass of champagne. While in the center of the room stood Randall. Deep in conversation with Principle Johnson and a few other seemingly important guys.

Collecting a tray from the kitchen, you headed back out once again into the throng. The task in itself not being particularly difficult, but the actual act of doing it being incredibly demeaning. Basically feeling like some lowly servant, whom half the people pretty much ignored. Barely even making eye contact with you as they took their drinks. ...And you had thought taking coats was bad!

Still, at least this outfit isn't as bad as what Randall had me wearing, you said to yourself. A white shirt and bow tie combo being way more preferable to dressing up in Miss. Card's lingerie. The thought of being seen like that making you cringe.

Putting your head down though and getting on with it, figuring it's only for a few hours and then hopefully never again, you managed to get through it. Acting as friendly and professional as you could. Biting your tongue whenever some uppity bitch ordered you around, or made some ridiculous request you couldn't possibly fulfill.

"Fuck me if these Booster Club people aren't demanding," you sighed after finally getting a reprieve. Exchanging your first words with Bryce in nearly a full two hours. "They're acting like they're the fucking elite or something. Not a bunch of suburban mom's raising money for sports equipment!"

"Tell me about it, bro. I'm all for helping out the football team, but why couldn't we just have had a bikini car wash instead?"

"Heh, yeah," you chuckled. Liking the thought of that a damn sight better. Especially if the Cheerleading squad was involved. "Then again, I don't really like the thought of seeing Mrs. Walsh in a bikini."

"Eww, Jesus. Fuck no!" Bryce grimaced, suddenly getting the mental picture. This causing you to laugh. "Miss. Card maybe, but not Brandon's mom!"

You had to agree there. Picturing your friend in a bikini or even that swimsuit he'd modeled for you a few weeks back. All soapy and wet. His massive mammaries glistening in the sun... Speaking of Randall, you had to wonder how he was getting on out there. Having last seen him gliding around the dance floor with some middle aged bald man. Smiling and laughing away as if he was having the time of his life, while in reality you very much doubted this was the case. Having been dreading this thing for weeks. Not really having all that high an opinion of Terri Walsh, nor her Booster Club Cronies. Still, he put on a good show, you had to give him that. Unlike Coach Mullins, who still looked as uncomfortable and out of place as he had done when you'd first arrived. Hovering around at the back all by himself. Throwing back glass after glass of wine. And to think of the shit he gave us for drinking!

Mentioning this to Bryce to see if he'd also noticed, you both began chuckling at the fact that he was seemingly having a worse time of it than you. Social occasions like this clearly not being in the coach's wheelhouse.

"...and what the hell is Principle Johnson doing here?"

"Fuck if I know," Bryce shrugged. "Probably hasn't got anything better to do on a Friday night." Adding with a smirk, "Still... you see Brandi and that are here?"

"Yeah, saw them come in," you nodded.

"Gretchen looks pretty hot, huh?"

"Uh... yeah. Yeah she does." She looked damn hot truth be told. They all did. Still, you had to wonder why he was bringing this up. Singling out Gretchen especially. And why there was a big grin painted across his face as he did. Did he know something you didn't? Had he heard if Gretchen actually liked you in that way or not?

Rather disappointingly you didn't get the chance to find out, as just as you were about to ask, a voice suddenly called out from behind.

"You two! What are you doing there just standing there?" It was Mrs. Manning, another volunteer who was in charge of the the kitchen side of things. A short, stout, quick tempered woman in her fifties, who - as you'd found out on two prior occasions - didn't like to see people just standing around. "There's glasses and plates to be cleared out there," she continued, glaring at you both. "Come on. Get a move on!"

Parting ways with Bryce and venturing reluctantly back out into the ballroom, you did as you were told and circled the tables, looking for dead drinks. Receiving the occasional "thank you", bad joke, and most embarrassingly of all, the odd compliment of what a "handsome young man" you were as you did. The latter coming exclusively from frumpy old housewives and not the gorgeous young hotties you would have preferred.

You did on your travels however spot Randall, looking as breathtaking as ever, drinking wine at the top table with Mrs. Walsh, Principle Johnson and the rest of the Booster Club cronies. Surrounded on all sides. I wonder if Johnson is trying to sleaze onto him again. Maybe that's why he came. Recalling what Randall had told you at the Back to School dance. How he'd been following him around like a lost sheep. While you weren't entirely convinced by Randall's story that the real Miss. Card had been dishing out blowjobs left right and center, you could very well see him having a hard on for her - just like pretty much everyone else at the school.

Heading back towards the kitchen again, now with a tray full of empty wine glasses, you tried to see if you could spot Gretchen again amongst the hustle and bustle. Recalling Bryce's rather suggestive smile. As it turned out, you didn't have too look far, walking pretty much head first into her as she suddenly appeared in front of you. Greeting you with a smile. "There you are!"

"Hey."

"Where've you been hiding?"

"Uh, nowhere," you told her. Assuming she must have meant in the last twenty minutes or so. "Me and Bryce were just catching a little break through the back there. Got chased out by Mrs. Manning."

"Ah. No rest for the wicked, huh?"

"Appears not. So hows it going anyway? You having fun at this thing?"

Although Gretchen was a Cheerleader and you would have assumed balls and fancy dresses and all that would be exactly her kind of thing, you also got the impression that she was a little more down to earth than some of the others. Convinced that all this wasn't exactly wowing her in the way she might have liked.

"It's okay I guess," she told you. Her lack of enthusiasm indicating that you were indeed right. "Help if there were a few more people our age. Plus it's kind of embarrassing watching Brandi's mom throwing herself on top of every man she sees."

Following her eyes across the room, you spotted a tall, blond woman in a dark red dress dancing away with an extremely uncomfortable looking man. Her hands pawing at his chest as she stumbled around rather embarrassingly. Almost falling over at one point. Causing you to let out an inadvertent little laugh when you realized it was Brandi Summer's mom. "Wow..."

"Yeah. She completely wasted already," Gretchen chuckled. Glancing over towards her less than happy looking friend who was also watching. "Brandi's furious."

"I don't blame her." The thought of your own mom acting like that being too awful for words.

"Anyway, how about you? Hows things on the other side?"

"Oh I'm having a ball!" you replied. Your sarcastic tone causing her to laugh. "Nothing beats giving up your Friday night to run around after sophisticated socialites such as yourself."

"Wow. Look at you with the big words. "Socialite". Someone's been paying attention in class!"

Laughing at this and continuing to make small talk for a few more minutes, you couldn't help but be struck once again by just how easy she was to talk to. The conversation on your initial few dates with Allison having never flowed this smoothly. And Gretchen really being nothing like you'd imagined her to be back in the days when she had just been some hot girl you and Randall used to lust after from afar. Not only was she really hot, but she was also smart and funny. A rare combination. The only question was, was she hot for you?

"There was actually something I was wanting to ask you..." she then said, peaking your interest.