"It's too big!"
"But it's got to fit!" I pushed harder, trying to bend it slightly though the opening would not stretch.
"Dude, it ain't gonna work. Looks like you're stuck sleeping outside." Scott laughed and rested his arm on the mattress for a second.
I looked at what we were trying to accomplish; I was tempted to agree with him. I had been moving boxes all day, for the most part by myself, moving into this apartment. Finally, Scott showed up with Rocco, and they helped finish emptying the truck, saving the big stuff for last. Of course, I didn't have a lot of furniture to start off with, but it was better than when I first moved out on my own a few years back. Back then it had just been the clothes on my back.
Rocco walked in with a kitchen chair, laughing at our predicament. Always a bit of a smart ass, Rocco could get on some people's nerves easily. Tall, broad-shouldered and looking like a rugby player Rocco was easily the more physical of the group. But his sometimes rough demeanor was just a part of his charm. I had known him for the past 8 years when I had moved from Seattle down to Portland with my parents. He was the one who had introduced me to Scott. Scott was definitely different. Tall, charming with his blond wavy hair, all the women loved him. Hell, half the men worshiped him! He was cocky, sure, and was a womanizer, but he was my friend and I overlooked a lot.
Meeting both Scott and Rocco in high school, freshman year, the three of us had quickly become the best of friends. Rocco and Scott had been friends since childhood, so I was the newest member of our threesome, but after 8 years, they hardly reminded me of that. And I was thankful for that. Back in high school, I had been thin and a bit of a book-worm. A self-proclaimed nerd, I had a thing for the chemistry lab, and as a freshman, that didn't do well for my social life. Over the years, with the help of these two friends, and the football team, I had filled out and developed a strong, quiet sense of confidence. They were my best friends, and nothing could come between us.
Rocco walked over, and with that shit eating grin he was famous for, kicked the bottom of the mattress at an angle, and the damn thing started to slide into the bedroom. "Damn you Rocco, what the hell!" So annoying when he does that, Scott reached over and hits him on the arm, with no effect. The bed now into the room, we finished the move and went out to the tailgate of the truck with a few beers to relax.
"So, when is your first party, Mike?" Rocco always was on the lookout for a party, and I knew he would be planning one already. I told him New Year's Eve, which was in two weeks, would be a great time for a party. Since it was my place I knew I would have to supply a lot of the food, beer, and whatever else would be needed. Thankfully Rocco would have an idea of what to buy and where to get a good price for it all, considering my meager budget. I was only working nights at the local grocery market; stocking shelves and unloading trucks. It kept me in shape thankfully, but the pay was not that great. I would look for a better paying job in my field daily since those college loans had a way of not paying for themselves....
So Rocco and Scott discussed my party, while I just leaned back, enjoying the sunset. A few cars drove by, some kids from the high school days, waving. I half-listened to the two of them, discussing booze and broads. Scott more interested in the ladies, and Rocco more interested in the booze. I didn't drink too often, and the ladies? Well, sure, I had my particular brand of fun, but was not interested in the same boring women who only cared to sleep with a guy with a nice car. So I tended to work more those days, saving up money. That may be why I had my own apartment while these two were still living at home with their folks.
"What about Caterina?" Scott was going over his contact list in his cell, trying to find ladies to invite. Rocco and I looked up at him, surprised. "Caterina? As in Rocco's' Caterina?" I was curious, as there were not many women named Caterina that I knew of. Scott was grinning, and he had his cell to his ear already. I looked over at Rocco and asked him for his thoughts.
"Caterina and I are cool." Rocco said. "We hook up every once in a while, but she was dating some guy named Eric recently, so I don't know. We are just friends; she was only ever interested in having fun. You know her, don't you Mike?" I nodded, I knew her, though not well. Rocco and Caterina dated for a few years, off and on, one of those romances that always seemed to be on the rocks. I admitted, she was hot, but other than that, I had always only thought of her as Rocco's girl.
Scott snapped his phone shut. "Caterina is coming, bringing a few of her friends. We need to get things in motion on the booze department Mike." I laughed, knowing Scott would probably have the place packed with half-naked women by the time midnight struck on New Year's Eve." Rocco's phone rang just a second later, he laughed when he looked at it and answered. "Hey Cat, what's up?" He winked at me, Rocco thought he was sly. Then he looked at me curiously for a second, lowering the phone and handing it to me. "She wants to talk to you!" I was kind of taken aback, as I had never really talked to Caterina before, but I took the phone and said hello.
"Well hey, Mike! How are things?" I smiled, I had always liked the sound of her voice, and said, "Hey." We talked for a bit, and exchanged cell numbers, while Scott and Rocco stared at me, wondering what we were talking about. Caterina did most of the talking, explaining about her girlfriends, Giana and Alice, that they would be coming as well. Seems that Scott had called her at just the right time, as she had just broken it off with Eric, and was looking for a good time. That, and I had my own place while all her friends still lived at home. We got off the phone, and I handed the cell back to Rocco, who looked at me a bit weird. "What was that about?" Rocco could tell that I enjoyed the call, he pointed out that I had a grin on my face. "What? Caterina is just excited to be coming to the party. And speaking of party, we need to get finished here, or there won't be a party" I laughed, and finished my beer.
The next two weeks went by quickly, I finished the place up, with Scott and Rocco coming over frequently. I spent my time cleaning, setting up a sound system, stocking the fridge, and Scott even borrowed his parents BBQ grill, a huge setup, with the intent to grill burgers and dogs for the crowd. Everything was going well though the weather was looking like it might get in the way. The forecast was calling for snow, and not just a small bit. More like a blizzard was expected, and with less than 24 hours till party time, it was not looking good. Slowly the phone calls came in of cancellations, the roads were not getting plowed, and people were just going to stay home. By Friday night, New Year's Eve, even Scott and Rocco had to cancel, the roads were just too much. I was alone for my party, feeling down about that fact, but wanting to make the best of it, so I fired up the grill and cooked some burgers. My own party, I laughed. At least, I wouldn't go hungry if I was snowed in for a few days, I thought. Sitting down on the couch, feet up on the coffee table, I relaxed with a beer, dinner, and watched the crowds in Times Square act like fools. A relaxing evening, all things considered, until my cell rang.
"Hello?" I said, figuring it was another cancellation, but with two hours to go till midnight I wondered who it could be. It was Caterina, asking: "So what apartment number are you in?" I laughed, figuring she was joking. "Apartment 2-C, last one on the left. So, you're snowed in as well?" I asked. She didn't reply, and looking down, I noticed my cell showed the call was disconnected. Well, with the storm, I wouldn't be surprised that a cell tower had gone down. A few minutes later, I would be damned, but there was a knock on my door. Getting, up, and walking across the room to the door, I opened it up.
