AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you to Only By Moonlight for editing my first story. Enjoy!
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Ava sighed as she rang the buzzer to Rob's apartment. She was not in the mood to celebrate tonight. However she was practically duty bound to attend his birthday party. He had persuaded her by suggesting it would be a small, civilised gathering, and as his best friend she most definitely had to be there.
She could barely hear Rob's voice as it crackled over the intercom, being drowned out by sounds of thumping music and laughter. So much for low key, she thought to herself.
"Hey Rob, buzz me up" She said in a business like tone. Maybe she could have one or two drinks, make her excuses and leave. She sighed again as she walked up the stairs, and silently made a promise to herself that she'd at least try and pretend to have a good time.
Rob and Ava were old college friends, having bonded as Chemistry lab partners. Over the years they had stayed in contact with each other as other friends had drifted away. They saw each other as often as they could, which recently Ava had to admit, was not very often.
When they had first met, there had definitely been a spark there -- a young, naive sort of chemistry which neither of them ever really acknowledged. Besides, all through college Ava had a steady boyfriend. Johnny had moved with her to NYU and they had their own place together. By the time they broke up towards the end of college, Ava and Rob's relationship was most definitely plutonic, and a steady succession of boyfriends and girlfriends for each had meant that it had stayed that way for the past few years.
However, currently both Ava and Rob were single. This was definitely an unusual turn of events, and Ava idly wondered if the chemistry between them would reignite now that there were no distractions. Probably not. She conceded in her head - although she knew there were still lingering feelings on her part. She was pretty sure Rob just saw her as a friend, and she tried not to let this bother her. But tonight she vowed to herself she'd have a good time, maybe flirting with Rob's attractive and loud roommate, Nick.
"Hey Ava!" Rob was so tall, she never remembered just how much he towered over her until she saw him. She had to admit that he looked good tonight, his dark brown hair and startling blue eyes had always made an attractive combination. He had always been skinny at college, but in the five years since graduating he'd filled out and his shoulders had broadened.
"Happy birthday Rob" Ava handed him a six pack of beers. "What happened to a quiet gathering, huh?"
"You only turn 27 once" He joked in a mock serious tone. "Now, come help me celebrate!" He broke off one of the beers she'd brought and pushed it into her hand. He put his arm round her shoulder companionably and led her into the living room.
Almost immediately Rob was distracted by what looked like a very complicated drinking game. He joined in with the shouts of his friends, leaving Ava to wander aimlessly into the kitchen. She took a swig of her beer and looked around for Nick. Realising that he too was embroiled in the drinking game in the lounge, she braced herself before deciding to join in.
Ava was never very good at drinking games, and this appeared to be no exception. Feeling slightly worse for wear after playing a few rounds with Rob and his work mates, she made a weak excuse that she needed the bathroom, and unsteadily headed to the kitchen, hiccupping as she went. For a minute or two, Rob's friends shouted in mock outrage "Ava come back! It's your turn!" before giving up and steadily becoming drunker and drunker.
Ava sat down and held her head between her hands, breathing deeply in an attempt to sober up. Feeling a light touch on her shoulder, she looked up to see Rob leaning over her, looking worried
"Hey kiddo, are you ok?" He asked.
"Yeah...I just suck at drinking games" She replied. "I'm definitely getting too old for them" She groaned. "I think it's time I left". Ava attempting to stand resolutely and only stumbled slightly. She felt slightly better now she couldn't smell the distinctive liquorice tang of sambuca that the others were shooting in the living room.
"But we've barely had chance to catch up" Rob said, looking slightly hurt and annoyed.
"Hey, don't be like that". Ava reached upwards to give him a reassuring hug. He pulled back, with his arms still around her, and looked into her eyes, with a troubled expression across his face.
"What's wrong?" Ava asked. She hadn't meant to upset him and now it seemed she had.
"Ava" He started. "There's something I'd quite like for my birthday". Suddenly resolved, Rob's hand gently lifted a tendril of hair that had framed Ava's face, and bent down to kiss her gently on the lips.
For a moment she couldn't react, too stunned to move. But then she began to kiss him back, the moment seeming endless in her tipsy state. Suddenly every nerve ending in her body seemed alive, and the alcohol combined with this amazingly unexpected kiss made her realise that she was very turned on. But...this was Rob! Kissing her and making his intentions clear. She broke away, confused.
