"What is eggnog anyway? Does anyone actually like this stuff?" Fergus asked, making a batch to be shared at tonight's Christmas party.
"Plenty of people drink it, it's tradition," Eve smirked, knowing he had a point.
"I know people drink it, I asked if anyone likes it," Fergus repeated, taking his girlfriend's silence as a no.
Eve plunged into the bowl with a plastic cup, raising it in appreciation before taking a sip.
"Thanks, baby. Delicious!" Eve winked before walking into the living room. After making herself comfortable on the sofa, her eyes drifted to the coffee table. Memories of THAT night washed over her before she reached over for the TV remote.
"Can we do a final check before I get comfortable, please?" Fergus wandered in and saw Eve with her feet up, watching Christmas music videos on TV. With a smile, she turned her head and reached for the remote once more.
"You're such a perfectionist!" Eve teased, turning the volume down. He ignored her, gathering his thoughts.
"Alcohol and snacks?" Fergus began to list the essentials.
"Check" Eve corroborated.
"Games?"
"Games?" She asked, unsure why a university house party would need games.
"Yeah, I don't know, like cards or something..." Fergus didn't know why he was feeling anxious. Gaining his composure, he took a seat next to his girlfriend. Stretching her legs out onto him, Eve could sense his nervousness.
"Baby, it'll be fine, we just need to make sure there's enough for everyone to drink, the rest of the night will take care of itself." Fergus was calmed by this, gently massaging her calf in return.
"How many are we expecting anyway?" Eve asked curiously.
"No idea, you invited them all."
"Well, I posted it on our university message board." Eve gritted her teeth, smiling playfully.
ONE HOUR INTO THE HOUSE PARTY
Fergus wasn't enjoying himself. He didn't recognise half the people in his house and they were getting wilder. It shouldn't have bothered him but the final straw was the cluster of empty bottles that had been abandoned on the TV stand. He stormed up the stairs. Eve spotted him but decided to let him cool off.
As the drinks flowed and the music got louder, Eve was the life of the party, her girlfriends encouraged her and she obliged. Midway through their latest karaoke session, Eve spotted the front door open. She continued belting her heart out until she saw who it was. Alistair. She hadn't seen him since he took it upon himself to jerk his cock in the middle of the lounge of his friend's house, while said friend's girlfriend looked on in awe.
"Sorry to interrupt!" Alistair manoeuvred himself into the group of girls.
"Woooh, yeah! Swifty, am I right?" Alistair had no intention of singing and couldn't care less which playlist was the soundtrack to the party, he needed to reach Eve.
"Where's Fergus?" Alistair shouted, attempting to break through the sound barrier. Eve looked up, gesturing above. He retreated, making his way towards the stairs.
"Fergus, mate! You up here?"
Alistair broke the momentary silence by tapping the door. Nothing...
"I'm coming in, okay?" He declared rather than requesting, concerned about his friend's well-being.
Alistair gingerly peaked around Fergus' bedroom door, unsure of what awaited him.
"Fuck. Fergus?" Alistair darted forward, wrapping his arms around his visibly shaken friend.
Alistair didn't say a word. He held his buddy until he stopped trembling. His mind journeyed back a decade. He recalled suffering a similar experience at a school recital whereby the roles were reversed. He remembered how Fergus gripped his shoulders tightly until the world stopped spinning a million miles an hour.
Alistair didn't know what caused this episode but he knew that he had to just... be there. Eventually, Fergus stopped shuddering and with sweat pouring down his face, simply nodded in Alistair's direction.
"Anyone in here! The girl that lives here is about to start a game of Spin the Bottle! Everyone report to the living room!" A stranger banged on all the doors, rounding up as many players as possible.
"Jesus, what is she doing? She thought games were a silly idea earlier" Fergus rolled his eyes back sarcastically, attempting to lighten the mood. They both chuckled and simultaneously exhaled, neither excited by the prospect. Alistair jumped to his feet and extended an outreached hand. A gesture that Fergus accepted.
After splashing his face with water, Fergus followed Alistair as they made their way downstairs.
Everyone was in position, Eve was sat between Fergus and Alistair. Her girlfriends were dotted around, giggling as they tried to spot their preferred counterparts. Eve looked to her right, Fergus was clearly not interested in watching a bunch of strangers kissing but they both found the humour in the ridiculousness of it all. She leant over, brushing their noses together before kissing her man gently on the lips.
"Hey! None of that, you haven't spun the bottle!" Alistair grabbed Eve's forearm, pulling her away, seemingly in jest.
"Yeah, yeah, fair enough." Fergus joked as he pulled away.