In my life I had come to realize that people fundamentally fit into three groups. The first two were quite simple. Those you want to go party with and those you don't It was always a simple test. It didn't matter if you were pretty or ugly, rich or poor, smart or dumb. You could always easily separate those that are fun to be around from those that were not. Then there were those that fit into the third group. Those that were the party.
My friends Cara and Alexis were the textbook definition of the party. Amongst our group of friends, they were the ones that always turned the volume to eleven. If it was to be an unforgettable night, they were most likely part of it. They routinely were the fuse that turned our whole group of friends into a wrecking crew of alcohol fueled stories, the kind of stories you look back on and laugh about getting away with in your youth.
The two of them were almost always together. They both happened to work together as we understood. Nobody really knew what their work was. Something in finance or banking. They were both quite intelligent and rumor was they were very successful at their jobs. They had rented a place together and became fast friends, both of them sharing a full throttle life's mantra. Work or play, there was no point in doing something halfhearted.
It was Friday evening at the local bar that served as our rallying point for most night's adventures. Almost everyone checked in for a drink or two even if they were headed to do something else. There were about ten of us around the table talking and laughing loudly over the music in the background. It wasn't more than five bars into the next song that both girls slammed down their drinks and whooped loudly. A Van Halen song came across the speakers to which Cara and Alexis responded like they were shot out of a cannon. They immediately hopped on top of their chairs and started dancing like we were all in a 1980's White snake video.
For our group of friends, this was all kind of expected. For others in the bar it drew attention. And it usually didn't end great. 50% of the time some drunk guys would see this and budge their way over expecting they would score themselves some party girls. Often rebuffed and usually insulted, a fight would ensue. The other half of the time, the local bouncers knew what was coming and would throw us out to preempt the eventual fracas. Like I said, always a story.
Tonight was to be the later. After a short while, both girls were 'escorted' off their chairs and it was suggested they party elsewhere tonight. Steve, Mark and I might have been a little argumentative with the bouncers, so we too were invited to go elsewhere. While we were being escorted out, we yelled some goodbyes to friends and hinted we would text to meet up later.
The five of us stumbled through the alley and we laughed to the point of tears at our ability to get thrown out of a bar before nine o'clock. Cara laughed especially hard as she extracted a full bottle of tequila from her purse. Somehow in the commotion of being thrown out she managed to grab a bottle that had been on top of the bar. Pulling the cork out, we she took a big swig before passing it around amongst us all. I don't think we had made it more than two blocks before that bottle was empty.
Wandering semi-aimlessly down the sidewalk, Cara stopped and turned to Alexis. "Where do we want to go?"
Alexis didn't have much of a plan. "I don't know, but I need to pee." Let's stop back at the apartment and get another drink. You guys in?"
The three of us guys looked at each other. Was there a choice? We got tossed from the bar with all our friends and we were wandering the streets. "Of course, let's do it. I need another drink too." Mark spoke for all of us.
I don't think anyone had been to their place. The fifth-floor walkup seemed like a crappy start. I don't know how the girls could deal with it in high heels and tight skirts. Once inside though the apartment was quite cool and I could see the appeal. There was a large central entertainment room with an impossibly big leather sectional couch. I pity the movers they coerced into hauling it up the stairs.
Alexis dropped her bag on the table and quickly hustled off to the bathroom. "Oh my God! I'm going to pee myself!" was followed by a slam of the bathroom door. Cara immediately went over and turned on some music. Immediately Guns and Roses filled the apartment. As far as I could tell, these girls listened exclusively to 80's hair band rock. It was kind of cool. As if on a mission from God, Steve marched right into their kitchen and started snooping around for something to drink. We couldn't tell if he was looking for a drink or demolishing the kitchen with the loud bang of cabinets and drawers. In a moment though he emerged victorious, flashing a wide smile. He tossed both Mark and I cold cans of beer. He held out in front of Cara two choices; another beer or some tequila. She grabbed the tequila bottle and took a small swig.
Mark was focused on his phone tapping away furiously before stopping and looking up. " The gang isn't really doing anything else. A few folks remained around the bar but sounds like a quiet night." At the same time Alexis emerged from the bathroom seemingly refreshed.
