Ch. 2
"Put these over the doorway." Camellia commanded as she handed me a string of white twinkle lights.
"You know you're very bossy." I complained as she turned away to hang a retro neon beer sign on the wall.
"What was that? I can't hear you." I laughed as I watch her tilt the sign from left to right.
"You can't use your hard of hearing as a scapegoat every time you want something your way." she points to her ear and uses the universal sign of I can't hear you.
"Well everything is ready, I'll put out the chips and salsa. It's almost nine so people should probably be here soon" I look around the modest apartment, not bad for a college campus, wood floors, decent size, dining goes into the kitchen. I guess I'm lucky I live in Texas where everything is bigger because there is no way you would get this space for this price anywhere else.
As I place the food on the counter I watch as Camellia sway her hips back and forth as she plays music on an old stereo with large box speakers. It was the kind of stereo my family had when I was a kid, it sat along with the tv we had to use pliers to change the channel because the obscenely large knob fell off. Everything in the living room and dining were hand me downs from Camellias parents, not that I was complaining. They offered, we accepted, I didn't spend too much time in the living area so I didn't mind what was really in there. I did however provide a shiny metallic microwave and the classy plastic aqua blue plates and cups that I'm pretty sure are in every college dorm across the country. My mom and I put plaid blue and green contact paper in the cupboards and drawers and later me and Camellia put the rest of it on her hand-me-down dining room table, we figured it would make cleanup a little easier.
I glance at my phone, 1 am, and the party is well under way. A lot of people I don't know were scattered through the apartment and onto the patio. Tamberlyn, one of my best/only friends, showed up with her new boyfriend and a neck full of hickeys. I watched as she sat on her new beau's lap looking happy and whispering in his ear. They're cute and nauseating, but young, dumb and in like. I envied them. I realize I'm too awkward to be in like, and too heavy to sit on anyone's lap without them wincing in pain. But my joy for her outweighs any jealousy, as long as she's happy and this guy isn't a douche then I'm happy for her. I pour a shot of vodka into a glass followed by cola and offer it to her "drink with me" I yell over the sound of a trendy dance song.
As me and Tamberlyn raise our drink I notice two guys walk through the door. The first I recognized as Camellias best friend Grady, standing 6'2 he reminded me of a kid who probably got called string bean a lot. His shaggy blond hair stood up straight as if to say "fuck you gravity" and his gangly arms hung down as if it was apologising for the comments of his hair, while his pale skin made me think he was nerdy and didn't get outside much. His personality was pretty docile but he tends to say what's on his mind, when I first met him Camelia explained he stayed in the more creative side of the neighborhood, to which he blurted out he "waves the fag flag and she's my hag." I liked him, even though I was pretty sure you couldn't say the f-word, but maybe he can because he is.
"Hey Grady!" I exclaimed with a welcome hug
"Hey darling, this is my cousin Tony." I looked over to the 5'9 dirty blond looking hippy guy standing next to grady. He looked as if he just woke up with bed head torn blue jeans, jesus sandals and a black shirt that read roll tide with a marijuana bud on it.
"Hi Tony, I'm Natalia" "Hey, nice place I brought some vodka." He replied handing me a tall bottle
"Everclear? Are you trying to kill us all?" He chuckled "I'll just put this in the freezer"
