Chapter One: The Party
It all started on a warm summer's eve. Emiru had stayed inside for several days, avoiding the scorching summer heat of Austin, Texas. She loved her new home and all the friends that had come with it, but the warmth she had not gotten used to. Still, it was a small price to pay to be part of an org like OTK and to get to live near so many wonderful people.
Today she would leave her house. The trip to the neighboring house, where Esfand lived was a short one, but still not one she looked forward to. Esfand was coming home from his trip to Europe and a small party was to be had with OTK and the friends who lived with, or near them. She looked forward to meeting everyone again, but the anxious part of her brain also protested, wanting her to stay inside, on her own, playing video games. She had decided she would not let that impulse control her. After all, she joined the org to have more friends, and that meant she had to put effort into seeing them, even when she dreaded it.
Hours passed slowly that day, and when the time they had decided on had passed by, Emi waited a little longer before she made her way to Esfand's. She did not want to be the first guest to arrive and risk ending up in an awkward conversation. It was better to arrive slightly late so that she could easily escape any such unpleasantness.
The blazing sun scorched her pale skin as soon as she stepped outside. She was glad she had decided on wearing a dress for the party, her usual sweatpants would not have been comfortable in the summer heat.
The pink dress felt strange on her. It was fitted perfectly for her figure, hugging her body in all the right places and accentuating her womanly shape. It was perfect, but she never dressed up unless for a cosplay. She had not worn a dress for the sake of wearing a dress for multiple years.
The party was going to be a loud one, Emi realized as she was greeted and emitted. She heard Tectone and Lacari seemingly in a shouting match as soon as she entered.
"Hi Emi," Wojito said to her, eyeing her with a strange smile. Clearly, he too recognized how rare it was for her to dress nice.
"Hey," she responded and smiled back.
Esfand entered the room and his eyes lit up. "Hey Emi, come, I brought someone with me I'd like you to meet." He motioned for her to follow, so she did. They walked past the living room where the center of the party was held. Some game was being played that Emi did not recognize.
She waved to everyone. "Hey, guys."
She got an echoing response from the room before she was led to the kitchen.
Behind the kitchen counter, a stranger leaned onto the sink, talking to Graycen. She seemed so engaged in the conversation Emi wondered if Graycen had found himself a girl.
She was a petite lady, with curly and luscious brown hair. A beautiful smile was on her face as she listened to whatever Graycen was saying.
"Emi, this is Bonnie," Esfand introduced her.
Bonnie stepped towards her and looked Emiru deep into her eyes with that beautiful, beaming smile.
"Hiii, I'm Bonnie, it's nice to meet you."
Emi tried to smile back but it felt awkward. She held out her hand to greet her, but Bonnie was not interested in a handshake. She gave her a brief hug leaving the scent of her lavender perfume in the air around her.
"Hey, I'm Emi," she returned.
An awkward silence lingered before Esfand interjected. "I met Bonnie at Twitchcon, and she followed me back for a visit."
"Awesome. So, do you stream too?" Emi asked.
Bonnie looked from Esfand to Emi. "Not as well as the two of you, but I do IRL and stuff a lot, I travel the world and stream it."
"Oh, that's cool," Emi said truthfully. She wished she was brave and adventurous enough to travel more.
A loud yell from the main party interrupted their flow of conversation and things felt awkward again.
"Do you want to sit outside in the sun?" Bonnie asked her and Esfand. Graycen had seemingly joined in playing whatever the rest of the party was playing.
While the idea of sitting in the sun was not tempting, she felt inclined to say yes. Bonnie seemed like such a sweet person she wanted to get to know better, and somehow a small group seemed less intense than joining the main party.
"Okay," Emi responded and gave her the best smile she could muster.
Outside, the sun was setting but the heat still lingered. Bonnie seemed to rejoice in soaking up all the sun she could. She wore an antique-looking, knitted top. It was cut low, showing her lean stomach. Emi found herself staring and forced herself to sit down on the porch furniture.
"Let's sit on the grass!" Bonnie exclaimed cheerfully.
Emi preferred not to, but Bonnie seemed so excited she could not say no.
"You want something to drink?" Esfand asked, "I can bring it out."
"Surprise me!" Bonnie said and made her way down the stairs.
Emi stood awkwardly between them before responding. "I'll have the same." She followed Bonnie down to the grass and sat down next to her.
"That's a really pretty dress, I'm used to seeing you in pizza pants all the time," Bonnie said and giggled.
It was a wholesome little laugh, that made Emi feel warm inside.
"Thank you, Yeah I'm not used to wearing dresses, but it seemed a good day for it."
Bonnie lay down on the grass and spread her arms and legs out. She wore a black skirt that had folded far up her thighs. Emi could not help but sneak a look at her beautiful legs before she awkwardly lay down next to her.
"So, Emi. How do you like life in Austin?"
Emi tilted her head to look into Bonnie's eyes and felt her heart flutter.
"It's great, there are so many nice people here," she said truthfully. She had never had as many friends as she did now, and it was all thanks to OTK.
She continued. "And where do you live? When you are not traveling?"
