New Friends (meggosassy24, OPEN!)

Sam and I switch partners for a dance. Ander leads me out to the dance floor and we revolve slowly as a safe distance. There's silence for a moment, but it's not awkward. It's a comfortable silence, like between two good friends.

As the boys walk off to get our drinks, Sam and I talk and gossip. It's mostly about girl stuff and how much fun we're having, but some of it is about Jenna and our guys. We laugh so much that my face is starting to hurt. By the time that Eli and Ander retun with our drinks, my mouth is dry from laughing. I thank Eli and take a huge gulp of my drink. Mom makes these the best at home, but they're not too bad here. It takes me about 10 minutes to finish it and when I'm done, Eli appears with another. I take it from him, but tell him no more -- I want to actually remember the night.

I take a few sips of the second drink and notice it's a little weaker than the first. I bring it to the bar and walk in behind, mixing myself more of the Vodka/Gin/Triple Sec/Rum/Tequila solution and adding it o my drink. I taste it, and it's stronger now, but very good. Satisfied, I bring it back to the table.

Sam's champagne is on the table, while she and Ander are out dancing. Eli steals a sip of my drink, then takes my hand and leads me out to the dance floor. The song changes to a fast disco type song and we laugh, jumping around and dancing to the beat. I see Sam and Ander doing the same thing. We catch each other's eye and I wave them over. We dance in a big group, laughing until the song is over.

Breathlessly, we make our way back to the table. I drink the last of my second Long Island Iced Tea and Eli finishes his Rum and Coke. We smile at each other, kiss and hold hands. It's a goooood night.

With the end of the dance approaching, Eli whisks me out to the dance floor once more time. The song is sweet and slow.

I watch as Ander leads Sam to a horse and carriage and helps her in. It's nice, but so very not my thing -- too old fashioned for me. I enjoy the more modern things. She waves to us and then they set off. I smile, wave back and hop into the limo with Eli. We have it all to ourselves and it seems much larger than it was at the beginning of the night. Eli tells the driver that we are only going to one house -- mine -- and then we're on our way.

Some 15 minutes later, we come to a stop in front of my house. The driver opens our door and Eli gets out, offering his hand to me. I take it and get out. Eli tips the driver heftily and he drives off into the night.

It's warm tonight, the air sweet and balmy. I pull out my house key and open the door, ushering Eli in. He's been here before, but this will be the first time he will be sleeping here. As usual, my parents aren't home. The house is dark, so I walk around dictating to the lighting system which lights I want on. Eli kicks off his shoes at the door and I set mine on the stairs to bring them up later.

I awake in the morning, feeling refreshed, even if I only slept 3 hours. It's 9:30 when I look at the hologram clock on my bedside table. Eli's eyes are still closed, so I try to get out of bed quietly. Suddenly, Eli's hand closes around my wrist and he pulls me back to him. His eyes are open now and alight with amusement. I laugh and put my hand over my heart saying,

I finish breakfast with Eli and then we do the dishes together. When Eli is putting away the last of the dishes, my mother comes into the kitchen, still dressed in rumpled clothes from the night before. She tosses her keys on the table and sighs, then sees Eli. She does a double take when Eli notices her as well. Eli stops, plate in midair, and my mother says,