Friends of Friends

Don't you hate when people say the name of the day instead of telling you that it's tomorrow?

Marnie surely did.

He didn't hold anything against Chris for it, but when he realized how soon Saturday really was, he started to panic a little bit. Marnie had never gone to a house party before, not even in college. The closest thing to one he'd experienced was an office birthday party, and even at that he'd grab his skinny slice of cake and hide away from the crowd.

Luckily he still had all of the day to try calming down before attending the party that evening. Most of that time was spent trying to pick an outfit and searching up party curiosities, though.

By the time Marnie was knocking on Chris’ door, he was wearing a black button-up with jeans. The button-up was silky and patterned, and the jeans fit him well, but they did nothing to calm his nerves. Chris' smile, however, felt like warm, calming sunshine.

“Marnie! You made it!”

The trainer opened his door looking absolutely delighted to see the daydreamer on his doorstep. It was the first time Marnie had seen him wearing anything besides athletic wear, which was somehow reassuring.

“Y-yeah!” Marnie smiled back, feeling his anxiety melt away a little bit. “I, uh… I said I'd be here, didn't I?”

The two exchanged a friendly laugh, Chris eagerly bringing Marnie into his home.

Immediately, Marnie was overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of partying. Loud, energetic music permeated the air, as did the smell of fruity liquor. Everywhere he looked there were young, hot people dancing, chatting, and laughing. Some were already in the throes of intimacy, touching and kissing each other in ways that made Marnie blush.

“Welcome to the party,” Chris said cheerfully. “Just mingle and try to have fun, yeah? Everyone here is totally cool, I promise. Plus I've got food and drinks — whatever you need.”

“Wow, you really know how to throw a party,” Marnie complimented, trying to sound more normal. “Everyone looks like they're having a great time.”

“Haha! Thanks, bro,” Chris gave Marnie a side hug with his muscular arms, making the much smaller daydreamer feel somewhere between cradled and squished. Which was…nice.

Just then, someone called for Chris to help them from another room.

“Damn, I better go help these dudes before they break my house,” he said, half joking. “Hey, make yourself at home, Marn. If you need anything or if anyone gives you a hard time, come find me.”

Marnie didn't get to do more than nod before Chris had winked and trotted off. Just like that, he was left completely alone in a nice house full of inebriated strangers.

Thinking too much about that fact started to make Marnie feel faint, so he decided to grab a drink and cool his head.
Yes, that's all he needed… Everything was fine.

He was fine.

So fine that he nearly sprinted when he saw a long snack table along one of the main room’s walls.

Once there, Marnie poured himself a red solo cup full of what looked like fruit punch that he prayed wasn't spiked. The cool drink sliding down his throat actually did serve to ease him a bit, at least. The music wasn't too bad, either. After a deep breath, exhaling slowly, Marnie started to believe that he could enjoy himself here.

“What’s this? I spy with my little eye an unfamiliar wallflower.”

Marnie immediately turned his gaze towards the sudden voice, then nearly choked on his drink. He didn't expect to see a pretty girl standing so close next to him, especially not one that was peering at him through her encircled fingers as if peering through a spyglass.

As he desperately tried not to spray fruit punch in her face — or, alternatively, die — the girl giggled cheerfully. At first, her sweet voice almost sounded like Chez's to him, albeit a little more feminine. That didn't help matters.

“Oops, sorry,” she apologized sincerely. “Didn't mean to startle ya! You okay there, champ?”

“Ack! Ahem—” Marnie tried to recompose himself. “Sorry, I—ah—I’m fine. Well, except I probably look like an idiot.”

“Nah, don't worry ‘bout it. That was my bad,” the girl dismissed his embarrassment, handing him a small party napkin. “You just looked so nervous over here by yourself, I thought maybe I should help break the ice. I'm Ivy, by the way!”

Now that Marnie got a good look at her, he was somewhat charmed. She was a small and slender, almost lanky young woman, which was accentuated by the pleated mini skirt and black thigh-highs she wore. Long scarlet hair, tied in low twin tails… A mischievous gleam in her bright green eyes…

All Marnie could think to call her was adorable.

“Ivy… Nice to meet you,” he greeted her, awkwardly dabbing the punch from his chin. “Call me Marnie. Uh, are you here because you know Chris too?”

“Kiiiindaaaa,” Ivy answered. “We're all more like…friends of friends of friends here. But hey, that makes it super easy to make new friends, right?”

“Heh. Yeah, I guess so… Er, but uh, what exactly do people…uhm…do at parties, anyway…?”

“Hmmmm, well, you know. Drink, have sex, do drugs,” upon seeing Marnie's increasingly alarmed face, Ivy laughed. “But you don't seem like the type who's into all that jazz. So let me tell you the real trick to what you do at a party.”

Marnie blinked.
“Which…is…?”

With a sly smile, Ivy leaned closer to Marnie, lowering her voice just enough that only he could hear.