At about 10:30 JC, Justin, Lance, Chris, and Joey showed up at Lexi’s place. She greeted them by giving each of them a hug and JC a little extra. “You guys took long enough!”
“Well excuse us for taking showers and not coming over all funky,” Justin said.
“So where’s the alcohol?” Joey asked casually.
“It’ll be here soon,” Lexi responded.
Coley and Tristen emerged from upstairs when they heard the voices. They had been looking at some of Lexi’s pictures in her bedroom.
“Hey!” she said when she saw them. She turned to the guys who were now sitting in her living room. “This is Tristen and Coley.”
They went down the line shaking hands and introducing themselves to each other. A few minutes later Baxter and Drew were back from their little shopping spree, and two trips to the rental car later everything was inside.
“Damn, did you guys buy they whole liquor store?” Coley asked. “Not that I mind…”
Baxter laughed. “Oh c’mon, there’s not that much.”
But there was that much. They came bearing Corona, Hard Lemonade, Zima, Bud Light, vodka, a variety of different flavors of wine coolers, margarita mix, lemons, and limes. (Yes it is true that there were people under the age of 21 present, but hey, it’s the twenty-first century.)
Everyone got drunk that night. Some more drunk than others. They played a couple drinking games, and by 2 AM they were simply laughing and having conversations that none of them would probably remember. Lance and Coley were out on Lexi’s back patio talking, and Lexi was sitting on the sofa talking to Tristen when Justin plopped down next to her with a Zima in his hand.
“Heeyyy, Lexi. Ya think something’s going on between Lance and Colt?” Justin asked giggling.
“Ya mean Coley?”
“Whatever,” Justin said still laughing. Lexi was laughing too, but she had no idea why. She had only had two shots and a Hard Lemonade, but she obviously got drunk easily seeing that she didn’t drink often.
Coley and Lance staggered in from outside. Coley left Lance’s side and walked over to Lexi. “Hey, girl, you wanna go another lemon drop (a hit of sugar, a shot of vodka, and then a slice of lemon) with me?”
“I dunno, Coley…”
“C’mon, Lexi,” Justin said. “I’ll do one too.”
“Ok.”
Justin and Lexi stood up and stumbled towards the kitchen table. Justin, Lexi, Coley, and Lance each took a full shot in unison. Lexi went to stand up but lost her balance and almost fell over. JC was nearby and rushed over to her.
“Are you ok?”
“I’m fine,” she said regaining her balance. “…I’m drunk.”
JC chuckled. “Yeah, I noticed that.” JC was definitely the least drunk of the bunch since he only had two beers and a wine cooler. “I think it’s time for bed, Lex.”
“Nooo…I’m the hostess. I’m ok.” She tried to walk back into the living room, but almost fell again.
“Yeah, we’re going to bed. Ok?” JC said supporting her.
“Ok.” She turned to the eight drunk people now in her living room. “Ok, guys, I don’t want anyone driving home. You guys can sleep here because I love you, ok?”
“Uh huh…Sure, Lexi…Yeah,” they all mumbled at different times.
JC helped Lexi up the stairs the stairs to her room. She laid down on the bed and JC proceeded to take off her shoes. He went to her dresser drawers and pulled out a gray UCF T-shirt and a pair of black, cotton shorts. “Ok, Lexi, can you sit up for me?” She sat up and he assisted her in pulling her v-neck sweater tank top over her head and putting on the T-shirt. Once she laid back down he pulled off her dark blue jeans and put on the cotton shorts. He tucked her under the midnight blue down comforter and went to the linen closet in her room to take some pillows and bedding downstairs to the others.
“Where are you going?” she asked disorientedly.
“I’m taking this stuff downstairs. I’ll be right back, baby.”
“Ok…”
Justin helped JC pull out the sofa bed and make it up. By the time JC turned off all the lights and went back upstairs, everyone was fast asleep. He went back into Lexi’s bedroom, took off his shoes and other unnecessary clothing, and climbed into bed next to his girlfriend. “Goodnight,” he said softly kissing her on the forehead.
Chapter Fifteen
You know where this takes you.