I haven't looked at myself in the mirror in a while. The bags under my eyes just keep getting deeper. The split ends on my hair from when I cut it... I put it up in a bun, letting the streak show. People say I look more masculine like that.

I didn't want to go to this party tonight. Everyone, Everything, there was already in the past. I can't go back to that... But Gary invited me. He would be pretty sad if I didn't show up.

I put some foundation over my eyes to cover the dark circles. Not because I wanted to hide them. But, because if people saw them, they would worry about me, about my health. They would ask, "Are you okay? You look so tired. Have you been sleeping well?" I haven't slept well since I got here in the city, but I don't want to waste their times with that.

I picked up some baggy clothes. A gray jersey and some black jeans. That's the style I went to college with. I shouldn't be thinking this hard about this.

Martha's house was in a suburb. It was the saffron colored one at the end of the cul-de-sac. It stood out like a sore thumb amidst the standard periwinkle houses. She told us how she spent a week painting it with her family. It was her mother's favorite color.

It was a walk's distance from where I lived. As I arrived, Mark was still getting his table ready. He played at a couple of venues already, but he always came when Martha called him. They had this sort of brotherly bond.

"Crispy Cris! In the house." Martha yelled, rushing down the stairs as she spotted me. She came up with that nickname when we first met. Luckily, it didn't catch up. I raised my hands, but she pulled me in for a hug. It lasted longer than I wanted it to. "How's it hangin?"

"Bout the same as ever..." I said, putting up a smile, the same one I give to my clients.

"Really? nothing new? You're always so mysterious." She said, twirling her hair. "Well, I hope you enjoy the party, act like the house is yours... Just don't break anything, or puke on the floor or something."

"I'll try my best."

She went over to welcome the arriving people. Martha did a party like this at the end of every year. And, this was her last year in college, so it seemed she put a lot of effort into this one. There was an open bar and everything. And Gary was sitting at it.

I could recognize that slouch from anywhere. He kept his signature spiky hair with frosted tips, and the Yankees jersey. I wonder if he ever takes that off. 

"Gary." I touched him on the shoulder. He looked at me, confused. "It's me, Cris."

"Dude! you showed up." By the tone of his voice, he might've already been using that open bar. After a hug and a pat on the back, he continued. "It's been so long man, where have you been?"

"Oh, y'know... dude. Life just sorta happened." Why does everybody ask the same questions? Stop worrying about me.

"You can't go disappearing like that. You let your hair grow out, too." He laughed "I thought you were a girl there for a second. I might have flirted with you." My face got warmer.

"Don't you have a girlfriend already?" I sat down beside him, crossing my legs.

"I'm kidding, dude. But actually!" He looked surprised, as if remembering something. Lifting his hands, he showed a silver band on his finger. "She's my Fiancée!"

"Wow! When did that happen?" It had been that long already?

He told me how the proposal went. They were on a mountain bike track and he let the ring fall. Only to find it later in a tree branch while peeing.

While we talked, I analyzed the people that came in and out of the party. There were lots of old faces, some new couples, a few surprising ones. I mean, who would imagine the Hartley twins would swap their boyfriends? Maybe they got each other confused.

As the night passed, I had to cheer up a drunk Gary who missed his fiancée. She was in Mexico, working for a humanitarian group that helped children in need.

"She's so good with children, man." He sobbed, hugging me, "I can't wait for us to have our little boogers." He kept going, and I did my best to comfort him. I think the slow music didn't help either.

"Ayo" that's when I felt a tap on my shoulders. "My name's Abbie. Nice to meet you." She said.

Her hair was dark and long, with a fringe covering one eye. She had a thin and perky nose. Her skin reflected the lights from Mark's stand. It reminded me of someone, but I couldn't lay my finger on it. When I noticed, I  spent too much time looking at her. Which made her pull her skirt down. I looked up to her blue eyes, but she looked down, avoiding mine.

"Hi, I'm Cris." I responded, trying to match her tone. She was quite short as well. Seated down, I only had to look up a little to meet her eyes. "Do I know you?"

She asked me what to drink. I looked at Gary for help. He had his head on the counter.

"Do you like coffee?" I'm not good drinks but, as a barista, I know everything is better with coffee.

"Oh yeah, I love coffee!"

The Darkbuzz was the only drink with coffee they had on the list. But rum, tequila and gin might be too much. She doesn't seem like a heavy drinker. Maybe I shouldn't ask that to her either.

"Then you should try the Darkbuzz, but be careful it's strong." I said it anyway, "You can also-"

"Thank you!" She interrupted me, ordered 2 of them, and left.

Throughout the night, I couldn't help but notice her from the corner of my eyes. Gary was out already. So I started swapping his drink orders for non-alcohol versions of it, or just water. The girl returned to the bar after some time.

"Hey it's me again... Thank you." I wasn't expecting her to talk to me again. She even extended her hand for a shake. Her hands were bigger than mine, and a lot softer. We gave a good shake, and she left dancing to a pretty abrupt change of pace from Mark. Was that Call me maybe?

People gathered in front of him. I caught glimpses of the girl flailing around in the crowd. She came back again, and just gave me a thumbs up.

Like she does that for a job. She ordered the bartenders around, and somehow... they became more efficient?

I decided it was my time to leave. I called Martha to keep an eye on Gary for me. The girl came around again as I was leaving.

"It's me again!" she shouted.

"It sure is." I said. Martha looked at me, surprised.

"I think..." She paused, like she was trying to remember something. "We should dance." Martha laughed at me, pushing me forward. "You can come too." She pointed at her.

"Why not?" before I could finish, she turned her whole cup, pulled me by the hands and took me to the crowd. The room smelled of beer.

I wasn't drunk enough to be dancing like that. We flailed, holding hands. She stepped on my feet a couple of times. Her eyes were sparkling. Her nose wrinkled as she smiled, and I couldn't resist smiling back.

The music stopped, and her lips turned to a frown. "One more, One more, One more!" the people chanted. She joined.

"I have to go." I said to her, taking advantage of the pause.

"No! one more." She pouted, pulling on my jersey.

"I really have to go." The music started again, making me raise my voice. "I have work tomorrow. But it was nice meeting you. I hope I'll see you around."

She pulled me closer, with an incredible strength. Yelling in my ear. "It was nice meeting you, too."

Then she covered her mouth and... A lot came out of her, all on the floor and a bit on my shoes. Her eyes turned white, and she fell into my hands.

She was heavier than I thought and we just kneeled together, avoiding the puke on the floor. Her friend came right after. It was Lilian. We had classes together, but we never got close enough.

"I'm so sorry. She isn't like that." Lilian said, as we went to the bathroom.

"It's fine." I cleaned myself, "Take care of her though. Make sure to give her lots of water when she wakes up."

"What about you?" she responded, turning her head. "Do you want me to call a cab?"

"It's okay, don't worry about me. I can walk there. It's nearby, on St. Marks."

Martha was cleaning up the floor as I left the bathroom. I really wanted to stay and help her, but I had to wake up early the other day. So, I just pat her on the back and left.