“I helped you with shopping so you owe me, this is for your own good.” Emma nags like a true champ. Ugh, I really don’t want to.

“Why? You don’t need me at one of your parties, I’m not even a student.”

“It’s not my party, a classmate is hosting. He asked me to bring my little sister whom I mention so often.” Why would you mention your yellow sister? No who am I kidding I can totally see her brag about me while in reality in their eyes I’m probably a loser. Maybe they will get a kick out of comparing us.

“There’ll be alcohol.” She smiles enticingly. God, she knows me, prey upon my weakness, will you?

“Gah, fine I’ll come along but you better keep an eye on me.”

“You don’t have to tell me. I wouldn’t unleash drunken you without proper oversight.”

You have a point but that’s still a bit blunt. Maybe you can sugar-coat it or rephrase it so I don’t sound like a lousy drunk. Meh never mind. So, a party, that was at least a year since last time.

“Now you can wear that cute skirt and blouse I picked out for you.”

“Did you plan this? How long have you known about this party of yours? I give her my best suspicious look.

“Yes, this party is long in the making so maybe I had it in mind during our shopping trip.” Ah yes that sounds about right.

We eat and prepare for a while. Emma picks out a bottle of red wine to offer the host.

“Where is this party, I forgot to ask.”

“An apartment that is just like this one but north of the school, first ring.”

Aha so this dude is probably a green or close to it. Fantastic..

“Will there be a lot of people?” I’ll get claustrophobic if you cram me inside of an apartment filled with weird people.

“Stop being silly, a couple people mostly from my class but probably some other too.”

We continue in that vein until we head out of our apartment and stroll north. I am indeed wearing my blue skirt and black blouse. I think it a coincidence that they are my team colour but you never really know with Emma.

“When I’m the manager will you come and watch a game?” I don’t know why but it would feel good to have her in the audience, reassuring perhaps.

“Of course, I’ll come and cheer you on. I can come to the next game if it is during a weekend?” Always cheerful and supportive, my nickname for her is ever fitting.

“Next game is weekday but I’ll let you know when we have a game on the weekend.”

Emma smiles at that. “Good, I’d like to meet this Sasha.” What is with her hang-up on Sasha? I add someone to my friend list and she acts like I’m about to be married.

Up ahead is a complete replica of the apartment complex we live in, a similar distance to the school. This entire school was constructed post European Union turned federation and implemented the HHI system. Everything, or most things, built after that time is made to accommodate different classes of people, greens are the VIP of course. We yellow the average joes and reds basically ostracised.

My steps become more reluctant as we enter the elevator. I don’t know why but I’ve never been comfortable in social settings. An exception is my time in the football course, I enjoyed philosophising about football with my fellow aspiring coaches. I should keep in touch more, see what they are up too. If Anders is a coach I will strangle him, arrogant prick. I feel at ease with my new club, mostly. The players don’t respect me yet so I will have to prove myself somehow but that shouldn’t be impossible.

I’m disturbed from my thoughts, when we leave the elevator and a bunch of rowdy people are being rowdy. The partygoers I surmise. A tall guy with dark hair and dressed to impress comes straight at us.

“Hello Emma! Glad you could make it and convince your lovely sister to come too.”

“Hey Daniel, of course I’d come, wouldn’t miss it!” They match each other in upbeat excitement. An impressive feat of this Daniel guy.

“Hello.” My own introduction feels lame and underwhelming in comparison.

“As expected, you share your sister’s good looks.” He doesn’t even look at me while complimenting my appearance. He stares, with great attention to certain regions, on Emma.

Show me to the alcohol and I promise to let you two flirt uninterrupted.

“I dressed her up myself, isn’t her skirt cute?” Emma are you that dense?

Daniel glance my way and nods. “Your taste in clothes is as good as expected. Please come inside and meet the others.”

I take out my ID to scan he HHI index of the people in the party. Worse than expected because it appears that I am literally the lowest in this entire party. Everyone is either high yellow or green. That Daniel dude is low green himself. I’m like a piece of gum stuck to my sister’s boots that she accidentally brings in. Should make for a fun evening.

“Come on Alicia, this way.” You’d be surprised how many fits into an apartment of this size. Many people stand and talk while holding different beverages.

Some people on a couch scotch over so we can sit, followed closely by Daniel.

“Hey Emma, you look great!” A woman says with a smile and move in for a hug.

“Thanks, you too!” I believe I was promised alcohol.

Emma must have noticed or anticipated my dry mouth because she moves to fetch some drinks for us. The hugging woman turns her attention on me instead. Joy.

“Hello, who are you?”

“I’m Alicia, Emmas sister.”

“Ohhh, yes I see it now, you have the same hair and eyes. Your sister is as gorgeous as ever.”

Yes I know, she often is. What was her reason for dragging me here? I can drink just as well at home, better even. Without people interrupting me getting drunk is a piece of cake.

The silence remained and when she realized I had nothing to say she politely turned around and resumed her previous conversation.

Out of the yellow and into the red. A wild Milly suddenly makes an appearance.

“Why isn’t it my little Alicia.” Booze now.

…

“Come now don’t be like that.” She sits down next to me and wrap her arm around my waist.

I try to dissuade her with a fierce glare but she seems strangely immune to it.

“Here you go, some hard cider for my favourite little lady.” That explains the glare-resistance she is already drunk.

“Thanks” I’m not one to decline alcohol.

“Where is Emma?” She whispers in my ear, her breath smells like peaches. Must be from the cider. I take a large swig and it does taste like peaches, it’s good.

“She is off getting us something to drink so I’m just waiting for her.”

“She dressed you up well. You have nice boobs like Emma, you shouldn’t hide them away in stuffy clothes.” Her hand moves from my waist to the side of my left breast. What’s up with her? She has never shown any interest in me, is she a horny drunk perhaps. Regardless, I better move before she makes a move.

“Thanks for the drink.” I nod to her and quickly make my exit from the common area to the kitchen. Plenty of people block the way but some nudging and squeezing does the trick. Emma and Daniel and engaged in lively debate about something. Should probably let them be.

I finish off my cider and pour myself a beer. Not my drink of choice but will do in a pinch. I do my best to return the various smiles and greetings I receive. With my beer in hand I move back to my place at the couch, the kitchen is way too crowded. Thankfully Milly is nowhere to be seen.

I lean back and carefully consider my surrounding. Roughly an even split between men and women in this party. Most people seem sober enough with some outliers mixed in for good measure. A new couch mate offers me some hard liquor and I get this warm buzz. Ahh, this feels kind off nice. I don’t mind a crowded space full of annoying people while I got a good buzz going.

Hehe I can see Emma peak her head out of the kitchen and wave at me. No doubt to make sure I don’t get into any trouble. Oh crap is she sending Milly on me?

“Your sister asked me to keep you company.” Her predatory grin is unnerving.

“I’m quite fine thank you.”

“Emma is busy with Daniel, I imagine they will be more busy later on.” Huh, what is this now? She is sulking because of that. Maybe Milly has a thing for Emma. I know they are close but I never figured something like that. Or I’m just drunk and wrong, who can tell really?

“Can I sit with you?”

“Now you ask?” I say incredulous. “Fine, take a seat.” I pat the couch next to me and make some room. Milly starts to discreetly gesture towards the other partygoers and explain who was who in this place, she knew most of them.

Somewhere along the line her arm tangled itself around my waist and her hand on my thigh. Maybe it’s the growing warmth and dizziness from the alcohol but I don’t mind. Some laughter some more hard cider and the nice couch neighbour from before provide me with some whisky. Milly looks average, almost amazingly so. Brown hair often tied in a ponytail but tonight is straight and silky. Her green eyes are rather glossy. Her eyes. They just closed, why? Oh, she is kissing me that’s why.

I’m dazed but kiss her back on impulse. She doesn’t smell like peaches anymore, that’s too bad, I like peaches.