Love passed into the house of lust / Then suddenly the tune went false / The dancers wearied of the waltz.
Oscar Wilde The Harlot's House
The group lacked symmetry until the beginning of that summer, when their little clan found Arabella. She had just started as a waitress at the bar they frequented that week and from the moment she had approached their table, Marissa had been taken in by the young woman. It was Marissa who usually brought people into their clan; she also usually was the one to expel them.
For whatever reason, one which Marissa never really explained in full, she took a fancy to Arabella and invited her out one evening for a drink. It was very easy for Arabella to catch them all out for a drink, seeing that they went out for a drink every night. Zach was a little bit in love with Arabella but didn't really notice him; no, she was too worried about disturbing the group dynamic.
At least that is what Ryan thought about it all. It was the end of the summer now; school was starting in three days and Marissa and Penelope were desperate to have some real fun before their last year at Berkeley started. Ryan would have felt a little bit hurt about it all but he was used to Marissa by now. How long had they dated, on and off? Nearly eight years now? He had enjoyed the summer at least.
Arabella sat smoking in silence while Zach and Ryan played the newest John Madden video game. In the bathroom the girls were putting finishing touches on their makeup; no doubt Marissa and Penelope and Danny, Ryan's roommate, were doing a bit of cocaine. It was a secret they all knew about except for Ryan; they all kept it from him because he wouldn't have approved.
"Why does your girlfriend take so long?" Arabella set down her cigarette and drank some whiskey.
"She likes to look perfect." It really did annoy Ryan sometimes when Marissa took forever. She was beautiful enough without having to go that extra mile, but he did like it when she looked her best from him.
"Well I can't get any action tonight if we never reach the bar." Arabella had less tolerance then the rest of them and was already a little drunk. "All the hot guys will have found some shank to hook up with."
"You'll be fine." Zach turned his head away from the game and leered at Arabella. She was gorgeous; Arabella, with her dark chestnut hair and deep dark eyes, it was a mystery why more men hadn't gotten into her panties over the summer. Out of the three girls, she dressed the most simply. This evening she wore a tight green t-shirt that accented her beautiful, large breasts. Even Ryan, with his sexy girlfriend, wondered what it would be like to have those breasts in his hands, in his mouth. Hearing her talk about sex, Ryan couldn't but help imagining a pretty silk thong underneath those wonderfully tight jeans.
"Sure." She lit another cigarette and watched the game being played between the two boys. "I'm bored."
"We should have sex then—I'll shut you up."
"You mean I'll fall asleep?" Zach whistled at her response; he liked a girl who had a mean streak to her.
"You going to take that man?" Ryan smiled at Zach; it was strange, Zach being a part of their group. High school, and the part Zach had played in the wild love triangle between him and Seth and Summer seemed far away.
"Whatever—girl doesn't know what she's missing." He received a playful smack from Arabella.
"Jackass." They heard a rustle in the bathroom and some giggling laughter. "You guys want something to drink?" Her whiskey was through and it was time for another.
"Get me another beer."
"Yeah—Ryan?"
"No thanks." He smiled at Arabella; she liked him, he was polite and sweet and if Marissa didn't have such a hold on him, she'd be happy to take him into her bedroom.
"You could learn something from him—he's a good guy."
"Sure—that's why he's such a big wuss."
"Screw you man—it must suck losing to such a pansy."
"It's still early." Arabella returned from the kitchen and handed Zach his beer.
"There's no way in hell you're finishing this game." Arabella took a long drag from her cigarette and sat back up again. "I'm going to drag them out of there right now."
"Someone needs some sex."
"You're one to talk." Ryan grinned mockingly at his friend; he was happy in the fact that Marissa was giving him a constant flow of good sex.
"That was a low blow man." He took a long drink from his beer; Zach and Arabella both were having a bit of a dry spell. He hadn't gotten any sex since Forth of July; the memory of that waitress was still a pleasant one. "Just because you have Marissa doesn't mean you have to rub it in everyone else's faces."
"Well they said they needed one more minute." Arabella puckered at face at Ryan. "You should be careful about letting Danny hang out in the bathroom with Marissa; you don't know what that boy is capable of." She knew a little of what he was capable of; they had hooked up briefly but Danny was too obsessed with Penelope for anything good to come of it.
"I'm sure you do though." They knew all what happened between them, except Ryan of course, who didn't know Marissa was back doing coke.
"He showed me a thing or two."
"Slut." Zach grinned good-naturedly. "Those jeans are really tight by the way."
"I know you couldn't keep your eyes off of them." She grabbed his crouch and burst out laughing as Zach blushed at his excitement.
"This is too weird for me." If any of them was the straight man, it was Ryan. He was certainly the boy scout of the entire group. He hardly ever got drunk, did not smoke and never did any drugs. Even Zach, who wanted to go into politics, smoked pot once and awhile. He was also very often drunk.
"Poor innocent Ryan." The three settled into a short silent that lasted only until Penelope and Marissa bounded out of the bathroom.
"Sorry guys." Marissa, feeling good from the three lines of coke she had snorted, went straight for Ryan. "Miss me baby?" She sat down on his lap, ignoring the controller. "A lot." She looked beautiful, in that short skirt and halter top combination he loved so much. As he kissed her, lustily, Ryan let his hands explore up her legs and underneath the skirt. He felt a satin thong underneath that skirt and began counting the hours until he could take it off of her.
"Okay now that's indecent." Danny had just finished the last line of coke and was coming out of the bathroom.
"Sorry." Marissa got off of her boyfriend and put out her hand in an offer to lift him up. "You guys ready to get out of here?"
"Finally." Arabella rolled her eyes; she was ready to enjoy herself.
