The Problem with Alcohol.
The last mission was a hard one. Two solid months of dirt, dust and heat. Add to no hot water, no proper plumbing and limited electricity you really begin to appreciate the comforts of home. Walking up to my front door, with our perfectly manicured lawns, I was so happy to be home. I dug around in the garden for the fake rock, grabbed out the spare key and opened the door. The alarm started beeping alerting me to the fact no one was home. Odd I thought. At least one of my roommates is always home…. Unless they had gone shopping. Sighing with relief I was glad I came home now.
I ignored the rest of the house all I was dreaming about was hot shower, my own shampoo and feeling clean for the first time in two months. Hot water was one luxury I would never ever take for granted again! Dumping my bags at the foot of my bed, ignoring all the washing I needed to do, sort out the clothes that would never be wearable again, I made my way to the bathroom. With each step I slipped out of another ripped item of clothing, sweat soaked and stained. I stepped into the shower and let the scolding hot water pass over my bruised and battered body. I sighed with relief and just sat down. Slowly I ran a razor up my legs, under my arms. I grabbed for the shampoo and conditioner really scrubbing my hair oh it felt amazing. Finally I lathered up the body wash and filed the air with a mango sent. My feet god they had been stinking for weeks finally felt clean. Using my porous scrub I eliminated any dry skin scrubbing them back to the fresh layers. I swear I was in the shower for over an hr. I was a prune when I finally left the soothing water.
I continued my routine grabbing the mango body butter. Just being able to feel clean again and feel like a girl again. I really missed these luxuries. I understand you don't want to know about my bathroom routine but I want you to understand I haven't been able to do this for two months. I was lucky if I saw running water let alone soap each week!
The door down stairs opened. I hear voices.
"Cammie you home?" A British voice sang throughout the house.
"Up here Bex" I yelled back.
"You're home. You're really back. It's been ages. Why didn't you call?" I registered the southern accent. Liz's accent wasn't as strong having lived with us for so long. Three years together in our house after graduation I guess we all changed.
"Hey guys" I smiled up. Macey just looked me over with a critical eye, she was deciding if I had taken care of myself. She always said the best way to stay healthy was to take care of your looks. Clean, healthy skin, well kept hair and nails was her idea of healthy. I usually don't object. Macey was our beauty expert.
"Mace I just got back. I'm not going to look perfect." I protested
"Well we have to get you near perfect. I'm having a party tomorrow and you're attending. No buts ifs or ands."
"Mace I actually think a party is what I need." I smile up at her. It was true.
After my break up with Josh I'd become quite a party animal. I was always going clubbing with Bex or Mace and even Liz. I was no long the innocent, shy, chameleon. I flirted with anything that had a pulse. I was even known for a few one night stands. My break up with Josh was messy. Turns out for the duration of our relationship he'd be screwing anything with legs. I believe it wasn't limited to girls either. Shortly after he revealed his true natures, nearly 13 months into our relationship, the girls and I packed our bags and moved to New York. It made the travel to work easier. We had a two storey massive house with a large back yard. Each bedroom was equipped with a bathroom taking up the whole upstairs. It made living arrangements a lot easier. We each had our private space.
"Guys, it's been lovely to see you but if you don't mind I think I'm going to sleep. Especially if there is going to be a party tomorrow. A girl needs her beauty sleep" I winked at Mace. She just rolled her eyes.
"Night Cam" with that my three best friends exited the room. It was good to be home.
I woke up around 3pm the next day. Wow I'd slept nearly 23 hrs. Guess I needed it. Food, I really needed food. I slipped on some pants grabbed my fluffy hoodie and walked into the kitchen. Mace had started to prepare for tonight. Oh yeah the party. I sat at the breakfast bar, rifled through the bags of food and opened the Pringles, mmm salt and vinegar. Oh how I missed civilisation. Sometimes a girl just loves her comfort foods.
Mace, Liz and Bex walked in lugging some seriously heavy boxes. They added them to the growing pile of stuff on our dining table. The distinct sound of bottles clinking made me peer into these boxes. Macey's parties were known for being heavily supplied with alcohol. This one it seems was going to be no exception. Party started at 7. Guess we had a lot of preparing to do.
"I'll start on the punch." I stated rifling through the cupboards. We had two huge soup pots set aside for punch. They were never going to be used for making soup. One batch was going to consist of two bottles of vodka, one bottle of Champaign (believe it or not passion pop was the best to use in punch), 5l of juice (orange, pineapple, and mango along with punch juice) add the lemonade and a whole heap of ice. That would be added later so we didn't water it down. The second one was a tequila based punch. Lime juice, orange juice again and a squirt of lemon, lemonade and passion pop again. I put both outside in the fridge near the bar to chill.
Meanwhile Mace and Bex had been stocking up the bar and clearing out the kitchen to lay out all the food. Bowles were being filled with all the junk food imaginable. While party pies and other things requiring an oven were being stacked in the freezer. Liz was quite efficient at this. Once done Mace smiled at me.
I might like partying, I didn't like preparing. It was Macey's favourite part of the night. She had three living Barbie dolls at her disposal. Queue internal sigh.
Three hours later I looked amazing. I guess I do enjoy our prep times. We get so girly, sharing clothes, nail polish, makeup and hair products. If you aren't careful you might get a bottle of hair volumising moose to the face. We don't pass like ladies around here. We ditch the stuff across hallways. And speak with indoor voices never happens. We communicate through yelling when we prepare for a party. It was fun. I missed having fun. I definitely missed my girls.
So here I am standing in the kitchen in silver glittery platform stilettos, black satin short shorts and black corset and all preparing the oven for the finger food. Macey was adding the finishing touches to her look. Liz came in to see if I needed help and passes me a drink. Time to see if my punch was worth the effort I put in. Yep I still definitely make good punch.
Pretty soon after the door starts ringing.
"Cammie your back" A lot of my Gallagher friends exclaim. Tina especially pointed out my changed look saying how she loved the dark smoky eye shadow and how my hair was teased and messy with curls everywhere. I believe sex kitten was the term. Some ex blackthorn boys turned up. A couple I had met on missions and acknowledged them. A few were previous conquests… You know what I mean. Spy boys were definitely good in bed! Others were just friends of Bex's boyfriend Grant.
They met on a mission about 7 months ago and had been going steady. Grant was amazing, stupid and a little obnoxious but definitely good for Bex. She adored him. And Grant became our unofficial brother.
"Hey Cammie, good to see you're back in one piece. Mission go ok? Not hurt? Glad to see running water again" I just nodded to Grants questions but smiled at him. "So I decided to ask Zach, Nick and Jonas to the party. I think you guys will like them. We were roommates while at Blackthorn and they are actually all in town. We finally have a place of our own rather than being spread out across the country." I knew Bex would be thrilled Grant was moving closer to her.
"Grant any friend of yours is welcome especially if they were your roommates. We would love to hear some old school stories." I just winked at him. Though seriously I would love to know what younger less mature Grant was like. "I look forward to meeting them."
The party had started to get into full swing around 9pm that night. So let me tell you a few things about me an alcohol. Firstly Vodka makes me calm and sleepy, tequila makes me flirty and full of energy and whisky, curse you whisky, makes me horny. Tonight I wanted some fun. Bring on the tequila. I spotted Bex sucking face with Grant. Bex was always up for shots though.
"Mind if I cut in?" I asked Grant. He just looked at me pouting. It was kind of funny. I reached across to Bex and smiled. I wrapped my arm around the back of her neck and whispered "Up for shots?" She nodded. Grant was still pouting. Bex and I both noticed. She pulled my closer having both arms around my waist and leaned in. I put one hand up to caress her face the other around her back and slowly leaned in. It wasn't uncommon for Bex and I to make out and I must say I enjoyed it. It started off slow. I grabbed her bottom lip with mine, slowly pulling it back with me, then lent in again, this time I ran my tongue long her bottom lip, nibbling with my teeth as I went. She parted her lips and our tongues collided. Making out just seemed to be a thing we did while drunk. Grant sure looked turned on and a few other guys were wolf whistling. "Shots time?" I smiled into the kiss.
"Sure" Bex replied.
Grant had Bex back in his arms. "Oh God that was hot. I just mean wow. Bex you definitely are amazing"
I knew that would make Grant happy and Grant being happy made Bex happy. It still escapes me how guys find girls making out hot. I mean I enjoy it but I don't find to guys making out hot. If they're in a relationship or something I find it cute but no sex appeal. Boys, will I ever understand them?
Grant and Bex were following me towards the bar where I located a bottle of tequila, lemon slices and the salt. We were going to do this properly! Bex gave me a knowing look. I must smiled back.
"Bex you know the drill. Salt, shot, lemon. Let's get this party started!" I was giggling.
Two shots down and suddenly Grant spots someone.
"Zach my man. Get over here."
A black hair, green eyes hottie looks up and walks over. He was pure muscle and had some bulk to his frame. Spy. Definitely Spy. He looked like fun. I wanted fun. Tonight Zach was going to be mine.
"Hey Grant" Zach acknowledged Grant and his eyes wondered to over Bex then to me. "I liked your show girls. Very entertaining." I just smiled. Grant wrapped a protective arm around Bex giving a Zach a look saying this one is mine. It was quite cute. I remembered the times when Josh used to do that to me. Bex noticed the slight slip in my bubbly mood and smiled knowing the thoughts running through my mind. I smiled back nodding towards Zach. She nodded. We were grinning knowing what my plans for Zach were.
Grant seemed oblivious to our silent conversation and started introducing Bex and I to Zach. Bex had turned her attention back to Grant and was slowly trying the drag Grant away.
"Hey Zach" I asked "Do you wana dance?"
"Sure"
I grabbed his hand leading him to where a mass had started dancing. Bex had preloaded dance music for the night onto her ipod. It's was mainly up beat currently club music which allowed for great dancing. Zach looked a little unsure what to do. So I grabbed his hands and wrapped his arms around my waist and smiled up to him. I was playing with his hair while we were both moving to the beat. Every now and then I would run my hands through my hair, down my thighs anything to draw attention from a guy. Hey I was dressed to please and tonight I wanted to please Zach.
We had been grinding for around 5 minutes when I leaned in and kissed Zach. Both hands were tangled in his hair; the heels brought me closer to this 6 foot 2 height. Our lips touched and moved in sync. He was pulling my body closer, having both arms around me suddenly he grabbed my butt and lifted me up. Instinctively my legs snakes around his waist gripping together and our kiss deepened.
"Grant, Zach won't hurt her right?" I turned to my gorgeous boyfriend with worried eyes. Although I knew Grant and trusted him I didn't know Zach and Cammie seemed pretty intent on having her way with him.
"Bex, he isn't that type of guy. He might be a player, but going off Cammie's recent behaviour I don't think she is looking for a serious relationship at the moment. Maybe the two of them will do each other some good?"
"She's still hurting from Josh. It will be a long time until she trusts another guy again. But then again she needs some fun. I just want her to be safe." Grant nuzzled into my neck distracting me from my friend. Believe me I enjoyed when Grant kissed my neck, lightly running his tongue in figure eights across my neck, kissing the bottom of my ear and slowly making his way back to my lips. This boy was the perfect kisser. Tonight he wasn't rough. He was gently and loving. I leant back into Grant perfectly nestled into his arms.
Cammie and Zach were getting seriously over on the dance floor. She was all over Zach. It was a little disturbing how far they were going. It was getting really heated. Zach had one arm supporting her and another hand in her hair pulling her even closer into the kiss.
"Nick, Jonas you finally made it. I was beginning to worry about you guys. Seriously the party started three hours ago!" Grant called from behind me.
"Sorry mate be got caught up at the office" They meant CIA HQ but Jonas apologised none the less. I was thinking he would be perfect for Lizzie he had the geek factor that would definitely give Liz a run for her money. He was handsome, not too buff but built. She wouldn't find him a gym junkie and they would be able to talk all they wanted in nerd talk. Nick I definitely needed a plan to hook him up with Macey. He had fashion sense, but Macey could still improve him. He also seemed like a no nonsense person. However he looked like he might put up with Macey's shit. I needed Cammie for this plan. I really didn't want to break up the smooching couple but the happiness of my friends was now involved. Sigh. I stood up letting Grant and his mates reconnect.
The plan for Macey was to get her interested in Nick but throw in a little competition from Cammie. Macey can't help but compete for a guy. Cammie would love that plan and Liz and Jonas just required a topic starter… something to get them interested… Liz we discovered earlier, when she drank gin, came out of her shell and was extremely flirty. The problem was getting Gin into her. Another thing Cammie and I needed to plan.
I tapped Cammie on the shoulder. She just pushed me away.
"Cameron Ann Morgan. Get off the boy now. You and I have some match making to do." Cammie just looked at me.
"I'm having fun Bex."
"You can have fun later. Right now I need your help getting Liz drunk and Macey jealous." I could see Cammie thinking this over.
"Alright, fine. Ill grab the gin and Macey, you grab Liz." Cammie got off Zach. Zach gave me a slightly dirty look dipping Cammie for another tongue down throat kiss. Eww Spew.
Let the plan begin.