When We Were Young

Chapter 10: Let's Get It Started

It was well into Saturday evening now as the guests began to arrive. Foreman and Chase had been the first ones to get there under strict instructions from House as he told them he couldn't have people showing up and be expected to entertain them; that's what the alcohol was for. So with the refrigerator now fully stocked and devoid of pretty much anything that didn't come with a screw cap, the party was ready to get underway. A handful of House's lacrosse teammates were the next ones to arrive; already half in the bag before they even got there and two of them even carrying a keg between them. House smirked. He knew there was a reason he invited them.

Foreman was busying himself with the stereo equipment House had him bring over; setting up the speakers and wheeling through playlists on his iPod trying to find one that House wouldn't immediately detest to. Once satisfied with a mix of just about every kind of music he had he set the device down and headed into the living room to join the others.

Wilson and Cuddy had arrived next; it took her longer than expected to get out of her house as she found it difficult to get by her father without him noticing. She had told him earlier that she wasn't feeling well and would be going to bed early in hopes that he wouldn't pop in her room to check on her. There was a John Wayne marathon on TV so she was pretty certain he wouldn't be moving from his favourite chair and if anything would likely fall asleep in it.

"Stop being so nervous" Wilson sighed as they reached the front door. "Your dad's probably already passed out in front of the TV and I told you whenever you want to go home, I'll take you. Right?"

"I know" she nodded slowly. "Thank you James, really. Why couldn't I have had a big brother instead of a big sister" she smiled sweetly at him as she wrapped her small hands around his bicep and leaned her head against his shoulder. It was at that exact moment when the front door swung open revealing House on the other side of it; an odd look upon his face as he stared at the two people in front of him in a situation that could easily be misread as something other than what it was; a gesture of friendship.

"Wilson" House finally piped up; giving his head a shake. "Glad you could make it. And hey, look at the cat you dragged in" he smirked at Cuddy who only glared in return. "Drinks are in the fridge, animal sacrifices in the backyard" he continued as he took a step back to let them enter into the house.

The music was causing the floors to vibrate under their feet and Wilson immediately went to the stereo system to turn it down a bit; worried of course about the police being called to shut down their party. House rolled his eyes but didn't contest any further. He knew Wilson was right and it was still at an adequate volume for people to enjoy.

Wilson nodded to House to make sure he was alright with it before turning in to the kitchen; letting Cuddy know he'd be back in a minute with drinks for them.

"Sorry guys, mom's home" House groaned towards the clustered group of lacrosse players on the couches. They chuckled before going back to their 'game' of who could do the longest keg stand. Clearly not at all concerned with the lower volume of music as they were making enough noise on their own.

"You wanna go next?" House wriggled his eyebrows at Cuddy who just stared blankly at him in response.

"Or not" House quickly shrugged. "Hey, I've got a cool party game though, you wanna try it?"

Cuddy perked up slightly; she had felt a little awkward ever since House had greeted them and just wanted to forget about it and focus on something else instead.

"What is it?" she asked with a hint of enthusiasm in her tone.

"It's called…" House began as he took a few steps closer to her until they were only inches apart. "Turn off all the lights and guess who's in my mouth. Wanna go first?"

"House!" Cuddy groaned as she lightly shoved him in the chest.

"What?" House asked with a slight chuckle. "Just trying to keep my guests entertained. And if memory serves me correctly…" he began but Cuddy quickly silenced him by raising a hand in front of his face.

"House, we were twelve" she reminded him.

"You're right" he nodded. "Besides, you weren't that good a kisser anyway" he shrugged before turning away; something more interesting apparently catching his eye.

Cuddy stood still; slightly taken aback for a moment, wondering if she should be offended or just brush it off as House being House and eventually went with the ladder and shook it off just as Wilson approached her with two cold bottles in hand.

"What was that about?" Wilson asked curiously as he handed the bottle of pink liquid to Cuddy and kept the beer for himself.

"Nothing" she shook her head then smiled as she accepted the drink. She briefly pondered to herself if House could actually be jealous, but then remembered who she was dealing with and quickly waved off the notion.

A loud commotion came from the front of the house and Cuddy turned and smiled as she saw a cluster of her cheerleader friends come through the front door and make their way inside. One girl in particular screamed when she saw Cuddy and ran running towards her with her arms open and quickly pulled her into a hug. Wilson noticeably blushed as he became more or less surround by the pretty group of girls and being the gentleman he was quickly offered to get them all a drink as he took his leave back to the kitchen.

"Cameron" Wilson lightly gasped as he turned the corner to the kitchen to find Cameron leaning against the refrigerator door.

"I… didn't hear you come in" he continued; nodding towards the refrigerator so she politely stepped out of the way so he could open the door.

"Get you a drink?" Wilson asked as he peered inside without looking up at her.

"Why, feeling guilty about something?" she asked; arms folded across her chest.

"No…" Wilson said cautiously. "Why?"

"You tried to trick me into asking Chase out by leading me to believe that you were bringing a date" she huffed; finally getting Wilson to look up at her.

"Hey, I never said it was a date" Wilson said smugly. "I said I would bring a girl if you brought Chase. You never set any other rules"

"But you knew I wouldn't have asked Chase otherwise"

"Asked Chase what?" another voice entered the room and both Cameron and Wilson jumped slightly as they looked across the room to see Chase leaning against the door frame to the kitchen.

"Chase" Cameron lightly gasped with her hand on her heart. "You scared me" she told him; her eyes studying his carefully, trying to figure out exactly how much, if any, of the conversation he had heard.

"Sorry" he frowned. "So, what wouldn't you have asked me?" he questioned again and Cameron inwardly sighed with relief; apparently he hadn't heard any more of their conversation and must have just gotten there.

"Uh…" Cameron began but then stopped; coming up with nothing to tell him.

"To get her these peach coolers" Wilson finally intervened after watching Cameron struggle long enough. "They're her favourite" he smiled; passing one of the chilled bottles to Cameron.

"Yeah" Cameron instantly perked up. "I love these but I didn't want to be an imposition" she replied lamely; hoping he'd buy their story.

"It was… no problem" Chase answered with a genuine smile. Wilson looked the other way and rolled his eyes. Cameron could probably set his house on fire and Chase would still manage to find it adorable of her.

"Here, let me" Chase mentioned as he held his hand out and signaled for her to pass him the bottle. She gave him a small smile and handed him the bottle to open.

Chase gripped the cap and twisted his hand as hard as he could but got nowhere. He sighed with frustration as Cameron lightly giggled in front of him. "Not a screw cap I guess…" he grumbled as he went back to trying to twist it off.

"I could look for a bottle opener…" Cameron mentioned after watching Chase struggle with the bottle for another minute or so; bound determined to get it open for her.

"No it's fine" Chase grunted; now using his t-shirt to protect his hand as he continued to twist. "I think I've almost got it…" he tried to sound confident but both Wilson and Cameron knew he was getting nowhere.

"You'll have to forgive him…" House's voice suddenly swept into the room as he rounded the corner into the kitchen behind chase. "In Australia the caps turn in the opposite direction" he mocked and Cameron let out a small laugh while Chase simply huffed and kept his tight grip on the bottle.

"Give me that" House groaned; watching Chase continue to struggle. He snatched it from Chase's grasp, pressed the edge of the cap against the corner of the kitchen counter top and made a fist with his right hand before bringing it down hard onto the top of the cap; the hard contact between his hand and the counter edge causing the cap to fly off onto the floor.

"M'lady" House politely nodded to Cameron as he handed her the bottle and her smile lit up the room.

"Wow, thank you" she beamed; notably impressed.

"No problem" he shrugged before reaching behind her and pulling open a drawer and quickly retrieving something.

"M'lady" he nodded again; this time looking at Chase as he extended his hand to pass him a bottle opener he had taken from the drawer. "Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself" he smirked at him before exiting the kitchen; Cameron following right behind him.

"Thanks for trying though, and thank you for the drink" she told Chase; giving him a patronizing pat on the shoulder before leaving the room to follow after House.

Chase heaved a frustrated sigh and let himself fall back against the kitchen wall before running a hand through his hair and Wilson looked on feeling rather bad for the kid.

"They're… just friends you know" Wilson eventually expressed; nodding his head towards where House and Cameron were standing in the other room.

Chase knew that Wilson was trying to be helpful but honestly it only made him feel worse. He couldn't even get her to be that much to him. They were more 'acquaintances' than anything. "Yeah, thanks" Chase grumbled and Wilson frowned.

"Drink?" he offered; handing a cold beer over to Chase.

"I don't really drink" Chase answered honestly; looking down at the bottle now in his hand, but then a laugh heard behind him caused him to turn around and he saw Cameron absolutely giddy over something House had said to her and her pack of cheerleading friends and she lightly smacked his arm but let her fingers linger on him for a few extra seconds.

"But, what could one beer hurt, right?" Chase shrugged, turning back to Wilson. He twisted the cap off and chugged the entire bottle down in a mere few seconds; stopping to wipe some excess dribble off his chin as Wilson looked on in slight surprise.

Chase finished the bottle and slammed it down on the counter; letting out a loud belch as he did so, then went straight to the refrigerator and swung open the door grabbing another bottle.

"Let's get this party started shall we?" he mumbled as he lightly pushed past Wilson and made his way through the other doorway of the kitchen and into living room.

A/N: Well hopefully you are still enjoying this story. The next chapter is nearly finished as well so should be posting that one soon. What do you think is in store for each of them as their night goes on? What would you like to see happen? Want a little dose of huddy? Still waiting for some Chameron sparks? What kind of trouble would you like to see Wilson get into? And does anybody care about Foreman? Lol. Please be kind and leave a review before you leave :)