I was lying on my stomach on my bed reading a book when my phone rang... quacked. "h-hello?"
"HIYA! Is this Nina?"
"uh, yes."
"Hi, I'm Minako." "AND I'M MARI!" a voice shouted in the background. "Shut up!" Minako yelled back. "hi, I'm Yuuri's ballet teacher and old friend of the family." "And I'm His older sister." The second voice called. A lot closer to the mic. "Mari, shut up a sec. Sorry Nina. We were wondering if you had a dress to wear to Yurio's surprise party. Viktor likes formal events according to Yuuri."
A dress?! "no. I never wear dresses."
"Borrow one of mine or Mari's. We brought extras."
I stuttered an embarrassing thank you.
"I can give you our hotel address. We were going to stay with Viktor and Yuuri but their house doesn't have enough rooms."
"yes please." I grabbed my note book, as she told me the address and their room numbers and to "ask for the name Minako Okunawa, room 102."
I said good bye and hung up, leaving my note book open on my desk to remind me.

On Friday evening I told my parents I was going to see some friends so that there would be no questions about where I was Saturday evening. I gave them a half assed reason to why i'd be late home. My argued a little over whether they should allow me but eventually they said I could go.

The door opened to 102 and a tallish girl with long brown hair and a beauty spot under her eye welcomed me in. She matched Viktor's description and I met the other girl inside, Yuuri's older sister; Mari. Her hair was dyed slighted and piled above her head in a cute mess.
"Hey," she yelled, "Your Yurio's friend! Lets get our Dress up on!"

I leaned away as Minako approached me with the mascara wand. "come on Nina." she cooed, "Your have to look the part. just blink when I say."
I was wearing a simple short sage green chiffon dress, I felt very... vulnerable. And now I was being attacked with what seemed like a badly washed paint bush dunked in gunky black stuff.
"f-fine." I squeaked allowing them to put the weird stuff on me.
"out of interest did you get him a gift?" Mari asked.
"huh? oh yeah, I did..." I trailed off. It was wrapped in brown wrapping paper. I almost used the kitty cat paper I saved for Natasha however I decided he probably wouldn't appreciate cartoon kittens on pink paper.

"ooh, what did you get him." Minako asked as she finished my make up and untied her slightly damp hair, walking over to the bed. she sat down. "well?"
"oh you see... it doesn't matter." I finished lamely.
She shrugged, "ok then." She flipped her hair forward and started to blow dry. "Hey Mari, what hair style are you going for."
"just down,"

Minako followed the map on her phone towards Viktor and Yuuri's place. I was holding Yuri's present, having left my bag at the hotel room.
When we arrives Yuuri opened it wearing a fancy suit although he still wore his glasses and his hair messy. "YUURI!" Mari and Minako hugged him. "we brought Nina."
I waved shyly from behind the two older girls. I felt very out of place already. "Viktor, Minako, My sister and Nina are here." He called as he gestured for us to come in.

"Oh goodie!" Viktor said as he pushed the sofa across the room, with Yakov, A poddle was lying on every now and again licking Yakov who looked like he was going to attept to strangle it when Viktor wasn't looking. "Mila and Phichit are also already here." I followed the others in. The flat was open plan, so all the rooms but the bedroom and bathroom shared the same huge windows over looking the city which was slowly turning from sunset glinting red to inky black littered with stars. the kitchen was in a small turn off from the main room, on the table was a buffet, with crisps, sandwiches and the smell of chocolate fondant swarmed the flat from the centre of the table. At the Fondant, Mila was getting her not so fair share of marshmallows. Phichit must be the tanned boy staring intently at the popping microwave. Suddenly feeling shy I ducked behind Minako. "what's wrong?"
"I-I'm not great at meeting people." I whispered.
She shrugged, "everyone is really nice so don't worry." I nodded watching as Yakov and Viktor pushed the sofa against the far wall. Mari gave her brother a hug as there was another knock on the door, "Otebek your here!" I peeked from behind Mari, a tall imposing figure stood in the door way. It was that scary guy Yuri had been talking to.

Looking from face to face only new 6, two os which i had only met today and Mila who I only had two brief conversations with. Why had I accepted again? and avoiding someone at their own birthday party seemed, really dumb.

"oh, you can put the presents on the coffee table," Yuuri said,
"we've got Yuuko's as well." Minako said. who's she? I quickly dropped it and took three so not suspicious steps away, Makkachin padded past me and headed out the open balcony doors to flop down away from all the noise.

"Nina!" Viktor smiled at me, appearing suddenly, "Did you get that painting for him," I nodded meekly blushing furious red, "great! he'll be so exited, which one is it?" he pointed to the pile.
"Th-the brown one." I muttered. He looked at me confused then shrugged, instead asking;
"Can you help yuuri blow up some balloons?"

I joined Yuuri by the fire and he headed me a back of sweet 16 balloons. I almost laughed. He was blowing up a pile with helium. "we want a mix," he explained. At least 20 were already done, I notice Phichit sat on an arm chair blowing up bigger flat balloons with happy birthdays. He had left the microwave: Pop corn must be done then.

More people arrived but not as many as I expected, most of them seemed to be apart of a tight nit of skater friends. The last to arrive seemed rather... eccentric, he also seemed to be drunk. And half naked. his shirt was half undone and falling off his right shoulder.
He twirling into the room with a bottle of wine, "OY~ Everyone! It's almost 6 o clock so everybody hush, hush. Yurio will be here soon."

Sitting on the sofa with Minako and Mila(Yuri's rink mate) we waiting in silence. "Viktor sat next to the hug speakers holding his phone which was plugged in. Thumb hovering over the play.
Yuuri stood by the door ready to open it.

Phichit was starting to take selfies with the eccentric naked man who was pouting and winking like mad in contrast to Phichits smiles. Otebek was looking blankly at the door blowing a green ballon up.
Everyone else was gathered waiting on chairs. I whispered quietly to Mila, "is anyone here not a skater? Does Yuri not have any friends his age?"
Mila shook her head, quietly speaking back, "other than you no, not really."
"me, Mari and Yurio's granpa who is bringing him here, are the only none-skaters. you too."
I nodded, catcing myself from asking another question as I heard a whine from outside the flat.
"Grandpa! What has Viktor planned now?" A hearty laughed followed, And as knuckles hit the door Yuuri pulled it open, loud music burst from the speakers, 10 voice shouted happy birthday and Yui's grandpa shoved his startled grandson into the room.
"HUH!?" I pushed myself back into the sofa, hit suddenly by the edge to paint the startled look on his face. I didn't need to deal with this right now.

After yuri had gotten over his initial shock he spent the first 10 minutes of his own party blushing and arguing with Viktor who stuck his tong out in a goofy fashion and made a peace sign, finishing the argument by shoving a present into his arms. "open Ours first ok?" He pointed to Yuuri as he said it.

Yurio snatched it, grumbling and growling. The guests had spilt and were talking idly, I stuck insainly close to Minako. She talked opening and confidently while I hid behind her.
"Nina, right?" I turned and was faced with the stripper guy, his shirt was completely gone now, he was still wearing his tie however. I blushed.
"y-y-y-y-yes?"
"my name is Chris," he said happily. "I heard you were quite the charmer with our little Yuri."
I blinked at him in shock, "ch-charm-charmer?"
"uh huh," He winked, "I'm Viktor's rival, in Ice-skating I mean."
"I-it's n-nice to meet you." I stuttered, adverting my eyes. Oh, golly someone help me.
"Oy~ Chris," thank god for Viktor. "come help me," The silver haired man pointed to a glass of water.
"of course," Chris giggled, he was definitely drunk. "can't miss this."
Only moments later, I found myself sitting in the corner on the sofa with a plate of chocolate cake which had been thrust into my hands by Yuuri who had taken to checking up on my every 10 or 15 minutes however I realised that would soon stop when he allowed Viktor and Chris to goad him into having a glass of water, he looked suspicious but seemingly it had tasted fine as he drank more. However his judgement after that went a little... lax. He accepted some of the sake Minako had brought and come of the cocktails on the table.

Before I knew it Chris had Yuuri dancing with him, my young mind was slightly distroyed by Chris's... underwear. nobody really needed to see that. "Why does this always happen?" A voice said by me, the sofa dipped under his weight and I turned to look (not so) discreetly at the wall away from him. How art thou lovely wall? oh what is wrong with me? Yuri had sat right next to me. In the centre of the sofa, not the other side. No, he had to sit there. "happy birthday." I mumbled. He pressence had some weird effect on me. Good thing i missed todays lesson, i wouldn't have survived.
"hm," he grunted, "Viktor invited you right?" Out of the corner of my eye I could see Yuuri dancing on the coffee table, most of the presents having being moved under it. He was shirtless and had a giant smily face on his tummy. "The Pig is Disgusting." He spat. "Chris is just as bad." He looked over to me with a sigh, "You weren't at todays lesson." I said, he sounded angry. I really wouldn't look at him now, "or last weeks."
"s-sorry, I've been r-really busy." I grumbled.
"Yet, your here now." well I guess that was true, I really shouldn't have come. He sighed heavily, instead I felt a slight pull on my dress. I looked down, Yuri was smoothing the top chiffon layer of the skirt against the sofa. Slightly tingly feeling I peeked at his face only to find him looking directly at me. A rush of hot embarrassment and I looked instead at my cake sitting in my lap. "I like your dress." he murmured. Instead of replying since I think I became incapable of speech at that moment, I forked off a large thing of cake and ate it. Not caring how over full my mouth was. Anything but answering right now.

I chewed harshly, looking forward only to look back down, it seems, Chris, Viktor and Yuuri were very very drunk.
"YURIO! Come dance."
"Huh?" He growled, ignoring the older man, "Nina, You know your have cake on your cheek?" he leaned over I wiped it off with the back of a gentle finger and slowly withdrawing. My cheek was shivering happily. Leaving me reeling for a moment. Staring wide eyed and mouth a gape. He just stole my cake.
"YURIO~ come on!" Yuuri had been joined by Viktor on the coffee table and were both calling for him to come over,
"COMING! Stupid Giezers," He yelled over the music and noise. Biting the cake off his finger and standing up, "Make sure you come to tomorrows lesson," He growled over his shoulder. My eyes trailed him across the room as he stormed over to Viktor and Yuuri. I shook my head, His eyes had seemed, softer tonight. Framed by very slightly damp hair. He must have showered earlier. I needed to stop thinking about his face as art. I don't even like portraiture that much, why am I so fixated on this?

I shrugged, forcing the thoughts out of my mind. Instead I found I was focussing on the feeling of his finger against my cheek, soft, tingly, warm. I pressed my hands to my cheeks willing away the heat. Maybe the heat of the party was getting to me.
I felt embarrassed to watch them dance, with Chris and Yuuri lacking in the clothes department, and Yuri forced into it.

I finished off the cake, wandering what I was surposed to do in these circumstances. Viktor waved to everybody in the room, "Yurio's gonna open his presents soon, kay~"
This is when I escape. The present I planned to give him suddenly seemed very presumptuous and arrogant. I know Viktor told me he would like it. I could have sold it to him but thnei wouldn't have a gift to give him. I needed to tell someone I was leaving.
I found Minako half drunk out of her mind, luckily Mari wasn't as bad. "M-mari?" as she turned to face me I smiled, "I have to go now, can I give your dress back tomorrow? I can come around to your hotel,"
She smiled and waved me off, "keep the dress."
I thanked her, secretly planning to hand it back to her anyway, she might have been more than a bit tipsy, I didn't want to run off with her dress.
I closed the flat door behind me, hearing as the music was turned down and Viktor shouting about presents. I definitely didn't want to deal with Yuri opening the one from me.

Next time: Yuri turns up at her school?!

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