Chapter 5
"Okay, so we walk around and scan who's here
before we commit to an area?" Heather said, as they walked into the party.
"No need, Paul is heading straight this way." Patience said.
"Hey Heather. Hey Patience." Paul said.
"Guess it's easy to learn a girl's name when it's on the back
of her shirt all day." Patience said.
"Heather, you look great." Paul said, admiring her nice
fitting Abercrombie red polo shirt and body hugging khakis. Her sandy blonde
hair was pulled back in a braid that was tied with a red ribbon and had red flip
flops on her feet.
"Thanks Paul. You too." Heather said, pointing to his baggy
jeans, ADIDAS tennis shoes and grey Boston Red Sox t-shirt. He wore a University
of Michigan hat over his brown hair.
"I'm gonna go grab a drink." Patience said, as she walked
off. Their plan for the night had turned out to be much easier than expected.
So, she decided to go off and see what fun she could find for herself.
Patience quickly found the drinks, pouring her some mixture
to drink. She knew she'd probably regret it tomorrow or even possibly later, but
she didn't plan on thinking much at the time.
She leaned up against the table that the drinks were set up
against and just listened to the music that was pulsating in the room. She
watched couples, or at least a boy and a girl dance to the beat that was enough
to make even the world's most sober person have a headache.
That was when she heard a sound next to her. So, she turned
to see what was going and was met with the body of Michael Phelps. Patience
quickly downed what was left in her glass and then turned to fill her cup up
more.
"I thought the Tylenol was to help your knees feel better,
not get rid of a hangover." Michael said.
"This is my first drink." Patience said, leaning back up
against the table.
"Really?" Michael said, leaning up next to her with his
drink.
"Honestly." Patience replied back, taking a small sip of
hers. She then set hers down, carefully pulled Michael's glass from his hand,
and took a sip of his. She handed his back, picked hers back up and then walked
off.
Michael sat there a second, a confused look on his face. And
then, he smiled.
****************************************
Patience walked around the house, seeing what else was going
on in various parts. There were body shots in one room, karaoke in another, and
then people just hanging out in another.
She found her way back into the main room, where everyone was
dancing. She quickly finished sipping up her drink, and then tossed the plastic
glass in a nearby trash can.
She then found her body slowly moving to 'I'm A Slave 4 U'.
Without even thinking, she just let it continue.
And then that was when she felt a body behind hers. She felt
a pair of hands hold onto her waist, hips grinding along with hers.
She turned to see who it was, to meet the face of Michael
again. For once, she didn't push him away. It could have been the fact she did
like being the center of attention to every girl in the room, or all the alcohol
she had consumed so far, but she didn't say anything mean or shove him away from
her.
She let one arm go up his chest and around his neck, or as
close to around his neck as she should manage. He was a bit taller than her, so
it wasn't as easy to slip an arm around his neck.
She heard a cup drop and spill it's contents to the floor,
and almost bet it was Heather's. Sure, she was dancing with a guy she had come
to hate. But, how many women did that to save countries, or to….who was she
kidding. She was just dancing with him because she wanted to dance with
somebody. Michael just happened to have been the first guy who walked over.
As the song stopped, she turned to face Michael. "There's
body shots in another room." He said, softly. He even leaned closer to make sure
she heard his offer.
Patience leaned closer, making him think they were about to
kiss. "Not on your life." She whispered, then turned and walked back to where
the drinks were.
Michael watched her walk off in her baby blue American Eagle
polo halter top, body fitting khakis, and white flip flops. And, he laughed to
himself a little.
****************************************
Patience leaned up against the table again, pouring herself a
drink and then almost gulping it down. "Hey, you're the girl who played catcher
for Team 1, aren't you?" A male voice asked.
"Yeah I am." She said, turning to face him.
"You were great in the game today." The guy said. "Especially
that throw you threw to second base when that runner was trying to steal." The
guy added.
"You mean the one that almost took off the second baseman's
head, and one of Phelps's ears?" Patience said.
"Yeah, it got there just in time, even with the shock she had
as second base that she actually had to play and stop flirting with the center
fielder." The guy said.
Patience had to chuckle. She thought she was the only person
who was getting annoyed by the girl playing second base. "I'm Patience." She
said, sticking her hand out for the mysterious man to shake.
"Greg." He replied.
"So, Greg, did you play in the game or did you just watch?"
Patience asked.
"I watched. I just got in this morning, so I didn't get time
to sign up." Greg said.
"You just got in today? I thought most people arrived
yesterday." Patience said, sipping her drink.
"I was at a swim meet that my coach wanted me to go to." Greg
said. "I arrived home from it and packed up to come here."
"That sucks." Patience said.
"Life of a swimmer." Greg said. "I mean, you're dating
Michael Phelps, you should understand." Greg said, as Patience spit her drink
back into her cup.
"I'm not dating Phelps." Patience cut in, as Greg was a
little surprised.
"I just saw the way you two were dancing." Greg said.
"He started it." Patience replied.
"So, I guess this means you're single?" Greg quickly asked.
"Yeah, it does." Patience said.
"You wanna dance?" Greg asked, as Patience smiled.
She held out her hand, as Greg led her back out to the main
room.
When they entered, one of the first people Patience saw was
Michael, and it was clear that he saw her. His mouth dropped open at the sight
of Patience with one of his friends from the swim team. Michael's arm tightened
around the blonde who had claimed space next to him.
Patience stuck out her tongue and followed Greg out onto the
dance floor.