“I’m here, what do you want from me.”
“So glad you could join us man.” Jason slurred. “Go grab a drink.”
“I’d rather not. I have to drive back home.”
“Dude, don’t be such a goody two shoe. Drink up!”
Before Joe had a chance to refuse again, Tiffany sauntered up to him.
“Joe, honey you came.” She smiled dopily.
“Tiff, are you ok?”
“Oh yeah, fine. Never been better.” She tried to drape her body over Joe.
“Tiff!” Joe straightened her as she started to tilt. “How many drinks did you have.”
“Oh, not many.” She rubbed against him and pulled on his hand. “Let’s get a room.”
“Oh you two have fun.” Jason grinned and made an obscene gesture.
“Tiff, I have a girlfriend.” Joe ignored Jason.
“Oh what does that matter? That ugly bitch wouldn’t expect you to be exclusive. She should be happy that you’re even looking at her.” She slurred. Pulling hard on his hand, she led him tipsily to the stairs.
“Tiffany Xu!” He jerked her back.
“Yes?” She leaned up and tried to kiss him. “Don’t say anything baby, just enjoy what I’m going to do with you.”
“I’m taking you home.”
“You want to go home?” She seemed really happy. “Your place or mine?”
“I’m not going to sleep with you!”
“What if I want you to fuck me?”
“Tiff, you’re drunk!”
“Oh psh.” She pulled him towards the stairs, meandering through a throng of dancing people, “I’ve wanted you since we were 12. Except that slut Bianca was always there.”
“Tiff, do you know what you’re saying? Bee is my sister!”
“Oh, you know she wanted you. Why else would she always wear those short little skirts and tights around you all the time?”
“Those skirts were tutus and Bianca is a ballerina!” Joe gave up arguing with her. “You’re inebriated, I’m taking you home.”
Against her protests, Joe picked her up – princess style – towards the door.
————————
“Here,” Ariel pushed a cup of coffee across the counter. “Drink up. You look dead.”
“Thanks.” Joe raised his head gratefully, took a giant gulp of coffee, only to realize it was hot, and spat it back in his cup.
Ariel took the cup from him and emptied it. “What’s with you today? Fresh coffee is hot, remember?”
“There was a party at Jason’s house, and I went.”
“Jason the guy with the spiky hair that always has a harem after him?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t know you guys were friends.”
“We aren’t. He always insists on having me go to these parties. I tried taking Tiffany home because she was drunk, but then I got stopped on the way and Jason and Brian teamed up on me.”
“What did they do?”
“They forced me to drink two shots of some really strong liquor thing. I don’t even know what it is – and I never want to try it again – but then I got too drunk to drive home, so I crashed there.”
“So for these parties, people always drink, do drugs, and have sex right.”
“Yeah.” Joe just realized what he said. “I mean, I just slept there – not with anyone.”
Ariel crossed her arm and raised an eyebrow.
“What? I’m not lying.”
“You better not be.” Ariel smiled a saccharine sweet smile.
Joe wisely refrained from talking replying.
—————————
“Flour, check, corn starch, check, candy canes, check, chocolate, check, turkey, check, PJ’s for Miranda, check.” Now what type of cereal should I buy? Cheerios are so bland and so are Rice Krispies. It’s near Christmas, so I should splurge a little… But I’m working fewer shifts this month because it’s Christmas and it’s a tight squeeze for rent already…
“Fancy meeting you here.”
Ariel turned at the sound of a high feminine voice and groaned inwardly. “Hello Tiffany.”
“So I see you couldn’t wait before sinking your claws into him could you.”
“I beg your pardon?” Ariel turned back to inspecting the cereal again. She looked utterly relaxed, though beneath that calm veneer, she was a full defensive mode.
“Joe. You couldn’t wait before you crawled into his bed could you.”
“Nope. You know what Joe’s like in bed. He’s insatiable.” Ariel then smiled pleasantly.
“You bitch!” Tiffany tossed her hair, “It’s not like you can satisfy him the way I can. Did Joe tell you that we slept together at Jason’s party the other night? Just wait ‘till he dumps your slutty ass and crawl back to me.”
“Yes, and he also told me how ‘hot’ it was to have sex with someone who just puked all over him.” Ariel winked.
“Bitch!” Tiffany tried to slap Ariel, but Ariel effortlessly twisted her arm behind her back.
“Listen carefully, because I’m only going to say this once.” Ariel whispered into her ears. “Stay away from me or I will have no qualms about hurting you. It will be easy for me and oh so painful for you. If you want Joe, go ahead and try to seduce him. You and I both know he doesn’t give a damn about you or he wouldn’t be with me. So why don’t you leave now,” here Ariel gave her a little push, “while you are still relatively unscathed.”
And with that, Ariel turned back to her cereal.
“He’s going to be mine.”
“Why?”
“What?”
“Why is he going to be yours?”
“Because I want him!”
“Too bad dear, because he doesn’t want you.” Ah! A Fruit Loops sale! All that food coloring can’t be good for the liver though. Oh well, we’ll only eat it once a year. At least they look festive.
————————–
“Joe asked me to have dinner at his house on Boxing Day.” Ariel said as she and Miranda are putting up their Christmas decorations.
“Really? That’s awesome. Does that mean you’ll meet his mom?” Miranda pinned the poster of a Christmas tree on the wall.
“Yes it does. He invited you as well.” Ariel looked at the Christmas tree. “Herbert looks a bit crooked.”
Miranda took a close look at Herbert the poster. “Oh yeah.”
“So you want to go?” Ariel straightened the poster. They have used Herb as their substitute Christmas tree for the last two years.
“Sure, why not. If I’m not there, who is going to prevent you from being uncouth?”
“Be quiet before I throw Herb at you.”
Miranda giggled. “You can try.”
———————-
“Hey Mira, is your sister around?” Joe asked when Miranda opened the door of the basement.
“Ariel’s just getting ready. Where are you guys going today?”
“Just shopping. No where special.”
“Alright. Make sure you have her back by seven. It’s our tradition to have dinner at eight on Christmas Eve.”
“Jeez, you guys have a million traditions.”
“Yup, we do.” Something occurred to Miranda. “You want to come over tomorrow?”
“I thought you guys have a ‘family day tradition’ tomorrow?” Joe said sourly.
“We do, which is that both of us must stay home and hang out. My boyfriend, Josh is coming, so why don’t you?”
“Ok. What should I bring?”
“Food, oh and wear your pyjamas, hopefully ones that don’t show off too much… stuff. I know you’re trying to seduce my sister, but tomorrow’s not the day to do it.”
“Someone’s seducing me?” Ariel walked in to the living room.
“Who? Me?” Joe grinned. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Miranda shoved both Ariel and Joe out.
————————–
“I’m stuffed.” Rainie leaned back into her seat, leaving one last piece of sushi on her plate.
“Finally.” Mike grinned. “I can’t believe you can eat so much sushi. What do you have in your stomach? A dark hole?”
“Black hole. Not a dark hole.” Rainie rolled her eyes.
“Same difference,” Mike took the last sushi off Rainie’s plate and ate it.
“Pig. That was mine.” Rainie glared at Mike.
“You said you were full.” Mike replied.
“So?” Rainie demanded.
“Waiter, check please!”
——————
Hey Guys!
I hope you liked this update. I really would like to hear from you, so please do comment!
This chapter is the beginning of the rising action for the first part of the story. I hope you have enjoyed it so far. To the few of you that have kindly commented, thank you very, very much. It’s great to know people like this story. As usual, please comment, I love comments 
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