Accidentally Married

“I better retire to bed so you youngsters can get the real party started,” Dawson said with a wink.

“What party?” Jessica cried as he wheeled himself away.

“Oh god, I feel so tired, I better retire to bed” Genevieve added standing up. “Aren’t you going to go to bed?” she added when she saw that Olivia made no move to stand up.

“Oh, the party just started so why go in now?” Olivia asked resting in the chair.

“If you look around well enough you would see that no one here is your age”

“So what does that matter? We would stay awake all night drinking and playing games”

“Act your age would you?” Genevieve said pulling her up with all the energy she could muster. “Now is the time for the old folks to read the room and give these lover birds some space” she mumbled as she pulled her away. “Have a lovely party” Genevieve said entering the house with Olivia by her side.

“So the old folks expect us to have a blast,” Jason said.

“And we all expect that you would take the lead on that” Alicia teased.

“Who else here is qualified for such a role?” he asked back. “Excuse me” he signaled to one of the house staff that had been waiting on them all night.

“Yes sir,” she said standing behind him.

“Can we get six shot glasses, some champagne glasses, a bottle of champagne, and any alcohol you can find?

“Okay sir,” she said before turning to the house to get their order.

“Why so much? Are we trying to lose our livers tonight?” Leslie commented quietly.

“If we could then we should. This is the first Xavier is celebrating in all my years of knowing him. It’s quite exhausting” Jason said back.

“I just think we should be careful about drinking. we might have to go to work tomorrow. I will not but Brian will” Leslie responded rubbing her husband’s shoulder.

They both had expressions that one could not explain on their faces. They had been unusually quiet. Jessica promised herself to check on her friend after the whole euphoria of the birthday blew over. She did not look too good.

“I am sure that Xavier would be kind enough to extend a day off to him,” Alicia said making everyone turn to Xavier who was busy savoring the desert.

“Wait?” he asked his eyes wide.” Sure yeah,” he said when he called the whole scene back in his head.

“Great,” Brian said. His voice was supposed to sound excited but they could all hear the lack of enthusiasm in them. It was like he was forcing it.

“So first game, we ask a question if you answer it then you can ask your question to any other person in the group but if you don’t want to answer you have to drink the whole cup”

“What kind of game is that? We would all be drunk” Leslie complained.

“That is the goal of the game”

“To get us drunk?” Jessica asked as she drank from her water.

“Yes”

“The next question goes to Brian,” Alicia said happily.

The drink has started kicking in but Alicia had high tolerance. The drinks they had caused occasional hiccups among the group and random fits of laughter that no one could explain.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Did you not just ask him a question?” Leslie slurred as she looked Alicia’s way.

“No I did not,” she said blinking rapidly.

“Yes you did,” Leslie said trying to make her voice sound as firm as possible.

“Don’t worry Honey” Brian said holding down his wife. “What is your question?” he added turning to face Alicia who was beside him.

“Did you always love Leslie? Even when she was in love with Xavier?” she asked.

The whole group turned their eyes to Brian waiting for his answer. His hand fumbled to the shot glass in front of him.

“What was so hard about that question?” Jason said blowing a raspberry as he looked away.

Leslie snatched the cup from his hand and chugged it down. She felt her throat burning as the strong liquor burnt through. She squeezed her face and looked away.

“Saved by a knight,” Xavier said. He had been quiet all the while. He only spoke occasionally.

He and Alicia were the only ones who were yet to be tipsy. Although Alicia was already showing signs Xavier seemed to be going strong.

“Next question is for Jessica,” Leslie said as she took a sip from her wine glass.

“Me” Jessica slur as her hand could not stay on her chest for a second.

“Yes you, Do you like Xavier?” she asked.

Jessica felt her cheek burn. Leslie was sitting opposite her. She felt her eyes clear as if she was sprinkled with freezing water. She blinked and then bent her head. The whole group was waiting for her response.

Was Leslie expecting that she would say yes? If she said yes then they would tease her all day and how will she face Xavier the next morning?

She stretched her hand to her glass and pulled it to herself. The glass tipped over and poured all over Xavier’s trousers.

“Oh my god,” he said rushing to his feet.

“Oh my god,” she said as she stood up too.

“Let’s get you out of this and get the stain off” she slurred.

It was a mystery to every other person how she was still able to keep the same coherent sentence when she was so drunk.

Xavier began to walk towards the house and Jessica tried her best not to stumble as she followed him. He climbed up the stairs and she followed.

“I am sorry” she called as they entered the room. She bowed her head as he shuffled to the closet.

She entered the closet and stood as she found herself hiccuping.

“Are you going to stand there and watch me change?” he asked his voice low it did things to her stomach.

“Wait?” she said raising her head. Her cheeks turned bright red it was hard to miss.

“What?” he said moving to stand in front.

“What?” she said back. He took a step closer and then burst into laughter.

“I don’t mind you watching”