Episode 2 - The Welcoming
A breeze caught the open front door, causing it to slam. They both jumped, breaking the trance. Sara cleared her throat,and took a step back, regaining her composure.
'Thanks again for your help.' Chloe waved a hand and shrugged,
'My pleasure, I guess I best leave you to your new home. I hope you like it here. We have a very close...community and I think you'll fit in just fine. I'll see you tonight.' She strode out the door on long, tanned legs, leaving Sara to stare after her.
Sara spent the rest of the afternoon frantically unpacking the living area and kitchen in preparation for her guests. She had to make a dash for the local grocery and liquor store. She grabbed some wine and champagne and an array of basic foods and snacks.
A plump Chinese lady packed her shopping and asked if she was new to the neighbourhood. Sara told her yes, and where and the woman's initial friendliness turned to blatant rudeness. Sara made a point not to come back unless in an emergency.
She quickly prepared some nibblies and a cheese platter and then realised that she hadn't turned on the fridge that was supplied with the apartment. She considered going back to the shop for some ice but decided that the Chinese woman's demeanour wasn't worth the hassle. She shoved the booze in the freezer and hoped that would be enough to keep it suitably chilled. She glanced at the clock which told her it was 7.30. She frowned and then realised she had no idea what time...if at all, her unknown guests would be arriving. Just as she started to think it was all a cruel joke, she heard a knock at the door. She gave herself a quick glance in the oven glass, pretty shabby but she would have to do, and opened the door.
A huge black man stood there in leather shorts, Doc Martin jack boots, nipple rings and nothing else. Sara was about to slam the door when Paulie suddenly appeared from behind him, wearing something that looked like a costume from a Peter Allen show.
'Hey, grrlfriend. This is Nigel, he lives upstairs.' Nigel smiled sweetly and waved to her with his pinky finger.
'Pleased to meet you honey.' The pair barged in and Paulie cooed about how much she had done with the place. He went over to the fridge and shrieked when he found it empty. Sara told him to look in the freezer and he put his hand to his chest as if feeling for a heart beat. He flamboyantly opened a bottle of bubbly, spilling a fair portion onto the bench and floor while Sara got some glasses. He handed her a flute of champagne, poured himself one and clinked his glass to hers.
'Bottoms up!' he giggled. Sara looked nervously at Nigel.
'Would you like a drink, Nigel?'
'No thanks, honey. Some of the others are on their way and they are bringing the Stolli.' Sara raised an eyebrow,
'Some of the others?' she asked tentatively. Just then there was another knock at the door and Nigel sauntered over swaying his huge buttocks and opened the door. Squeals of delight greeted him as a small tribe of garishly dressed men kissy-kissied and all talked at once. The last man to enter was the only one dressed normally in a smart white casual suit and tie and actually looked out of place. Paulie introduced them one by one to Sara who was so startled she wouldn't have remembered a name if her life depended on it.
'And this little treasure is Midge, Sara.' he said as he introduced the man in the suit. Sara thought he was very good looking except for his height which was the same as hers; 5'4. They shook hands and Sara was struck at how soft they were..almost like a...
my god, it's a woman!
Sara's smile faltered and pulled her hand away quickly enough for the guest to notice. She shrugged and went over to where all the boi's were gossiping. Sara immediately felt guilty. She was considering going over to talk to her further when Chloe came inside, dressed in jeans and a top that exposed a midrift that rippled. Sara forgot Midge and got all giddy again.
'Hi,' she said relieved, 'glad you could make it.'
'Wouldn't have missed it. I see you've met most of the boi's. The grrls are on their way.' The stereo suddenly cranked up so loud the grrls had to shout to hear each other.
'I don't want to get in the shit with the neighbours on my first night here.' she yelled. Chloe laughed,
'These are the neighbours!' she shouted back. She offered up a bottle of expensive looking champagne, 'Fancy a drink?' Sara nodded gratefully and they made there way over to the kitchenette.
She found her glass that was still full, downed it and got another flute for Chloe who deftly cracked the bottle and showered them with drops of sparkling wine. They laughed and Chloe appologised, wiping the liquid off Sara's face and sucked it off her fingers. Sara was taken aback by this act and again blushed. She thought that Chloe must be beginning to think she had high blood pressure
'Waste not, want not.' she grinned. Sara smiled back and they toasted to the apartment and of new beginnings. A group of women walked in, the first, a short, barrelled woman, carrying a case of beer on her shoulder. She sighted Chloe and made her way over through the crowd, the other women following her.
'Chloe!' she yelled, 'How the fuck are ya?'
'Jez!' she replied, 'Good, matey. This is our hostess, Sara.'
'Let me put this bad bastard in the fridge and I'll make your aquaintance. Sara.' she said as she started loading beer into the fridge. She frowned, 'Not real cold in here.'
'Sorry I forgot to turn it on when I got here.' Sara apologised. Jez opened a beer and passed them around to the other women.
'No worries luv, they wont have time to get cold.' she took a long swig of her beer and let out a huge belch. Chloe laughed,
'Charming. And you wonder why you're single, Jez.'
Chloe introduced Sara and she found them friendly and made chit chat about what part of the block they lived in. Sara started to get a little heady from the wine and excused herself to go to the bathroom. Luckily the boi's were going outside by the palm tree otherwise she probably wouldn't have made it. She got her pants around her ankles and sank to the toilet and sighed with relief. She had just finished when the bathroom door flung open and Midge stood there glaring at her. Sara shrieked and quickly pulled up her pants.
'Excuse ME!' she yelled, highly indignant. Midge took no notice, walked into the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. Leaning against it she growled,
'We've got something to talk about.'
to be continued... |
