Astrid

I made my way through the house and found the mostly empty kitchen. So I hopped onto the counter and sipped a beer as people whirled around me. A disoriented girl ran in, looked around frantically, grabbed a spoon and ran out without a glance. Two guys fell into the room: lips mashing and hands all over. They glanced at me and groped their way into the next doorway.

Two girls walked in, gossiping so loudly they didn’t see me. I found out a lot about people I didn’t know. They left after awhile and a new girl came into the room. She didn’t look lost or high or intoxicated. Her blue eyes gleamed clearly.

“You seem sober,” she smiled at me.

“Mostly,” I gestured to the cup.

“I’m not too into these things,” she shrugged, coming to sit with me on the counter.

“Me either. I was dragged here against my will.”

“They have services and authority figures who can fix that,” she smirked

“I’m aware, thanks.”

“No problem,” She smiled, “I’m Astrid.”

“Florence Lee,” I half grinned back.

“So Florence Lee, who dragged you here?”

“Renolds. I don’t really know much about her… It’s a long story.”

“Renolds… She’s a crazy bitch. But she’s cool.”

“You know her?”

“Everyone knows Renolds,” She smacked her lips and curled into a ball. Her blonde hair fell into her eyes. I had an odd urge to push it away. Astrid looked terribly tiny. Not Renolds tiny: short but full of confidence. She looked small in a fragile way.

She turned and looked up at me. “What?”

“Nothing,” I blushed.

“You don’t stare at someone for no reason.”

“I was just noticing you. Trying to read you.”

“Well what do you think of me?” She raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t really know. I’m trying to figure you out.”

“Is it that hard?” she slipped off the counter. “I’m really nothing much,” she shrugged and walked away.

“Astrid,” I called. She paused at the door without looking back. “Did I offend you?”

“No,” she said quietly. With a shy look over her shoulder, she gave a small smile, “I just wanted to make an exit.” Astrid pushed her way back into the party, leaving me wondering.