After three days of burying my face in a few books I'd been wanting to read, Friday had finally come; the day of Garry's farewell party.

Lea and I had breakfast earlier than usual to discuss her moving out next month. She took the offer, as expected, but she was still indecisive about how much stuff she would bring since the company took care of her living arrangement during the contract period. On the other hand, she couldn't leave anything behind because of my plan to take a new flatmate.

"You still need to take some pictures of your bedroom. I have to post the vacant room ads this weekend or I won't get any roommates in time," I reminded her after sipping my last drop of coffee.

Lea winced. "Damn, my room is a realistic portrayal of a zombie apocalypse after ninety percent of the population's brains were eaten alive. How will that attract a new renter?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "By tidying it up?"

"But I just started with the whole packing up for moving out. Tiding it up is kinda undoing what I've been working on so far." She pursed her lips. "Can we just post the ads without pictures?"

"No, I prefer not. I want to cut the number of people who come and check the room just to say 'Oh, it's not what I expected'!" I reasoned. "C'mon, I can help you put aside some of the boxes, take a few pictures, and then put them back where they were. Only a few shots of the bed, the closet, the desk, and the window. That's it."

"Yeah, okay."

"We still have six hours before the trip to Garry's." I got up to bring my mug over to the sink. "I'm going to make breakfast before we dive into the photo project. Scrambled egg?"

"Sure."

After washing my mug, I grabbed a pan and set it on the stove before picking four eggs from the fridge. "What should we bring to the party, by the way? I mean, don't we need to bring something for Garry as a farewell gift?"

"Uh, I didn't think of that." She shrugged, her eyes on her phone screen and her thumbs dancing on its surface. "It doesn't feel like a farewell to me because I'm joining him next month."

"Fair. I still need to bring something, though. Maybe a bottle of wine? Or a bottle of champagne? Or some flowers?" I groaned. "This is my problem with rich people's parties. I don't know what to bring! He probably has everything better at quality, and I don't know him well enough to know what he likes personally."

Lea wrinkled her nose. "You can bring him cookies. He loves cookies."

"He does?" I cracked the shells and started mixing the eggs in the bowl. "I guess I can do that. Any specific preference?"

"Nope. Any cookies will do. I would pick dick-shaped cookies if I were you cuz that's what he is."

I giggled as I put some butter into the pan. "That's probably a little too brutal. I'll find something less dickey." Once the butter melted, I poured the mixed eggs into the pan and started to scramble them.

"Jen, do you want to spend the night there?" Lea asked out of the blue.

"Uh, I don't know. Why do you ask?"

"I'm talking to the guys now. To save gas money, we're going to drive together. But I think they're going to stay the night and drive back home tomorrow morning."

"They?" I peered at her with suspicion.

"Josh, Tucker, and Dianne," she added, waving her phone at me. "The rest are coming later after finishing their shift."

"Hmm. I don't know, Lee. I'm working tomorrow afternoon. Would they be able to drive back in time?"

"I think so. Otherwise, I will make sure someone brings you back tonight or early in the morning. Some of them also need to start the afternoon shift tomorrow."

"Alright, then." I grabbed two plates from the rack and placed them on the table. "What time are they going to pick us up?"

"That's the thing..." She flinched. "Josh is driving, and since our place is the closest to his house, he will collect us first before picking up the rest. Umm, around two-thirty?"

I glanced at the clock and groaned. "We only have four hours to take some pictures, get some cookies, pack up, and get ready. Great." I slammed one plate in front of her. "Now, eat!"

***

Josh was early. He wanted to avoid the heavy traffic, which was always horrendous on Fridays, especially after 3 P.M. As much as I was annoyed by his unexpectedly early appearance, I knew he was right. The valley was one of the favorite places for people downtown to have their weekend getaway.

Lea took the passenger seat while the rest of us cramped up in the backseat, with Dianne squeezed between me and Tucker. Naturally, the conversation revolved around the work-related chat during the ride. Well, it was more of a work gossip than an actual work discussion. The grand gossip was about Gal, their manager, starting to piss off everyone with the new rules. I tried to follow the topic for the first ten minutes before my mind started to drift away.

I was nervous. The closer we got to our destination, the more I became anxious. Why did I agree to come to Garry's party? Because you were invited, you dimwit. But since we weren't actually friends, it must have something to do with Lea; Perhaps I was considered an extended friend. But again, Blake would probably be there, and he was the sole reason for my fidgeting hands now. Wouldn't it be for the best? Because then you can talk to him about what happened as an adult would?

I groaned at my noisy inner voice. If I'd driven my car now, I would've changed my mind and taken the first U-turn to head home. But there was nothing I could do now. The booming laughter pulled me out of my inner debate, yanking me back to Josh's backseat.

Forty minutes later, we entered the part of the valley where rich people built recreational houses in a secluded area, away from hotels and other public places. Josh slowed down until we found a noticeable signboard stating "Harrison's Villa". Passing the gate, we were welcomed by trees with thick crowns on either side of us. And as we approached the end of the path, a spectacular modern house slowly came into view.

"Damn," the five of us chorused.

The house was enormous, built with glass architecture. I could easily make out everything on its ground floor, including the large swimming pool in the backyard. On the second floor, curtains blocked our view, but I believed it was where the bathrooms were. The rest of the property reminded me of a botanical garden, but it was obviously not open to the public.

Once Josh parked his car, we jumped out eagerly, ready to check out what was in store for us. I moaned when the distinctive aroma of grilled meat permeated the afternoon air, prompting my stomach to growl shamelessly. But then my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I frowned when I saw the caller ID on my screen. "Um, guys, I'm gonna need to take this," I told them before walking in another direction. "Susie," I greeted, my voice cautious.

"Hi, Jenny. How are you?" Susie sounded as friendly as she used to be.

"Uh. I'm good."

"You seem... Oh, is it not the right time to talk? I can call again later," she said.

"No, it's fine. I was just surprised. That's all." I walked to a water pool, but my attention was on the conversation. "How are you? It's been a while."

"I'm fine. Yeah, it's been a while." She paused for a few seconds. "Actually, I'm calling to see if you're up for some drinks. I mean, we haven't done it for some time and..." She paused again and cleared her throat. "I think I owe you an apology."

"Oh."

"So, let's go get some drinks tonight?"

"I'd love to, but I'm out of town right now."

"Oh, okay," she said, disappointment thick in her tone. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you weren't home."

"We can do it when I'm back."

"Sounds like a plan." Her cheerfulness was back.

Even after we hung up, it took a minute for my brain to register what had just happened. Susie wasn't mad at me anymore and thought she owed me an apology. How ironic, since I was the one who felt guilty after what happened at the dock.

Releasing a big sigh, I slipped my phone back into my jeans pocket and headed to the house.

"Jenny!" Garry strode in my direction, grinning widely, before giving me a hug and a friendly peck. "Welcome to our humble residence. Make yourself at home."

After some small talk and pleasantries, I handed him the gift. Once I saw his eyes twinkle when he spotted the cookie box, I was glad I took Lea's advice. Well, not the dick part, of course.

Garry escorted me to the backyard, which already turned into a party venue. Food and beverages were served on the tables in the middle of the terrace. Benches and seats were placed closer to the swimming pool, and the barbecue stood at the other end of the terrace. People sat in groups and talked over drinks, but I bet more people would flood in soon to kick the party into full swing.

I swept the room with my eyes, noticing that the person I was looking for wasn't there. Maybe he would show up later. Maybe not.

"Jen! Here!" Lea shouted from across the pool with two cocktails in hand. Diane and Tucker were next to her.

After a few drinks and never-ending munching on all kinds of food, the terrace was packed with people. Some faces looked familiar, but most didn't. They must have been either Garry's relatives or Bailey's people I hadn't seen yet.

Around dinner time, Garry's dad, the owner of Bailey's, joined the party, and the ambiance became noticeably intense. Luckily, he stayed briefly to greet people and to give a toast to Garry's next project. The party went wild as soon as Mr. Harrison left, and people began throwing themselves into the gigantic infinity swimming pool.

Despite the alcohol running in my system now, the anticipation of Blake showing up at the door stayed in the back of my mind. But as the evening crawled into the night, I concluded that he was not coming to the party. As much as I felt relieved, a pang of disappointment hit me. A part of me wanted to see him tonight.

It was getting late, and I started to have frequent bathroom visits because of the amount of alcohol I consumed. After my fifth time emptying my bladder, I trudged to the kitchen to grab some water. I needed to drink water if I wanted to wake up without a nasty headache in the morning.

After chugging the water in one go, I groaned as the coolness eased up the dryness in my throat.

"Life is a wonder," said a masculine voice behind me, prompting me to freeze. "I keep bumping into my student in weird places. Not that I'm complaining."