Sober, she's a shy wallflower; drunk, she's definitely not
Parts of this story are based on truth, blended with a healthy dose of fiction.
**
I don't know why John decided to throw a party. He didn't usually. Well, I didn't need to know the reason, and anyway I had no choice but to go, he being my best friend and all. He'd asked me to help out at the party.
"Sure thing. Whatever you need," I'd said.
"Great. Thanks, Bill. Just make sure everyone has a good time, especially the ladies," he'd said.
So, there I was at the party. It was about an even split, men and women. People seemed to be enjoying themselves, but one girl spelled trouble. In her mid-twenties, she just stood by the wall, watching everyone else, talking to nobody, and drinking, well more like sipping, a Coke. She was the classic wallflower.
The other girls at the party tried their best to look pretty and sexy, and by and large they succeeded at both. If they had big boobs, they wore push-up bras and/or tops that showed off some nice dΓ©colletage. If they had a sweet ass, they wore a tight skirt, or skin-tight jeggings. If they had a pretty face as their main asset, they wore just the right amount of make-up in just the right way, to accent high cheekbones, a gorgeous smile, whatever.
The wall-flower had made no effort - none - to highlight whatever nice features she had. She was wearing loose clothes, had no make-up on (not even lipstick), and she stood by the wall avoiding eye contact with others. She just looked sad.
Well, it seemed clear to me she needed some male attention, so I went over to her. "Hi, I'm Bill."
"I know," she replied. "You're helping John make sure everyone has a good time, and here I am, alone again, standing by myself, back to the wall, looking pathetic, right? So doing your job, you've come over to cheer me up, right?"
I was a bit stunned, but recovered, and said, "Yeah. You've got that right. Can I get you a drink?"
"I have a drink, thank you," and she held up the Coke bottle. It was one of those old-fashioned bottles, with an hourglass shape, that always reminded me of the curves of a woman.
"I meant a real drink, uh... what's your name?" I asked.
"Anna. I don't drink alcoholic beverages, but thank you for the offer," she replied.
There was my opening. "Religious taboo?" I asked.
"No," she said, and I saw the first hint of a smile.
"Recovering alcoholic?" I asked. She actually let me catch her eyes with mine!
"No," she said, and this time I detected an amused smile. It was subtle, but it was there.
"Allergic reaction of some kind?" I asked.
"Nope." A bigger smile now; she was enjoying our little game.
"Acid reflux? Indigestion?" Perseverance, that's me.
"Nah."
"I know! You're on medication, and alcohol is counter-indicated?"
"You have a good imagination, Bill, is it? But no, sorry. You won't guess it," she said.
"Memories of hangovers?" I tried with my sixth gambit.
"Not really, no, but you're getting warmer," she said.
"Want to just tell me?" I tried.
"No. Does it matter? The point is, I don't want anything other than Coke," she said.
"I'm going to die of curiosity," I said. Anna smiled, this time a broad, engaging smile. She said nothing. I considered it a triumph, having gotten her to smile.
"You're very pretty when you smile," I said.
"Am I like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman?" she asked.
"I haven't seen the movie. All I can say is that you sure are pretty when you smile," I said, and then I checked out her body for the first time. Well, it wasn't the first time; I'd already checked out the bodies of every woman at the party, but I'd checked out none of them carefully. A careful inspection of Anna's body, somewhat obscured by her clothes, indicated that it was nice, even very nice, indeed.
I was careful and subtle when I checked her out, but apparently not subtle enough. "Like my body, do you?" Anna asked.
I blushed, I'm sure, and I was all over myself apologizing. Now Anna was smiling broadly. She really did look pretty when she smiled.
Changing the subject, I asked again for her to tell me why she won't drink alcoholic beverages. She refused, again.
"You don't like the effects it has on you?" I asked.
"You're finally close enough, even if you're wrong," she said.
I showed my puzzlement. Anna took pity on me.
"I don't drink because I absolutely love the effects it has on me," she said.
"You're speaking in riddles," I complained.