Mike meets Jeff at a party 1
My friend Nick invited me to a party at one of his weird friend's place. It was an apartment in an inner-city suburb, quite upmarket from what I could tell...what did I know? I'm 18 years old, born early in the year and repeated a year at primary school - so I'm generally a year older than the others in my form, this being the last year of school. Will I go on to university? - unsure at this stage.
I drove on my provisional licence as Nick intended to crash and I wasn't much of a drinker. I really didn't know why I came as it wasn't my scene anyway on a Saturday night. Finally parked we made our way to the upstairs apartment and let ourselves in to a mood-music affair, with dimmed lighting in places, cocktails on benches and tables and a mix of guys and girls chatting and socialising. From my upbringing and tastes I was way out of my comfort zone here - too many people/too close/too chic.
I toured the party with Nick as he introduced my he and there, shook hands with the apartment owner and struggled to remember names. In a corner of the front patio Nick met Jeff and we shook hands, introducing me.
'This is Mike, we've been long-term friends.'
'Hi Jeff, nice to meet you' I thought I said for the twentieth time tonight.
'Hey Mike, welcome to the party - though not mine' he joked. 'Nice to meet you too.' (What happened here I thought, a little jump in my heart rate as I looked at his smiling face?)
Nick exited stage left and Jeff and I were standing there looking at each other. 'Come and sit down and try to excuse Nick's rudeness' Jeff noted. I laughed, yeah dump me here with someone I don't know.
It wasn't that bad actually; Jeff was an interesting guy. He was forty or so I guessed, dark hair with a trace of silver streaks and in good shape at around six-feet and circa 80 kilograms - we could have been same-size gym buddies. Some sort of marketing job in the city. He asked me about school and ideas going forward, he explained to me advertising and market knowledge.
'I love wine Mike; would you like to try a glass of this Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand?'
'As if I'd know?' I joked, 'but sure thank you.'
Mike went off to the make-shift bar. I watch him walk from behind - he was in very good shape...why was I thinking about that?
Upon return we chatted about next to every subject and I was enjoying the wine - was it my first or second ever?