One Of The Guys

Inside Ashley, Jake and Andy were sitting at our table. Andy must have gotten bored with the girls because they were nowhere to be seen.
“[name]! You’re just in time, we’re just about to play ‘Never Have I Ever’. Where’s CC?” said Ashley.
“He’ll be in in a minute, he got caught up with some fans. What’s ‘Never Have I Ever’?”
“You’ve never played ‘Never Have I Ever’? What deprived world have you been living in [name]?” Ashley said shocked. “Jake, explain to her what ‘Never Have I Ever’ is”
“Okay so, we all sit at the table with a drink. We then take turns saying things we have or have not done in our life. If you HAVE done the thing the person says, you have to take a drink. For example; if I were to say “Never have I ever smashed a water jug on the ground during an audition”, you would have to take a drink because you have done that. Understand?”
“Yeah I think I get it” I said sitting down next to Ashley. Jake was sat to my left and Andy right in front of me. I couldn’t look him straight in the eye. Just then CC joined us and sat beside Ashley.
“Hey, what are we playing?”
“’Never Have I Ever’” said Ashley.
“Oh awesome, I’ll go first” piped CC. “Hmmmmm….” He hummed thinking. “Never have I ever passed out drunk before 1am” Ashley, Jake and I all drank. CC laughed. “Well, I guess we know who we’re cutting off after this game!”
“Haw haw” said Ashley sarcastically. “Okay, my turn. Never have I ever sent nudes and/or sexted someone” Everyone drank. I mean, come on, it’s the 21st century, who hasn’t?
It was my turn now. I thought long and hard. As I thought, Andy started at me. I kept getting distracted by his dreamy blue eyes. He took a swig from his glass, never taking his eyes from mine.
“Okay I have one. Never have I ever fallen off stage and broken three ribs” I never broke eye contact with Andy, because that’s exactly what happened to him a couple years ago. I heard a chorus of ‘Ooooohhhhhh’ from the three other guys as Andy took a drink. He seemed pissed off. Skipping Jakes turn completely, he jumped into his.
“Okay, Never have I ever thrown a tantrum in an audition” he sat forward in his chair, gesturing for me to drink. Reluctantly, I did. I was embarrassed and angry. I skipped CC and Ashley again.
“Never have I ever been drunk and booed off the stage” I sat forward, our faces a mere 30cm from each other. He took a drink and slammed his glass on the table.
“Never have I ever shown up to a press conference with a big dirty hickey” his steely eyes were locked onto mine. I drank.
“Never have I ever manipulated a girl for my own personal gain”
“Never have I ever fucked another band-mate”
My body froze and my face went white. Did he really just say that in front of the other guys? They sat in their seats silent, quickly looking from me to Andy, waiting for someone to do/say something.
“Oh wait, would you look at that” Andy said coolly, leaning back in his chair. He finished off his drink and placed it on the table. “[name]?” he gestured at my glass. I stared at him, teeth clenched and drank the damn drink.
“Oh my God” said Ashley.
“What? When?” as the questions flew in Andy placed his hands behind his head, smiling at me.
“Well, while you guys have a nice conversation, I am going to find myself another drink” Andy stood up and left for the bar. Ashley, Jake and CC all sat in silence staring at me. I looked at Jakes full drink beside me.
“Can I have that?”
He nodded. I took the glass and downed it in one. It burned my throat but I needed a distraction or else I would probably cry. I glanced over to the bar where Andy now stood, with his arm around a new girl, chatting her up. Ashley handed me his drink.
“Here, you look like you need this too”
CC stood up “Okay well, I am going to, uhm… I’ll be outside” he looked disappointed.
"CC.. I..." I tried calling after him. Fuck. Whatever chance I had with the genuinely nicest guy I’ve met was now ruined but Andy’s stupid ego. I sighed and looked from Jake to Ashley. My party buddies smiled at me.
“Well, it was bound to happen sometime!” chirped Jake.
“Yeah, better to have it over and done with now, than later!” said Ashley cheerfully. I laughed feebly as a single tear ran down my cheek.
“Awh, honey don’t cry. We won’t think any different of you” Ashley wiped my tear away and I smiled at him. “Now, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, forget about Andy and come do some shots!”

Notes