Lewis Evans's Story

Cordella decide to use the Morelli's back door to make her way towards her friend's party. It has been more than 3 years since she made herself comfortable in her best friend's household. She met her Erica's family during the first week she got along with the girl and hit it off like she was adoptive daughter. And it looked like they didn't mind "adopting" her, they all knew about her vagabond family and were more than happy to take her in during the holidays. In fact, she sometimes spends more time sleeping in Erica's room than her dorm place. It was nice to be fed with home made food rather than suffering the curse of fast food and cafeteria.

She tried to look for her best friend among the throng of college frat boys, cool wanna be's, sluts and familiar faces. She shrugged her shoulder when it seemed next to impossible to detect Erica so she took the liberty of climbing the Moretti's stairs and made her way towards her best friend's room. She intended to leave her satchel bag inside Erica's closet (where some of her stuff also have their own place) but found two canoodling fresh men (most probably freshmen because it was so obvious that they didn't know how to kiss each other without getting sloppy) on her best friend's bed.

"Oh my gosh! Ewwww!!! Get out!!!" The two embarrassed individuals started scampering and hurriedly made their way out and down the stairs. A few upper class men snickered at the two as a few guys tried to get her attention by waving or winking. She rolled her eyes at them and give them the middle finger before entering Erica's room and shutting the door behind her. She walked towards Erica's humongous closet and dumped her bag and cardigan inside. She closed it and stood before the full length mirror. She tried to see if there was anything that looked misplaced in her clothes and admired her chosen outfit for the night. She wore a midrib blue corset top that showed off her flat stomach and a navy inspired skirt paired with a pair of red Lacoste sneakers. She adjusted her clover leaf necklace that her sister gave her before they left for Germany as well as her mother's bracelet on her right arm. She grabbed Erica's gloss and dab some on her lips, the only cosmetic that she'd be needing. There's no way she'd apply mascara or they would start running on her face by the end of the night. Besides she knows she look good enough not to even bother applying any.

She headed towards the room's door when she realized that the noise had started growing louder by the minute- she needs to remind Erica to tame it down a little or the police will come knocking on their door anytime. Elle shut the door behind her again and made her way towards the party. She squeezed her small body towards the other party goers and finally reaching Lewis' drink station. Hannah was already reached him before she did and asked for a drink. "Ahah! Just the person I needed," She beamed at Lewis and winked at Hannah. "I don't mind a drink as well." She toyed with her necklace as she asked for Lewis' specialty. "So Han, looking good! How's it going? Has the two of you seen Erica? That girl is like a chameleon!" She tried to speak louder so the two can hear her beyond the blasting music. Elle moved her gaze towards the crowd in hopes of locating her best friend but failed again. Her attention was then shifted to an Asian looking girl who called for Erica. Her left eyebrow rose as she wondered who this girl could be.

She grabbed someone else's drink and didn't bother waiting for Lewis and spoke, "I'll be back for that one." She addressed Lewis and walked across the room without caring whether the first year got offended when she stole his beer cup. But the whole time she kept her eye on the Asian girl. There was something she didn't like about the girl. Call her selfish but she preferred keeping her best friend to herself.

Elle took sip from her stolen beer and bounced her head to the beat of the music when she bumped into someone. It was one of her friends, Mini who was busy chatting with a few guys. "Oh hey Min! Wow you are one hot bombshell tonight," She gave the girl a kiss on the cheek and tried to speak closer to her friends ear, somehow the people by the sound system thought of blasting a louder beat. "What the- whatever!" She complained then asked Mini again, "Have you seen Erica?! I've been looking for her everywhere," She spoke as she offered the stolen beer to Mini. "We should get another round of drinks," She suggested as she held Mini's hand and walked towards Lewis' makeshift bar. If she can't find her best friend might as well round up the others. Just then she noticed that the guy she has been crushing on was seated near Hannah. She wanted to faint but it sounded so tacky so Cordella tried her best to keep her composure and acted nonchalantly. "Got me a drink already?" She spoke to Lewis sweetly as she waited for her drink request, looking at Maverick from her peripheral vision.

She has seen him in campus millions of times, knows his name and major but somehow she was such a scared-y cat to approach him and never bothered to change the idea of not being introduced to him. She just couldn't bear the thought of actually talking to him when she knew she could faint if she did. She acted like she didn't see him and carried to bounce her head to the beat.

Just then a huge arm enveloped her torso in a friendly hug and started greeting everyone in the Lewis' station. She turned her head to see one of their good friend Craig. "Hey sugar pop, looking amazing. Where's Erica?" He asked.
"Well I've been looking for her as well," She answered and gave him a high five.

Craig had just ended his part time job shift in a sports equipment shop just a few blocks away from the university and decided to go straight to Erica's house party. The girl manages to come up with the greatest party in NYU and Craig knows better than to get his self drunk. He attends the party for the sake of his friends and seeing Mini at her best. How she wished for the day that he gets to tell her that other guys are too stupid to play with her feelings but from the beginning of time Craig knows he has been friend zoned since he met her.

An unfamiliar Asian girl entered the Moretti's house just before he got off the cab he took. He saw her talking to a drunk guy who was plastered on the yard. He guessed she wasn't from around here since only new people talk to NYU drunks. One should know better than to waste time of people who preferred getting wasted on alcohol. It was never Craig's thing to get drunk. He'd get a bottle or two of beer and a few shots of hard drinks but never got drunk to get passed out on someone else's yard.

As soon as the girl entered the house, he did the same and slap a few high fives with the a few familiar faces and few people in some of his class as the loud music started thumping and causing everyone to scream in order to understand each other. He looked for his friends and saw them seated on Lewis' makeshift bar. If anyone knew alcohol it would have to be Lewis. Craig saw his friend Cordella's back skin when she leaned on to ask for a drink, he shook his head and chuckled. He knew his friends are guy magnets and somehow he felt protective about it- especially over Mini. He approached them and hugged Elle from the back, surprising the group as he greeted them. "Hey sugar pop, looking amazing. Where's Erica?" He asked.

"Well I've been looking for her as well," She answered and gave him a high five. He gave him one and motioned for a drink from Lewis. "Hey Lewis, hey Han, hey Mini, now where could the party hostess be?" He asked as he noticed Maverick next to Hannah.

"Hey man," He gave him a small wave and asked. "How's everything going?"

The best way to get over a hangover was to get drunk, again and that was exactly the plan that Peyton had that day. After doing the walk of shame across campus at 7am that morning, heels in hand, make up smudged and ruffled hair she had sacked of the days lectures and slept to be refreshed for tonight. Peyton awoke two hours ago not feeling the best but after a shower and perhaps one too many paracetamols she felt slightly better, save for her churning stomach yet a stiff drink would sort that out.

After drying and lightly curling her hair, she applied her make up and proceeded to dress, walking over to her wardrobe she stood infront of it in her black lace underwear as she pondered on what to wear. Finally deciding on an outfit Peyton dressed and put on her heels, once satisfied she grabbed her purse and left the dorm after saying goodbye to her roommate. As she walked across campus she stopped to talk to a few friends but the excitement about spending the night with her friends excited her, saying by to the guys she passed she walked towards Erica's house.

When Peyton arrived the party was already in full swing and a smile appeared on her face, she walked past a few friends that she knew, a few frat boys who she smirked and waved at before walking into the house, which was already a mess, empty cups all over the place, drunken women already passed out, people making out and probably more in dark corners, hell this looked like a great party.

As soon as she spotted the make shift bar she wandered over "Hey Lewis!" she smiled brightly to the colleges resident bar tender "Can I have JD on the rocks plus..." quickly looking around she looked for her friends "a bottle of tequila and shot glasses" she smirked. Once he gave her the drinks she poured him a shot "here' she smiled "I'll see you in a bit!" she called out before walking over to Craig and Mini "Hey guys" she smiled "I got the tequila" she laughed in a sing-song voice, turning her head slightly she saw Maverick and Hannah "Mav, Han, come over here! I got tequila!"

Lewis was glad his station was busy. It would take off his mind of the booze if he had too much work on his hands. Pouring shots wasn't something he looked forward to but it was better than doing OJ shots all night. He felt a moment of pure happiness when Cordella asked him to pour her his 'specialty'. He loved the fact that she wasn't specific with her order so he could push anything he wanted down her way. He looked through the remaining liquor and saw that he had all the ingredients to mix away a recipe that a friend had claimed to be the 'bomb'.

Before he could start he was interrupted by the familiar Peyton who appeared before him. He had served her drinks the night before and as far as he could recall she was way too intoxicated. "Here's my two cents," Lewis started while pouring whiskey in a plastic cup "At this rate you'll blow up your liver before 25, do something unquestionable that you'll live with guilt for the rest of your life or end up pouring drinks for college kids when you are 30." Looking up and realizing she had already left with a bottle he let out a sigh. Keeping her drink at the side for later he grinned as he was about to start his concoction.

He pulled out his phone and retrieved the note where he had saved the recipe. He carefully measured the vodka as he poured one part of it into his glass cup. Then slowly he added the coconut rum and the white rum. He kept the liquor down and went for the juice boxes to add 3 parts lemonade and an equal amount of cranberry juice. Then he stirred it while taking a note of how much time he took. When the drink was ready he gave himself a thumbs up and proceeded to crushing some ice cubes. After pouring his latest experiment into a safe plastic cup, he scanned the room in search of his guinea pig. Realizing she never went far from the bar he handed her the drink and keenly observed to note her reaction.

Just as Cordella answered Craig's question, she returned her attention back to Lewis who instantly concocted a drool worth drink, it was partly red but she can distinctly smell it's citrus flavor, she gave him a raised eyebrow and a pursed smile as she prepared to taste his masterpiece. Elle took a sip but didn't swallow just yet. She tried to judge the alcohol mix like a professional wine Connoisseur she then raised her free hand and asked him for a high five as she continued to chug down the drink like a beer master. He just earned a 5 star from her.

She gulped and exclaimed, "Oh wow! You never fail to surprise me man!" She slammed the empty cup on his make shift bar and beamed him a satisfied smile. "But seriously I still haven't revived from last night's drink and I need to find Erica- fast!" She talked loudly so her friends can hear her. Just then Mini chanted something, "Hey guys, I got the tequila" She shook her head in amazement and laughed. Peyton then just arrived in time for all the fun, she approached her friend and gave her a kiss on the check before talking near her ear. "Pey love, have you seen Erica?!" She hoped her friend has seen their hostess. "I've been looking for her!" She said a little too loudly.

She knew Peyton needed more fuel so she leaned towards Lewis again and asked with a loud voice, "Lew! We can use a few more rounds of your Elle-vate. Yes I decided to name it after me!" She then followed her words with a laugh. And danced to the loud music, her top exposing more skin as she grind towards Mini and Peyton. She pulled Hannah's hand so she can join them. Being tipsy can really be fun especially if all the boys turn their heads towards you.

Elle knew she was acting really naughty but the hell she care about other people. She just wish Maverick would turn his attention to her- just once.

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Sighing as she failed to locate her childhood friend, Nelliel took a break and decided to get a drink. All that shouting made her feel parched and she gripped her bag tightly before approaching the bartender. She'd just ask for a soda or water though. The red-haired girl never tried to drink alcoholic drinks before and she didn't think it'll be good to try now.

She's still technically considered lost among this 'wild' people and she didn't knew anyone else. Nel is a curious type of person, not stupid. She's deathly certain that Erica will never allow something bad or idiotic to happen to her but since her childhood friend's still missing, it doesn't hurt to be cautious and responsible. And even though she had visited Eri's house before, it doesn't mean that she know her way around. She lived far away from this area and she really want to get home in one piece. Unfortunately she'll have to drive home, immediately before her curfew hours. Speaking of curfews, the phone in her bag suddenly rang and Nel had to balance her self when she was unexpectedly pushed backwards by an obviously drunken girl. "Excuse me!" She shouted, maneuvering her body by stepping on her right side, away from the incoming person.

She saw several people near the bartender and smiled amiably at them. Looking at the figure behind the bar, she smiled again before setting her bag on a chair nearby and leaning on the counter. "Mr. bartender, do you have any water or soda here?" Her cheery voice was partnered with a happy smile. She stared at the man expectantly, cocking her head at him. Her phone buzzed again and she turned around reaching out for her bag and opened it. After finding her phone, she took it out and looked at the screen. "1 Voice Mail Received" Upon seeing her Mom's name popping up, she immediately opened the voice mail and held it near her ears. The party was definitely noisy and loud but thankfully she heard her mom's sweet and caring voice. Though with some difficulties, she heard her say, "I received your message, Nel-sweetie, just be home before 12, dear. If you can't tell me immediately, OK? Text me once you receive this message. Love you."

At her message Nel, shook her head fondly. She texted a reply before locking her phone again and keeping it back inside her guitar-shaped bag. Her mom was really a worrywart through and through. Sometimes Nel feels suffocated but there are times like this that she really feel blessed for having parents like hers. Her parents never tried to lock her out of the normal things teenagers does during their college years but they had taught Nelliel one important lesson. You can have fun, do anything outrageous but always remember it's impact for you, always be responsible. Absolutely don't do drugs, don't do sex before marriage, never smoke-it's unhealthy and if you drink, make sure you get home in one piece. In short do everything in moderation. She took these things at heart and tried to do her best to follow these 'rules'. Which is why to others Nel looked like the 'good girl', it doesn't bother her though. For her it's a both blessing and a curse.

While waiting for her drink she turned from her chair and faced the direction where most people are. There was two beautiful girl dancing on the middle of the crowd and Nel can see how tipsy but happy both of them looked. So that's how you look when you're somewhat drunk.

Lewis was glad that the drink he had made was a success. He put down 'Elle-vate' as the name of the drink in his phone and listened to Craig as he went on about juice. "Just because you don't enjoy alcohol doesn't mean I'll serve you plain juice." Lewis said to Craig. "Cranberry right?" He proceeded to crush ice, pour cranberry juice over it, add club soda to give it a fizz and squirted a whole lime into the cup. He stirred the cup and handed the drink to Craig. "Here's your mocktail." Lewis said "So what happened that keeps you sober during a party like this?"

Suddenly a group of sorority sisters showed up at the party and the whole place became more lively. One of the sisters approached the bar and asked for a Virgin Mary. Lewis tried to remember where he had seen her before and came to conclusion that he has never seen her in the parties hes served, not recently at least. The fact that she ordered a drink like Virgin Mary proved he had never served her before. "I'd love to make a drink like that but you have to take a raincheck on it." Lewis told the girl. "I don't have half of the ingredients here, How about I make you another drink? And maybe one with little alcohol in it to lessen the tension?"

Peyton returned but her drink had disappeared and Lewis was unsure whether it was her or someone else who had taken it. Pouring whiskey into a plastic cup for the second time, Lewis wished Peyton had been more specific on what shot she wanted and exactly how many shots does she mean when she says 'shots'. Remembering that Peyton had already taken a tequila bottle from him, he set 7 shot glasses so when she returned if she wasn't too drunk she could pour herself the shots. Next to Peyton's drink he kept a cup of soda ordered by the asian goth girl who had disappeared into the crowd.