Alex hated parties. HATED them. All his friends went to parties and had incredible fun, while Alex sat in the corner sipping a lite beer wishing he was home. He couldn’t help it. He wanted to fit in, but when those sorts of situations arose he felt awkward and humiliated. So, when he was invited by a group of friends to a party that was going to be held at one of their places, at first he was reluctant to go, knowing that he would end up looking forward to going only to wish to God that he could go home five minutes in. Knowing this, he only felt guilty because it was a group of people who held very private parties, and Alex felt privileged to be invited.
As always, it was mainly couples who attended: Michael and Johanna, Kitch and Alice, Erinn and Joseph and Tess and James. Alex knew that he would feel dumb going to a couples party without a couple, but he had had enough disastrous encounters with the opposite sex to last him a good many years, so he decided to stiff it out and TRY to enjoy himself.
The party was scheduled for 7:00pm Wednesday night, and the date slowly approached ever closer as Alex went to work and came home. On the night he decided to go for the casual look, wearing a simple white shirt and brown shorts with a black jacket. He drove out there and arrived at almost precisely 7:00. He got out of his car feeling pleased with himself that he was being so prompt, and knocked on the door.
Johanna, since the party was being held at her place, opened the door, smiling broadly when she saw who it was.
“Hey,” she said, opening the door to let him in. “Welcome to the party.”
