PG Rated

      The Warsaw. Drew, Kate, and Oswald are sitting at the usual table.
      "I can't believe Lauren didn't want a party. Doesn't she know you only turn 21 once?" Drew said.
      "She's not a party person," Oswald said. "That's just the way she is."
      "From the sounds of it, we'll be lucky if we can get her to atleast try Buzz Beer," Kate added, then paused, "and what's taking them so long to come down here?"

      Lewis and Oswald's apartment.
      "Lauren, come out of the bathroom," Lewis said, through the door.
      "No," I said.
      "You look fine... well, more than fine..." he said.
      "I just don't feel like myself. I don't know why I let you talk me into this," I said.
      "I only wanted to do something nice for your 21st birthday. Now, come on out before I come in and pull you out!" Lewis said, becoming impatient.
      I paused, let out an audible sigh, and opened the bathroom door. I stepped out. "Well?"
      The "something nice" that he did was he bought me a black one-piece short-sleeved dress. I told him if he got me strapless, I'd kill him. At first, I thought I could live without being my usual tomboy, t-shirt and jeans wearing self... but now I had my doubts.
      "Beautiful," he said, "but you were in there all that time and didn't do anything different with your hair."
      "I never wear it down, never, hear me?" I said, slightly annoyed.
      "Alright, only because you actually dressed up," Lewis said, backing off.
      I let a smile slip.
      Lewis saw it. "What'd you do?"
      "I'm wearing shorts, too," I said.
      "You're hopeless," he said. "Can we go downstairs now?"
      "Yeah, I guess," I said.
      We went downstairs and over to the guys' table.
      "Oh, my God, is this actually Lauren?" Drew said, smiling.
      "You clean up pretty good," Kate said.
      Oswald took a drink of his beer. "Not bad."
      I sat down. "Let's make this quick so I can go change."
      "Yup, it's her," Drew said.
      gave him a playful punch on the arm. "So, what do you guys have in mind for me?" I asked, then added, "I swear if someone yells out surprise..."
      "We're the only ones who know," Lewis said.
      "And Tim," Drew added, "otherwise, you wouldn't be able to try Buzz Beer."
      I laughed nervously. "Oh, yeah, I guess I did agree to try it... but I could be wrong." I smiled.
      "The mug's right in front of you," Drew said.
      "Come on," Oswald said, playfully.
      I shook my head. "I guess this is as close to peer pressure as I'm gonna get." I gave in and tried... and kept trying. Hey, it was good.
      As the night went on, I remembered less and less.

      I woke up with the damnedest headache and couldn't comprehend where I was. The whole room was out of focus. I decided to go back to sleep, but the sun was just coming in the window in my direction. I groggily rolled over to get away from the incoming sunlight and found Lewis next to me. It didn't quite sink in at first, but when it did... I rolled right out of the bed.
      Standing next to the bed, I looked around the room again. It was Lewis's room. I took in a breath and looked down at myself. I had on one of his t-shirts and my shorts from the night before. That was half relieving, the rest was disturbing.
      I went back over and shook Lewis. "Lewis?"
      "I don't wanna go to school today..." he mumbled.
      I shook him again. "Lewis!?"
      "Wha-? he said, then looked at me. "Why're you wearin' my shirt?"
      I crossed my arms and glared at him.
      "Oh," Lewis said, then got it. "Oh... This isn't good..."
      "Duh!" I said.
      He sat up. Hmm, not wearing a shirt...
      "Please tell me you're wearing shorts," I said.
      Lewis gave me that deer caught in the headlights look.
      "Argh!" I belted, the frustration setting in.
      "What? Maybe I always sleep like this," he said.
      "That's not awfully likely," I said, then sat on the edge of the bed. "I cannot believe this."
      "Hey," Lewis said, sounding offended.
      "Oh, come on!" I said. "Do you know how many beers I had?"
      He thought for a moment. "Two?"
      "Two!?" I asked, incredulously. "I don't remember most of last night because of two beers?!" I was getting louder by the second.
      "Well, that was as far as I counted," Lewis said, then his hand over my mouth. "Shsh, you want Oswald to hear ya? The way you're acting, I take it you don't want anyone to know."
      I moved his hand. "You're right. I'm just freaking out. I mean, even if we didn't, I just can't believe... this," I said. "I gotta get outta here."
      There's a knock at the door.
      "Hey, Lewis?"
      I stopped dead. "Maybe he'll leave..."
      "I'm leavin'," Oswald said, through the door. A few seconds later the door slammed.
      "Good call," Lewis commented, then smiled.
      I let out the breath I was holding. "Holy shit, that was close."
      "Yup," he said.
      I glared at him "Atleast sound sympathetic."
      "Sorry," Lewis said.

      Winfred-Louder.
      Lewis and I went up to Drew's cubicle.
      "Ready to go to lunch?" Lewis asked.
      "Almost," Drew replied, then looked at me. "So, how does it feel to be 21?"
      I took a quick glance at Lewis. "Not much different."
      "Really?" Drew asked. "And I always thought it was supposed to be a big milestone in your life." He stood, holding some papers. "I just gotta get these copies, then I'll be ready." He left.
      I glared at Lewis. "Man, he sounds like he knows, when he doesn't know and even we don't know, ya know."
      Lewis looked confused. "No."
      I shook my head. "Nevermind."

      Warsaw, that evening.
      We're all sitting around the usual table. Everyone's got a beer, while I have a soda.
      "I thought you liked Buzz Beer," Drew said.
      "It's okay, I just don't wanna drink it everyday, that's all," I said, sounding kinda aggitated.
      "Wel, you don't hafta bite my head off," Drew said.
      "I'm sorry, Drew," I said.
      "Man, didn't you get what you wanted for your birthday?" Oswald asked.
      "Can't I have a soda without going through Twenty Questions?" I asked, then sighed. "I need some air." I got up and went outside.
      Lewis followed me out, while the others watched us leave.
      The three were silent for a moment.
      Drew looked at Kate. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
      "Oh, yeah," Kate replied.
      "What're you guys talking about?" Oswald asked.
      They looked at him, then at each other, then at Oswald again.
      "Nothing," Drew said. "Why don't you get us another pitcher."
      "Okay" Oswald said, then went to the bar.
      Drew turned back to Kate. "Those two slept together, didn't they?"
      "That wasn't quite what I was thinking," Kate said. "I'd opt for the literal meaning."
      "So you think they didn't?" Drew said.
      "You actually think they did?" Kate retaliated.
      Oswald came back with the pitcher. "Did I miss anything?"
      Drew poured his next beer. "Nope."

      Outside. There's a picnic table. I went over to it.
      Lewis came over. "What the matter with you?"
      I turned slowly and glared at him. "I cannot believe you're treating this like it's nothing!"
      "Probably because it is nothing," he said, matter-of-factly.
      I wasn't listening. "I was afraid this might happen."
      "But nothing happened!" Lewis argued.
      "Why are you all of a sudden sure about that?" I asked.
      "Promise you won't smack me?" he asked.
      I raised an eyebrow. "Heh?"
      "Let's just say I wanted you to think we did," Lewis said.
      "I'm getting a headache from this," I said. "I'm not even gonna ask my follow-up question, but I will ask this..."
      "Uh oh..." he said.
      "Do you think they know what might have happened?" I asked.
      "So... you think we should tell them it didn't?" Lewis asked.
      I slapped my forehead. "Yes!"
      "Alright... you don't have to yell, you know," he said.

      Drew's house, later that night. Everyone's there except Oswald.
      "...And nothing happened," I finished, then glared at Lewis who had a sheepish look on his face. "Right?"
      Lewis nodded.
      "Of course, I don't remember a whole hell of alot of what happened and basically everything I just said came from the deer in the headlights over there," I said, then pointed at Lewis.
      "Okay, okay, you been picking on me all night," Lewis said, in defense.
      "Yeah, well, I'm not done..." I started.
      Oswald came in holding a brown paper bag.
      "Oswald, what's in the bag?" Kate asked.
      "Oh, this?" Oswald said, then handed me the bag.
      I opened it and pulled out the dress. My jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
      "Told ya!" Lewis blurted.
      "I tried to get all of the beer smell out of it, but it wasn't working," Oswald said.
      I put my nose to the cloth and pulled away. "Eww... I'm gonna have to use a very strong detergent on this."
      Lewis cleared his throat.
      "Sorry about picking on you," I said.
      Oswald cleared his throat.
      "What do you want?" I asked.
      "Ten bucks for the dress and all the looks those guys gave me in the laundromat," Oswald said.
      "Fine," I said, then dug for my money.

The End