Unexpected

Eleanor stepped into the elevator at the end of her workday and was surprised to find Emily already inside. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, a mix of anticipation and apprehension stirring within her.

"Hey, Emily," she greeted her tentatively, hoping to break the ice between them.

But to her dismay, Emily barely acknowledged her presence. She stood there, staring straight ahead, as if Eleanor didn't even exist. The silence between them was deafening, filled with unspoken tension and unresolved issues.

She shrugged it off and moved on, after all there was really no need for them to keep being friends. She got to the parking lot, started the car engine and drove home without looking back. On her way home, she decided to stop at the bar, to calm her nerves with a bottle or two.

She sat alone at the bar, nursing her drink and observing the environment and all of a sudden, she felt really lonely. The noise of the bar faded into the background as she found herself lost in her thoughts, grappling with the weight of her emotions. She felt a sudden urge to reach out to someone, anyone, who could offer her solace and understanding. Fumbling for her phone, she scrolled through her contacts, searching desperately for a lifeline in the sea of faces and names. And then, almost on instinct, her finger hovered over Greg's name. She then pressed the call button, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for him to pick up. Each ring felt like an eternity, amplifying her anxiety and uncertainty, until finally, she heard his voice on the other end of the line.

"Hello?" his voice was warm and inviting, a welcome relief amidst the chaos of her thoughts.

"Hey, Greg," Eleanor greeted him, her voice tinged with a mixture of apprehension and relief. "I...I was wondering if you were free to talk."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, as Greg processed Eleanor's request. But to her relief, he responded with a reassuring tone.

"Of course, I'm here. I'm actually at a party with some of my friends, if you don't mind, you can come over."

"Okay, fine....I'll meet you there." she said as she hung up and hurriedly sipped her drink.

She soon made her way to the club where Greg was chilling and stepping through the entrance, she was immediately engulfed by the pulsating rhythm of the music and the vibrant energy of the crowd. The dimly lit interior was a stark contrast to the chaos of her thoughts, offering a temporary escape from the turmoil of her emotions. Navigating her way through the throngs of people, she scanned the room in search of Greg, her heart pounding with each passing moment. And then, amidst the sea of faces, she spotted him – a familiar figure in the crowd, his presence a reassuring beacon in the midst of the chaos. She then made her way over to where he was sitting with his friends, about three of them.

"Hey, Eleanor," Greg greeted her with a smile, his voice barely audible over the din of the music. "I'm glad you could make it.

"Returning his smile, Eleanor felt a surge of gratitude for his welcoming demeanor. "Thanks for inviting me," she replied, her words tinged with sincerity. "I really needed this tonight."

"Hey guys, this is Eleanor," he said, gesturing towards her with a grin. "Eleanor, meet Mike, Bella, and Jake."

Eleanor exchanged polite hellos with each of them, a small smile playing at her lips as she took in their relaxed demeanor. Despite her initial apprehension, she found herself drawn to their easygoing vibe, their welcoming presence a welcome respite from the chaos of her thoughts.

"It's nice to meet you all," she said, her voice tinged with sincerity. "Thanks for letting me crash your party."

Mike, a jovial-looking guy with a ready smile, chuckled in response. "Any friend of Greg's is a friend of ours," he said, clapping Greg on the back in a show of camaraderie. "Welcome to the crew."

Bella, a bubbly redhead with a mischievous glint in her eye, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we don't bite," she quipped, shooting Eleanor a playful grin. "Well, not usually, anyway."

Jake, the quietest of the group, simply offered Eleanor a small nod of acknowledgement, his expression unreadable. Despite his reserved demeanor, there was an air of strength and confidence about him that commanded respect.

All seemed to go well as Eleanor was enjoying herself in the company of Greg and his friends, and the party was bubbling, she seemed to forget her sorrows for a while. 

Then Greg tapped her and whispered, "How about some little fun tonight? With my partner? he said, pointing at Jake who suddenly smiled at Eleanor.

Eleanor hesitated, her mind reeling. She stared at him, disbelief etched on her face, as Jake stood beside him with an expectant smirk.

"What... What did you just say?" she stammered, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and confusion.

Greg chuckled, his tone casual as if he had just suggested something mundane.

"I said, how about you return the favor, babe? You called me when you wanted a threesome with your girlfriend. Jake here and I have been wanting to spice things up a bit, and we thought you might be up for it."

Eleanor's eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening in indignation. "Are you out of your mind? You seriously think I'd agree to something like that?"

Jake chimed in, his voice smooth and persuasive. "Come on, Eleanor. It'll be fun. Just a little experiment between friends. No strings attached."

"Experiment? Friends?" Eleanor scoffed, her frustration boiling over. "You two are delusional if you think I'm here to fulfill your twisted fantasies."

Greg's demeanor shifted, his expression darkening with irritation. "Hey, don't act so high and mighty. You called me when you wanted a good time. Why not be nice enough to do the same for me? I thought we were friends."

Eleanor's pulse quickened, her fists clenching at her sides. "I didn't come here for this. I came here to talk, to forget about my troubles for a while. But if this is what you want, I think I'm better off alone."

With that, she turned on her heel, her gaze blazing with defiance, and stormed out of the club. She pushed through the throng of people, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions.

As she emerged onto the bustling street outside, she took a deep breath, the cool night air washing over her like a balm to her frazzled nerves. She got to her car and climbed in, and sped off like the speed of light.

Throughout the ride, her thoughts churned with anger and disappointment. She had thought she knew Greg, thought their connection was genuine. But now, it seemed like everything had been a cruel joke at her expense. She blamed herself for calling him, for leaving her house when she should have remained home on her own.

She soon got home and as she fumbled through her bag for her apartment keys, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unfamiliar number. With a furrowed brow, she hesitated before answering

."Hello?" Eleanor's voice carried a cautious tone as she held the phone to her ear, unsure of who might be on the other end.

"Hey, Eleanor. It's me...Rosa," came the voice on the line, gentle yet tinged with hesitation.