Page 5 of Mixing Drinks For Tipsy Weasels

"Trust me, you haven't seen anything yet." He heads over to the checkout. "A couple of weeks ago, Rika suggested that we take a break from ball prep so we could all revise, and I swear, from the expression on Robin's face, it was almost as if Rika had suggested we cancelled the ball itself."

"Remind me why you put me forward for this again?" I scan my cheese through the self checkout and pull up the payment app on my phone, waving it in front of the machine until it beeps.

"Because it looks great on anyone's CV."

"Yeah, I don't believe that." I shove my phone and my cheese into my pocket. It might not be the best place for me to keep a snack, but we're heading straight back to the dorms, so I don't see the problem with it.

"Eurgh, fine. There's a cute guy who has been volunteering and I want to get to know him better but I haven't had the chance to," Sami admits, picking up his grocery bag. "I guess I was hoping that if you were there, you could be my wingman? Make it so that I end up partnered with him when we're doing the decorating tasks?"

I snort. "I should have guessed this was about a guy."

"Hey! I'm not always about the men."

"Only sometimes," I tease.

"Well, the only guys I meet are when we're out at the club, and they're only really interested in one thing."

I raise an eyebrow.

"Not that. But also, yes, definitely that," Sami says. "So, will you help me?"

"Sure."

"Thanks, man."

At least I've gotten to the bottom of why Sami was so adamant that I should help with ball prep, I had been wondering about that. But he is right that it will look good on my CV, and considering I'm going to have to find a summer job when term ends, that can only be a good thing.

Chapter 4

Erica

Even though Iknow it wouldn't be a good idea to go and revise straight after finishing an exam, there's a part of me that wants to go do that, especially because the exam I have next week makes up so much of my grade for that module.

I attempt to push that thought from my mind and head into the student union so I can do my part for ball prep. It'll be good for me to put psychology and everything associated with it out of my mind, even if it's just for a few hours of making up gift bags or whatever it is that Robin wants us to do today. I'm sure their list of things that need fixing is a mile long, and I signed up to help them with it.

I enter the room and wave to the head of the committee so they know I'm here. No doubt I'll have my assignment within minutes, but I'm going to give myself a moment to decompress.

"You're finally here," Robin says, appearing by my side.

I give them what I hope is a friendly smile. "I had an exam."

"Yes, yes, I remember you saying." Their hair is sticking up all over the place, adding to their frazzled appearance. I don't think I want to be the person suggesting any changes to Robin today. "All right, Erica, Sami, D, and Rupert, I need you to do the painting in the other room. There's lots of pieces we need to get ready, so I'm trusting you with it," Robin says.

I grimace. Really? I have to work with Rupert? Somehow, having to come straight from an exam to another commitment is no longer the most frustrating thing about today.

From the scowl on Rupert's face, he doesn't seem best pleased by the turn of events, though Sami seems to be in a good mood. He nudges Rupert in the ribs and the weasel shifter's face changes.

"I don't have time to micromanage," Robin says. "Sami, can you take the lead?"

"Sure." He beams, and flashes adoring eyes in D's direction. It seems as if Sami might finally be doing something about the huge crush he's been harbouring. Which might explain why he's happy about the assignment that brings him closer together with D.

"Great. I'll trust you to get it done." Robin hands him a sheet of paper and then walks off, apparently not needing to give us any more information than that.

"All right, let's go see what we've got," Sami says, heading through the doors and into the room where the actual ball is going to be held.

There must not be anything else going on in here before the event, because the decorations are already starting to be in place, including a large arch over the stage that's completely white.

Sami gulps and looks down at the sheet of paper Robin gave him. "I guess we're painting that. But how are we going to get up there?" He waves upwards.

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