Page 7 of Picture Us

Drew shook their head, the story immediately making them cringe. “No, see, you always say that! It wasn’t just a dildo. Now I’m going to have to tell these poor people this terrible story.”

But the crowd was eating it up. Anyone at one of Quinn’s parties knew exactly who they were: a crazy party kid with a wild past and weekly ragers. Of course, Drew had been on the clean-up end of these parties a few too many times. They already had an exit strategy ready.

Beginning the story, Drew scanned the audience as they milled around the room. “So the RA’s do room checks every semester right after break. And we had a super chill RA…”

“Christine!” Quinn cheered at the mention of their favorite resident assistant. “She was the shit!”

Drew laughed, “Exactly. They give us the decency of basically marking on a calendar when we should hide our contraband. But good ole’ Quinn here, doesn’t bother to hide anything.”

As they speak, the crowd moves around and the front door swings open as new guests squeeze into the place. The duo that entered made their way to the kitchen to grab drinks as Drew continued.

“So I’m shoving this box underneath the bed as Christine and Micah look at the random fucking vulva art on Quinn’s walls. I’m trying to keep the lid on, making sure whips and gags don’t fall out…” Drew fed off the crowd, pausing as they laughed. A massive grin took over their entirely too-serious face.

The duo started making their way toward the gregarious storyteller at the center of the living room.

Drew shook their head. “. . . They’re talking about how we’re not supposed to have candles while these fucking handcuffs are jingling in my hands. And I can tell they’re trying to like peek behind me to see what it is, but I just keep turning so they don’t notice in this 60 square foot dorm.”

Their head began to survey the crowd as they spoke, scanning the faces: some familiar and some new. But the more smiles Drew saw, the more confident they became. As their head swiveled, the face of one particular redhead stood out.

Rose raised an eyebrow as Drew met her eyes. Drew felt a blush rushing to their cheeks as they realized it was her. And she was standing next to… Shannon of all people.

Drew tried to recover, hoping their surprise wasn’t too obvious. “Um. Yeah. So they finally turn to walk out of the dorm, and I’m so hyped. But they stop dead in their tracks by the door and start cackling. Like, bent over, cackling. And I’m like desperately scanning the room for what I could’ve left out.”

Quinn giggled before Drew even finished the story, knowing exactly what they’d found.

The crowd is hooked, leaning in to finally hear what it was. Drew smirked. “So I finally realize what I forgot. I forgot to check the closet door, because why the fuck would there be anything on the closet door.”

Drew scanned the crowd, trying to avoid Rose’s gaze, but her smile in the corner of their vision was unmissable. She took a sip of her drink as she waited for Drew to finish the story.

“Leave it to kinky-ass Quinn to install sex swing in the closet of their college dorm.” Drew shook their head and raised their glass. “And guess who’s nowhere to be found while our RAs are doubled over looking at this sophomore’s sex toys.”

Through the thunderous laughter, Drew could clearly hear Rose giggle as Shannon put an arm around her.

Drew shook their head. “My question is, how does a sex swing work in a tiny dorm closet?”

Quinn shrugged and stood from their perch on the arm of the couch. “Worked fine for me!”

As Drew bowed out of their story-telling duties, the crowd started to disperse and intermingle, the volume of Quinn’s playlist forcing everyone to shout-talk.

A path to Rose opened up, and Drew patted Quinn on the back before heading over.

“Funny seeing you here.” Drew forced a smile.

Shannon’s arm lowered to Rose’s waist as Rose replied, “Yeah, Shannon invited me.”

Drew laughed. “So that story is your introduction to Quinn?”

“Sure is,” Rose blushed as her eyes met Drew’s.

Turning to Shannon, Drew held out their hand for a dap. “Shan, I haven’t seen you in… many years at this point, right?”

Shannon returned the gesture and nodded. “Yeah, dude. I was out working out West for a while, but New York called me home.” Looking down at Rose, Shan winked at her.

Ew.Drew tried to hide the visceral cringe crawling up their spine.

Rose blushed and batted her eyes while staring at Shannon. “It’s a wonderful place.”

Drew laughed. “That’s one word for it.”

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