Surpised? Happy? Yes. A little... strange? That, too. A little smile crept out when Avis appeared. Fist bump? Hug? Was there a protocol? He would have jumped on a folder with instructions.
"Hey."
He went casual, following her lead. But he totally noticed where she sat.
"We're, umm..."
Then the other taxi must have arrived, because there was... everyone. "Hey, hi, hello." His head bobbed and hand waved.
Okay. Get it together.
"Ummm, okay! Let's, uh, do intros? This is Aurum, Faye, Elle*, and, uh, Eric. He's with Elle, who, uh, I know from work. I met Faye and Aurum at the park. Earlier. Like, just met them. And, they're, uh, you know." He pointed to his eyes, two finger Stooges style. "So, ummm, I invited them to Rage, where we ran into Elle and Eric. And now we're here."
Totally Not Over Explaining.
"And, everyone, this is Avis. She, ummm," What. She's what. "She's, uh, roommates. With Aspen and Zoey and me." More.
His eyes skittered over to Avis with a curious look. He wasn't sure what to say. Then he turned back towards everyone.
"Sooooooo. Anyway! I was just going to get the first round? And maybe sign up. To sing. So you all, all right, nice work, have drinks already. So, ummmm, go sign up? And, Zoey, like I would ever do that. Anyway. Hey, you. Glad you made it, legit glad," he turned back to Avis. "Drink? Water? Tea? And, good. I'm good. And Zoey got her job."
OK. Everyone was introduced. Maybe this wouldn't be all weird, like at the Rage. Or all weird, period. Why was this weird?
*