Swaying a bit too much.
I throw back the shot before placing my blue palm on her shoulder. She grips the white fur of my arm with both hands and drunkenly drapes herself over my forearm, nuzzling her nose against me.
“God, you’re so soft. You feel just like my teddy bear at home…” She moans, seeming much drunker than a second ago.
“Alright, it’s been a great party, but let’s get you back to the dorms, okay? Big day tomorrow, right?” I smile and catch the eye of my head housekeeper, a faun from town. Nodding toward the drunk girl who’s now crawling up my arm, I let her know without words that she needs to be put to bed, stat.
Lerana, the faun in question, sighs and places her own plastic cup down before stomping over to us.
“You know, Andri, when Ted offered to babysit tonight, I didn’t think I’d be putting anyone to bed,” she says under her breath as she lifts the human girl off me by her armpits.
“Well, how about I owe you one then?” I smile wide, knowing my fangs don’t really upset the other monsters in town like they do the humans.
“I will add it to your stack of ‘owe me one’s’ I already have at home,” she mutters before dragging the drunk human back to the female dorms.
I could have taken her myself, but I prefer to make sure these parties, besides the binge drinking, remain on the up and up. I wouldn’t put myself in a situation where I could be viewed as taking advantage of anyone. I also don’t want her to be in a situation where she could either. So tucked in bed by Lerana is the best middle ground for the both of us.
Lerana, despite her complaining, is my most reliable friend. I know she’ll always be honest, even if it hurts. Sometimes I wish there was some other kind of spark between us, something more than platonic, but alas there’s not.
I shove down the very specific kind of loneliness I’m feeling and make my way over to the bonfire. Brooks, the satyr farmer from town, strums something poppy on an acoustic guitar, and the whole circle of people and monsters sway to the beat.
I’m passed a lit paper roll, and I bring it up to my lips, dragging the skunky taste into my lungs. I take a moment to enjoy the burn in my throat, and the fuzzy feeling in my head, before passing it along to Jake, the raccoon shifter who owns the thrift store, seated next to me. I can tell he’s a little far gone when his ears shift to his raccoon form as he coughs on the rough smoke.
“By the way,” he sputters, slapping his chest, “I’ve got some pretty choice vintage Levi’s to bring up, perfect for jorts!” He raises a brow, poking a bit of fun at my fashion choices.
“It’s not my fault jeans aren’t long enough for me,” I laugh. “And highwaters really aren’t my style.” I know seeing a yeti in cutoffs isn’t what you would expect. To be quite honest, I don’t really need clothes. The cold doesn’t bother me at all, it’s my natural habitat. But there are little things I do to make the humans who come here comfortable, tourism being my livelihood and all. One of those things is to not rock out with cock out. It’s just the polite thing to do.
My eyes scan over all the happy faces, the groups of people dancing and laughing in the snow around the warm glow of the bonfire. A sense of pride blossoms in my chest, realizing that these friends are here because of me.
Even if I don’t have anyone to call my own, I do have this. This lodge is my sanctuary.
The guitarist stops, and a few people clap. He grabs the joint and takes a puff.
“Anyone wanna hear ‘Wonderwall’?” he asks earnestly, only to be met with groans and boos from the surrounding crowd. A snowball even hits his chest in protest. He smirks, wipes the snow off his sweater, and stands.
“I’ll take that as my cue it’s time to head out then. I’ve got an early morning at the farm, anyway.” He turns to me, throwing his guitar over his back by the strap, and tips the brim of his baseball cap in my direction.
“Hey Andri! Could I trouble you for a gondola ride back down the mountain?”
I slap my hands on my denim-covered thighs and stand.
“Only if you promise your dad’s going to come get you and you aren’t driving the truck back to the farm.” I eye my inebriated friend with a brow raised. He nods. “Gimme one sec and I’ll go grab the keys to start up the haul rope,” I tell him, heading back toward the lodge office.
Trekking through what looks like some promising snow for opening day, I walk right by the women’s dorms as Lerana clicks the door shut behind her.
“You know this place wouldn’t be the same without you, right? When are you going to let me hire you full time?” I grin, sidling up to her and throwing my arm around her.
Despite herself, she laughs before pushing me away.
“You smell like a classic rock festival.” She wrinkles her little black nose. “And never, I don’t think I could pull anymore working hours than I do. Ted’s already annoyed I take my one day a week off to turn over the rooms here.” She rolls her eyes.
“Thank you for taking her in. Is she sleeping?”
“She was half asleep as I was fighting with her to take an aspirin—she might be a little rough tomorrow, don’t push her too hard, okay?” She zips her puffer jacket up a little higher. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the cold up here—hey what are you doing over here, anyway?"
“Brooks needs the gondola turned on, gotta grab the keys.”
“Oh, if that’s the case, I’ll ride down with him. Let me go grab my bag from the office with you.”
