“Oh yeah,” Terry butt in, and came up behind her, helping himself to putting his arm around her, though it was done in such a friendly manner it hardly seemed awkward. “It’ll be a real party.”
“Well, not quite a party,” Ben said, looking to Terry questioningly then back to Lisa with a smile. “But it’ll be your introduction to everyone and how things work. Y’know, we all look out for one another in the town. Well… I guess you might not know, huh?” he said, looking to her with one brow raised.
She was all smiles as she looked between them, though she still didn’t fully understand what they were talking about.
“Is it, like, a special occasion or something?” she asked curiously.
“It is now that you’re here,” Terry said
with a big grin down at her from her side, his strong hand resting at her lower back.
Ben walked on by them and grabbed Terry’s arm to tug him back through the door.
“Just be there, starts at eight!” Ben said with a smile over his shoulder. “We’re all gettin’ together down in the hall on the main floor.”
“Dress sexy!” Terry said with a grin back at her before they vanished out into the hall.
She laughed as she closed the door, shaking her head as she locked it and went to unpack.
Still, she found herself extremely excited at the prospect of getting such a grand welcome into the community.
Her simple black skirt and tank top wasn’t the most exciting combination, but with her hourglass curves and high heeled maryjanes, she felt confident. Especially when she let down her blonde hair, the long strands nearly reaching the middle of her back and forming in soft waves.
She put on a touch of pink lipstick and dark mascara, smiling at her reflection before practically running down the stairs, excitement egging her on so quickly.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs — her little town had no elevators anywhere to be found! — she met some of the other tenants of her building. The men — ranging from young to more than double her age! — passing by into the hall, all of their eyes moving to her.
She recognized them all, even if she didn’t know all their names. It was a small town, and even on her rare excursions to shop with her mother or father, she managed to see everyone at least once or twice. Though as excited as she was to be surrounded by such new neighbours, they all looked even more so.
So many big, bright smiles for her, and a lot of “Welcomes!” declared excitedly.
Two of them reached out and put their arms to her shoulders, guiding her into the room. She didn’t know their names, but their friendly demeanor was non-threatening. She was one of them.
As they entered the hall, everyone there was standing around, drinking. One of the men immediately handed her a refreshment, some fruit punch it seemed, though a few other men had been waiting eagerly to give her a drink as well.
A lot of talking and chatting occurred between the many men, young and old, but immediately around her an older man in his forties, it seemed, with sleek black hair — with some streaks of grey — and a dark tan along with a young, lean fellow she thought she recognized from school kept her attention focussed on them.
“You just got here?” asked the younger, paler man.
“Of course she has,” said the older gentleman with his dark moustache and goatee. He rubbed her slender shoulder warmly, “A beautiful ray of sunshine like her? She’d never go unnoticed.” He declared that with a beaming smile down at her.
It would’ve been easy to be overwhelmed by all the attention amid that sea of men, but they were so friendly and warm.
She was feeling a bit faint as her eyes darted from one to another, her smile growing so broad at the attention, the human interaction. She’d never experienced anything like it and with so many voices it was hard to keep up.
“Yes, I just arrived earlier today! I’m Lisa,” she stated, louder than she needed to in order to make up for the din of the crowd.
The older man took her hand first, even though his actions were so much smoother and slow, while the younger was quick and eager.
“Martin,” he said to her, lifting her hand up and kissing the back of her knuckles like a true gentleman. “And it’s an utter pleasure to meet you Lisa,” he said with a twinkle in his dark eyes. “I look forward to getting to know you intimately in the time ahead,” he said so warmly.
“The name’s Mark,” said the younger man, a bright grin on his face as he went and took her other hand to squeeze it. “And lemme just say, I hope you pick me tonight,” he remarked eagerly.
She paused at that, curious.
“Pick you?” she asked, uncertainty flooding her. Pick him for what? She supposed, perhaps, that it was a dance and that she needed to pick a partner, but then there were so few other women around. It wouldn’t have been a very good dance like that.
Actually, a quick look around showed no more than two other women, former classmates of hers that she recognized.