Mixed dates.

Jeremy opened and smiled to the expected knock at the door that your protagonist (or antagonist; however you view him) answered with more of a feeling with dread than excitement. Realistically any host would feel excitement with a splash of nervousness when their guests arrive, but this was not such a 'realistic' occasion. You could say it was more of a treaty, a peace offering, the armistice of two opposing armies but in this case two opposing neighbours. The door was opened with more than enough fake smiles and uncomfortable awkwardness. The elephant seemed to have entered the room before the guests did, it even felt like taking the liberty of seating itself at the dining room table and pouring itself a large, tall and heavy glass of wine. "Derrick, good to see you please come in" a stern, long a waited handshake occurred "Ah thank you" Derrick stepped inside the home of the protagonist (or antagonist; however you view him) "You have a very lovely home" he says with a bland tone, you can hear the forced politeness soothe out of the words. The protagonist (or antagonist; however you view him) laughed and says "All thanks to my lovely girlfriend. I'm afraid I have absolutely no taste when it comes to interior design" "I'm sure you helped a tremendous amount Jeremy, with moving the furniture of course" is said. "Alyssa, you look very lovely" the protagonist (or antagonist; however you view him) says after laughing at the comment made by the wife of his neighbour. Which despite the current situation she did in fact look quite lovely. It is not uncommon to dress up for a dinner it is expected to a degree. Jeremy is wearing an off-white-button-down shirt tucked into a pair of navy blue chinos, while is guest is wearing something similar but a sweater vest instead. The age gap between the two men is noticeable with their outfits. Still Jeremy couldn't help himself to admire the wife of his guest as she entered deeper into his home. Wearing a tight and short red dress, complimenting her surprisingly tight figure considering her age. Her hair was long but not too long with natural brown curls, the bottle of wine she was holding in her small hands, piecing it all together. He thought sexual thoughts of her in the past yes; seeing her through her window, pulling in and out of her driveway, wearing her jogging outfits while stretching in the yard before her run. But this is the first time they have had a more courteous encounter. The others were not like this at all, other than watching her the only time he would hear her voice was when she would have to recall her husband back into the house when a usual dispute between the two gentlemen occurred. "You do have a lovely home indeed" Alyssa says. "Why thank you so much" Cecilia says to her while coming to greet her guests in the dinning room from the kitchen which is the adjacent room. As Cecilia joins her her boyfriend and guest, more typical introductory conversation pieces happen although it did not really dismantle the mood of uncomfortableness at all. Neither couple wanted really wanted to be in this situation, but both also knew that it is important that it happens, a dinner to end the so called 'neighbouring war'. As the evening continued the small talk happened, and so far, it was going better than expected. They were all seated, they were all drinking, they were all nicely dressed (protagonist, or antagonist) kept sneaking looks at the wife of his guest but they were all eagerly waiting for the night to end. Both couples managed to let their guards down and become more relaxed as the evening continued. Cecilia talked about her work at her law firm (she wasn't exactly in a vital position there, but the way she goes on it seemed like it) how she learned to cook from her mother and about "Just some plans she thought up" regarding the colour of the walls. Jeremy was glad his girlfriend was the driving force in the conversation, as a host should. Unlike him who was more focused on drinking. Mid conversation a knock on the door was heard and the conversation just stopped. It dropped into silence...

"Excuse me" Cecilia said as she got out of her seat to get the door. "Probably a Jehovah's witness or something" Jeremy said has he laugh while taking another sip. Derrick smirked at the comment and Alyssa smiled. At the door was an unexpected guest. Someone who Cecilia was not planning on seeing and her reaction cemented this feeling... "Reggie, what are you doing here?" Cecilia said in more of a gasp than a question as she opened the front door. "I came to see you" He replied while touching her hand and leaning in for a quick kiss "We have a date" she looked at him nervously "No, we do not have a date" Cecilia said pulling away "At least not until next week" Reggie laughed "Nope, it's tonight. Did you mess up your schedule?" he says joining in on her whispering. This was an unforeseen encounter, and Cecilia, a little tipsy already, didn't quite know how to deal with it. As she was processing this situation, the situation of 'her lover coming over unexpectedly while she and her boyfriend are hosting a dinner for their next-door neighbours who they do not get along with'

Jeremy realized, with Cecilia still at the door it was now up to him to hold the conversation. Which normally is not an issue for him but considering the party's involved he was having a little difficulty. "Must be one hell of a book" he said "Must be" Alyssa said back. Cecilia entered back into the room but not by herself but with a handsome, well dressed black man. "Hello" Reggie says to the obviously surprised crowd. "Everyone hi, this is my work partner Reggie" Jeremy stood up as Cecilia introduced the room to Reginald, their unexpected new dinner guest. "Hey Reggie" The two men shake hands as an introduction occurs (even though they have met before) Reggie then walks over and does the same with Derrick, who remained seated while they shook hands. While Reggie introduced himself to Alyssa, Jeremy asks Cecilia if they could speak in the kitchen. They leave. "Hey, um" He pauses "Why is Reginald here?" He stutters the question a little because of his mildly drunken condition. "I'm sorry honey, he had to drop off some files for work, and we got talking so I then figured he might be able to like" she paused "Helped ease the tension in here" she whispered to him "Yah I, guess you're right" Jeremy says, just now realizing how buzzed he is now not really caring or grasping the unexpected Reginald situation. The couple looked at each other and removed themselves from the whispering kitchen back into the dinning room. Reginald seemed to not be impressing Derrick and Alyssa with his conversation. Both of them showing boredom on their faces while he discuses typical work things, his schooling, a few hobbies but with a lack of charisma (probably due to the uncomfortableness) although the situation was already fairly uncomfortable the matter of the fact that this unexpectedly guest showed up had Derrick curious, part of him had expected something fishy going on between his neighbours. Now, the energy was different from Cecilia but honestly he thought Jeremy would have been the sly one. Jeremy and Cecilia sat down at the table, Cecilia bringing the man she is having an affair with a small plate and a drink. Jeremy was trying to wrap his mind around the fact Reginald just showed up, why is he here? Where are the files? All while still drinking and keeping his eyes off Alyssa, which has become the most difficult thing for him this evening. "So, Reginald, how often do you and Cecilia work together? I mean you are both in the same position, right?" Derrick asked sensing some strange sway of energy since his arrival. "Um yea, everyday" Reginald laughed "She's really the backbone of" He pauses before finishing and looks at Cecilia "The firm" "Oh Reggie is just being modest, if anyone is the backbone it's him" Cecilia says. They both look at each other in a flirtatious way but then sip their drinks right after they realize how obvious it was. With that, Derrick caught their glance and thought to himself "I've seen that type of look before" he said in his head. That is the type of look you give someone when you both have mutual feelings, and not just feelings 'Work friends' would have for each other. Slowly with his drunk thought he started to piece things together. Yes, maybe he was grasping at straws just because he didn't like his host and felt appealed to the idea of his relationship being corrupted within. Maybe he would move if they broke up? Or maybe he would be so depressed and heartbroken that he would never leave the house, never to be seen again? All these ideas started rushing through his intoxicated mind but that's all it was, just ideas. He would be lying to himself, and his wife if he didn't admit that tonight's dinner although awkward, he was enjoying it to a certain degree. Then a quick thought of sorrow passed through his mind; he was married and in love so even just thinking of the fact of broken love was disheartening. With that he decided to pry with thought in mind. Derrick decided to play detective and get to the bottom of his suspicion, not because he really felt like helping his neighbour, but really because he thought if he could side track his mind it would aid him in getting through the rest of the evening (assisted by booze, of course) "So Cecilia if you and Reginald work together you must spend a lot of time together, I mean throughout the office" he stuttered "What i'm saying is that it must be nice to have friend to work with" They both replied at the same time "Yeah it's great" looking at each other Cecilia and Reggie laughed. Jeremy was not really paying attention to the conversation that was happening in front of him, he was more focused on Alyssa, admiring her from across the table in a drunken state, fantasizing about her, thinking what they would do if they were suddenly alone in the room. He looks away from her a few seconds after she matches his gaze. They both take a sip from their drinks, Alyssa keeping her eyes on Jeremy. Derrick is still asking questions, inquiring for more details on Cecilia and Reginald, but just as he asks another question, another knock on the door interrupts...

Jeremy stood up "I'll get it" acting quick, maybe from the booze? Walking out of the room to the front door he opens it. Just as surprised as his girlfriend Cecilia was when she opened the door earlier. Standing there in ripped jeans and a black top is Bridgette (Bri, to Jeremy; the protagonist or antagonist; however you view him) she quickly wraps her arms around him "Hey hey" she says, Jeremy hugs her back with one arm, the other one is occupied holding a drink in hand. "What are you doing here?" he asks her. She looks up at him weirdly "Not the hello I was expecting..." she says before pausing and looking at him "We have a date. Did you forget?" as she says this Jeremy is ushering farther outside the doorway, calmly but also hectically. Both of them outside now but he doesn't close the door all the way "I don't think we do" he whispers "Cecilia and I are having dinner with our neighbours and Reginald and our plans are next week" he says with no confidence "Oh baby you messed up your schedule" they both look at each other knowing a mistake has been made but before anything else is said, Cecilia comes to the door. "Jeremy you okay?" she asks looking at him then seeing Bridgette with a surprised look on both their faces. "Hello" Cecilia says. Introductions occur, Jeremy the protagonist (or antagonist; however you view him) takes the lead "Ceal uh this is Bridgette, she's a work friend" Jeremy says (forgetting that this excuse was the same excuse used for Reginald) "Hi. Nice to meet you" Bridgette says extending a hand to Cecilia "I was just in the area seeing a friend and thought I would stop by, um sorry for the sudden inconvenience. I should go" Bridgette starts to step back "Nonsense, please come in" Cecilia says thinking this might take the attention off of her and Reggie, not putting much thought into the sudden appearance of this beautiful woman. So, Bridgette now enters the house, and comes into the dinning room interrupting Derrick asking Reginald questions about Cecilia. They do introductions, telling the table Bridgette is a friend of Jeremy's who was in the area. After this though, Derrick was flabbergasted. Thinking it strange that both of his neighbours have other, non-planned guests who happen to just as uncomfortable as their hosts. Could it be that they are both having affairs? Derrick pondered this too, but he couldn't come to a conclusion until he saw how it played out further. Cecilia was coming to her own conclusion though...

"Sorry, how do you know each other?" Derrick asks and Jeremy answers "Bridgette is a work friend" he says reassuringly, this time with confidence "Just like Reggie" Derrick said and through the corner of his eye sees Cecilia taking a sip avoiding Jeremy's answer like she was suppressing some feelings he thought...

Cecilia was feeling disrespected inside because she knew something only two other in the room did. Finally she finished her drink and released her anger. Cecilia gripped the now empty glass and threw it against the wall, making it shatter. "Liar!" she screamed and stood up, everyone in shock looked at her "Jeremy you haven't worked in four months you lying bastard. Don't bring your whore into my house and lie to me you unemployed fuck. I can't take it anymore" She started crying. Jeremy enraged stood up too, encouraging Reggie to get up fast as well "Lying? You think i'm the only one lying here? You're more drunk than you realize Ceal, and Bri is not a whore, unlike you" Jeremy yelled back at her "Okay that's enough" Reginald said to Jeremy "Shut the fuck up, Reggie" Jeremy pointed a finger at him "Oh yeah? What are you going to do tough guy?" Reggie replied. With tensions rising so much Derrick decided to rise himself (feeling like this commotion might have been started by his prying) "Don't come into my house and act like a white knight while your sleeping with my girlfriend" Jeremy says and Cecilia throws a plate at him, it shatters against the wall when Jeremy moves slightly out of the way "Jesus christ" Bridgette yelled at Cecilia, both of them crying "You're crazy" she yelled again. Cecilia looked at Bridgette through the water falling out of her eyes "Shut up" she screamed "I want you out of my house" she says strongly, now in the arms of Reginald, crying into his shoulder. Alyssa, the only one who is still sitting finishes her wine quickly and looks at Derrick "Honey, we should probably go" she says quietly, she gets up from her seat, tucks it in and leaves the toxic room after a period of small silence and loud crying...

Jeremy is now sitting down and drinking whiskey out of the bottle, Reginald is across the table drinking the same whiskey, but out of a glass, both in silence. Things have calmed down about after some time has passed. Bridgette (crying and waiting) in her car outside, Cecilia is in the kitchen also crying and screaming and throwing and smashing plates, dishes, glasses while yelling anything she can think of. Derrick is still there too, also drinking some of the whiskey. He finishes his drink though and looks at the two men. He stands up and makes his way to the door for his exit, but before is is fully out of the room he stops and looks back "Oh and um Jeremy... It's garbage day tomorrow so if you could keep your bins off my side of the driveway that would be fantastic thanks"