Lo looked around at Avery's living room. They had pushed the couches into the corners of the room and there were two tables full of food, and one overflowing esky. They'd carefully decorated the room with photos of Josh, and streamers and balloons hung from most of the fixtures and from the ceiling.
"Well," Lo said, grinning. "I think he should be surprised."
"Surprised we are so awesome?" Avery asked, glancing across at her. "He shouldn't be, he knows us."
Lo chuckled, and went to answer the door as the bell went off. "Who is bringing him? Hey guys!"
She stood back to let Dan and Matt in.
"Hey," Dan nodded. "I think Trent and Lib are bringing him. We told him something about a movie night. And Matt pretended to forget his birthday."
"Who was pretending?" Matt joked.
Libby
Trent knocked on the door to the apartment that Libby shared with a couple of her teammates. Josh waited with him.
"Hey Trent, Josh," said the woman who opened the door. "Lib'll be out in a minute. She's just in the shower. Come on in."
"Thanks," said Trent.
"No, Trent," Josh said quickly as the woman went back to whatever it was she had been doing. "No, you cannot help Lib finish up in the shower."
"Rats. What about drying off and getting dressed?"
"Only if I can watch."
"I expect Matt to say stuff like that."
"Hmm, good point."
They fell into silence while they waited for Libby to appear. Trent figured that Libby was deliberately running late so that they could be sure everyone would be at the party when they arrived. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Libby emerged.
"Sorry I took so long," she said.
"You sure you're ready to go now?" Josh asked teasingly. "You don't have to do your make up or anything?"
"Make up is for suckers," Libby replied flippantly. "Let's go."
Libby stalked purposely out the door and the boys followed. Trent discreetly took out his phone and sent a pre-saved message to Avery, letting them know they were on their way.
Avery and Lo
"The washing is in the machine," Avery announced to the group.
"What?" Matt snorted.
Lo laughed. "I think she means they're on their way. Ok, people, let's hide, shall we?"
The fifteen or so people that had come to the party started hiding in various spots in Avery's living room.
Libby
"I don't know why you had to take so long," Josh said as they walked. "It's just a movie night. Once the lights are off, no one's going to see you."
"Umm, hello?" Libby said, and gestured to herself. "Athlete. Get sweaty. Now unless you wanted me spending the whole night stinking up the place with my BO -"
"Okay, I take the point."
"Good boy."
They finally arrived at Avery's place, and Josh rang the bell.