Free Hita by Anita Claire

account.”
    Clinking margarita glasses with her, I say, “Here’s to finding guys who get us and whose values we share.”
    ***
    Kristi contacts Brian and Tim about bringing Jennifer with us to their party. On Saturday the three of us head over to their place. They live in a generic apartment complex that looks like it was built in the 1980s. The apartment is a decent size with tan carpeting and white walls. It’s decorated with what Juliette calls “minimal guy,” in that they have an Ikea couch in the living room facing a massive TV and gaming console. The dining room has a full size Dance Dance Revolution machine in it. Not the Wii version, but a full arcade version designed for two people.
    Brian and Tim actually have friends over. Again, mostly guys. By the look of the T-shirts they all work at either Cisco, Intel, or Apple. On the way over, Kristi tells us that Brian and Tim went to UC San Diego. Upon entering the apartment, Brian comes over to welcome us, he leads us past the Dance Dance Revolution machine and into the kitchen where they have a large Igloo filled with beer covered in ice.
    Jennifer elbows me, as she tips her head to point at a beer poster of a hot girl in a bikini taped to the wall. “Isn’t that Juliette’s high school friend?”
    “Yeah, remember when that poster came out? It was all over campus. Juliette flipped.”
    “So did Meredith. She said she met that friend when she stayed at Juliette’s over Thanksgiving.”
    Tim joins us in the kitchen as Kristi asks, “What’s with the Dance Dance Revolution machine?”
    “My parents got it for me when I was in high school. I was totally into it at the local arcade. They thought buying one would keep me in shape. I finally got it up here.”
    Jennifer asks, “Are you any good at it?”
    Tim and Brian look at each other and smirk. “We have our own revolving competition along with Larry.”
    Kristi looks puzzled as she asks, “Who’s Larry?”
    Brian responds, “Our third roommate, we don’t see him very often these days since he has a girlfriend.”
    Tim then fills in, “Yeah, most of the women here are her friends.” Changing the subject he tips his hand to the big machine, “Have you ever tried it?”
    We all shake our heads. Jennifer pipes in, “Show us how it’s done.”
    The guys look at each other and shrug their shoulders.
    Jennifer comments to me, “No one would ever think that UCSD was near a beach if they saw those two. They look like vampires, you know, people who’ve never been outside in daylight.”
    “I bet they’ll never have to worry about skin cancer,” I joke back.
    The guys turn the machine on and it starts blasting techno music. Everyone crowds into the dining room. They both jump up on the platform. Brian gives Tim a nod.
    Tim says, “Let’s do it.”
    They start the game; the two of them watch the scrolling dance steps while their feet fly in what looks like complete unison. We all cheer. Tim wins, but not by much.
    Jennifer gets a big smile on her face as she squeals, “Let’s try it.”
    I shrug my shoulders and say, “sure.”
    After watching those two, I had no idea how difficult it is. I’m sure Jennifer and I look totally lame but we have a great time. Kristi joins us in a round robin contest that none of us really won even though, averaged out, I think I have the highest score.
    On the way home, Jennifer comments, “I was having second thoughts about joining you guys. But tonight was fun. My ears are still ringing from that crazy disco beat.”
    “I take it Kristi and I are no longer scary together?” I can’t help but saying.
    “The two of you are still a scary combination.” She says as she pulls out her iPhone and shows me a video of Kristi and me looking all awkward on the Dance Dance Revolution machine.
    Kristi grabs it from her and starts laughing. She holds the phone in her hand ransoming it off to Jennifer as she pleads. “I’ll give you back your phone only if you promise