the very flavor

Eric could barely keep his eyes open. Even worse, attempting to lift his head off his pillow was an impossible feat.

All he could say, he was glad Kyle and Amanda hadn't made it over for New Year's eve.

He felt in limbo at the moment because he'd drank way too much vodka. Enough to last him the whole year, he suspected. OK, give him a couple of weeks and he'd forget about this. Perhaps.

What was his sister thinking?

Where in hell did she know Elliot from? Really? He should have known she would have have known Elliot. She knew everyone, didn't she? Damn how he wished she hadn't broken up with her girlfriend.

They'd had a fuss in the beginning about it. Luckily, their Mom was visiting some old friend down in the old market with her new beau who had decided they should spend the night over in Council Bluffs to see the fireworks and play the casinos.

Needless to say, Eric had his own fireworks going with Dora.

"What do you mean, he's an old friend?" Eric didn't think Elliot looked old at all, for starters, but then he'd had a few bombsicles, already. One could hardly think of it as alcohol. He'd even fooled Ellie.

Eric got into with Dora. Naturally, she had a way of telling him off and to get on with it. Of course, he didn't know what they were getting on with. It was just a party. There was music. Guacamole. Plenty to drink, obviously. No Dylan. Just Roger and Cory. And of course, Elliot.

Eric thought he might vomit just thinking about it.

He was yawning now. Trying to forget his disgusting scene of outing Dora to Elliot. He didn't mean too. It went all wrong. Maybe Elliot wouldn't even remember. Couldn't it be that easy?

No, he doubted that very much. He doubted it now. He'd really screwed this up royally now.