First Date: New Years Eve Party

Reader discretion is advised. This story contains references to personal physical handicap situations. Also, minor implied adult situations focused on moral suggestions rather than explicit sex.

His name was Tom. I met him at the unemployment office, he actually worked there and was assigned to my case. Go figure. I had finally gotten a job offer and was to start after the first of the year so he would not be breaking any rules to ask me out. We had gotten along well during my visits, talked and joked with one another so when he asked me to go to a New Years Eve party with him, I figured what the heck I didn't have any plans, so I said yes.

He picked me up promptly at the agreed upon time, came to the door to get me and everything, unlike some guys I dated who thought they were supposed to honk, and I go to car thinking "wow, what a guy." I guess that is the difference between dating a man and a boy. Tom was 26 and I just turned 20 and was more used to dating guys my own age or younger. It was nice to have a guy open my door to help me in or out of the car and even ask me if I was comfortable before he closed the door and made his way to the driver's seat.

When we arrived, there were only a few other "couples" already there. Tom introduced me to his friends; we made small talk for some time then hit the snacks and made ourselves comfortable in the front room.

When Tom went to get us some drinks the man on the other side of him, which he had introduced to me as Liam began a conversation with me. He asked me a few questions about when, where and how I met Tom. Then proceeded to the more personal information about me, where I lived, worked, what I did for fun, assuming going to a party with a virtual stranger to meet lots of more strangers was not it. We laughed, chatted a little more while I nibbled on my mini bar-b-que sausages, nachos and pizza bites.

Tom made it back with our drinks retaking his place between Liam and me. He looked at Liam and then at me and back to Liam.

"You been hitting on my date?" he asked Liam.

Liam laughed. "You shouldn't have left her alone for so long brother." he laughed again.

Tom looked at me and smiled. "You have to watch out for Liam. He's a real sweet talker." he winked at me.

I looked around Tom at Liam and smiled. "You don't say." I smiled.

It was a small house and when other excited merry makers started to arrive, I was beginning to think we were going to have to take it outside. Somehow, everyone managed to squeeze in, the music got louder, the drinks stronger, the buzz of conversations more exuberant, before long I had met everyone, and we talked and laughed like old friends.

It was a few hours into the evening, while we were in the kitchen getting more drinks that I asked Tom why Liam never got off of the couch.

"You didn't notice." he said. "Liam is a paraplegic." He looked me with an astonished look on his face. "I figured you would have noticed by now." he said.

My face turned a little red, feeling like I was being objectified somewhat by his attitude. "Well, he's all covered-up with those throw things, so I never gave it much thought, I guess."

"Don't let him fool you though, you get him in his little wheelchair, and he goes like crazy." "There just isn't much room in here for that, so he has it folded up in the corner."

"Oh, I see." I said thoughtfully. "I like him, he's funny and I like talking to him. He's nice." I told Tom.

"Yeah, he's a great guy. I've known him for years." Tom informed me.

"Hey, I wasn't kidding about him hitting on you." he smiled.

The party went on for hours, the food was dwindling, and everyone chipped in and ordered a half-dozen pizzas, to be delivered. It had been snowing a little all day but when the door was opened later when the pizza guy knocked there was at least two feet of snow built up on the road of the cul-de-sac the house was on. When he went on to tell us that a lot of the roads were closed due to drifts and the temperature dropping in a hurry making the roads slick, we worried for a minute, then everyone went back to partying.

I was not used to drinking a lot of hard liquor, so I let myself fall back onto the couch deciding to close my eyes for just a minute. When Tom nudged me thirty minutes later, I was a little startled at first, waking to strange surroundings and people.

"Oh, my... is it time to go?" I asked blurry eyed.

"No, we are waiting to see if they are going to clear the snow a little before we make that decision." Tom advised.

"Decision?" I asked.

"Yeah. A couple people tried to make it up the road and couldn't get traction and slid back down the little incline." Tom said.

I got up and ran out the front door. There was at least three feet of snow on the road now. No traffic was moving anywhere that I could see. It wasn't even midnight yet. The snow was coming down in blizzard conditions. This was not unusual for Missouri winters, but this was really building up fast.

"More bad news I'm afraid. The weather channel says this could possibly be the worse winter storm in a decade." Tom frowned. "We'll give it until midnight and see where we are at." He suggested.

While we waited for the clock to count down to the New Year. I found an electronic game that had been passed around to everyone and began playing it with Liam while Tom went into the kitchen with our hosts to figure out what we would do if no one could leave.

Tom brought me another drink at some point and the game was a lot of fun and I forgot about the snow outside.

Liam and I was really getting to know each other and enjoying each other's company. I found out that Liam had been born with no legs and his left arm was not fully developed. If he didn't need to get up it didn't seem to be a hindrance for him at this particular time.

He told me he had a job, working from home on the phone doing customer service work and a specialized computer to accommodate his handicaps with typing.

"I'm amazed, you don't let anything stop you from living your life to the fullest." I beamed at him. "I'm glad I met you. I have enjoyed talking to you more than I do most conversations with, well... pretty much anyone." I confessed.

"Thank you for saying that. I have enjoyed speaking with you too." Liam said smiling.

Tom came rushing into the room and grabbed my hand. "Come on" he coaxed. It's only a couple minutes until midnight."

"Where are we going?" I asked as he pulled me toward the door.

"Outside, they have fireworks, let's go see." Tom encouraged.

I looked back at Liam, he waved me on. I hated that he had to miss the fireworks. I let Tom pull me out into the frigid air into the snow that was almost up to the top of my knee boots.

Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. pshew, pshew, pshew the fireworks went as the hit their highest points and exploded into the dark sky. They were loud and beautiful. Apparently, the neighborhood had all pitched in and bought a big bundle and the excitement went on for ten or more minutes. I was grateful to go back into the house so I could warm up. I sat again on the couch where Liam was offering a throw to warm up with and Tom sat beside me.

"I hate to have to tell you this but I'm afraid we are going to have to spend the night here." Tom crinkled his eyes and pasted a sad look on his face. "I'm really sorry about this. I know it's not what you expected when you agreed to come out with me tonight." he apologized.

"It's not like you made this blizzard happen." I smiled as best I could. "They didn't mention all this on the news and weather today. How could you have known." I reached over and gave him a hug. "Thanks for worrying about it though."

Tom went off to speak to our hosts once again.

I looked at Liam, lines across my brow and slight frown on my face. "Are you going to be alright, staying here tonight. Do you have everything you need?" I asked.

"Sure, I'll just hang out on the couch." he looked deep into my eyes and studied my features. "Are you going to be alright? You looked a little concerned." Liam wondered.

"It's just I don't really know Tom that well, and if we have to sleep in the same bed, he mentioned we might have to, and he even said we may have to double up with another couple in the king bed." I confided.

Liam studied me again. "I've known Tom a long time and I can vouch for him; he's a good guy." Liam laughed a little. "That is if you trust my word. After all, you don't know me either." he gave me a lopsided smile.

It turned out that Tom and I was in the big King-sized bed together, alone. Tom and I both slept in our outer clothes partly because the bedroom was cold and partly because he wanted me to feel perfectly comfortable and safe.

The next day when I awoke and made my way into the kitchen where it seemed those who were left gathered, surprisingly there were only one other couple and one single man who apparently slept on the floor in the front room. I accepted the proffered cup of coffee and went to sit on the couch to await my breakfast Tom promised to bring me, to be ready. I was surprised again to see that Liam was no longer on the couch.

"He already left. Someone, else from the party gave him a ride when they were able to get up the hill." Tom handed me my plate of eggs and bacon.

"Thanks for the plate. Did you already eat?" I asked, not mentioning Liam. I didn't want to make Tom think I was more interested in Liam than him. Even if I might have been.

As soon as we could get the car up the hill, we left our hosts home and was on our merry way. Tom, walked me to my door, making sure I didn't slip and fall in the snow on the frozen concrete walkway or that my door lock hadn't frozen me out. All was well and we hugged, said our goodbyes, Tom roared off in his Camero, sliding on the freshly scraped roads.