YaWeirdo was another author who placed in the one shot competition and she chose "Just the Highlights (100)" as the chapter for me to expand. Here it is!

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Although they had arrived together, Eli hadn't seen Julie for almost an hour. He hadn't really been looking for her but he couldn't resist when he saw her standing by the drinks by herself. Eli was never one to miss the opportunity to tease Julia Nichols.

"Where's Jeremy tonight?" he asked. At the sound of his voice she turned around and smiled until she realized who it was. Her expression then turned much more apathetic, which wasn't unusual for Julie.

"He's still out of town with family," she said.

"That sucks." Eli said that more for Julie's benefit. Jeremy seemed like an okay guy but he wasn't going to be heartbroken over him not being here. Especially since he didn't understand how a guy who had a girlfriend could be okay with staying out of town on New Year's Eve. Sure, he had been there for the holidays but if he had a steady girlfriend, not that he wanted that to happen, he would have come back to town in time to see her.

"Why?" He then had to think of a reason, any reason, for sympathizing with her.

"What's the point of having a boyfriend if he's not around on New Year's Eve?" It was a lame and slightly asshole-ish reason but beggars couldn't be choosers.

"I don't know, having someone that cares about you?"

"That's deep for a college girl." He took a sip of his drink and looked around the room. Matt had done a pretty good job of getting this party together. There was quite the selection.

"That's judgemental, even for you."

"Whatever." One girl in the corner caught his eye and she smiled at him. He put his drink down and messed with his hair for a second before taking a step away to go talk to her. But Julie decided that she wasn't done talking to him about this and blocked his path.

"I don't see you with a date either."

"Yeah but I'm single," he said, looking over her head at the girl, who was still smiling. "I'm supposed to come alone and leave with a date."

"I see. How's the search going?"

"I think there are definite contenders here tonight." He motioned to the girl that he would just be a second. Luckily, Julie had gotten the message and seemed like she was about to let him go. She was a true friend, that one.

"Well don't stand here talking to me, go get some." She stepped out of his way and it took all he had not to run past her to get to that girl before she found someone else to flirt with.

"Yes ma'am," he said with his signature Eli smirk. "I'll come by if you want someone to kiss at midnight."
"Nah I think I'm good. Maybe I'll find my own date for tonight. All very platonic, of course." He knew this was code for "there's no way in hell I'm kissing you" but he decided to let it slide. Picking a fight with Jules would only delay him further and he couldn't afford that. He could already see some frat guy moving closer to the girl.

"Of course. Let me know if you change your mind." Julie knew this was code for "I'm being polite but please don't take me up on the offer," which was fine. She didn't want to kiss Eli anyway, no matter what the circumstances. Besides, Jeremy would probably feel weird about it if she did. He was just so weird about Eli and she hadn't even told him about the whole virginity thing yet. She didn't want to at all but she knew that if she didn't tell him then there was no way a long-term relationship could ever work.

"I will," she said. "Happy hunting."
"Same to you." Saying this was just another example of his politeness; he wasn't even looking at her as he said this. He was fixing his collar and walking across the room, already smiling at the girl who had been watching him all night.

Julie had to admit he did look rather dreamy. If she didn't know him so well she would already be halfway in love with him. Sure, this girl was a passing ship but Julie always noticed the way Eli treated all his passing ships. He was so charming and charismatic and he wasn't like that with any of his friends. When he was like that with them she was almost jealous. Almost.