An Unholy Sunday Afternoon 7 O'Clock

"Alright," she said to herself. They were coming, and she sat on a chair next to the door waiting for them. Is this what I've come to? she thought.
The music in the background was the only thing she heard; it was like a silence. The time passed slowly, but she finally heard a knock on the door. Sophie jumped up and pushed the chair under the table. One pat down of her conservative dress, and she opened the door.
It was Michelle, wearing a big smile. Oh, thank god it was her. Sophie didn't know if she could be alone in a room with any of the others, but Michelle was always early.
"Hi!" Michelle said. She held out her arms for a hug, and Sophie accepted.
"Come in, come in. Everything's set and ready," Sophie said. "We'll wait for the others at the couch. Would you like some wine?"
"Yes, please." Sophie widened her eyes to find her wine-glass filled with ice was still on the upper counter. She shoved it where Michelle couldn't see and took out the clean glasses.
"Are you holding out on me? Whaddaya' got back there?" Sophie blushed.
"No, no, just wine is all." She lifted up the bottle in proof. Michelle shrugged and sat on the couch, laying her clutch next to the lamp on the table beside her. "Your place is beautiful, as always."
"Thank you, let's break this bottle before the vultures get at it." Sophie popped it open and brought it over with the glasses.
"Oh, honey, let's face it. We are the vultures." They laughed at themselves and drank until a polite, yet strong, knock was heard.
They looked at each other in a moment of understanding.
"Jules," they both said, laughing again. Julia was the oldest of the ladies group, and it seemed she had taken position of head elder, or so Sophie thought. She held her a head a bit higher, made her voice a bit louder, acted a little ruder, simply because she could. It seemed that everyone was a little afraid of her, although Sophie couldn't imagine what they were afraid of. Nevertheless, when she opened the door, she made sure not to get in Julia's way.
"Hello, Sophie," she greeted politely.
"Hello, Michelle and I were waiting at the couch for the others." She began to walk inside.
"Everyone is quite late if it's just you too." Sophie didn't know quite how to take that.
"Yes, well, it's only twenty of." Julia didn't answer, but instead poured herself a glass of wine with a glass she spotted on the counter. The wine disappeared before she poured herself another and went to sit.
"Hey, Julia, how's everything?"
"Fine, I suppose."
Another knock saved them.
This time it was Georgia and Beatrice. Soon after the others came, Caroline, Casey, and Deardra. Sophie brought out the rest of the wine glasses, and all was ready for the night of fun.
"Oh, Sophie, stop being so worried about everything and sit with us!"