AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Beth did, too. Her shirt showed off her cleavage just the right amount to entice. We’d be a hot commodity at this party—I hoped so, anyway, otherwise I’d just feel silly wearing this.
Dusk had fallen on the world outside, and Beth grinned at me, her lips sparkling with new lip gloss. “Well?” she asked. “Shall we?” She offered me her arm, and I hooked mine through hers, and together we left the dorm room.
It was only then that I remembered that Creed wanted me to text him where I was going. But, you know what? Too late. I wasn’t going to. No, the man could stew about it all he wanted. I kind of wanted to make him worry about me, anyway, a little payback for Hailee, for not telling me about her before.
Beth knew where to go. It wasn’t too far from her dorm building, just off-campus. The next block over. Thankfully, I didn’t have to walk too much in these heels, and I had Beth by my side to keep me steady.
We weren’t the only dressed-up people on the sidewalk tonight; we passed multiple groups of other college students. Some, I bet, were going to the same party we were, while others were hitting the downtown clubs and bars.
It was Friday night in a college city, after all.
The party was being held in a fraternity that had taken over a building of condos. You could tell it was a newer-built place; everything still looked new. The main lobby had marbled floors, and our heels clicked with every step we took. We got on the elevator with a small crowd, and Beth reached for her phone, in the pocket of her leggings.
My dress had its own pocket—another win, in my book—and my phone was safely tucked away there.
“Emma and the others are already there,” Beth said, checking her messages. Her eyes flicked over to me, a sly smile spreading across her face. I didn’t know if she was more excited that I was finally coming to hang out with her on a Friday night or if it was due to wanting me to hook up and replace my awful prom memory.
It seemed everyone on the elevator was heading to the same place we were. When the doors opened, everyone walked out. Beth and I were the last to exit, and the moment we walked out into the hall, I could hear the music.
It wasn’t the only condo on this floor; there were a few others, but only one had its door propped open and people lingering near it, red cups in their hands. The party had spilled out into the hall.
“Come on,” Beth said, grabbing my hand and pulling me along. “Let’s find the others.”
I let her lead me, mostly because I didn’t know where to go. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see the others; they were fine. They were nice. It might be a stretch to call them my friends, but that’s what I did, so I sounded less lame. We pretty much only had Beth in common.
The moment we walked into the condo, I had to stop to look around. It was definitely a newer place, all open-concept, very similar to Creed’s in that you could see straight out the main windows from the moment you walked in. The kitchen was near the door to the hall, and it opened up into a big living room area, where huge speakers were set up. The kitchen itself had an abundance of bottles and coolers strewn about, stacks of new red solo cups ready to be taken and filled.
And the people. Oh, there were tons of people. I didn’t even know how many. Lots. Lots and lots. Most were drinking, a few were smoking. Some were dancing near the speakers. They crowded the living room area, the kitchen, the adjoining hall that must lead to the bedrooms and bathrooms of the place.
God. So many people. And the music was so loud… how could you hear what anyone was saying? In fact, it was so loud I couldn’t help but wonder why the police hadn’t been called.
But if this was mainly a college frat building, that would be why. Nobody was going to call the cops. Everyone in the building was probably already here, partying it up.
A group of three girls and one guy came over to us—Emma, Darcy, Blake, and Simon; Beth’s friends. The girls hugged her as they squealed and complimented each other’s outfits. They were all dressed up like us, looking good, although I dare say Beth and I looked the best.
As I was content in standing aside and watching, they turned their attention to me, and I kid you not, their mouths dropped. They stared at me like they’d never seen me before, or I’d grown a second head when I wasn’t looking.
“Holy shit, Taylor,” Emma spoke, blinking in shock, “you look freaking hot.” Beside her, the others all nodded in agreement, apparently speechless at my appearance.
Beth leaned into me, saying, “Told you.”
I couldn’t help but smile at that and tell Emma and the others thanks. I noticed they had drinks in their hands already, and I followed Beth into the kitchen area, watching as she grabbed a cup and picked her poison. When she looked at me and lifted her eyebrows, like she was asking if I wanted something, I shook my head.
I didn’t know if I wanted to drink tonight. It wasn’t because I was underage; if you were a college student, you were pretty much guaranteed to drink. It was more that I didn’t know if I wanted to in general. Coming here all dressed up was already pushing myself out of my comfort zone.
Beth got herself a drink, and we rejoined Emma and the others near the living room. The music was louder there, so anything you wanted to say, you had to practically shout. They swayed a little to the beat of whatever song played, so I did the same, wanting to blend in.
As I struggled to listen to the group and the conversations they were having, I surveyed the area. I wouldn’t say the place was full of guys that I’d like to get to know, but there were a few cute faces. Some cute, some outright hot, some that didn’t draw my attention at all. A good mix of guys, but none really called out to me.
Maybe tonight was going to be a wash.
Time dragged on. The songs playing on the big speakers changed, all upbeat and fast ones. Eventually, the group finished their drinks and decided to dance. Like, more than just sway to the beat. Really dance. I didn’t want to, but Beth took my hand and dragged me in front of the speakers with the group.
I supposed this might be fun… but a part of me wondered if I was trying too hard. My whole life I’d felt different than those around me—and I knew that was because of my dad and the fact that I had to grow up fast to try to meet all of his expectations.
This… the party, the booze, the dancing; none of it felt like me. Not the outfit, not the makeup, not the crowd. This wasn’t my world. I was a pretender here, donning a pretty mask, but a mask nonetheless.
We danced for a little bit. It got hot, maybe because all of our bodies were so close together. Eventually, I mouthed to Beth that I was going to get a drink, and I slipped out of the group and away from the speakers. The music was so loud you could feel the beat in your body, reverberating through your bones. Some people might like that, but I didn’t. It gave me an unnerved, almost anxious feeling.
