Under the lights tonight || Park Jimin

5

I was finally home after a long day. Aunt Mae had ordered pizza and was planning on watching her shows tonight, so I retreated to my room for the night. I've spent most of my night reading and relaxing but my book was getting to a low in the story so I need a break. I look at the shelf where all of my CDs are and I had tossed the persona album this morning. I get up from decide to play an old Taylor Swift CD, Red. I get up from my bed where I was reading my book and go over to the shelf. I stand in front of the shelf searching for the album, I find the CD and open it, slipping the CD into the player beside the CDs on the shelf. I hear the music start and I smile. I turn on my heels to head back to my bed but something stops me. I turn around and pick up the persona album.

I move back to sit on my bed, "Why did we have to go to this stupid concert?" I whispered to myself as my fingers trace the ink on the cover, "And why do I feel guilty about not texting him?" I groan and toss the album beside me. I flop onto my back with a sigh. I look at the clock and see it's just after 11 and as I do my phone rings. I huff as I pick up my phone and hold it to my ear, "Yes?" I ask not checking who it is.

"What are you doing?" Stella giggles, obviously drunk.

"I'm at home Stella," I sigh, "Where are you?" I'm quite annoyed because she often does things like this and I have to come to find her. I wish Stella was just a little more responsible at times.

"I'm coming over." Stella laughs. "I gotta tell you about my date."

"Coming over?" I questioned, wondering how she was getting here.

"He got a car for me to get home," She giggles, then pauses before continuing, "I gotta tell you about my date."

"Tomorrow?" I plead, knowing that if she's in a car on her way home that at least she was safe but didn't need to come over this instant.

"No, tonight," Stella says between laughter, "I'm on my way."

"Please go home." I groan.

"I can't I only remembered your address not mine," She hiccups, "So I'm on my way."

"Stella you live down the street," I huff, "Just go home."

"I gotta go," She pauses again, "I'm here." She hangs up.

"Great," I whine, getting up from my bed again, "Drunk Stella is the best Stella," I whisper sarcastically to myself as I walk out of my room, leaving the CD playing. I go down the stairs but hear Aunt Mae already talking to Stella about the date. I pause at the bottom of the stairs, deciding to eavesdrop for a minute.

"Another date?" My Aunt asks, she was always so interested in everything going on with Stella. Sometimes I think my Aunt likes Stella more than me because they both have the same personality and are so carefree.

"Yes," Stella practically shouts, "It was the best date I've ever been on."

"Really?" Mae laughs amused, "Why was it the best?" I listen but sneak past the kitchen to get Stella some water.

"He sent a fancy car to pick me up and drive me to his hotel," Stella laughs, "We were gonna have dinner at his hotel. But you know what hotel he was at?"

"What hotel?" I hear Mae ask as I take a glass out of the cupboard.

"The Baccarat!" Stella shouts, "That's like 800 dollars a night!" I fill the glass for her while wondering who this date was because she's never been on a date with someone this rich. I wonder where she would've met someone like that, of course, she works at a hotel and meets a lot of rich people but she meets more lower upper-class rich people, mainly wall street men.

"Oh wow," Even Mae sounds amused, "Are you going to see him again?"

I leave the kitchen ready to go talk to her, "Of course I am," Stella laughs, "I'm in love!"

"You're in love for what the fifth time this month?" I cut in, "Drink this." I come around the couch and hold out the water for her.

"Okay," Stella takes the cup, "Thank you."

I sit on the couch across from her, besides Aunt Mae, "So this is the best date?" I question her, "Is it because he's rich?"

Stella scoffs, "No, I knew he was rich but it was just amazing. He's really funny and kind and nice and..." She trails off, taking another sip, "And really hot."

I laugh, "That's good I suppose."

"It was really good and he was really sweet." She smiles, downing the rest of the water but clutching the cup to her chest, "Like really sweet and really funny." Stella continues to ramble.

"That's really great," Aunt Mae smiles, standing up from the couch, "Now Ana how about you take Stella upstairs and get her to go to bed, seems like she has had a long night."

"Shouldn't I just walk her home?" I groan at the thought of having to share a bed with her tonight. I just want to get some rest tonight and this is not going to help.

"If you want to walk a baby giraffe in stilettos down the pavement in the dark," Aunt Mae shrugs, "Or you could get over it," She pauses, "Anyway, goodnight girls!" She waves before retiring up the stairs for the night.

"Goodnight." Stella waves and so do I.

"Alright," I sigh, knowing Aunt Mae is right and it would be hard to walk her home right now, "Head upstairs," I order.

"Thanks, Ana." Stella smiles, getting up and going up the stairs. I follow behind her and we go into my room. I forgot my CD was playing and Stella laughed when we came in, "Oh my god," She laughs, "Are you listening to Red? You know Taylor has released a lot of music since then right?"

"It's my favorite album," I defend, "Besides I don't like her new stuff, Red was her last good album."

Stella sets the glass on my bedside table then flops onto the bed, "I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that," She picks up the persona album, "Why were you looking at this?"

I move to my wardrobe to pick some pajamas for her, "Cause I was..."

"Are you going to text Jimin?" She teases.

"No," I roll my eyes and pull out a pair of pajamas for her, "I think it's so weird he gave me his number what was he thinking?"

"He was probably thinking you're pretty and he wants to talk to you."

"I don't know about that," I roll my eyes and hand her the t-shirt with the pants, "Here."

Stella stands up, not bothering to go anywhere to change, "Can you unzip me?" She spins around, stumbling a little and I unzip the dress. She changes and slides into my bed, "Can you get me water?"

"Fine." I sigh, picking up the glass from the bedside table go to the bathroom to fill it. I fill it quickly and when I get back I see Stella huddling around something, probably her phone, "What are you doing?" I move to the other side of the bed, sitting down.

"Calling Jimin for you." She answers, furiously tapping away at the phone.

"What?" I look around for a minute before realizing that it was my phone and the persona album in her hand, "Stella don't!" I reach over grasping for the phone.

"No!" She rolls over trying to get away from me.

"Don't call him!" I keep reaching for the phone but she continues tapping away.

Stella finishes typing the number, "You should call him! If you won't, I will!" She shouts, her finger hovering the call button.

"Stella stop," I shout back, "Give me the phone now! I'm serious you're gonna accidentally call him!"

"You need to call him!" Stella shouts.

"I am not calling him!" I shout and Stella finally gives in.

"Fine," She turns to give me the phone, "Oops." She says as she clicks the call button.

"Stella!" I whine as she hands me the phone, "I hate you so much."

I go to click end but instead, I'm cut off by Jimin's voice, "I was hoping you'd call..."