Lucid

CHAPTER 11 - THE PARTY

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, my voice barely steady. I had never felt this nervous before. It wasn't that I hated parties—I just felt repulsed by them. Large crowds, blaring music, dancing. The very thought made me want to shudder.

"You'll be fine. Stop being such a baby," Zach said with a grin. I hated when he said stuff like that, like being the school's star athlete gave him some kind of supreme authority over everyone. Still, where would I be without him?

Who was Zach?

"Hey, don't be like that," a softer voice chimed in. I felt a gentle shove against my shoulder as we walked toward the blaring house party. It was a girl with wavy hair I'd know anywhere. Hannah. She was the girl from that sleepover years ago—the one who always had my back.

Who was Hannah?

"How about both of you just leave him alone and let him be?" Another voice joined us, sharp and familiar. I didn't have to turn to know who it was. The leather jacket, the confident stride. It had to be her.

Celine.

We approached the house, the chaos inside spilling out through the open doors. Zach went ahead, disappearing into the throng to meet up with his buddies from the sports field. Celine lingered for a moment before following, leaving Hannah and me standing on the sidewalk.

"Why don't we take a picture?" Hannah suggested, her eyes lighting up. "A sort of 'before and after' documentary." She giggled at her own words, and though I usually hated having my picture taken, I couldn't say no to her. Not ever.

"Sure, why not?" I said, cringing at how awkward it sounded.

Hannah let out a cheerful squeal, yanking her phone from her pocket and pulling me close. She held it out, flashing a dazzling smile for the camera. I barely had time to react, throwing on a weird, lopsided grin before the flash blinded me.

Hannah spun the phone around, examining the photo. "Why, aren't you just adorable when you want to be?"

I chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of my neck.

"HEY!" Zach's voice rang out from the doorway. "Are you two coming or what?!"

"We're coming!" Hannah yelled back before hooking her arm through mine. "Shall we?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Sure."

***

"Oh my gosh, I love this song!" Hannah squealed as Katy Perry's This Is How We Do blasted through the speakers. She was already dancing, twirling around in the middle of the crowd like she belonged there.

The room pulsed with energy, people shouting, laughing, and losing themselves to the music. I, on the other hand, was tucked into a corner on a sagging couch, my gaze drifting aimlessly from one group to another. Couples clung to each other like the rest of the world didn't exist, their happiness almost tangible.

Why couldn't I have something like that?

"Where's your mind at, Eden?" Hannah's voice jolted me back to reality. She flopped onto the couch beside me, her hair a little wild from dancing.

"Oh, um, sorry. Nowhere," I muttered, shaking my head.

She frowned, studying me with those sharp, knowing eyes of hers. "You sure about that? You seem off."

There was no hiding from Hannah. She always found a way to pull the truth out of me, one way or another. But what could I tell her? That I didn't know why I felt this way? That there was this gaping emptiness inside me I couldn't explain?