Burn the Evidence #ONC2023

1| the type of summer i love

"CHERRY COKE, please!" I yelled, trying to get my voice to cut through the noise surrounding the bar like a fog. For Melody Myers's 18th birthday, her mega-rich parents rented out a disco bar and invited our entire senior class to her party for a night of festive fun after finally making it out of high school purgatory.

No more obligations to school until the fall, and even then I'd have way more freedom in college.

Or so I'd heard.

"Coming right up!" the bartender shouted back, moving to fill a cup with coke and grenadine. The pounding beat of Girls Just Want to Have Fun slammed through the bar, the people on the dance floor grinding to the rhythm of the song. 

Melody was in the middle of it all, a giddy smile spread across her face. She had been talking about this party ever since her parents had suggested it. 

"Here you are," the bartender handed me my drink, a maraschino cherry bobbing on the surface. 

"Thank you!" I said, hoping he could hear me, and turned to face the dance floor.

"When are you gonna get out there?" Luke Cox asked, sliding over to lean against the counter next to me. As my best friend, he was obligated to keep me company when I was so clearly attempting to become a wallflower.

"Not any time soon," I replied, showing him my coke, firmly clutched in my hand.

"I swear, you could live off of grenadine," Luke laughed, raising an eyebrow at my bewildered expression.

"I didn't say it was a cherry coke!"

"I knew it would be."

I rolled my eyes, hating that he knew me so well.

"Come on, Ava. You're here to have fun. Live a little!" Luke exclaimed, prying the cup out of my hand and putting it down on the counter. "And if you won't go out alone, I'll come with you."

"Seriously?" 

"I'm dead serious right now."

"Luke, you hate dancing," I argued. "And I don't want to miss Melody if she comes over. I haven't said happy birthday yet."

"I think you have a better chance of seeing her on the dance floor," Luke nodded towards the dance floor, Melody's face illuminated by the spotlights spinning over her. 

"Fine," I caved, letting Luke grab my hand and lead me to the middle of the room.

I got him for one song of silly dancing, ridiculous laughter, and riotous arm flailing before his girlfriend, Emma, arrived to steal him away, throwing a smile in my direction before grabbing Luke's hand to lead him somewhere else.

Sometimes I wondered if Emma really liked me, or if she was just pretending because she knew Luke wouldn't give up our friendship for her unless they were getting married or something equally as drastic.

I wove my way through the crowd of horny eighteen year olds, wanting to see Melody. Maybe I could dance with her, too, though she was surrounded by all her friends that I wasn't super comfortable with.

I found her in the middle of the commotion, dancing with her head thrown back, her shoulders moving with the beat.

I couldn't deny that being on the dance floor was so much better than sitting on the side and trying to disappear.

"Melody!" I shouted. "Happy birthday!"

Melody looked at me, her expression dazed, before the smile reappeared on her face.

"Ava! Oh my god, I'm having so much fun. Literally the best birthday ever. And thank you so so much for the earrings. They're gorgeous!" Melody was talking rapidly, her hands waving. Melody had always been an aggressive hand talker, and that seemed to be magnified by the celebratory atmosphere. She gestured grandly towards the pink lab diamonds sparkling in her ears- the ones I had bought her to wear to the party. They matched her rose colored dress perfectly.