BLACK ROSE

Girls night out

Ashley.

I watch Channel pop the champagne bottle and Sophie run to rescue while we all laugh.

The second bottle of tonight has been popped.

I take a seat on the couch but am instantly pulled on my feet. Violet smiles at me as she spins me around to the music. I need a minute to catch my breath, I almost tell her. Instead I just move my body along hers, enjoying the company of my friends, good music and alcohol floating through my veins.

Mae simply called me earlier today, leaving no room for questions, that tonight I'm joining the wildest girls night I've ever had. She clearly exaggerated, but the enthusiasm in her voice was contagious. While Ace complained about never being invited. I'm still not sure if he was being dramatic or actually meant it.

"Girls!" Sophie almost yells over the loud music. "Gather here ladies. We have toasts to make."

I drag Violet over to Channel's glass table covered in alcohol bottles, glasses and tons of snacks. Reaching for two champagne glasses, one for me and one for Violet, I almost knock over a bottle of rum.

Suddenly the music doesn't scream in my ears anymore, and I realise someone smoothly turned it down. Just enough so we can hear each other, but still get the impression the volume hasn't been lowered, or changed at all.

"I would like to raise a toast on behalf of, first of all, our new rising rockstars!" Ciara says. "Second of all, on behalf of our new couple, Ashley and Alex."

Red creeps onto my cheeks and I look down onto the table. Mae grabs my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as one of the girls cheer loudly. The word spread out fast. After Ace finished complaining about not being invited, he decided the boys deserved a boy's night too. And when Alex dropped me off at Channel's place, Mae had just arrived with Heather. They witnessed Alex planting a deep and lustful kiss on my lips. From there the words spread out, both of them overjoyed and asking me a thousand questions during the elevator ride.

"And thirdly?" Sophie asks.

Channel answers instead of Ciara. "That we're all standing here today as strong women with a bright future ahead!"

I get the impression there's a much deeper meaning behind her words. A meaning they all understand and share. When her beautiful, shiny hazel eyes look at me, I understand she left an open ending – for me to interpret her words how I feel. Her message was meant for me, as much it was meant for the other girls.

The tips of our champagne glasses collide, each of us spilling a tiny bit of that sparkling liquid on the table.

I gulp down the champagne in one go, just like Heather, Sophie and Mae. Ciara's eyes linger on her glass for long seconds before she lifts it up to her lips and takes a small sip. The tiniest I've seen her take. I bite my tongue, not daring to point it out. Then she gulps down the rest, facing us all with her usual feline and feminine smile.

*********

Opening the balcony door, a chilly breeze wraps itself around my body.

I needed a moment to breathe, some fresh air. The room was getting too humid with passing seconds, making me feel like I was stuck in a tropical forest. Droplets of sweat rolled down my back, droplets that now seem to freeze. Somewhere in the back of my mind a low ringing noise was starting to bother me. I figured some fresh air would do me just good.

I exhale deeply as I rest my forearms on the rail, looking at the city below me. It's truly amazing that life continues at every hour, seeming as if time didn't really exist.