𝚆𝙴𝙻𝙻, 𝙰𝚁𝙴𝙽'𝚃 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶

𝙷𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝙰𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚎

The summer air hung heavy with unfulfilled promises as Y/N's sigh escaped her lips, her fingers gliding through disheveled strands of hair.

 Graduation had come and gone, leaving her with three sprawling months of freedom before the looming specter of college. 

It should have been a season brimming with excitement and unforgettable adventures, but instead, a subtle crash of sorrow and crushing loneliness pervaded her being.

"Should I have gone...?" she pondered, her mind entangled in a web of conflicting desires. 

The allure of parties beckoned to her, enticing her with the exhilarating prospect of holding a drink in her hand and surrendering to the euphoria of the moment.

However, on this particular day, solitude seemed to beckon her. 

Yet, as the words escaped her lips, a haunting uncertainty crept in.

Ping

A profound sigh escaped Y/N's lips, accentuating the emptiness within her gaze as it fixated on her phone.

Retrieving the device, she unlocked it, her fingers gliding across the screen as she skimmed through the messages received throughout the night. 

However, her scrolling came to an abrupt halt, her eyes widening as they locked onto a picture capturing her ex locked in an intimate embrace with her supposed friend. 

Shock washed over her, flushing her face with a mix of embarrassment and hurt. 

"I guess it was a good thing I didn't go," she muttered, frown transforming into a scowl as she stormed off towards the kitchen, fueled by a surge of righteous anger.

With a sharp twist, Y/N cracked open a bottle of Smirnoff and gulped down its contents, a fleeting grimace crossing her face. 

Clutching the bottle, she walked towards her room, lost in a labyrinth of conflicting emotions.

 It wasn't that she cared for her ex, far from it— yet, a gnawing sense of loneliness tugged at her.

Unsure of the true cause, she sought solace in the bottom of the bottle, opting to drown her sorrows in alcohol.

Placing the beverage aside, Y/N gingerly removed her shirt, a faint hint of anticipation lingering on her parted lips.

 She prided herself on her high tolerance, but she could feel the warmth spreading across her cheeks, a telltale sign of the alcohol taking effect.

 Engaged in a brief internal struggle, she wrestled with the idea of discarding her lace-trimmed bralette, eventually opting to let it remain.

 After all, her parents were unlikely to return anytime soon. 

She reassured herself, affirming that she was a capable and independent young woman fully capable of taking care of herself.

Reclining on her bed, a sense of contentment washed over Y/N as one bottle turned into another, the minutes blurring into a haze. 

Startled by the sudden interruption, she jolted upright, her attention instantly drawn to the ringing phone.

 Without a moment's hesitation, she reached for it and answered, eager to embrace the distraction it offered.

"Hel...lo?" slurred the flushed girl, her speech slightly muddled.

"What's your favorite scary movie?" a low voice inquired. 

Y/N blinked owlishly, momentarily taken aback, before a smile stretched across her face, accompanied by a playful giggle.

 "Tara! Hey! You've got to stop pulling that on me!"

The voice on the other end chuckled and nonchalantly shrugged. 

"What can I say? Humor becomes my shield in times of need," she remarked.

Y/N tilted her head, rolling her neck slightly as she responded, "Sam is going to have a field day with you. So, why did you call, anyway?"

The faint voice of Tara struggled to be heard amidst the booming music in the background.

 "I wanted to check up on you! Why didn't you come?" she asked, concern lacing her words.

Y/N raised the bottle to her lips once again, taking another swig before exhaling a heavy sigh into the call. "Honestly, I just wasn't in the mood tonight. But now, I'm starting to regret my decision," she confessed, a tinge of remorse coloring her voice.

Tara's laughter resonated through the line, and her voice gained a hint of urgency.

 "Do you want me to come and get you? It's not too late, you know these things can last for hours," she offered, her words filled with a sense of possibility.

Y/N shook her head, adamantly rejecting the idea. "Nah, I'm good. I really don't want to witness my ex practically screwing someone in the corner," she replied, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and resignation.

Tara persisted, "Come on! It'll be a blast!" she suggested, her enthusiasm shining through the phone.

Y/N couldn't help but smile. "That's sweet of you, but to be honest, I'm already pretty hammered. I think I'll pass this time. But hey, if you need anything, don't hesitate to give me a call," she offered, a hint of warmth in her voice.

A muffled voice came through the other end of the line, and Y/N could discern Tara's distinctive giggle. 

She knew how much Tara needed this night out, and Y/N wasn't about to make her miss out on the party just for her sake.

Tara's voice carried a hint of reluctance as she responded, "Alright, I've got to go for now, but mark my words, this isn't over!" There was a determined resolve in her tone.

"Okay, I'll be waiting for your call. Go have some fun, make out with someone or something," Y/N playfully retorted, stifling a yawn. 

Wearing a weary yet contented smile, Y/N ended the call and rose from her bed.

 She peeled off her jeans, feeling a sense of liberation, and made her way to the drawer, searching for a comfortable pair of loose shorts. 

Slipping into a pair of snug dark blue Hollister shorts, Y/N's attention was drawn to the incessant ringing of her phone.

 Her gaze flickered towards the bed, momentarily contemplating the interruption. 

However, with a shrug, she chose to dismiss it, reasoning that if the call was important, they would reach out again.

Y/N dimmed the lights in her room and settled herself on the bed.

 Letting her eyes flutter shut, she embraced the peace of solitude. 

However, the persistent ringing of her phone shattered the tranquility, and irritation crept into her demeanor.

With a sigh, Y/N reached for the phone and answered, her voice tinged with a mixture of affection and exasperation. 

"Tara, I love you, but I really don't want to go to the party. My head is pounding, and I need some rest," she pleaded.

"..."

"Hello?"

"..."

She pulled the phone away from her ear, only to be confronted with a no caller ID displayed on the screen.

"What the fuck," Y/N muttered softly, her frustration evident in her voice. 

Y/N swiftly ended the call and buried her head in her pillow, seeking solace from the incessant ringing of her phone. 

A groan escaped her lips, a mixture of annoyance and exhaustion.

 Desperately hoping for a respite, she covered her ears, longing for the ringing to cease. 

However, despite her efforts, the phone continued to ring persistently, refusing to grant her a moment's peace.