Dusk Till Dawn

C6

I arrived at Allyson's place an hour before I was supposed to and stayed until it was my time. Getting there earlier was better than arriving late. Out of all the five dressed I showed her, she loved and picked one, a blue gown with a thigh high slit and mutton sleeve. She picked it only because of the sleeve.

After I'm done with Allyson, I call a cab and wait out front for it to arrive. I use the opportunity to scroll through my phone and check for any notifications. I read and reply to some text, leaving Nova's for the last.

She wrote: Are you almost done with your appointment? I need you here and remember to pack for at least a week because you and I have a lot to talk about. Can't wait to see you. *Yellow heart emoji*, *blowing kiss emoji*.

As much as I would love to spend every second of the coming week with her, I can't because I have a job and I haven't told anyone that my best friend is back and would appreciate it if they give me some days off to catch up with her.

I thought she was coming back to our apartment. I knew she would want to go to her mom's place first and come home, but with her new fiance and everything, I know they'll be staying at her condo.

Now, how does that make me feel?

The cab pulls up in front of me, I enter and tell him my address.

I'm happy for Nova, I can't believe she's settling down because all of the time I've known her I've never seen her with a guy twice. She loved her one night stands. I wonder what changed. She must really love this guy to be doing this and it's not just that, she seems different, more calm and happy. I wonder if it's the guy or Seattle.

I drop in front of my building and go inside to take a quick shower and change. Not packing anything because I won't be staying for a week, just tonight and I'm only staying tonight because of her Mom.

****

I get to the Nova's Mom's place around nine and I can tell from the sound coming from inside that they're having a party. Her Mom lives in a mansion and the place is by far the biggest house I've ever stepped foot in real life. Anyway, I thought Nova said her party isn't until tomorrow. Maybe they got anxious moved it to today or this is a surprise.

I slip into the house with being seen because I want to talk to Nova's Mom before saying hello to other people, and when I enter the living room, I notice all the furnitures are nowhere to be seen and are replaced with all sort of people having fun and engaging each other in conversation while a pop music plays in background. Nova's Mom, Phoebe throws the sickest party, I think Nova got that from her.

My eyes skims the room for familiar faces and rest on Nova who is leaning against the railings of the staircase with a drink in her hand, talking to someone I've never seen.

I wave my hand in her direction to catch her attention and it does the trick. She sees me through the corner of her eye before turning her head. Her face brightens up as she waves frantically. She faces the person she was talking to and says something I can't make out before climbing down the stairs and coming to me.

Meeting her halfway, we hug with her sighing like it's a relief I'm here. I know how she feels because I'm feeling the same way.

"It's a good thing you're here," she says after the hug. She takes my hand in hers and lead me away from the noise. "No one here understands my humor, I made the cow joke and no one laughed, can you believe it?"

I laugh because the cow joke is the silliest thing I've ever heard and it's not funny, but we, her friends and family laugh every time she cracks it.

"Is this the welcome home party? I thought it was tomorrow." And if I had known there's a party going on, I would have made an effort with my dressing instead the shirt and jeans.