𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑

- 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡.

"You want me to go where?!" I asked my friends incredulously as they looked at me with pleading eyes.

"To come with us to the hockey game after-party that's happening tonight!" McKayla said to me excitedly.

"Plus," Solana chimed in, "you'll see you know who."

"My parents would never let me leave the house at 8 pm," I countered.

"Doesn't your brother have a game today? Tell them you're going to be there," Kaleb suggested.

"How did we get invited anyway?!" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, my boyfriend is on the team," McKayla said, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

"A lot of my cheer friends are going and invited me," Solana added.

"And my boyfriend is friends with McKayla's boyfriend so..." Kaleb added, completing the picture of our invitation.

"I am not getting out of this am I?" I ask

They all shook their heads.

"No," McKayla said firmly.

"Nope," Kaleb echoed.

"I liked the way you actually tried," Solana remarked with a hint of amusement.

"Okay, let's go, but we leave at 10 pm, and you guys better not leave me," I asserted.

"Deal!" they exclaimed in unison.

"I'll pick you up at 7:50," Solana said as we made our way out of the lunchroom.

★

"What the hell do you even wear at a high school party?" I ask myself as I stand in the mirror.

The doorbell rang, interrupting my thoughts, and I rushed downstairs to answer it. To my surprise, I was met face to face with Solana.

"What are you doing here? It's not even 7 yet," I questioned her.

"Girl, just let me in. I brought you something to wear," she responded confidently.

"And what makes you think I didn't have an outfit already planned out?"

"You don't. Now let's go," she insisted, breezing past me and heading upstairs.

I couldn't help but smile at her confidence as I closed the door and followed her up to my room.

"Okay, so I thought we should all match!" Solana began excitedly,

"What do you mean all-"

Before she could elaborate, the doorbell rang again, Solana dashed downstairs.

"Hey girls!!" McKayla greeted us as she entered my room.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, embracing her warmly.

"Solana wanted all of us to get ready together! Kaleb is going to meet us at the party," McKayla explained.

I nodded, taking in the matching outfits Solana had selected for us.

"Don't you guys think this is a little bit much for a high school party?" I asked, voicing my concerns.

"Nonsense, we're only hot once!" Solana declares giving me and McKayla our outfits.

"Now go change."

As Solana carefully applies mousse to my braids, her focus shifting to my edges, the conversation resumed its course.

"So, Lili, who is this guy that you are madly obsessed with?" McKayla inquires, as she applies mascara to lashes.

"Uh, I am not obsessed with him!" I retorted.

"Yes, she is," Solana chimed in with a playful grin, refusing to let me off the hook.

Sure I had a huge crush on Oliver since freshman year but we're about to graduate now so I really should let him go.

"It's Oliver Harley," I answer in a quiet voice.

"Oh my god, the Oliver Harley!?" McKayla asked excitedly, her eyes widening.

"The one and only," I replied with a small smile.

"Y'all would look so good together!! Have you spoken to him before?? Miles can introduce you two! I don't think Oliver hasn't dated anybody since his ex back in sophomore year," McKayla says to me all at once, her excitement palpable.

"Mm, It's okay. I'm not looking to be in a relationship with him. It's nice that I get to look at him from afar," I reason, my voice soft but resolute.

McKayla gives me a small smile and picks up her phone to change the song.

the outfits:

★

We arrive at the party.

The house was bigger than any house I have ever seen.

As we draw closer, the thundering beats of Drake's music grow louder and louder. I cling to Solana's arm, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Just then, the door swings open, and he strides towards us.

"Hey, Kayla," he greets, breaking into a little jog as he reaches her and plants a quick kiss on her cheek.

"Hey," McKayla replies, her face flushing crimson.

Solana and I share a giggle as he turns towards us.

"Sup, Solana," he greets her.

"Hey, Miles," Solana responds.

"You must be Lilith?" he says, shifting his focus to me.

"Yeah, hi, nice to meet you," I respond with a smile.

"Well, come on in, don't be shy," he says, taking McKayla's hands into his, and they lead the way.

As they swing open the big glass doors, the music becomes astronomically louder, and my ears start ringing.

The living room is filled with nothing but flashing lights and the smell of alcohol, with sweaty teenagers all up on each other.

"Let's go to the kitchen!" Solana yells over the booming music.

"Okay!" I yell back.

"Kayla, we're going to get drinks,.we'll be back!" I inform Mckaya.

We slowly push through the sea of humans, heading towards the only room where there's light.

As we enter the room, my eyes lock with Oliver's, and suddenly, it's much hotter than it was in the living room.