The End of The Beginning

eight

eight

Friday, October 8th

Leggings or Jeans? Leggings would definitely be cuter with my top but are those not formal enough? No, it's just a hangout. I toss my jeans back into my drawer and head out the door. I admire it as I shut it behind me. Life's been weird without my dad, without my sticker-filled, drawn-on door. I've not gotten used to facing my cheating mother everyday, or having to treat my grandfather like a father. My mother meets me at the bottom of the stairs.

"Be safe, no sex, no drugs, no boys," she says as she pulls me into a forced hug.

"Of course, Mom."

"There aren't any boys there, right?" I hesitate. Well, Mero was going to be there. And Nathan. But we are all just friends so she doesn't need to know, right? I mean, she'll just make me stay home. My mom did come from a strict household, and I'm sure she's just repeating what her mother said. It doesn't matter. Right?

"Yes, Mom. No boys whatsoever."

"Perfect, be safe, Sophia. Your grandpa is outside waiting in the car."

...

Gigi's house was gigantic. It had palm trees lined up at the entrance, a fountain in the front, and warm outside lights all around the house. There is a slight chill in the air as I walk up her cobblestone steps and ring the doorbell. I hear fast-paced footsteps towards the front door.

"Hey, girl! Oh, my God, you are so late. Luckily, everyone's only been here for like five minutes so you're fine," says Gigi as she invites me in.

"Really? Your invitation said 7 pm," I answer, confused.

"Well, that was the old invitation. I told Mero to send you the new one, though. That one said 6:30." She walks me toward her family room and on the way we stop in the huge kitchen. A large, intricate chandelier dangles from the high ceilings as soft yellow light illuminates the kitchen. The area is almost all white marble and tile with large windows over the sink that reveal the moonlit sky. It looks almost too good to be true. Her mother is cleaning up the marble countertop and her father is on his phone.

"Hello, I'm Mrs. Yoon!" her mother said in a kind voice. "And this is Mr. Yoon, what's your name?"

"I'm Sophia. Your house is really beautiful, thanks for having me."

"No problem, sweety. Thank you so much. Come over anytime, alright?"

"Of course!" Gigi walks me to one of her two family rooms, where everyone else is sitting. The room is painted red with tall windows hidden by fanciful cream-colored curtains. The floor is a zig-zagged patterned grey carpet, looking at it made me dizzy. Mero, Nathan, Kay, and Malika are sitting in a circle playing some sort of card game. Malika and Nathan shuffle away from each other to make room for me.

"Yo, Soph! Finally. Where were you?" asks Mero. Malika and Nathan look up at me in question.

"Well, someone didn't send me the new invitation and I thought the start time was still 7 pm, not 6:30," I joke.

"What? I could've sworn there was only one-"

"Well, now that Sophia is here, the party can really get started," declares Gigi. Gigi walks toward the French doors we entered through and pulls their white curtains in front of them.

"Woah, Gigi, what's going on?" Nathan says through an apprehensive smile as he watches Gigi grab something from under the couch and take a spot in between Kay and Mero.

"Yeah, Gigi. What are we doing again?" Kay asks as we all watch Gigi take what she grabbed and put it in front of her. Kay hits her vape and then grabs whatever it is from Gigi.