Thorns

Prologue

May 4th, 2024
Miami Grand Prix

Lelia Amani

The fiery burn of vodka filled my throat, another sensation of alcohol running through my veins tingling my senses. I squeezed my eyes shut and winced, not yet drunk enough for the strong spirit to be any more smooth.

Spring commencement was a week away.

Not a single senior at the University of Miami wasn't celebrating tonight. The last Saturday as a student meant one thing: party. For all the undergrads who were celebrating finishing their bachelor's degree, and for all of the graduate students who were celebrating finishing their master's or doctorate degrees.

It was a pivotal weekend, let alone night. Every senior's last weekend as a student meant not a single bar or club would be below max capacity.

"Are you almost ready, Tessa?" I called out, annoyance rising in my tone as I paced back and forth in the living room. My eyes had barely diverted from my phone, staring at the clock as if that would slow the time down and force the bars to open later. Leave it up to Tessa to make us run late.

After all, it's Miami. To make it into the bars before maximum capacity is reached, you need to be waiting in the line that forms down the block at least an hour before the bar even opens. However, it was ten to nine, and getting into just about any bar at this rate would be impossible. You'd think the Miami native would know better.

"Calm your tits! We aren't hitting the bars tonight," she replied, forcing my eyes up from my phone and meeting hers as she exited the bathroom. She shoved her tube of mascara into her handbag, silently signaling that she was ready. Although, my expression silently communicated back with her, letting her know I was lost.

I had been waiting for her to finish getting ready for nearly an hour, as I thought we were both planning to hit the bars. She neither confirmed nor denied my assumption, but it was what we always did when we went out. If there wasn't already a bar crawl organized by a bunch of students, we ended up bar hopping anyway.

It was safe to say that most bartenders in the area knew who we were.

"Then why on Earth did you have me waiting this long for you to get ready?" I quipped. Tessa hesitated to answer, obviously wanting to keep whatever she had planned a surprise.

If there was one thing about me my roommate knew, it was that I hated surprises. I hate being left out of any details or plans of anything, even if I was included to go and would find out eventually. I enjoy knowing the plans at least a few days before they even take place.

So why she changed our plans and wanted to keep them from me, I will never know.

"Lia, your twenty-second birthday is this month. Not only are you graduating with a doctorate somehow, but you are turning the big two-two with that doctorate," she motioned, holding up her index and middle fingers on both hands to indicate my upcoming birthday. It wasn't until the 23rd, but Tessa was someone who always liked to get ahead of herself. "That means we can't just go bar-hopping like usual. We need to make this special."

"Tessa, I could bar-hop for any birthday or occasion and die a happy woman. I do not need anything special. And who says I am the only one graduating," I gave her shoulder a light shove, reminding her of her successes as well.