Finding Her Canvas

Chapter 33

Lily pov

The moment Mia told me about the party, I knew it was going to be a battle to convince my parents. They were pretty strict about where I went and who I hung out with, especially after dark. But this was a big deal—it was our first high school party, and practically everyone from school was going to be there. I had to go.

"Lily, you've got to come," Mia said, practically bouncing with excitement. "Everyone's talking about it. It's at Jake's house, and his parties are always epic."

"I know, I know. I just have to figure out how to get my parents to say yes," I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and dread.

After school, I went straight home and waited for the perfect moment to bring it up. My mom was in the kitchen, cooking dinner, and my dad was reading the newspaper at the dining table. I took a deep breath and went for it.

"Hey, Mom, Dad. Can I talk to you about something?" I started, trying to sound casual.

"Sure, honey. What's up?" my mom asked, not looking up from her cooking.

"Well, there's this party on Friday night. It's at Jake's house, and Mia and I really want to go. It's our first high school party, and everyone's going to be there," I said, crossing my fingers behind my back.

My dad lowered his newspaper and gave me a stern look. "A party? Who's going to be there? Will there be adult supervision?"

"Yes, there will be parents there," I lied, hoping it would ease their worries. "And it's just our classmates. Mia's going too, and you know her parents wouldn't let her go if it wasn't safe."

My mom turned around, wiping her hands on a towel. "What time will you be home?"

"Around 11, I promise. We can leave early if you want," I said, trying to sound responsible.

My parents exchanged a look, and I held my breath. Finally, my dad sighed. "Alright, but you have to promise to be home by 11 and keep your phone on you at all times."

"Thank you! I promise I will," I said, barely able to contain my excitement.

As soon as I got the green light, I called Mia to share the good news. "We're going to the party!"

"Yes! This is going to be so much fun!" Mia exclaimed. "We need to figure out what we're going to wear."

The next few days flew by in a blur of outfit planning and party preparations. Mia and I decided on our outfits—nothing too fancy, just jeans and cute tops. Friday night finally arrived, and I could barely contain my excitement. I grabbed my phone, some cash, and a jacket before heading out the door.

"Remember, home by 11," my mom reminded me as I walked out.

"I know, I know. Love you, Mom," I said, giving her a quick hug.

Mia's older brother picked us up and dropped us off at Jake's house. The place was already buzzing with music and laughter. We could hear the bass thumping from the driveway.

"This is it," Mia said, grinning from ear to ear. "Let's go have some fun!"

We walked in, and it felt like we'd stepped into another world. The house was packed with people dancing, talking, and just having a good time. I recognized a lot of faces from school, and it was nice to see everyone letting loose outside of the classroom.

Mia and I made our way through the crowd, saying hi to people and soaking in the atmosphere. We found Jake in the kitchen, mixing drinks.

"Hey, Jake! Thanks for having us," I said.