DIFFERENT

When The Party's Over

The duo finally made it to the party the following night. It was a crowded and noisy place with music blasting and people laughing and dancing. The room was dimly lit with flashing lights and a haze of smoke in the air.

"Janice, I haven't been to a party before, so I don't know how to navigate this" Chelsea said, looking around the room.

"Hey" Janice looked alarmed. "You don't fucking know me here, okay? Pretend like I'm invisible to you and don't fucking talk to me"

"Dude, what the hell are you saying? You're the one that dragged me into this..." Chelsea was saying, but Janice walked off.

"I swear to God..." she muttered angrily.

Ding! Went her notification sound.

Jess: the popcorn here is amazing!

Chelsea swiped the message off as she made her way to a corner of the room, looking nervous as ever.

Ding!

Jesse sent a photo.

Jess: this is what you're missing

It was a photo of Jesse and Laurie each wearing shades and making silly faces.

Chelsea chuckled to herself. "Sure" she said and turned her attention back to the party where she noticed Janice dancing provocatively with the Richard North guy. And was that Wes by the corner, talking with a girl? She wasn't sure because the lighting was poor.

Ding!

"Oh lord" Chelsea hissed under her breath and looked at her phone again.

Jess: this movie is gory as hell! Good thing you're not here, else you'd be shitting your pants. No kidding.

Chelsea: yeah, you really have to rub it in, don't you?

Jess: that was the OG plan, and I do see that it's working lol

Chelsea: whoop, good for you

Jess: what the hell are u doing anyway? You ditched this to do boring homework

She didn't tell her friends what went down with Janice and obviously not the party she was currently at.

Chelsea: I'm sure Laurie told u and yeah, I'm doing boring homework. You're bothering me.

Jess: um...rude? Lol

Chelsea: boo-hoo

Jess: it's gettin' to the good part. Don't wanna miss it. Love u xx

Chelsea: bye bird brain xx

"Hey, you look like you could use a drink. Want me to get you one?" someone said.

She replaced her phone back into her jacket pocket as she looked up at the stranger. He was a tall, dark-haired guy, wearing a friendly smile and holding a beer in his hand.

Chelsea was slightly hesitant. "Just beer, please."

He smiled. "Coming right up" and then he headed to the makeshift bar, returned with an uncorked beer, and handed it to Chelsea.

"Here you go"

"Thanks" she said, scanning the room one more time.

He noticed her gaze. "Not enjoying the party?"

"Just not my thing" Chelsea shrugged.

He leaned against the wall beside her. "I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like I'm just going through the motions too.