The next day at school, Finney and Donna were going through their usual routine—class, hallway conversations, and avoiding too much attention after their close call the day before. As they reached their lockers, their friend Noah approached with a wide grin, clearly excited about something.
"Hey, guys!" Noah called out, waving as he jogged over. He was one of their more easygoing friends, always in the know about the latest events happening around town.
Finney glanced up from his locker, already sensing Noah was up to something. "What's going on, Noah?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Noah's grin grew wider. "You two are coming to the party this weekend, right?"
Donna closed her locker, leaning against it with a curious smile. "What party?"
Noah's excitement was almost contagious as he explained. "It's a custom party—costumes, music, the works. It's happening at Kelly's place. Her parents are out of town, and everyone who's anyone is gonna be there."
"A costume party?" Donna asked, intrigued. "That sounds fun."
Finney, however, was less enthusiastic. Parties weren't exactly his thing, especially with everything going on between him, Robin, and Donna. The last thing he wanted was to be stuck in a room full of people, putting on another act. "I don't know, man," he muttered, shaking his head. "I'm not sure I'm up for it."
Donna glanced at him, noticing his hesitation. She knew how Finney felt about large social events, especially now, with the tension between him and Robin looming in the background. But she also knew that a party might be a good distraction, at least for a few hours.
"Come on, Finney," she coaxed. "It might be good to let loose for a bit. Plus, it's a costume party. No one's going to care who's who once the masks are on."
Noah nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! It's perfect. You don't have to worry about anything—just show up, have a good time, and be someone else for a night."
Finney hesitated, glancing between Donna and Noah. He could tell they were both trying to convince him, but his mind kept circling back to Robin and how he'd been avoiding him since their near encounter at lunch. Would Robin be at this party too? The thought alone made his stomach twist.
Donna must have sensed his reluctance because she nudged him playfully. "Look, if you're not up for it, we don't have to stay long. But maybe it's what we need—a night where we're not thinking about all the heavy stuff."
Finney sighed, leaning back against the locker. Donna had a point. Maybe a night of fun and distraction would help ease the pressure he'd been feeling lately. He could blend in with the crowd, hide behind a costume, and just be... someone else for a few hours.
"Alright, fine," Finney finally agreed, though his voice still held a note of uncertainty. "We'll go. But I'm not staying all night."
Noah's grin returned. "Yes! It's gonna be epic. I'll text you guys the details later. Don't forget to get creative with your costumes!"
As Noah walked away, Donna smiled at Finney, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "This could be fun, you know. We could go as a matching pair."
Finney chuckled softly, shaking his head. "What, like Batman and Robin or something?"
Donna laughed. "Or Bonnie and Clyde, maybe. Something classic."
"Classic, huh?" Finney replied, though his mind was still elsewhere. Even with the idea of a party on the horizon, the weight of his feelings for Robin and the deal with Donna lingered like a shadow over everything.
