Lies In The Dark

Emma's Idea of Fun? Making Out and Ruining My Night

Melanie:

I had always known Emma was a little extra, but today she was on a whole new level. We were all crammed into her bedroom, a chaotic blend of giggles, shoes, and clothing strewn everywhere as Emma rifled through her closet like a kid in a candy store. If there was one thing I loved about her, it was her enthusiasm for dressing us up—though her idea of fashion was sometimes... questionable.

"Okay, who's ready to be transformed?" Emma grinned, holding up a glittery crop top that was probably two sizes too small for me.

I laughed as I watched her. "Do we really have to look like we're auditioning for a reality show? I mean, 'slutty' isn't exactly the look I'm going for tonight."

"Oh, come on, Mel! You know we have to stand out!" she insisted, dramatically rolling her eyes as she tossed the top onto the pile of rejected clothes that had already grown exponentially. "Besides, it's not like anyone here will judge us."

"Speak for yourself," I teased, leaning back against the wall. "Some of us have dignity."

Emma just snickered, unfazed. "That's cute, Mel, but tonight is about having fun! And besides, it's not like we're dressing like this every day."

"Just tonight?" Maya chimed in, looking up from her own search through Emma's closet. "You're planning to go all out for a party, not an episode of The Bachelor."

"Whatever you say, Miss Responsible," Emma shot back, and I couldn't help but laugh again. I loved how easily they bickered; it reminded me that we were more than just friends. We were family.

As Emma continued to sift through her clothes, I noticed Poppy perched on the edge of the bed, scrolling through her phone with an amused look on her face. "Emma, you're seriously a goddess. I don't know how you manage to look this good and still get all your homework done," she said, glancing up with a grin.

"Skills," Emma replied, flipping her hair over her shoulder like a runway model. "And a whole lot of caffeine. But honestly, guys, check this out." She finally unearthed a stunning black mini dress with a plunging neckline and a mesh overlay. "I think this would look killer on you, Miri."

Miri, sitting cross-legged on the floor, looked up in horror. "Me? In that? Absolutely not! I don't want to give anyone a heart attack."

"Please, you'd rock it!" Emma countered, holding it up to Miri's frame, who was practically shrinking back into the carpet. "You have the legs for it, and besides, everyone will be too busy trying to figure out who the hell I am to notice anything else."

"Fair point," Maya interjected. "You're not exactly the shy type, Emma. You always manage to make an entrance."

"Damn right," Emma replied with a wink. "And tonight will be no different!"

We were all so wrapped up in the chaos of Emma's room that I almost forgot the mansion we were supposed to be going to. "Speaking of which, where did you even get the address for this place?" I asked, tossing aside a bright pink top Emma had suggested for me.

"Oh, it's like a secret, guys!" Emma said dramatically, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You'll love it! It's massive—like, I think it used to belong to a celebrity or something."

"What? No way!" I exclaimed, leaning forward in interest. "You're joking!"

Emma shook her head, her excitement infectious. "Nope! I overheard a conversation between Liam and Kayden, and apparently, this place is haunted. They said it was perfect for a party because nobody would care about the noise!"

"Perfect!" Maya laughed, her eyes gleaming. "As long as it's not haunted by some creepy ghost who hates loud parties."

I rolled my eyes but felt a smile creeping onto my face. "You guys know I don't do ghosts, right? You're gonna freak me out if you keep talking about that!"