The Muse

Part 3

There was nothing worse than going to the first party of semester except missing the first party of the semester. Riley was the only other person excited for the this. May took parties as an obligation to fulfil in the same way she took being student body president. She was going to be the valedictorian and prom queen when we graduated, and everyone knew it. She knew it too and played her part dutifully. Even now as she wore her red corset dress that matched her hair, she looked like a perfect barbie doll.

"Can you believe it guys? Jacob is going to be there but doesn't matter cause I'm going to get so high, I won't feel my face" riley manically giggles as she walks into the room. Her house was large, and her front lawn was larger. Riley's dad was a doctor, and her mom was a housewife. She was the second child to four siblings.

"Riley! You're going to get grounded again. You lack self-preservation" may hushes her like a mother would do if they saw their child eating dirt from the ground. Riley's mom didn't know she smoked but she would have certainly disowned her if she did.

"I don't care" she rolled her eyes. That was the dynamic of their friendship. Riley got into trouble, may was the mother and Macy was the reliable one. It had always been three of them since middle school started, but Amari was always there too. All of them grew up together.

"Yes, you do care. If you get grounded, don't call me or may to come over" Riley needed reality knocked into her sometimes. Sometimes she would act carelessly and just generally be in self-destruct mode for weeks. It was scary not knowing whether she had a limit or not.

"Guys please can we just have fun today" she was done with the argument, and we were done too. The silence was so loud after. Macy couldn't handle the silence, so she put on music and they all got dressed.

Macy looked at herself in the mirror. Her brown skin glowed under the bright lights in Riley's room. The black corset that she wore to match her black mini skirt, highlighted her curves and left little to imagination on the top half. The boots that belonged to Riley tied the entire outfit together. Her honey blonde locs were pulled into a low bun to prevent the sweating at the house party.

"Do you think this top is cute?" Riley breaks the silence. She holds up a top that was basically a bra made of tiny crystals. Macy wondered where she even got that from.

"If you want to be a walking disco ball anytime the light hits you" Macy laughs because she knew Riley was just trying to lighten the mood.

"They might hang you on the ceiling by mistake" may added as she laughs earnestly.

"I'm trying to stand out, maybe someone is looking for a disco ball" she smiles and tosses the bra to the back of her closet. Just like that, everything was back to normal. Riley ended up wearing a brown tube top with a black mini skirt that was a copy of Macy's. Her wavy black hair was down as always.

"Alright ladies are you ready for a spin" riley grabs her keys as they all walk out the door together. Her car was bigger than Macy's, so they always took her's when they went out. She drove a black jeep that had her name on the plate number.

The entire senior class was here. Kevin's house was massive enough for that and considering he was one of the most popular guys in Willow High, it wasn't a surprise. The entire gang was here tonight because of the imaginary rule that made sure none of them were ever at a party alone. Before May or Macy could even step down the car, riley is flying out the driver sit and running up to someone that looked like Amari. She wraps her hands around the back of his neck and her legs wrap around his waist.

"Is she already high?" Amari smiles and says to no one in particular. He seemed to be enjoying the contact.

"No, you dimwit!" Riley is laughing on her feet now and trying to pull Amari inside the house. Macy and May exchange glances but say nothing because there was really nothing they could say. It was one of their other unspoken rules. Riley and Amari never got together but they acted like they were in love all the time.

The inside was very underwhelming. Macy could never stand parties if she wasn't drunk out of her mind. Sweaty bodies dancing against each other while others yelled incoherent sentences. A girl from her AP literature class was currently on the table trying and failing to imitate a pole dancer. She's so quiet that you would never expect it.

"I need a drink or three'' she whispers into May's ear cause the music was so loud.

"I need to find Rowan. What if he's up to something?'' the question catches her so off guard that she nearly bumps into a drunk guy who was singing along to Drake. Rowan was a sweet guy for the most she knew about him; he never goes out without letting May know, he never forgets any important date and he showers her with every bit of his attention. No relationship is perfect but theirs was close to it.

"Did anything happen? because if he ...." May didn't even let her finish her sentence.

"No, he didn't. I'm just paranoid but I'll find you later" she left abruptly without even giving her a chance to say anything else. She was bored and all her friends seemed to have disappeared on her.

The beer was easy to find but something stronger was what she needed. A full unopened bottle of Vodka sat on the kitchen table. It was like she was being baited. Once gulp from the bottle was enough to make her chest to burn a bit. She drank mostly at parties and was never really a fan of casual drinking. She was about to take a second one when Yuki walks into the kitchen with a cigarette in his hand. Macy hadn't seen him since the art exhibition, and she assumed she wouldn't again.

"you're always taking the good spots" he sits on the counter facing her. He looked more carefree today than the last time she had seen him. Maybe it was the cigarette he was smoking or even the fact they were at a party.

"And you always find me in my bad moods" her skin was flushed from the way his catlike eyes stared into hers.

"Clearly because I don't understand why you're alone drinking in the kitchen" he puffed his cigarette passively. She noticed the silver rings he wore on each finger; they were like hers except she wore gold.

"You came to kitchen to smoke alone, didn't you? Or were you looking for me?" she didn't believe those words had come out of her mouth.

"I wasn't expecting you, but this is a moment of serendipity" he hops off the counter and stands in front of her with little distance between. If she took one step, she would collide into him. He smiles again and she can barely even remember her name in this moment. Before she could reply him, Yuki is already speaking.

"Macy, will you dance with me because the thought of pretty girls being sad crushes my soul" he extends his long fingers towards her. Her laughs echoes in the kitchen. Yuki was sweet and charming; she hadn't expected it.

"of course, I wouldn't want to crush your soul" his hands gracefully snaked around her waist, holding her in front of him. Yuki swayed her slowly to the upbeat music that blasted through the speakers in the living room. It didn't matter what song played; they were in their own little bubble.

"Time for the spin" their eyes were focused on each other, and his voice comes out breathlessly. His hands are in hers when they both stop moving.

"Macy!!! Where are you?" someone screamed before they burst into the room. It was Amari panting with sweat rolling down his forehead. He seems to relax a bit seeing her, but embarrassment seems to catch him when he sees her with Yuki. They break away almost immediately.

"Riley is passed out! We need to go" Amari says while he hurries out the room without waiting for her to follow. She could barely hear the music or feel Yuki's hand on her arm. Panic and adrenaline rush through her while she doesn't even bother to look back as she runs out the kitchen.