Darkson High

3.6

Friday: The Day of the Tom's Party- Kendra's place

Late afternoon sunlight streamed through Kendra's bedroom window, casting a warm, golden glow over the chaos within.

Her parents had left for Hawaii earlier that day, celebrating their anniversary with a romantic getaway. It was almost too perfect—what were the odds that their trip would coincide with the party?

Of course, she hadn't mentioned the party when they called to check in, opting instead to assure them that she'd spend the weekend studying. The lie had slipped out so easily, Kendra almost surprised herself. But there was no going back now.

The room was alive with energy as Nikky, Kendra, and Oliver buzzed around, each in their own bubble of excitement, nerves, and anticipation. Clothes were strewn across Kendra's bed and floor—casual wear, dressy tops, denim, and random accessories all heaped together in a pile of indecision.

Nikky sat cross-legged on Kendra's bed, her phone in hand, scrolling through TikTok and periodically laughing at some random memes.

She was dressed to kill, in her long-sleeved crop top that hugged her lean figure and a pair of baggy black jeans that hung low on her hips, the whole look pulled together by her fresh white sneakers.

Her Afro was out in full glory, framing her face, and she wore her signature hoop earrings that caught the light just right. A touch of makeup accentuated her dark brown skin, and her eyes glinted with a mix of mischief and excitement.

She looked effortlessly cool, as always.

Oliver leaned against the dresser, his posture stiff with nervousness. He adjusted his glasses—again.

His skepticism about this whole party thing was evident; he was the kind of guy who preferred to keep a low profile, and crashing one of Tom's legendary parties wasn't exactly his idea of a good time.

Still, he'd been roped into this by Kendra and Nikky, and deep down, a part of him was curious, even if he masked it with dry humor.

Kendra was by her closet, rifling through clothes, her face a mixture of determination and frustration. She felt a tightening in her chest with every outfit she rejected.

Tonight was a big deal for her—Tom Aston's parties were legendary, and for someone like Kendra, who usually kept her head down and stuck to the rules, this was stepping way out of her comfort zone. But she had to admit, a part of her was excited.

More than anything, she was looking forward to seeing Shanti, hoping to catch her eye and maybe, just maybe, spark something real.

"How about this?" Kendra asked, holding up a floral blouse paired with some high-waisted mom jeans.

Nikky glanced up and her face twisted into a look of mock horror. "What's that, brother? Are you trying to look like my auntie from church?"

Oliver chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, Kendra, that's a no-go. Unless you're planning to lead a PTA meeting right after."

Kendra tossed the clothes back on the bed with a groan. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks, not from embarrassment, but from the growing pressure to get this right.

"Okay, okay, I get it! I just don't know what to wear. I want to look good, but not like... I'm trying too hard."

Nikky got up and walked over to her, her expression softening. She knew how much Kendra overthought things—how she was always caught between wanting to fit in and staying true to herself.

"Girl, you're gonna be fine. I promise. Shanti will like you just as you are, but let's find something that makes you feel good. Something that screams 'Kendra' but also says, 'I'm here to have fun.'"