Always Waiting

Part 4

"Carlie, honestly. I don't want to go to this party anymore." I say as she hands me my dress.
"Shut up, you're going." She replies, only half kidding. I sigh, and go into her private bathroom.
The dress is navy blue, which sets off my long dark hair, and my blue eyes. It has strap sleeves and a skirt that stops just above my knees.
"I love it!" I say, coming back into her bedroom. She is sitting on her bed, smiling.
"Obviously you love it! Okay, let me change into mine!" She runs into the bathroom.
I have been in her room a million times, but clearly she has changed it since last week. Now the bedspread is purple, and so is her lamp shade, and the rug that is on the floor. Last time it was red, and before that green. She tends to redecorate a lot. But hey, everybody has their thing.
"How do I look?" Carlie steps out in a black strapless dress that hugs her small waist, and stops just above her knees.
"Uh, great." I say. She twirls around a couple times.
"Okay, let's do makeup. People need to take you seriously. I'm thinking a dramatic eye and bold lip. Okay, sit down in front of my vanity." She gestures to the small bench in front of her mirror. I sit, and let her do my makeup. Finally, about ten minutes later, she finishes.
"Great. My makeup is done, and you have a bag to put your regular clothes and phone and makeup in. Alright, let's go." Carlie checks everything. I always notice that she is a very fast speaker, and can't really separate her thoughts. Or maybe it's just me. I have no idea.
"Are you going to socialize with some boys this time?" She asks, giving me a pointed look. I roll my eyes.
"Boys are a waste of time. Why waste time on them when I could be traveling or actually making a life for myself? Besides, I hate chasing after people." I explain as we walk down the street to the host's house.
"Who is throwing this party anyway?" I wonder.
"George. He is kind of stupid, but he is pretty cute. Plus he is on the soccer team." Carlie says. I nod, and we head on in.
It's only 8:30, and there are at least 40 people here. No sign of Hayley Williams. But here comes George.
"Hey guys! I mean, girls! Whatever. Anyway, there's food, punch, beer, and wine in that room. Enjoy!" He yells that last part, and I almost laugh. Does he know how stupid he sounds? I follow Carlie into the living room, and I see an iPod on a speaker at the far end. And then my eyes settle on something else.
Are those fried Oreos? And some girl that I don't know is standing next to them.
"Carlie, who is that?" I point out the girl. Carlie studies her.
"Oh, that's Emily. She lives two houses away. She has that vibe that she doesn't really like people. Let's go say hi, I guess." She leads me over there.
"Hey, Emily! Nice dress!" Carlie exclaims. Emily looks up at her.
"Thanks. Who's this?" She asks me. I smile.
"I'm Anna. We have English together, I think." I say, and she nods.
"Cool. Oh god, this music is so horrible. Who picked this out?" She asks.
"Who do you think?" I say, and Emily laughs. She has a nice laugh. And then I realize that Carlie has gone somewhere else, and I find myself feeling more relaxed.
"You're funny. Hey, what's your number?" She asks. I tell it to her, and she types it into her iPhone6.
"So, do you like anime?" She asks me. I nod.
"Have you ever been to Forbidden Planet?" I shake my head. Her mouth opens.
"Really? It's so great! I'll take you there sometime." She laughs. I smile, and sit next to her.
"I'm not normally in Manhattan a whole lot. I live in Brooklyn."
"Lucky," She sighs, "I wish I lived there." She smooths out her dress.
"Anyway, I need to go eat something. Wanna come?" She asks. I nod, and we head off to the food table.