Party Boy

Pressured Partying

"Ava, you should come with us!" Evelyn said. She and Lila had been discussing an upcoming party being thrown by the MVP of South High's basketball team, A.K.A. the most popular guy in school.

"I'd rather not. Alcohol and crowds aren't things I enjoy. And I hate going out on Saturdays," I replied after finishing off my milkshake.

Lila gave me a fake pout. "Come on, you don't have to drink, and I'm sure there will be a place you can get away from all the people if you get tired or whatever. It'll be fun."

"I don't think so. I really don't want to go."

"Pleeease, Ava? It won't be the same without you."

I sighed. "Fine," I reluctantly agreed. I didn't like parties, but I didn't want to let my friends down either.

"Yay!" Evelyn squealed. "Tomorrow night will be amazing, girls. It's the perfect place to find a guy. It's Anthony's party, which means the entire basketball team will be there, along with the football team (who go to any party that has beer). All of them are cute and half of them are single. Wear something slutty and you won't be able to leave without a boyfriend," she advised with a wink.

"But Lyn, me and Chase broke up a month ago. Isn't it too early to look for someone else?" Lila asked.

"Of course not, honey. It's about time you show him you can do better," Evelyn assured her.

I stood up, threw my empty cup in the trash, and went back to the booth we were sitting in. "Are you two ready to leave?"

"Sure," Lila answered and made her way to the exit of the diner we frequented. I followed and Lyn hurried to catch up.

Per usual, Evelyn got in the driver's seat of her car and Lila sat shotgun, leaving me the back. As we were driving home, I worried about what tomorrow night had in store for me.

I said goodbye when Lyn dropped me off and spent the rest of the afternoon and the night worrying.

~~~

It was 7:00 and the party started in a quarter of an hour, but Evelyn and Lila would pick me up at 7:15 so they would arrive fashionably late. I was currently faced with the challenge of getting dressed.

I had only been to one other party of this sort, (another one my friends talked me into,) and I had been overdressed, quite literally. When they told me to look nice, I thought that meant to wear a cocktail dress. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life, although it was quite likely no one paid any attention to me. I ended up hiding out in a bathroom the whole party. This time I threw on a white flowy top and jean shorts; it was dressy casual, showing enough skin to appease Lyn, but not so much to make me too uncomfortable.

I decided I didn't have much time for makeup and it was going to be dark anyway, so I just brushed on the mascara that I considered necessary with my almost invisible eyelashes and added a coat of gloss to my lips. I decided to leave my wavy red hair down, which I did a lot now that it fell down to my waist.

I heard a car horn honk outside, telling me Lyn and Lila were here. I yelled goodbye to my mom before walking out and jumping in the backseat.

They were talking in excited voices about something, but I was too distracted to pay attention to their conversation. An anxious feeling was rising up in my chest and I tried closing my eyes and breathing slowly to calm down. I told myself there was no need to panic, but even though I knew there probably wasn't, whatever part of me that controlled my anxiety didn't believe it.