song for this chapter : cool kids (echosmith)
I take one last look in the mirror. My quiff game is on point, my skin is clear and my smile is blindingly white. Perfect. My outfit consists of black skinnies, one of my signature sweaters, and a pair of black vans, I guess it’ll do, after all I don’t know anything about this party- is it casual or formal? Who exactly was going? I regret not asking for details. I check my phone and see I only have ten minutes to get down to reception and I’m on one of the top floors. I give myself a quick once over and nod, I’m up to my usual standards at the very least.
I step out into the hallway and check to my left and right, getting accustomed to my surroundings. I turn left to head to the lift when I see a figure dart around the corner out of sight, were they watching me? What the fuck? I need to stop being so paranoid, only YouTubers can get in here; maybe it was just one of the staff. Even after calming myself I still wait anxiously for the lift to arrive, I don’t want to be on my own any longer.
Finally it arrives and I step in. I hear loud footsteps pounding down the hallway towards me as the doors close and my eyes widen, oh shit, oh shit, oh- I let out a loud sigh of relief as Joey Graceffa joins me in the cramped space. “Oh, hey Joey.” I smile and he brings me in for a hug. “Troye! Great to see you, it’s been ages!” He smells faintly of some cologne that my brother Steele uses and I instantly feel more comfortable. Why am I so antsy when I’m here in a safe environment surrounded by my friends?
The lift finally reaches the ground floor and Joey waves me a quick goodbye before moving to join Shane, Lisa, Brittany and a few others. I don’t really know them well but we all give each other a quick wave of acknowledgement. Everyone here is in some form of a community. It’s nice I guess, different to how real life works.
“C’mon Troye, we’re goanna be late!” Zoe bounds over to me. She begins to lead me over to the group of people who I greet with yet again more hugs and huge smiles. It’s repetitive but worth it to see some of my best friends again. I stop suddenly and turn to Zoe quizzically, “Where’s Tyler?” Her eyes lighten knowingly, “Of course you’d realise straight away” She raises her eye brows suggestively prompting me to roll my eyes at her, “Okay, okay,” she sighs, “Some weird guy ran into him and spilt his drink all over him on the way here, he kept apologising over and over again and Tyler kept telling him it was okay but the guy just told him he would take it back by the end of the night and then left in a hurry. Weird huh?” I shiver at her words, it just adds to my theory that something strange is going on.
Before I can tell Zoe I think this is a bad idea Tyler comes flouncing back in making me lose any words I was going to say. His vivid blue eyes sparkle when he looks at me and his now lilac hair (he just can’t make up his mind) is styled into a perfect quiff. He looks me up and down before remarking simply “Wow.” and sauntering over to talk to Alfie and Joe. I gnaw at my lip, what the frick does ‘wow’ mean exactly? I know that’s exactly the word I would use to describe him though. He’s dressed simply in a blue and white button down and some khaki shorts but somehow he makes them look incredible.
“Earth to Troyeeee.” Zoe giggles and I snap myself out of my trance. “Sorry what?” “We’re going, come on!” She takes my arm before guiding me out of the doors and into the darkness I’ve been dreading. “I have a really bad feeling about this Zo.” I whine but she just laughs her bubbly laugh before telling me not to be a ‘party pooper’ and pulling me along with her.
