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Amphitheater

We got back in the car so we wouldn't have to walk so far and drove farther up the road, to a big department store called Chaud. There were flashy window displays that I was drooling over, and we ran into the store. 

The next three hours were filled with uninterrupted shopping. We went through the dresses, shoes, jackets, purses. We spent our own money, but I had enough, surprisingly. I liked the feeling that I could pay for something I wanted.

I got a mini dress in a red wine color that Riley said was perfect with my hair. Riley got a pair of black espadrilles that made her legs look amazing. I got a super pretty emerald green clutch. Riley got an off-white button blazer that made her eyes pop.

And it went on like that. It was amazing. I couldn't remember the last time we had gone to do something fun together with no boys.

We walked out of the store laden with bags full of dresses and shoes and jackets and bags. We didn't bother differentiating whose was whose, because we were going to wind up sharing all of the clothes anyway. 

As we filled the car up, I glanced at my watch.

"Riles, it's only ten thirty," I said, "We should do something else-"

Just then, music started. It was booming loud, and it was one of my favorite artists. I could hear that it was coming from the amphitheater we had passed on our way to Alle Stelle. So, we buried all of our bags in the trunk and drove a few blocks down the road. 

There was a huge raised stage with a big, circular area with soft fake grass. People were up, dancing, other watched with looks of incredulous amusement on their face. People were sprawled all over the ground with blankets and towels. Riley and I went to a space towards the middle. I threw myself down on the ground and bobbed my head to the music.

"Come on, Maya, let's dance!" Riley said enthusiastically.

"No," I whispered, "I have a reputation, you know."

"It's my bachelorette party, you have to dance," she sang. She knew she had won.

"Fine," I huffed. I let her pull me up, and I spun her in circles. 

"Wheeeeeeee!" she cried. I laughed.

The people around us clapped.

I spun her in another circle, then we started waltzing. The people around us started chanting, Go, go, go, go. The song ended, and I heard the lead singer of the band get on the mic.

"Can we have these two wonderful dancing girls come up on the stage, please?" they boomed.

"Yesyesyesyesyesyesyeyeysyeyyeyesysssssssssssss," Riley shrieked, running up to the stage.

I sighed and followed her up.

"I'm so glad you guys liked my performance so much," he said. Riley grinned and nodded her head violently.

"So, what brought you here tonight?" he asked.

Riley looked too starstruck and excited to say anything at all, so I answered for her. I took the mic out of the singer's hands, to her surprise, and turned to the audience.

"My best friend, Riley Matthews, is getting married! This is her bachelorette party!" I yelled.

The. entire. amphitheater. exploded with applause. Everyone was clapping and whistling and cheering. I handed the microphone back to the singer, who was also clapping, and led Riley down the steps and back to the car.

Riley was banging her head on the steering wheel.

"Best bachelorette party ever, or what?" I said.

"Best. Bachelorette. Party. Ever," she said.

It really was.