nearby || c.h.

5

When I got home it was a little after lunchtime and dad was at work, so I raided the fridge to find leftovers of pasta and homemade sauce he cooked last night. He was a chef at a super nice restaurant, so I've always eaten very well.

However I was definitely being a disgrace by reheating it in the microwave. I retrieved my laptop from my room as my food was heating up along with my most recent SD card.

Setting up at the kitchen table, I opened my editing software and popped the SD card into its slot so I could edit my most recent pictures which were from graduation. Our school was a little different in that we held the big graduation ceremony a few days before the last day of school.

I brought my food to the table and put on my Spotify playlist and started to work. I loved the way the pictures turned out, the colors were so coordinated with the faint teal of our robes and the greenery of the nature around us.

I quickly finished my meal and as I was editing my phone rang. It was Amanda.

"Yeah?"

"Okay so Derek texted me about this college party that's happening tonight at UCLA, and he said he wanted me to come!" She squealed.

I smiled, knowing Amanda has had a crush on Derek since he moved here in eighth grade when she was in seventh. "That's amazing, are you gonna go?"

"OF COURSE!" She shouted, "Also I'm bringing you because I'm not about to go to this alone, or let you miss out on this opportunity."

"I hope you know I would've invited myself anyways," I joked, fiddling with the exposure on a picture.

"He said to get there at any point after 10 tonight, so are you down to come?"

I laughed, "Duh! I'll see you then. Who's driving?" The line was silent for a moment while she thought, "I don't care, it could be either of us because I planning on just spending the night honestly."

I nodded, "Yeah sounds good, see you then."

We hung up and I was nearly bouncing in my seat from excitement. I needed this to kick off my summer. Plus UCLA wasn't that far away, we lived in a suburb of Los Angeles, and the party was definitely gonna be at a frat house.

Now if only I knew how to dress myself.

•••

It was nearly 10 o'clock and I still had no idea what I was wearing. I had thumbed through my closet fifty thousand times and found nothing. Then I saw the box of clothes sitting on the top shelf that I barely wore and was planning on donating.

Pulling the cardboard structure down, I set it on my bed and started to dig. Then I saw it; glittery and gold. I pulled out a bodycon miniskirt made entirely out of gold sequins. Perfection.

I matched it with a red velvet spaghetti strap crop top and a cropped distressed denim jacket along with a pair of pumps that matched my skin tone.

For jewelry, I popped in some basic gold hoops and a gold chain and grabbed my gold purse with I long thin strap. I looked my self over in the mirror. Something was missing. Taking the hair tie from my wrist, I messily threw my hair into a half up half down style and let some pieces fall around my face to frame it.

Now for makeup. This is where it could all go south so quickly. I decided to play it safe by just doing some black eyeliner and mascara as well as my brows before popping on some blinding highlight.

Luckily, dad wasn't home as there was no way he would let me leave the house in this skirt, but I had already called to tell him I would be spending the night at a friend's house with Amanda.

I shot her a text to let her know I was heading over and locked the door behind me as I left. She was in her driveway unlocking the car and I hopped in.

"You look fucking gorgeous," she said looking me up and down and I laughed, thanking her.

I complimented her outfit as well; a matching silky pink crop top and skirt set with a diamond choker. Her standard princess aesthetic. She wore it so well. I let out a light chuckle, "How did you even make it past Calum in that?"

She shook her head, "Oh he wasn't home, I don't know where he's at. Anyways, we better get on the road, we're running a little behind."

I looked at the clock in the car and it was already 10:30. I shrugged, "Yeah, but do we really want to be on time? Fashionably late is a good thing. Plus parties don't even pick up until an hour or so in, so we're fine."

We blasted our favorite music through the car as we drove through the night, our excitement uncontainable. I was ready for tonight. I hadn't been drunk or high in far too long, and honestly I was hoping for some action. 

Not like sex or anything, but hey if a hot girl or guy wants to make out....who am I to say no? As we reached the neighborhood we could already hear music and yelling before we even made it to the house.

We parked well down the street from the actual address as there were already so many cars there from the amount of people.

People were in the front yard with drinks or cigarettes laughing and talking with others and I felt like a fish out of water. I had never been to a party of this degree before.

We walked through the front door and Amanda texted Derek to say we were there. The house was packed with people, the lights dim with colored ones around the room to compensate.

Most everyone had a cup or bottle in hand and I was ready to join them. I told Amanda I would catch up with her later while she waited for Derek and made my way to the kitchen.

A few people were in there getting drinks for themselves and all the bottles were set out on the island. I grabbed myself a cup and filled it with some rum before topping it off with coke. Swirling the beverage, I took a sip letting the warmth run through me. The music pounded as I observed all the different drinks available, ultimately deciding that I may as well take a shot while I'm here.

I found some shot glasses and poured myself a shot of the same rum I had in my coke, cautious not to mix too many liquors. Oh yeah that's the good shit.

It hit me that I didn't know anyone there besides Amanda and Derek, and yeah there were a few kids I recognized from school, but none I could just go up and start a conversation with.

But then I saw the huge crowd of people dancing. Maybe I could go make some new friends.