From Different Worlds | Choni

8| Slumber party

"Hey, Cherry. Where are you going?" Uncle Theo asked, peering his head into my room.
I turned to him with a smile. "I'm going to Toni's for a slumber party. She just turned 17 the other day."
     "So you'll be sleeping over with your crush?" he teased.
     The door shut quickly as a pillow soared through the air, smacking the door and falling to the floor. He then opened the door again. "Why do you have to call her my crush every time I mention her?"
     He shrugged. "Teasing you is fun." The door opened more and he bent down to pick up my pillow, placing it on my bed. "How did your meeting with your teacher go on Monday. I forgot to ask you."
     I sighed. "He wouldn't tell us what to do. He wants us to make the call on the scene for ourselves."
     "Well, that is important to learn."
     "Yeah, it's just annoying is all," I frowned. My downturned lips then turned up in a slight smirk. "What will you be doing tonight? Sleeping over at your boyfriend's?"
     His hands go up in defense. "Alright, I had that one coming. Plus I might as well go stay over after our date tonight."
     "True. Shouldn't you go get ready then?"
     "Don't I need to drive you?"
     "Betty's picking me up," I said as I zipped up my bag.
     He stood up with a nod. "Okay then. Just holler when you're heading out."
     "Will do!"
     Once all my stuff was ready, I decided to sit down and start an episode of The Fosters on my tv until Betty got there.

• • •

(Betty)  
Hey, I'm here!

After seeing Betty's text, I quickly turned the tv off and grabbed my pillow and bag for the night, walking out of my room and closing the door. My hurried foot steeps echoed through the living room as I made my way to the front door.
"Uncle Theo! I'm leaving!" I called out.
He yelled back from his room. "Keep in touch and have fun!"
"Will do! Love you!"
"Love you too, kid!"
I opened the door and ran to Betty's car, hopping into the passenger seat.
"Ready to go?" Betty asked.
I nodded happily. "Yep!"
I didn't really know how to feel. It felt odd to go to Toni's party since we weren't that close and I was the outsider of the group—even if we were all friends. It just gave me a nervous feeling, but once the car was in motion and Betty's cheery voice filled the small space, I felt more at ease.

• • •

"Oh my god," I mumbled under my breath.
Betty laughs. "I know, her house is huuuuge!"
"Yeah it—it is."
My chest felt tight as the tires rolled over the smooth-pavement driveway. I was stiff from shock as I continued to stare ahead at the house. We got closer and closer and with every second that passed, the more I wanted to burst into tears over the view of the horrible building.
Thornhill.
     My heart stopped as the car did, snapping me out of my slight daze. "I think we're the first ones here, but we'll see when we get inside," Betty commented.
     I nodded. "Okay."
     Our doors swung open as we hopped out of the car, walking toward the door of the house. My eyes wandered to the stone of the entryway as Betty excitedly pounded on the door, causing it to open and reveal a middle-aged woman.
"Hello, Nancy!" Betty cheered at her.
The older woman beamed back. "Hello, Betty! I'm happy you're here." She then turned to me. "I don't think I've met you yet."
"Oh! I'm Cherry!" I said nervously as I held out my hand, allowing her to shake it.
She smiled at me. "Well, it's nice to meet you, honey. Toni's upstairs in her room."
     "Thank you," Betty and I both replied as she allowed us to go inside.
     The foyer looked different from when I was little. It's old dark and gothic interior was diminished—replaced with light neutral colored things to brighten the area up. I followed Betty up the staircase and we went toward the right side of the house. All I could hear was my heart beating and the sound of my old bedroom door being cracked open.
     "Toni?" Betty asked as she leaned in a bit. "Cherry and I are here!"
     Toni's voice came back with, "Oh! C'mon in!"
     We ambled into the room that was once my own. The dark-colored walls had been painted a soft lilac along with the wooden panels being painted white. It really did brighten up the place.
     Toni closed her laptop from where she was sitting on the bed, looking up to properly greet us. "I'm glad you guys are here!" she smiled as she stood up and walked over.
     "We're glad you invited us!" Betty cheered. "What are we doing till everyone else gets here?"
     Toni chuckled. "We can go hang out by the pool since we're lucky enough to have it be 70 degrees today."
"Sounds good! You good with that, Cherry?"
I looked back at Betty with a nod. "Fine by me."