New Year's Eve

2008. New Year's Eve. The music was pounding loudly over the speakers, and she could hardly understand her friends talking to her. They were gesturing something about drinking. They were probably suggesting a quick pit stop at the bar.
"Good idea" she shouted pointing both her thumbs up. They turned around and moved towards the crowd, a clear sign that she had read the situation right.
While her friends ordered the first of many rounds, she took the opportunity to scan the fully packed dancefloor. He must have been there. Everybody who was lucky enough to score an invitation was there. And since he was Charles Montgomery's best friend, he definitely must have been there. Just, imagine how Megan would have felt, had Holly not shown up to her exclusive, over the top, once in a lifetime New Year's Eve party. She turned around and saw her best friend Meg heavily flirting with the bartender. She was leaning a bit too much towards him, clearly giving away that she wasn't doing it in order to make herself heard over the noise. Her rings ornated hand was resting on his tattooed forearm and her hair would dramatically sway through the air every time she went for a high-pitched laugh throwing her head back.

Incorrigible. Holly thought.

"At least she's scoring us free drinks". Alice had abandoned the pathetic bar scene, clearly acknowledging her role as the third wheel. She envied Alice. Megan was a popular kid, indeed. But Alice, she just had a natural way about her. She didn't need to try that hard. Guys would bring her free drinks anyway. Holly, on the other hand, had a sort of dark loom hanging around her all the time. She didn't make it on purpose, it was just her aura being casual.

"Is he here?" Alice was scrutinizing the crowd in search of Matt.

"Who?" as if she didn't know about that. Holly really wasn't in the mood to be put under even more pressure than she already was. Of course, her friends knew about him, but the whole dressing up, putting on a lot of make-up, going to the fancy party and ordering fancy drinks just made her extremely uncomfortable. "I hate this dress". She just answered. Knowing her friend would understand.

"A: you look gorgeous, and B: he will eat you with his eyes when he sees you."

"A: No, he won't, and B: why couldn't we have stayed home with the others tonight?"

"Holly, we're twenty. It's New Year's Eve. We haven't seen each other in such a long time since you've decided to move to the opposite side of the country. And you're telling me you'd prefer playing video games and drink cheap beer all night?"

"Well, at least it's with Jeff and Greg."

"Oh my gosh, girls. They are so missing out on something. This party is lit!" Meg came back with three large drinks in her hand. "Here you go, three large Tequila Sunrise".

At the word tequila, Alice and Holly looked at each other and started laughing.

"This is so not funny. Meg, what were you thinking?" They all remembered that party in late February 2008, where Holly gave the very best of herself.

"What was that guy's name again? Pete? That was wild..."

"You were all over the place." Meg laughed amusingly, taking a large sip from her cocktail. "In fact, that's how we want you tonight! All over this freaking place. Just... promise you won't throw up again?"

"Well, you're making it really easy here." Holly pointed to the drink in her hand. "It was tequila, don't you remember?"

"I bet Pete does." Alice was a tease, as always. But she always did so with kindness.

"Oh, come on. It wasn't that bad. We weren't making out anymore."

"Yeah, but he was standing in front of you." Clearly, Alice remembered the scene better than Holly did.