Pieces [Wattpad's Editor's Choice]

38: cArDiAc ArReSt

For a moment, I couldn't tell if we were even at the right place.

The building was an old two-story warehouse with taped up windows and lots of trees and untrimmed bushes around it (sketchy at all?). But Luna and I watched through the driver's window as cars pulled in one after another and parked along the sidewalk in front, followed by people emerging with cases of beer and wearing heels, skirts, dressy jackets, ripped jeans... Laughter echoed in the open night and it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere. But this was the right place.

"Ready?" Luna looked back at me.

My throat tightened. My heart never hammered this hard before; did Luna actually give me two shots of espresso instead of a shot of Smirnoff? I hardly felt relaxed. "There's a lot of people."

"Frannie, you're the one who wanted to come. There's no more people here than in the Revolve Rec at lunch time."

True. The idea seemed impossible at first; I didn't think we'd actually be here right now. Saying yes feels a lot easier when you don't think something will actually happen. "People are gonna stare when we go in."

"They won't, it's dark and probably over-crowded. It's not like high school where it's a small enough world that everyone knows everyone by rumors and lunch room conversations. It's a college party. No one would even notice us if we came decorated in Christmas lights." She paused. "Let's do that for graduation."

"Can you text Tyrell? Arrow doesn't have a phone and we should meet up."

"Shit. I forgot about that. I'm tryna meet some new people tonight, so..."

"You don't have to hang out with him."

She sighed. "Alright, fine." It only took her a few seconds; Tyrell's name was at the top of her list. Was he the last person she texted? "Texted him. We can wait a bit."

But he replied right away. She stared down at her phone, the light casting a dim glow on her cheeks. I caught a hint of her expression for the first time tonight: she looked a little nervous, to be honest. "He said they're here. Close to the snack bar." Her eyes met mine. "Ready now?"

"Yeah," I lied. "Can you hold on to my phone? I don't have pockets."

"What about-"

"No, I'm not stuffing another thing in my bra."

She sighed. I handed my phone to her and she stuffed it in her jacket pocket.

"Alright. Stay close. It's easy to get lost at these scenes."

Lost. Why did that word feel so heavy tonight?

* * *

I watched my feet as we walked up the concrete stairs, my calves already burning. I balanced on Luna as she took her time in her own pair of black heels and painted black toenails, not wobbling once.

The temperature spiked at the threshold between the outside and the front door and we stopped just before stepping inside. Here we are... Deep breaths.

"Hey." Luna turned me towards her, her hands on my shoulders. She placed her fingers beneath my chin. "Chin up, check where your eyes wander. Don't stare at him like he's the best thing in the room-that's you."

I nodded. "Right. Got it." And then I smiled. "Although I think that actually might be you."

"Ha. Damn straight." She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Let's do this." She took my hand and pulled me after her.

Once we stepped through the doors, my nerves shrunk and all the stimuli stole the attention away from my twisting stomach.

Purple, green, and blue lights flashed sporadically inside with the beat of the music, providing just enough light to make out silhouettes. Heavy electronic bass boomed loud enough to jolt my entire body awake. All my senses suddenly launched into action.