The Space Between Us | L.S

Intoxication

With one hand I threw a shot of vodka down my throat whilst the other cumbersomely pulled at the fishnet stockings my legs were trapped in. Despite how "fuckable" Jonas had said I looked, I felt like a stuffed sausage. Somehow my dear flatmate had convinced me to go as the Effy from Skims, solely because he wanted to be Freddie and it would be "odd for him just to be Freddie".

The stockings were thankfully half-hidden by a black sleeveless dress, but even more wonderfully a leather jacket covered what the dress wasn't. I set down the shot glass and wandered into the sea of people inhabiting our small living room. The music was so loud that it made my skin tingle and my lungs feel like mush. Half of the flats in the building were hosting parties so the doors leading into the building were propped open and people came and went from party to party. Fun first, safety second I suppose. Jonas also had made the executive decision to leave our door open as well, so half of our party was oozing into the narrow hallway.

A real fire hazard if you asked me.

Over the roar of music, a distant, hazy chatter could be heard. I couldn't make out any words, but laughter rang in my ears and filling my body with a sense of adrenaline. The song that was playing got louder, pulling me in and wouldn't let go. I had no choice but to join the crowd, jumping in a huddled group like Tic-Tacs being shaken in a box. Through my hazed state, my eyes narrowed in on my friends hanging back by the keg.

"Hey!" I wrapped my arms around Sam, attacking their cheek with a wet smooch. They were dressed in a "This is my Halloween Costume' shirt and dog ears; I'm pretty positive they raided the clearance section at our local Halloween shop. Celine was dressed in a cat woman costume, the latex black skin sitting perfectly against her skin; her husband, Jamie was dressed in a very realistic Game of Thrones costume. They had both entered our flat bickering that he decided against dressing as Batman.

"Where's Jonas and Will?" I shouted, my ears piercing with the vibration of the roaring music.

"Having their own party." Sam snickered over the brim of their wine glass. I scanned the room just in time to see them slinking out of Jonas' dim room. I stuck my tongue out, making eyes with Jonas from across the room, shaking my head in fake disgust. Scanning my eyes over the many people occupying my space; everyone seemed so jubilant, singing the songs that belonged to the inebriated and joyful. I was so happy that Jonas convinced we should host it; despite how my opinions tomorrow when I am cleaning up. I smiled from the inside of my red solo cup that had magically appeared in my hands.

The smile froze in a spot like a deer in the headlights when a new group of party-goers entered my tiny flat. They ducked under the thick cobwebs Jonas had hung between our doorframe. The orange lights that look like miniature pumpkins illuminate his face as he scans the party. When his eyes fall upon my frozen stance; his lips gently twitch upwards.

I raised my hand to give a small wave.

"Oh my god! Are you Effy?" Danielle screeched, bounding past him; the tassels of her flapper girl dress smacking gently against her lean legs.

I nodded briefly; "Glad you could make it." I smiled as she eyed my costume up and down.

"You look fit." She said, her mouth pursed in approval.

A smile broke out on my face when I noticed they had all worn costumes. Liam was dressed in trousers with suspenders, obviously trying to follow in some sort of theme with Danielle's costume. Niall was dressed in a cowboy hat, Harry sported an all-red assemble with horns on top of his floppy curls and my eyes once again fell to Louis.

Louis was dressed in pin-striped trousers and a Hawaii shirt that was thrown over a white tank top. I studied him in confusion and before I could stop myself the alcohol talked for me. "Are you dressed as Gregory?" I asked authentically.