To Be Young And In Love In New York City

Chapter 8: "Maybe There's No Hell And Heaven"

Niki arranged bowls of nachos, chips, Oreos and the multiple pizza boxes in a neat, straight line. Her hands went up to her hips and she let out a tired sigh. "Abri?" She called from the living room.

Footsteps could be heard and Abri emerged, her red hair in a mess, a pencil tucked behind her ear and her green eyes looking at some papers she was holding. Her forehead was creased and a frown was resting on her face. "Yes?" She said, not looking up from the papers.

"I'm done arranging the food. Is there anything else that needs to be done?"

She sighed and lifted her head, and her green eyes met Niki's black ones. Dropping the papers on a table beside her, she took a few steps forward. Running her fingers through her hair, she smiled at Niki. "No. Thanks for doing this."

Niki smiled back and fell into the couch behind her, settling into a sluggish position. "No problem. Where's Jay?"

"Oh, he's setting up the lights outside the house," She replied, taking a seat beside her.

"Is it bad that I'm already exhausted?"

Abri chuckled. "Same here. Fundraisers are not easy."

"Tell me about it."

Jay walked into the room and sat beside Niki. "Is everything done here?"

Niki nodded and closed her eyes. She could hear Abri's feet impatiently tapping against the floor.

He sighed. "Just say it, Abrianna."

"I feel like people aren't gonna show up," She said without missing a beat and Niki's eyes flew open.

Jay sighed once again. "For the last time Abrianna, people are gonna show up. Niki and I gave out more than a hundred fliers, okay? People will come, we just have to wait."

So they waited. The fliers said that the listening party would start at 7 pm but even at 7:30, it was still the three of them in the house. Abri was pacing around the living room, her arms folded. Niki glanced at Jay; their eyes met and she could tell by the look on his face that he too had begun worrying.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Abri stopped dead in her tracks and looked at Niki, her eyes widened. Niki and Jay mirrored her expression and all three of them got up and rushed to the door. Opening it, they came face to face with three boys, standing, their hands stuffed in their pockets. One of them smiled. "Hi, we're here for the listening party?"

Abri stared at him, deadpanned until Niki nudged her and she returned to her senses. She smiled at him. "Hi, yes, please come in." They guided the boys to the living room.

"The party will start in a few minutes, you can sit here and wait, help yourselves to food," Abri pointed to the table where Niki had arranged the bowls of food, "How would you like to pay?"

"Venmo?" Another guy asked and Abri nodded. When the payment was done, Abri dragged Niki and Jay out into the hallway. "Okay guys, I'm gonna stand outside just in case more people come so that the payment gets done outside. Alright?" They nodded and Abri left the house.

*

By 8:30, the place was brimming with people, taking not only Abri, but even Jay and Niki by surprise. They were expecting people but not as many that showed up. The house turned busy, with people scattered in different rooms, some huddled in groups, playing games, some getting to know strangers and others turning the living room into a make-out spot. It was like a high school party minus the alcohol which a lot of people were disappointed about but that was one thing Abri did not budge about because having drunk people wander around the house and potentially break things was the last thing she wanted. She had locked Jay's and her bedroom before the party started, out of safety.