LUVIE [fin. / unedited]

t h i r t e e n

w i l l i a m

I look through the racks trying to find the perfect suit for my dad's friend's company party. I get out my phone, pressing Rose's contact. I press the phone against my ear, listening to it ring. On the second ring she picks it up. "Hey,"

"Hey what color is your dress?" I ask her.

"Desert rose, why?"

"I'm picking out my suit. Does a navy sound good?"

"Yes, that sounds perfect!"

"Ok, bye."

"Bye, babes." I hang up. Walking up to the register, I look at the cashier. "Is there any chance you have a desert rose tie?" A voice in the back of my head nags me about what I told Luvie. To be better, but I only invited Rose because I knew Luvie hates these...right?

It's the night of the company ball, I was standing in the living room of Rose's two bedroom apartment. "Rosy! Hurry up!"

"What did you call me?" She asked me, "Rosy?" I say confused, she looks at me with wide eyes. "You haven't called me that in years." She whispers. She gives my lips a peck, "Lemme finish my hair. I'm almost done." I looked at her hips swaying in that dress and I couldn't help but imagine that dress on Luvie.

About thirty minutes later, I'm laying on the couch. I check my watch, eight fifty, it reads. "Rosy! We have to leave! Now!" I yell. "Okay. Okay." She says, coming out her hair in a high chignon messy bun. I smile, "Come on," I try to rush her through the door. "Will, relax. It doesn't start until nine-thirty. It's only nine. How about we go get dinner?" She says, I nod.

Later we pull into a fancy Italian restaurant. "Come on," Rose calls to me, "We only have twenty minutes!" She runs to the door, I go in after her. When we sit at our table and pull out the menus. I look for something familiar, "What can I get you?" Our waiter, Olly, asks. "I would like a-" Rose starts, while I block her off trying to find something, nothing catches my eye. "And for you sir?" Olly asks, "Can I get spaghetti?" I ask dumbly, the waiter cracks a smile. "Yes, is that all?"

"Yes," Rose says with a giggle. "So do you know whose company party it is?" She asks me. I shake my head. "It was started four years ago, and the company name is..." I trail off pulling out my phone and going to my calendar. "The company's name is A&A TwinWave Co. whatever that means," I say, she just looks at me. "Why are we going?" She asks again, "Apparently, recently my parents became a part of the board."

"Why are you invite me?"

"Well, who else would I invite?" She just looks away, apparently having enough of this topic. The voice nags me again, remember your promise? The date with Luvie on the gazebo? Remember that? I continue with a nag. I smile, "Let's just focus on the now, okay?" I ask, "Okay," She says. Soon we get our food, chowing down on the delicious Italian food.

After dinner, we were driving down to the company gala. We were welcomed with a red carpet and a lot of paparazzi. I open the door, offering my arm to Rose. She takes it with a smile, "Why thank you." We walk to the doors, opening them. If only I knew what my night would bring me. I open the door when I door every hair on my body stands up. My eyes meeting the brown ones that I know so well.