Dare [unfinished.]

11 | THE PARTY INVITATION

"Gets into parties without invitations
How could you ever turn her down?"

- Carolina, by Harry Styles

— — — — — — — —

CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE PARTY INVITATION

      SATURDAY.

A peaceful day in theory, but so much more worse when you had problems.

Archie's phone had been blowing up for the past hour with invitations to many parties happening.

One was from Reggie inviting him to the underground bar below pops, The Speakeasy.

One was from Ginger, inviting him to the Raving Eye.

The last one he didn't expect.

One was from Cheryl, inviting him to Thornhill. How had she managed that?

Now that Archie thought about it, Cheryl had been scarce these days. Perhaps she had been repairing her family relationships. He really wanted to think that. But the headstrong Cheryl Archie knew would never, never in a million years, be civil with her mother even if it meant being on good terms.

So, he texted.

Do I even want to know?

He'd waited a full minute before she was able to respond.

Mother dearest is out of town.
Nana Rose is in charge and you know she can never say no

When?

Party starts at 8

Archie supposed it could've been worse. If Penelope and Clifford Blossom were gone, it meant a peaceful weekend after all.

I'll see u there

Archie tossed his phone aside and ran his hands down his face.

He thought of texting Veronica but then thought better of it. The game they started on Friday would happen on school grounds, it had to stay there. Taking it outside of those terms made things all the more messy.

Temptation won in the end.

•

VERONICA'S phone buzzed against her vanity.

This may sound foreign
But there's a party up the road
It's only formal if I ask
And only if you will
Would you like to join me at Thornhill?

Already an invitation?

Veronica's fingers hovered above her keyboard before she started to type.

A bit needy don't you think?
But if you're going to sink
I'd like to be there if there's drinks

She received another message within seconds.

An offer you won't regret
Be there at eight
Wear the dress while you wait