Punishments.

"P!" he shouted over the music inside. "You came!" Josh stood at the door, a welcoming grin on his face that Perse was more than happy to reciprocate. 

"So did we. Not that you care," Maya rolled her eyes, and flipped her hair, before walking past Josh and ushering the rest of the squad to follow her, except Perse who was left carrying a crate of beers by herself.

Josh gave Perse a knowing look. "Punishment for missing squad day?"

"Is it that obvious?" she asked with a tired smile, to which Josh shrugged his shoulder. He looked past Perse, his eyes surveying the environment like he was looking for someone.

"Where's your friend?" there was a smile plastered on his face. But by the way his left eye twitched, Perse could tell it wasn't genuine.

"Which friend?"

"Thorne,"

Perse rolled her eyes and couldn't help the exhausted sigh that escaped her lips.

"I thought we finished this earlier already," Her voice sounded bored. She knew that Josh could be childish at times. And that had often played to her advantage when they were younger cause it made him fun company to have around... but not when he decided to be petty.

"I'm just asking! Ain't nothing wrong with that,"

"Well, awesome! Feel free to 'keep asking' and I'm just going to stand freezing in the cold while carrying a totally not-so-heavy-crate of your drinks!" The sarcasm made Josh smile, a reminder of why they became friends in the first place. 

"My bad," he gave a nervous laugh as he gently took the crate from Perse.

"Your bad indeed," she rolled her eyes but smiled gratefully at him, happy to have been relieved of the load. He didn't seem to even falter or break a sweat, something that secretly impressed Perse.

He led her inside the house. She shut the door behind them.

Inside, the usually sprawling mansion had been turned into an epic party zone, the perfect backdrop for a night of wild revelry. It was far from its usual grandeur, with a raucous energy that pulsed through every corner.

Persephone, rocking her emerald-green dress and chic brunette hair with bangs, followed Josh as he descended the grand staircase. Perse was wearing a grin that mirrored the excitement of the evening. The sound of live music filled the air, a rowdy mix of classic tracks and modern beats that set the mood for a night of dancing and carefree fun.

As she reached the heart of the mansion, her eyes widened in amazement. Tables were decked out with mismatched green and white floral centerpieces, gold accents, and flickering candles, all lending a casual, bohemian vibe. Tattered curtains fluttered in the breeze that blew through open windows, creating a relaxed and carefree ambiance.

Her friends and classmates, dressed down in their most stylishly disheveled attire, engaged in animated conversations and laughter that reverberated through the mansion's spacious rooms. The dance floor, bathed in the frenetic glow of multicolored LED lights, was a whirlwind of wild moves and energetic grooves.

Persephone joined her friends on the dance floor, and they let loose, moving to the music with unbridled enthusiasm. Nearby, a makeshift photo booth captured the mayhem with hilarious props and goofy grins.

A buffet table showcased an assortment of finger foods and snacks, with trays of pizza, chips, and all things delicious. At the makeshift bar, friends played mixologist, concocting unique drinks and passing around cans of soda with abandon.

"You certainly went all out," she admitted, genuinely seeming impressed. "You did all this by yourself?" 

"Of course not," he chuckled as they entered the kitchen, which was less noisy than the living room. He placed the crate on the counter. "I hired people to do it,"

"Ah! That definitely makes more sense," she nodded in understanding. "And to think I almost praised you for all this,"

"You still can. After all, it was my idea they brought to life," 

"That doesn't count," Perse shook her head, a smile on his face as she stared at Josh.

Her's and Josh's friendship was sudden and unexpected. His mom and hers were longtime friends, who often loved to spend weekends together. It was during one of these weekends, when Perse was seven, that their parents decided to drag their entire families along.

At a picturesque picnic in a local park, their parents chatted and enjoyed the sunny day, while Persephone, a young bookworm with her nose buried in a novel, sat beneath the shade of a tree. Josh, who was more inclined toward outdoor activities, initially found her solitary reading a bit puzzling and uninteresting. 

He approached Persephone, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Why are you always reading? Don't you want to play games or do something fun?"

Persephone looked up from her book, her brown eyes meeting Josh's with a gentle smile. "And who said reading wasn't fun?"

"It's just a bunch of words!" he had argued but then settled beside Perse. 

"It's more than a bunch of words!" a young Perse countered, seeming offended by his attitude towards her hobby. Her face lit up as she described the captivating story she was reading. She spoke animatedly, weaving a vivid tale of daring heroes and magical lands. Josh found himself drawn into her storytelling, his initial reluctance giving way to fascination. 

He was the one who got her out of her shell. And she was the reason he secretly read thriller novels when he was alone.

"You look good. Did you get all dressed up for me?" Josh said, snapping Perse's attention back to the present.

"Sure. Cause your face is what comes to mind when I pick out my clothes," she shook her head, a smile on her face.

"I'd like to think so, yeah,"

"Get off your high horse J," she said and he chuckled, playfully wiggling his eyebrows.

"Can I grab you a drink?" he offered.

"A soda will be fine,"

"A soda? At the biggest party of the year?! Unacceptable!" Josh shook his head. "Some of the guys are mixing up some pretty magical drinks at the bar. I'm going to grab you one,"

"No J! I'm___"

"I'll be right back," he said, not giving her a chance to fight him on it. Perse sighed exhaustedly as he stared at his back until he disappeared into the crowd. She could hardly believe she was at this party to begin with. In as much as it initially looked fun, she couldn't get it out of her head that this was a punishment for skipping squad day yet again. Maybe she was the one responsible for subjecting herself to such torture.

As she stood there, a soft buzz from her phone drew her attention. She retrieved it from her clutch and saw a message from Maya. She debated ignoring it but thought of possible consequences that would follow___ like having to attend even more parties.

"Meet me on the dance floor ASAP! It's lit out here! 💃🕺"

Persephone couldn't help but smile at Maya's enthusiasm. She was always a bit friendlier at parties. Or maybe those are the effects of the alcohol. She knew that her friend had a knack for turning any party into a lively dance extravaganza. 

"Punishment 2/3, we're having a dance-off. And you are the guest of honor!" she read the new text. 

She shook her head. Alcohol may make her friendlier, but nothing in this world was capable of making her less bossy. That was probably engraved in her soul or something.

Deciding Josh's 'magical drink' could wait, she shot Maya a quick text.

"On my way,"

Little did any of them know, the entire party was about to be turned upside down. It was just getting started.