Sizzling shindig

As the dorm room hums with the energy of preparation for Sarah’s birthday celebration at the Dungeon Club, I’m absorbed in my own world, pen scratching against paper, jotting down questions for my impending meeting with Aleksander. The excitement swirls within me, each inquiry a step closer to unraveling the enigma concealed within the pages of ‘Magical Beasts of the Endless’.

Suddenly, Anya’s voice slices through my concentration, causing me to startle. “Aren’t you going, Liv?”

“Of course I am,” I mutter, my gaze still fixed on my notebook, the ink flowing from my pen.

She sounds slightly annoyed. “Better step into the shower. We’re leaving soon.”

“What? I’m done an hour ago. You guys are the ones who should hurry.”

“You mean you’re dressed up already?” Anya’s incredulous tone reaches my ears. “Looking like that?”

I can’t help but roll my eyes, even though she can’t see me. “Yup. Why? What’s wrong with my outfit?” I check out my olive jumpsuit, and it looks fine.

Sarah swivels her stool at the dresser, lipstick in hand, and gives me a once over. “Liv... can you at least show some skin?”

I release a sigh of mild exasperation. “I got nothing else to wear. I don’t even have the skin to show.”

Anya doesn’t relent. Instead, she rushes to her closet and begins rummaging through the racks. “Come on, Liv... pick anything you like from my closet before Sarah’s guests mistake you for the server.” After a moment of searching, she triumphantly pulls out a black dress. “Here... you can wear this. It’s a basic black dress that hugs your figure well. Just add an accessory and you’re good to go.”

I can’t help but chuckle at her determined intervention. “Fine…” I say, grateful for her help and friendly concern.

With a quick change of attire and a thoughtful choice of accessory, I’m ready to step into the night.

“Is this okay now?” I ask, propping my hands on my hips.

“There! Now you look like you’re going to a party, girl,” Anya exclaims, giving me an approving gaze. Then her lips pucker. “Hmm… just put a bit more lipstick, will you?”

“That’s it… I’m done,” I say, collecting my phone and purse from the top of my bed. “Who’s gonna notice the color of my lips in a dark room with flashing lights, anyway?”

Anya and Sarah exchange furtive glances and snigger.

“It’s alright, Liv,” Sarah says, slinging her tiny purse. “Let’s just get this party started.”

With our excitement bubbling over, we spill out of the building, ready to embark on the evening’s festivities. Sarah’s Mini Cooper, a gift from her doting father upon her acceptance at Columbia, stands gleaming in front of us. I can’t help but wonder what extravagant present she’ll receive when she graduates. As I ponder on my friends’ affluent backgrounds, I can’t help but feel like an outsider. Sarah and Anya belong to well-off families, while my father, a lawyer and a partner in his Hartford firm, provides for us comfortably but never immersed us in luxury. How did I end up in this circle of privilege?

The jarring ring of my phone, Liam’s name flashing on the screen, interrupts my contemplation. I pick up half-expecting he might cancel on the party, ready to reassure him it’s perfectly fine.

Sarah and Anya’s heads snap in my direction, their curiosity piqued by my call.

“Liam—” I begin, but he swiftly interjects.

“Are you still at the dorm?”

“Yeah... we’re about to leave—”

“I’ll pick you up in four seconds.”

I want to say there’s no need. I already got a ride. “S—sure.” I hang up, stunned, and turn my bewildered gaze toward Sarah. “He’s picking me up...”

Sarah and Anya burst into giggles, their excitement contagious.

“Alright! The party’s about to get fiery hot! Woo hoo!” Sarah whoops.

Just as she finishes, a striking red sports car screeches to a halt in front of our building, and Liam steps out from the driver’s side, dressed in an all-black ensemble that wouldn’t be out of place in a men’s magazine centerfold.

Sarah and Anya gasp while my jaw practically shimmies to my toes.

Liam approaches us, planting a peck on Sarah’s cheek. “Happy birthday, Sarah. Thanks for the invite.”

“Thank you, Liam... I’m so glad you came,” Sarah says, eyes wide and clearly taken aback.

Crickets chirp.

Anya, in an attempt to break the sudden tension, blurts out, “Okay, Liam... we’ll see you at the Dungeon Club. Have a safe ride.” She nudges Sarah, and they quickly hop into the Mini.

I’m left alone with Liam, chuckling nervously and shifting my weight from foot to foot. “Nice car you have there. I thought I’d have to straddle a bike tonight—”

“In that outfit? I can’t let my party date ruin her style,” Liam says, running his eyes over me. “You look stunning, Liv.”

His intense gaze makes me feel oddly uneasy. “Date? We’re not going to a prom. It’s just a birthday party—no dates required—”

Liam chuckles again, scratching the back of his head. “Right... but since you asked me out, then it’s considered a date.”

“Excuse me. I didn’t ask you out... Sarah did... I just delivered the invite.”

“Whatever.” Liam dismisses my argument with a wave. “Shall we?” He extends an arm for me to take.

The thrill of sitting in a two-seater sports car, a Lamborghini no less, courses through me. It’s my first time inside one of these sleek machines. Despite my initial reservations, I can’t deny the excitement bubbling up within me. I can’t quite pinpoint the source of my anticipation, though. Parties have never held a special appeal for me, and I’m not particularly keen on socializing either.

The ride to the club is swift, and we arrive at almost the same time as Sarah and Anya. We enter together, and the crowd goes wild, everyone trying to greet Sarah. To my utter surprise, Liam gets the same celebrity treatment, as if a star has just walked in.

Feeling somewhat left out amid the now crowded entrance, I make my way to a table with a tag that reads “Sarah and Friends,” positioned near the stage. A server offers me a tall glass of cocktail as soon as I take my seat.

I sip on my drink, scanning the lively venue and admiring the festive decor when a guy approaches me. My heart nearly leaps into my throat. It’s Nikko. My campus crush since freshman year.

“Hey Liv,” he says with a friendly nod.

“Hi,” I reply, taken aback by his presence at my table.

Nikko seems to sense my confusion. “Sarah told me I could sit here. So, how’s it going?”

“What’s going?” I ask, genuinely puzzled by his question.

He chuckles. “It’s another way of saying, ‘How are you?’”

“Oh… I thought you were referring to something in particular—like a project or something. Well, fine… I’m fine… just fine,” I stammer, flashing an embarrassed grin. “And you?”

“Great… I’m just waiting for the guys to arrive,” he answers.

“Guys?”

“My bandmates… we’re here to play. Sarah gave us the gig.”

“You’re with a band? You play music? Since when?”

Nikko grins. “Yeah… we only started doing gigs a few months back. I play the drums.”

“Wow… that’s cool.”

“Yeah…” Nikko smiles and gives me an appraising look. “You look great in that dress, by the way, Liv.”

“Thanks,” I manage to say, my cheeks flushing behind an embarrassed grin.

A group of guys carrying musical instruments approaches us. Nikko glances at them. “Okay, they’re here. Nice chat, Liv… but it’s time to set up. Catch you later?”

“Sure,” I nod, watching as they make their way to the stage to prepare their instruments. Nikko shoots me one last smile before joining his bandmates.

Just then, Sarah and her guests disperse around the club, engrossed in animated conversations.

Liam suddenly appears beside me. “Why did you leave me?” he complains.

I scoff. “Am I your bodyguard? What did you expect me to do while you’re swamped by your fans?” I roll my eyes.

“Sorry about that,” he mutters. “Are you alright?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You sound mad.”

“No, I’m not.” My voice comes out sharper than I intended.

“So— I’m quite excited about tomorrow’s barbecue at Aleksander’s,” he says, changing the subject.

“Me too.” My mood lightens as I contemplate the upcoming gathering. “I’ve jotted down all the questions I wanted to ask him—well, most of the questions I could think of at the moment—I’m sure there’ll be more—”

But just as Liam is about to reply, the blaring intro of an electric guitar pierces the air, followed by hoots and howls as everyone flocks to the dance floor.

My heart skips a beat as Liam grabs my hand. It’s a silent invitation to dance. However, before I can respond to the gesture, a stunning redhead with cascading locks drapes herself over Liam’s arm and whisks him away to the dance floor, leaving me bewildered and frozen in my seat.