Page 5

ANYA

I stare at my phone while Soph shrieks, waving it in front of me like a victory flag. Meanwhile, Siya sits beside me, trying her best to calm her down.

“Girl, what are you thinking?” Soph exclaims. “Let’s go to that freaking party,” she says, looking at Daniel’s message.

Daniel:

The invitation still stands ??

Siya looks at me and pouts. “I am not going, Anya. Please.”

“I am not going either,” I say, giving Soph a wide grin and snuggling into Siya.

Soph glares at us like an exasperated older sister. “No. You two have been cooped up in this house the entire semester. I’ve kept quiet till now, but enough is enough.”

“What would I even do there? I don’t drink. I don’t dance. I don’t flirt and I definitely don’t do whatever nonsense happens at these parties.” I whine. “What’s the point if I won’t enjoy it?”

Soph plants her hands on her hips, her expression a mix of disbelief and frustration. “You guys are so lame. It’s a party, not a conference on economic theory. We’re going to unwind, have fun, and maybe make some bad decisions!”

“And you’ll be making them alone,” I mutter.

“Fine,” she snaps, her voice thick with sarcasm. “Stay home. Be boring. Knit a sweater or something.”

I roll my eyes, “Knitting isn’t boring.” Siya frowns, She hesitates, her gaze flitting between Soph and me. “Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to try, Anya. It might even be…fun?”

“You just said you didn’t want to go!” I say, narrowing my eyes at her.

She laughs softly. “Yeah, but I’m also not the one who promised to make the most of her college life.”

I sigh, guilt trickling in. “Will you come with me, then?”

“You know how I get around people,” she says quietly. “Besides, I don’t want you to feel like you have to babysit me.”

“I don’t babysit you. As a matter of fact, I like spending time with you. You’ve been my best friend since I was peeing in my bed.” I grin at her.

Siya twists her face. “Why do you have to put it like that?” She makes a face and I laugh.

She playfully swats at my arm before continuing, “Go on, it’ll be fun. If not, call me. We will chat until this party monster is done.” She glares at Sophia who smiles sheepishly at us. I wonder how she is our friend, considering her very vibrant personality. She’s just so outgoing and bubbly. Sometimes, it feels like a privilege that she wants to hang out with us .

It was my first day on campus and I was struggling to figure out where my next class was when this whirlwind of energy—Sophia—showed up. She spotted my confused look, grabbed my arm, and dragged me along, all while introducing herself and rattling off fun facts about the campus. By the time I found my class, she’d somehow convinced me to join her for coffee after. And I never say no to coffee. I am not sure how it happened, but that one random encounter turned into a friendship I didn't realize I needed.

Soph gets on her knees, breaking my train of thought. “And I will be with you. You just have to say one word and I will bring you back to your haven safely, I promise.” I roll my eyes at her dramatic antics and laugh.

Maybe it won’t be that bad. I take a deep breath, feeling my resolve weakening under their persuasion. I did promise myself that I would enjoy my college life and meet tons of new people.

I look back and forth between my two friends, still feeling a little bit hesitant and unsure. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that they’re right. It’s just a party. What’s the worst that could happen?

And besides, Soph promised to stick by me the whole time, so I won’t be completely out of my comfort zone. “Fine.” I cave, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably. “But if it gets boring or uncomfortable, you better not complain.”

Soph lets out cheers of victory, high-fiving with Siya like she just won a major battle. And I just shake my head. I don’t know what I am signing up for.

“Now, it’s your turn to be persuaded!” Sophia exclaims, pointing her finger at Siya.

Her eyes widen. “No, let her be, Soph.” I sigh. Soph pouts, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Why not?” Soph whines .

“I don’t want to, Sophie. And you know I would say yes if you insist once more, but I am not comfortable. I promise I will join you next time.” Siya smiles softly, and I guess she doesn’t know this yet, but no one can ever deny her something. At least not me. I am too fond of her.

Soph sighs. “Fine. At least one wicket is down.” She grins as she looks at me. And I smile.

I glance at Siya, my face twisted in concern. “You will be alone here. Arnav is going out, too.” I inform her.

She smiles. “Zeke will be here,” she says shyly. Zeke is my brother’s friend. He was in need of a new place to live, and Arnav asked me and Siya if we were okay with him moving in. We said yes, but if I had known that he is a heartbreaker, a playboy, I would have said no because I can’t stand Siya getting hurt anymore. I had heard rumors he had been dating two girls at the same time. Now I usually don’t trust rumors but it’s for the safety of my friend. So, when she mentions his name, I get a little worried. But then again Arnav won’t bring someone like that near us so I doubt those rumors are true.

Sophia whistles and I narrow my eyes. “You do know he’s a playboy, right?” Siya looks at me for a moment. She opens her mouth and closes it. It seems like she wants to say something, but she decides against it, nodding instead.

“I am aware of that, but we’re just friends, that’s all.” She flushes a little.

I shake my head, a little concerned for her wellbeing. “I don’t know, Siya. Are you sure about hanging out with Zeke?”

Siya puts on a defiant expression. “We’re just friends. I can handle myself.” I don’t say anything, but I might need to talk to her later.

“Now, come on. We’ve got to get dressed,” Soph exclaims, pulling me off the bed. “And don’t you dare try to wear your jeans and tops. I am going to dress you tonight.” I open my mouth in protest, and she silences me with her finger. “Ah, ah. No complaints.” She turns to Siya and winks at her. “Would you help me, babe?” Siya nods, getting off the bed herself.

I roll my eyes, already feeling a sense of resignation. Soph can be pretty persuasive when she wants to be, and I know better than to argue with her. Especially when she’s got Siya on her side.

“Fine,” I grumble, allowing myself to be dragged into the room. “But I draw the line at anything too revealing.”

As I follow Soph and Siya into the latter’s room, I brace myself for what’s to come. I know that when it comes to fashion, my friends can be a little…intense.

“Okay, first things first,” Soph says, her eyes scanning me up and down. “We need to find something that’s both comfortable and flattering. No offense, but your usual jeans and T-shirt combo isn’t going to cut it tonight.”

“Trust me, you have made that clear.” I glare at her, earning a sheepish smile from her. “But I’m not wearing anything too flashy. Or short. Or tight,” I mutter.

“Don’t worry,” Soph says, waving her hand dismissively. “We won’t make you look like a disco ball. We just want to show off your best features.”

Soph rummages through the suitcase that she brought with her; she is going to stay with us this week because her mother is out of town and she did not want to stay alone. She pulls out a few dresses. I watch as she lays them out on the bed, my stomach turning at how short and tight they are. They’re all pretty but way too revealing for my taste. I eye the dresses warily, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me.

“Soph, these are all a little too revealing for me. Can’t I just wear something simple?” I ask.

Soph rolls her eyes, clearly not taking my concerns seriously. “Simple? We’re not going to a funeral, Anya. We’re going to a party. You need to look sexy.” She winks .

I look through the dresses. A black silhouette catches my eye. The fabric is silky and luxurious, shimmering in the light. It’s beautiful and the simplest of the ones she has pulled out.

“Good choice,” Siya says, offering me a small smile. It is certainly the least revealing of the options Soph has presented, but it still feels very daring compared to my usual style. Soph grins, noticing the way I’m looking at the dress. “I see that little sparkle in your eye, Anya. You know you like it.”

I bite my lip as my mind drifts to Daniel. He was right; I should be more adventurous, and the thought of him seeing me in this dress makes me feel a little flustered.

Soph chuckles, noticing the change in my expression. “Ah-ha! I knew it! You’re starting to like the idea.”

I can’t deny it; her words have sparked something in me. It’s the thought of being more fun, I guess. I don’t care. All I know is I am trying to step out of my comfort zone, and it’s just a stupid party. So, I just nod slowly.

"But if I have a wardrobe malfunction, I'm suing you" I warn her.

She rolls her eyes and says, "Please, you’ll be the hottest lawsuit in history!" She winks at me.

She takes the dress from the rack and holds it up against me, inspecting the fit. “You’re going to look smokin’ in this,” she says with a smirk. “Guys will be lining up for you.”

My cheeks heat up at her words. I’m not used to this kind of attention, and the idea of guys lining up for me is more terrifying than exciting.

“I don’t know,” I protest weakly. “I don’t want to draw that much attention. I just want to blend in and maybe have some fun.”

Soph chuckles, clearly amused by my hesitation. “You can blend in and still look hot,” Siya assures me.

“You’re going to look incredible. Just trust me,” Soph adds. I change into the dress, and Soph forces me onto the bed. “Now, stay quiet and let us do our work.” Soph starts working on my makeup while Siya does my hair.

I sit there obediently, letting Soph and Siya work their magic on me. Soph applies some light makeup. I’m still feeling a little nervous about the whole thing, but I have to admit, it does feel kind of nice to be pampered. Siya finishes styling my hair into loose waves that cascade down my shoulders, adding to the overall look. I take a deep breath and look at myself in the mirror again, feeling a surge of surprise at the transformation. Soph hands me a pair of earrings, and I put them on, completing the look.

“There,” Soph says with a satisfied grin. “Now you’re ready to conquer the party.”

I can’t help but smile back at her infectious enthusiasm. “Thanks, Soph,” I say sincerely, feeling genuinely grateful for her efforts.

Siya gives me a warm side hug. “You look amazing, Anya,” she says softly.

After some final adjustments, we gather our things. As I reach for my purse, my eyes unintentionally catch my reflection in the mirror by the door. I pause for a second, barely recognizing the girl staring back at me. The dress fits perfectly, hugging me in all the right places, and the subtle makeup highlights my features just enough. I brush a loose strand of hair behind my ear and look away quickly, feeling a little self-conscious. “Take care, and if you need something, call me,” I say, slinging my bag over my shoulder and following Sophie out.

Siya smiles. “I will be fine.” I nod slowly, a little hesitant. “You guys enjoy, okay?!” she says as we close the door behind her. I exhale, letting go of the worry I feel bubbling in my chest.

As we walk toward the fraternity house where the party is being held, I try to ignore the butterflies in my stomach. This isn’t something I do every day, but tonight feels different. Maybe it’s the excitement in the air. My mind wanders back to Daniel. Am I agreeing to do this because I want to see him? I don’t think so. I mean, why would I be thinking about him at all, right? He is just a classmate, my project partner, and a very annoyingly good-looking guy.

As we approach the fraternity house, the thumping music and bright lights spill out into the night air. The party is already in full swing, a crowd of students gathered outside, laughing and chatting loudly.

Soph grabs my hand and pulls me closer to her, sensing my nervousness. “Don’t worry, you’ve got this,” she reassures me. “Just have fun and enjoy yourself.”

Yes. Just have fun and enjoy yourself!

∞∞∞