"No, Lily! I am not going to any club the night before my wedding, this is so absurd," Sophia stated firmly, crossing her arms.
Lily rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh come on, Soph! It's your last night of freedom before becoming a ball and chain wife, you will be glad you did."
Sophia's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "A ball and chain? Lily, I'm marrying the love of my life! This is the happiest day for me, not me getting trapped. We both love each other and this is never a bondage,"
"Yeah, yeah, you're just drunk on love right now. The reality will set in soon enough, no more girls' nights, no more living footloose and fancy-free, but just do this tonight, this is your last chance," Lily waved her hand flippantly.
"You know that's not true at all. Ethan isn't going to control me or keep me locked up. We have a modern, respectful relationship built on equality and partnership."
"See? Already whipped and you're not even married yet!" Lily laughed mockingly. "When was the last time you even let loose and had real fun without Ethan's stamp of approval?"
Sophia opened her mouth to protest, but she had to admit it had been quite a while since she'd enjoyed a wild night out with just her girlfriends. Ever since getting engaged to Ethan over a year ago, her social life had dramatically slowed as she focused on wedding planning.
Lily could sense Sophia's hesitation and pounced. "Exactly! You're already living like a fuddy-duddy before hitting 25. Is that what you want for yourself?"
"Of course not...but there's nothing wrong with growing up a little as you settle down and make big life commitments," Sophia said uncertainly.
"Ugh, where's the fun-loving party girl I used to know? She would've been over the moon about one last hurrah with her bestie before the whole 'wifey for life' deal."
Sophia couldn't help but crack a small smile at Lily's antics, despite herself. Her free-spirited best friend always knew how to make light of anything. "Okay, okay I get it - we're getting old and boring compared to our younger selves. But is it so bad to be happy and look forward to this amazing future I've worked so hard for?"
"Happy-schmappy! You can't fully appreciate the joy and stability of married life until you've relished the untamed single days a little longer," Lily pleaded, giving Sophia her most pitiful pout. "Just one night to let it all hang out before becoming a proper Mrs.? For me?"
Sophia let out a long sigh, feeling her resistance start to crumble under the force of Lily's pleas and her ingrained tendency to go along with whatever Lily wanted.
"Please, Soph? I already made our reservations at that new club downtown that's impossible to get into, can't let them go to waste! I even picked out the hottest outfits for us to wear and everything."
Seeing Sophia's face still creased with trepidation, Lily switched to wheedling in a sickly sweet tone. "Don't you trust your very best friend in the whole world to show you an amazingly fun time and get you home safe before your beloved walks down the aisle?"
Deep down, Sophia couldn't deny she did trust Lily completely, despite her wild antics sometimes. They'd been thicker than thieves since childhood - Lily was truly the sister she never had. She had stood by Sophia's side through everything.
And if Sophia were being fully honest with herself, the idea of cutting loose one last time before becoming a wife did hold a glimmer of appeal, as scary and overwhelming as her imminent life changes felt lately...
"Just this once?" Sophia asked tentatively.
Lily squealed excitedly, already knowing she'd worn down her friend's objections. "Yes! You're the absolute best. Get ready to remember what it feels like to have zero responsibilities and rules for once!"
Despite herself, Sophia couldn't help but get swept up in Lily's infectious enthusiasm, finally cracking a big smile. "Okay, fine - one night of living by your code before I fully embrace respectability. But we're doing this my way with limits..."
Lily was already shaking her head and tutting. "Ah ah ah! No limits tonight. Just full-on freedom and fun, sister!"
She swung an arm around Sophia's shoulders with a mischievous wink. "You can lecture me on being an upstanding married woman all you want tomorrow. But tonight, you're relinquishing that iron grip on decency for once!"
Though trepidation still tugged at her gut, Sophia found herself laughing and giving in fully. "Well if I'm doing this, you might as well pour me a drink to get started..."
***
Despite her earlier reservations, Sophia had to admit she was having an absolute blast cutting loose with Lily for her condemned "last night of freedom." She downed another shot at the raucous club, whooping and cheering as she did so.
Around them, bodies gyrated and pulsed on the dance floor in a sweaty, throbbing mass of drunken euphoria. Glitzy outfits shimmered and flashed under the strobing lights as music pounded through the smoky air.
Lily was truly in her element, her eyes shining with manic glee as she shouted over the din. "See? What did I tell you - isn't this so much better than sitting at home pouring over flower arrangements or whatever?"
Sophia could only whoop and nod enthusiastically in response, the alcohol coursing through her veins making her feel afire with giddy recklessness. She felt intoxicating, blissfully free of her usual self-control and constraints tonight.
"Another shot?" Lily shouted, already waving for the bartender.
Still buzzing with a wild energy, Sophia whooped again. "You know it, girl! Let's freaking rage all night!"
As she slammed back another burning liquid courage, Sophia couldn't remember the last time she had felt so dangerously, deliciously alive. All her fears and doubts about drastic life changes had melted away, replaced by a rapidly growing desire to cling to these last, unrestrained moments of singlehood.
She only vaguely noticed when a tall, handsome man leaned against the bar next to them with a crooked grin and tired eyes. He was undeniably attractive, but his features didn't fully register through Sophia's drunken haze.
"You ladies seem to be having one hell of a party tonight," he shouted over the thumping bass with a bemused chuckle.
Lily spun towards him with a shameless, dazzling smile, placing one hand brazenly on his bicep as she leaned in. "Oh, you have no idea, good looking! We're celebrating my bestie's last night of total freedom before becoming a jailed bird married to her man!"
The charming stranger raised his eyebrows curiously towards Sophia, who blushed a little despite the swirling intoxication. She gave a ditzy shrug and giggled loudly in response.
"Well, in that case, I'd say the party's just getting started!" he shouted with a wink, picking up his fresh drink. "Allow me to buy the next round for you lovely ladies."