They arrived at the party with excitement bubbling in their veins. The music was loud, the lights were flashing, and the energy was contagious. They hit the dance floor and moved to the rhythm, letting go of all inhibitions. Laughter filled the air as they clinked their glasses and sipped on their drinks, feeling carefree and alive.
Everything seemed to be going according to plan, with smiles on their faces and good vibes all around. However, little did they know that trouble was brewing beneath the surface. Unbeknownst to them, a storm was approaching, threatening to disrupt the seemingly perfect evening. As the night progressed, whispers of gossip and tension began to creep into the atmosphere, casting a shadow over the once joyful gathering.
Despite their initial sense of blissful ignorance, reality soon came crashing down on them, shattering the illusion of a carefree night. The party that had started so promisingly was now filled with drama and uncertainty, leaving them questioning everything they thought they knew. In the end, they realized that not everything is as it seems and that even the most perfect illusion can crumble instantly.
Hannah could vividly recall that particular night, as it was quite out of character for her. She was not one to seek out social gatherings, and the reasons for her attending the party remained a mystery even to herself. Known for her reserved nature, Hannah preferred to keep to herself and focus on her affairs. Growing up in a humble household, her parents, who worked as farmers, doted on their only child, ensuring that she lacked for nothing. Despite their financial limitations, they spared no expense when it came to providing Hannah with the finest things in life - from delicious meals to beautiful clothing and a top-tier education. When she expressed her desire to pursue a career in engineering, her parents went to great lengths to support her dreams, even going as far as taking out substantial loans to send her abroad for her studies. Throughout her time away, Hannah maintained a small circle of friends, consisting of her roommates Candace and June, with whom she shared a close bond.
"Hey Hannah, what's up?" Candace said once she saw her.
"Nothing much, reading I guess…"She said, flipping the pages of the book that was lying in front of her.
"Seriously girl, you need to take a break from all this reading."
"Why do you say so?" she said, arching her eyebrows.
"Because all work and no play makes Hannah an idiot."
"Ouch. Fine, what do you suggest?" She said, closing the book and placing it on the desk.
"Now we're talking! So I'm like going to this party…"
"Not interested."
"Oh come on Hannah, it will be fun," she whined.
"I'm not going to some random party. Besides, I've got a lot to cover…"
"You're so boring!"
"I know." She said sarcastically.
"Why do you always act like this?" She complained.
"I'm sorry Candy, but I don't have the time." She calmly replied.
"That's what you always say. Well sorry, it won't work this time."
"Listen, there will be more parties and I'll attend one in the future. Not now."
"You're such a stick in the mud. It'll be fun. I promise."
"But…"
"No more buts, you're coming." She concluded.
"I would if I could. But exams are around the corner. My life depends on it. I can't risk it."
"It's just one dumb party…"
"Then I bet you'll have no problem going without me," she said, picking up the textbook on her desk.
"Please?" She begged.
"I need to…"
"It won't be long, two hours tops! You can catch up on your reading easily since you're Hannah the all-knowing."
"Very funny…" she said sarcastically.
"So are you coming?"
"Fine, I'll go."
She squealed and said, "You've made my day Hannah! Or should I say my evening? But first, you need to change out of those clothes."
The reflection in the mirror at the end of the room stared back at her, showing a woman who was unapologetically herself. With a smile playing on her lips, she adjusted her outfit slightly, feeling content with the image she presented to the world. She knew that true beauty came from within, and her attire was just an outward expression of the inner power she possessed. Without a doubt, she was ready to take on whatever challenges came her way, dressed in her unique style.
"Well, everything! You can't go to a club like that!"
'We are going to a what?" She shouted.
"Relax Hannah…"
"I'm not going to a club!"
"It's not a club…"
"But you just called it a club." she protested.
"We are going to a hotel. The hotel has a club. The party's being held there. Everyone will be there…" Candy said, trying to defend herself.
"What hotel are we going to?" she questioned.
"The one at town square…" she replied.
"You mean Hotel Spring Day? Isn't that the hotel Lori's dad owns?"
'The same. And his father, and his father's father, and his father's father's…"
"I get it. But why do you want me to attend the party? Especially since it's being done in the hotel Lori's dad owns. You know how she feels about me!"
"What's your beef with her anyway? It's not like she did anything to you"
"Let's see…she's spoilt, rude, arrogant, a tormentor, malicious…"
"Fine I get it, you don't like her!"
"It's not me, it's her. She doesn't like me."
"We should get going if we want to make it to the party. So go get dressed! I've got this really cute tube top I bought last week, it will look good on you. I think…"
"I'll pass on the tube top. I'm sure I can find something else to wear…" she said, interrupting her.
She closed the books on her desk and placed them in her bag before going to the closet to get dressed. Seeing that she had gone, Candace picked up her phone and made a quick call to someone.
"Hello…I'm getting ready…yes, she's coming…it doesn't matter how I convinced her, the point is she's coming…we'll be there in fifteen minutes…bye."
She quickly hung up once she saw Hannah walk out of the closet. She wore a white shirt and black jeans. She had let her hair down, making her brown cornrows fall on her shoulders. On her feet were a pair of sneakers.
"White? Seriously?"
"It's important to wear bright clothes at night time so that…"
Candace quickly covered her ears.
"What's wrong?" Hannah asked.
"I don't want to hear it…"
"Hear what?"
"The nerd stuff. I'm not the best student you know…"
"Alright then. So should I change the shirt?"
"You know what? Forget about the shirt, let's get…"
The sound of the doorbell interrupted their conversation. Hannah walked to the door and opened it. Behind the door was a brown-haired girl who was frantically searching for something in her bag. She didn't realize that the door had been opened.
"Hi June! Looking for something?"
The girl raised her head revealing her dazzling green eyes and her perfectly defined face.
"Oh hey, Hannah…"
June paused for a moment, her eyes scanning the intricate details of her outfit. As she was about to speak, Candace interrupted her, walking briskly towards the door. The moment Candace laid eyes on June, her expression turned cold and dismissive. "Oh, it's her," she muttered, her tone dripping with disdain.
Ignoring Candace's rudeness, June flashed a brilliant smile, attempting to diffuse the tension in the room. "Hey Candace!" she greeted warmly, trying to make amends for her tardiness. "I'm sorry I'm late. Something unexpected came up, and I ended up misplacing my keys..."
Candace, rolling her eyes, cut June off mid-sentence. "Yeah, because that never happens, right?" she retorted sarcastically, flipping her sleek, black hair over her shoulders in a dismissive gesture.
Hannah, sensing the tension rising, stepped in, trying to mediate the situation. "Candace, please don't be so harsh," she urged gently, hoping to ease the growing animosity between her friends.
With a scoff, Candace turned her attention back to June, her eyes narrowing in scrutiny. June, unfazed by the hostility, glanced at Hannah's outfit once more, a curious expression on her face. "Are you headed somewhere special?" she inquired, trying to steer the conversation towards a more positive direction.
"Yeah. I'm going to a party," she said excitedly.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, she turned to June and confidently declared, "Yes, she's coming with me! Any objections?" Her voice was filled with determination as she interrupted the conversation.
Her friend's response was calm and understanding, "No, I was just checking since it's getting late. Take care and have fun." With a reassuring smile, she continued on her way into the apartment, leaving the two friends behind.
Candace couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "What a two-faced person! Always acting superior to everyone else. It's really irritating."
Hannah, trying to diffuse the tension, spoke up in defense of their roommate, "June means well, Candy. Let's not dwell on it too much."
Determined not to let June's attitude ruin her mood, Candace tossed her hair back in defiance.
Curious about the destination of the party, she asked, "Whose party are we heading to anyway?"
Her friend replied with a hint of excitement, "You'll find out soon enough. It's going to be a surprise!"
Not a fan of surprises, Hannah pouted slightly and expressed her dislike, "I hate surprises..."
In response, Candace's laughter filled the room as she playfully pinched her friend's cheeks and urged, "Come on, we're going to be late. Let's get moving."
Together, they exited the apartment, hailed a cab, and embarked on their journey to the party, filled with anticipation and excitement for the night ahead.