Quinn had just finished a long day of work when Ava sent her a text that made her stomach churn.
Ava: I'm throwing you and Ethan a surprise engagement party! You're welcome.
Quinn stared at the screen, her brain processing the words in slow motion. Surprise? What the heck? She quickly dialed Ava's number, her heart pounding with a mix of disbelief and dread.
"Ava, what in the world are you thinking?" Quinn said as soon as Ava picked up.
"Why would you do that?" Quinn asked, her voice half exasperated and half horrified.
Ava's laughter was loud and carefree. "It's genius, Quinn! You two need to act the part, right? And what better way to make it real than to throw a party where everyone can see you together? Besides, it'll be a blast! Trust me!"
Quinn groaned into the phone. "Ava, you don't even know what you're asking me to do. This is a disaster in the making."
"Well, at least you'll be entertaining," Ava teased. "Just show up and pretend to be normal. You know you can do it."
Quinn rubbed her temples. "Normal? The girl who can't even hold a conversation without insulting someone? Sure. I'm a walking picture of normal."
"That's why you're perfect for Ethan," Ava shot back with a laugh. "Now, get ready! And don't you dare bail. This is happening!"
The worst part? Ava wasn't joking.
The party was set at a large, swanky venue filled with glitzy decor and overzealous party planners. People in sleek suits and extravagant dresses mingled around, clinking glasses of champagne and nibbling on hors d'oeuvres. Quinn felt out of place, like a fish thrown into a tank full of sharks, her tomboyish demeanor suddenly feeling like a glaring sign of her discomfort.
When she entered the venue, she immediately spotted Ethan—surrounded by his colleagues. Of course, Quinn thought bitterly, He gets to hide behind his work people while I have to pretend we're the picture-perfect couple.
She made her way through the crowd, trying to act natural but failing miserably. She could feel the eyes of the guests on her, her every step under a microscope. Ava wasn't far behind, like a mischievous shadow, egging her on.
"There you are!" Ava called out, her grin wide and daring. "Go make your entrance!"
Quinn turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean by 'make my entrance'? You're acting like we're in a rom-com."
Ava just shoved her toward Ethan. "Go. And make it good. It's showtime!"
Ethan, still lost in conversation, didn't notice Quinn walking up until she was standing right beside him. She leaned in close and whispered just loud enough for everyone around them to hear, "So, Ethan, remember how you 'accidentally' sent that picture of you standing outside my door? That's a great look for our 'engagement,' don't you think?"
Ethan froze, his mouth opening but no words coming out. His eyes widened in panic.
Before he could even try to explain, Quinn turned to the small crowd around them with a dramatic sigh. "I'm so glad you're being so professional about this, Ethan. Truly."
A chorus of laughter rippled through the group, and Quinn watched Ethan go pale with embarrassment. He cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to regain his composure.
"Quinn—" Ethan started, but she wasn't having it.
"Oh, don't worry," she said, putting on her best mock-sympathetic face. "It's no big deal. Just a little accidental invasion of privacy. Happens to everyone."
Ethan opened his mouth to speak again, but the words seemed to vanish as Quinn began walking away with a satisfied smirk on her face. She was really enjoying this.
But Ava was far from done with her plans for Quinn's "engagement prep." With a cheeky grin, she handed Quinn a stack of old childhood photos—embarrassing ones, of course—and whispered in her ear, "Put them up all over the place. Let's see how professional Ethan really is now!"
Quinn hesitated for a moment before grinning mischievously. She started sticking the photos up on random tables, one on Ethan's back and another next to the snack table. When Ethan noticed, his eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"Seriously, Quinn?" he muttered under his breath.
She tried to hold back a laugh. "Oh, absolutely. You didn't think this would be easy, did you?"
As the night wore on, the party became a chaotic mix of pranks, laughter, and way too many awkward moments. Ethan and Quinn, the so-called engaged couple, could barely keep their composure as the guests' amused whispers floated around them. At one point, Quinn couldn't help but laugh so hard at one of Ethan's colleagues trying to awkwardly step around a photo of Quinn in a ridiculous childhood costume that she nearly spilled her drink.
By the time the night was winding down, Quinn was exhausted but thoroughly entertained. It was, hands down, one of the most ridiculous evenings of her life, and she wasn't sure whether to be angry with Ava for putting her through it or grateful for the absurd fun.