Amber's POV
The sun dipped low in the Atlanta sky, painting it in hues of gold and crimson as Luna pulled her pink Porsche into my driveway. I unbuckled my seatbelt and reached for the door handle, but not before Luna's cheerful voice stopped me.
"Don't forget! Tomorrow's going to be amazing, so don't oversleep," she said, flashing me a playful grin. "And don't forget to invite Sapphire. I've been dying for you to bring her to one of these."
I laughed softly. "Alright, alright. I'll call her tonight."
"Good. See you tomorrow, Amber!" she called, waving as I stepped out of the car and onto the stone path leading to my house.
The cool evening air nipped at my skin as I waved back, watching Luna's car glide out of the driveway. My parents had already turned on the porch light, its warm glow guiding me inside.
The moment I walked through the door, the familiar scent of baked chicken wafted through the air, and I smiled. My mom, Sheila, was in the living room with my dad, Gray, both of them lounging comfortably on the sofa with mugs of tea in their hands.
"Hey, honey!" my mom greeted, setting her mug down. "How was your day?"
"It was good," I replied, slipping off my shoes by the door and stepping into the cozy warmth of the house.
"Good? That's all we get?" my dad teased, raising an eyebrow. "Come on, give us the details."
I laughed, shaking my head as I dropped my bag onto the nearby chair. "Not much to tell, really. Luna and I just ran a few errands and talked about tomorrow. You know how she is—she's already planning every little detail for the party."
Mom chuckled knowingly. "That girl has enough energy for three people. I hope you're ready for tomorrow."
"I think I'll survive," I said with a grin. "Anyway, I'm going to head upstairs and freshen up."
They both nodded, and I made my way to my room, the wooden stairs creaking softly under my feet. Once inside, I kicked off the rest of my day and let the warm water from the shower wash away the hours. After I changed into my comfy pajamas, I picked up my phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found Sapphire's name.
It only took two rings before she picked up. "Amber!" Sapphire's cheerful voice greeted me, making me smile.
"Hey, Sapphire. How are you?"
"I'm good! What's up?"
I settled onto my bed, propping myself up with a pillow. "So, Luna and I are going to a party tomorrow night, and I was wondering if you'd like to come with us?"
There was a brief pause on the other end before Sapphire squealed in excitement. "Are you serious? Of course, I'll come! You should've told me sooner."
I laughed. "I know, I know. It's kind of last minute, but I figured you'd enjoy it. It's supposed to be a pretty big party."
"Amber, you know me too well. I've been dying for an excuse to dress up."
"Perfect. We'll pick you up tomorrow night. Just be ready to have fun."
"You don't even have to ask," she said, her voice full of excitement. "I'll see you tomorrow!"
We exchanged a few more pleasantries before hanging up. I set my phone down on the nightstand and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow was going to be fun, but something about it left a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Sunday night arrived faster than I expected. The sky was painted in deep blues and purples as I sat at my vanity, applying the finishing touches to my makeup. The glow of the lamp lit up the small jars and brushes scattered across the surface, and my reflection stared back at me with a mix of nerves and excitement.
For my outfit, I'd chosen a short, sparkly silver dress that clung to my figure in all the right places. The hemline rested mid-thigh, and the straps were thin, leaving my shoulders bare. I paired it with silver heels and a small clutch, keeping my jewelry minimal with simple stud earrings. My hair was curled in soft waves, cascading over my shoulders.
I was just slipping my phone into my clutch when the doorbell rang.
"Coming!" I called, heading downstairs.
When I opened the door, Sapphire stood on the porch, looking like she'd stepped out of a fashion magazine. She wore a sleek black dress with a plunging neckline and a slit that ran up to her thigh. Her heels matched, giving her a statuesque elegance, and her makeup was flawless, with bold red lips that made her look like a movie star.
"You look amazing!" I said, genuinely in awe.
"So do you! That dress is perfect on you," she replied, giving me a quick hug.
"Thanks. Let me just say goodbye to my mom, and we can go."
I turned to where my mom was standing in the doorway to the living room. "Bye, Mom! Don't wait up."
"Be safe, girls," she called back, waving as we stepped outside.
Sapphire and I climbed into her car, and we made the short drive to Luna's house. When Luna got in, she immediately started talking about how Marco hadn't picked up her calls all day.
"Honestly, I don't know what's up with him," Luna said with a pout as she adjusted her seatbelt. "But whatever. I hope he calls me or you whenever he sees my calls.
Sapphire and I exchanged amused glances, and the three of us chatted the rest of the way to the party.
The mayor's son's house was packed. Cars lined the driveway and spilled onto the street, and the thumping bass of the music could be heard from a block away.
"Wow," Sapphire said, taking in the sight as we parked. "This is insane."
The three of us stepped out of the car, the crisp night air nipping at our exposed skin as we made our way to the house. The front yard was crowded with people, some already tipsy and laughing loudly.
Inside, the scene was just as chaotic. The living room was filled with dancing bodies, the music so loud it felt like the floor was vibrating. A couple was making out in the corner, completely oblivious to the world around them. The smell of alcohol and sweat hung heavy in the air, and I had to resist the urge to wrinkle my nose.
"This place is crazy," Luna said, her eyes wide as she took it all in.
We made our way toward the kitchen, dodging dancers and stepping over discarded cups. The counters were lined with bottles of every kind, and the keg in the corner had a line of people waiting their turn.
As the night went on, the energy of the party only seemed to grow. People were laughing, dancing, and letting loose in every corner of the house. For a moment, I let myself get swept up in the excitement, enjoying the feeling of being young and carefree.
But then, out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw someone familiar. Someone standing on the balcony, looking down at the crowd.
I shook the thought away, telling myself it was just my imagination. Tonight was about having fun, and I wasn't going to let anything ruin it.