I grabbed a refreshing drink from a nearby table, the cold liquid soothing my nerves as I gulped it down. It was my way of calming the butterflies in my stomach; I needed to relax and maintain an air of composure. I glanced around the bustling hall, searching for Thia. She should have been here by now, and the worry gnawed at me. As I scanned the crowd, I couldn't make out her familiar face among the sea of guests; she must be running late. Eve, on the other hand, had been whisked away the moment we entered the venue, enveloped by a group of friends eager to catch up. While I knew nearly everyone around me, I was only truly acquainted with a select few. After some time looking, I finally found an empty seat and settled in, trying to get comfortable in the lively atmosphere.
Suddenly, I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I turned around and was taken aback to see Liam standing there, his face lit up with a bright smile.
"Hi, Kayla," he greeted warmly.
"Liam!!" That was all I managed to stammer, my surprise evident.
"It's been a long time since we've seen each other," he said, sliding into the seat next to me, the ease between us laced with an undercurrent of something more.
I felt an unexpected rush of anxiety but was astonished that I was still maintaining my cool under the circumstances.
"Yeah, I know, hehe," I chuckled nervously, a light blush creeping onto my cheeks.
"I've been looking out for you, you know. Sometimes I sit by the coffee shop close to your house just to see if I'll run into you." His sincerity caught me off guard.
I couldn't help but wonder why he was so interested in seeing me; during high school, our interactions had been minimal despite being in the same circles—he was a basketball player, and I was a cheerleader. We often crossed paths during practices and competitions, but he hardly acknowledged me except for that one time he offered me a bottle of water and a towel after I stumbled while trying to do a handstand—an embarrassing moment I never forgot.
"I no longer live with my parents," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Oh, I never thought of that possibility. Silly me," he said, giving himself a light, playful knock on the head, which brought a smile to my face.
"I'm grown now, you know," I replied, rolling my eyes in a feigned exasperation, fully understanding where he was coming from. Being the youngest child in my family, I had enjoyed a life of privilege. My upbringing had been luxurious; I was driven to and from school in elegant cars, attended by chauffeurs in sharp tuxedos. My classmates mostly hailed from affluent families with businesses of their own, which made for an environment where whispers of 'spoiled kids' often trailed us during competitions. My family, the Renzo family, stood at the pinnacle of that social hierarchy—established business leaders with a global reach, garnering respect from all corners. Sometimes, I relished the attention, while at other times, it felt suffocating—it truly depended on the day. Everyone in the school knew me and my sister Natalie; some yearned to befriend us, others held bitter resentment, while a few simply didn't care.
"Yes, I can see you've grown. Do you mind a drink?" he asked, breaking my train of thought.
"Just water or juice," I swiftly replied, not wanting to overindulge.
"Great taste, huh?" he quipped, rising with a sense of purpose to fetch our drinks.
Just then, I heard a familiar voice call my name, unmistakably Thia. I continued to scan the crowd, my heart picking up as I searched for my best friend.
"Boo!" She jumped in front of me, attempting to startle me, but I was well accustomed to her antics. I shot her a playful side-eye, shaking my head at her playful mischief.
"Can't I catch you off guard for a moment?" she pouted, her frustration barely masked by her grin.
"Must you give me a jump scare whenever we meet?" I shot back, wrapping my arms around her neck and pulling her into a warm embrace.
"Give me some space, girl; it's only been a minute, and you're already acting like a baby," she said, but her arms returned the hug, clearly enjoying the moment.
"You begged me to be here, so you have to deal with it," I replied, my tone teasingly defiant.
She opened her mouth to retort, but her words were cut short when Liam returned, balancing our drinks. He had brought a bottle of juice and a cup, which I assumed was for me, along with a glass of wine for himself. It was evident that others were careful around me, which was why my social circle remained small outside of my childhood friends.
"Here you go," he said, pouring juice into the cup and twisting the cap back onto the bottle.
"Hi, Thia," he greeted her with a nod.
"Hey," she replied, her eyes darting between us in curiosity. An awkward silence descended over the group as I sensed a shift in the atmosphere.
At that moment, I noticed Eve making her way toward us, her confident stride announcing her presence. It was as if my unspoken thoughts had summoned her.
"Hola, friends!" she said, her cheerful voice breaking the quiet, bringing a smile to our faces.
"Hey," Liam and I replied in harmony, laughter shared over the sudden camaraderie. Eve wasted no time and swept Thia into a warm embrace.
"How are you doing, Thia?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine interest.
"I'm good; I'm sure you must be doing great too?" Thia replied a hint of excitement in her tone.
"Of course, I am," Eve chirped, her enthusiasm infectious.
"Have you guys linked up before this?" I interjected, noting that their greeting seemed a tad too simple for two friends who hadn't seen each other in years.
"Yes, we went shopping together last week," Eve answered.
"Oh, I see," I replied, trying to mask my surprise.
"Let's do something fun, guys," Liam suggested, eager to inject some energy back into the conversation.
"Like what?" Eve asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Maybe a drinking game or a dancing game. Truth or Dare would be cool too," he proposed, his voice animated.
"Okay then!" Eve exclaimed, her excitement is palpable as she jumped to her feet and headed toward the MC's podium to make an announcement.
"Hello, everybody!" she called out, her voice lively and bright. "It's a pleasure to have you all at my homecoming party. I'm so happy to see that everyone turned up. Thank you so much for being here. While we're at it, we'd love to play a game to make the party lively. We have some options on the desk and will be taking more suggestions. Please raise your hands if you're interested!"
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as guests began to cheer and clap, drawn into the energy of the moment. The party was just getting started, and I felt a thrill of anticipation coursing through me.