The classroom buzzed with a different kind of energy that afternoon. Books lay open on desks, but no one was really reading. The party was all anyone could talk about.
"So what do you think it's actually going to be like?" Paul asked, spinning a pen between his fingers.
"Overcrowded," Mavin replied instantly. "Loud music, people pretending they're having fun."
Blue smiled faintly. "That still counts as fun."
Elise leaned closer. "I just hope it's not awkward. You know how these things get when everyone suddenly decides to dress different and act mysterious."
Alan grinned. "That's the best part."
Before Blue could reply, a familiar voice called her name from the doorway.
"Blue!"
Medina stood there, hands on her hips, already drawing attention. A few heads turned.
"You brought backup?" Asher teased.
Medina stepped inside, unfazed. "I heard there was serious discussion happening."
Blue laughed. "Serious is a stretch."
Medina joined the circle easily, adding her own theories about the party—who would show up late. The conversation grew louder, filled with laughter and exaggerated guesses, until the bell cut through the noise.
Groans followed.
"Saved by the bell," Paul said, standing.
By the time the classroom emptied, Medina was already pulling Blue toward the gate.
The next day, they went shopping together, the air buzzing with anticipation.
Blue moved carefully through the racks, eventually choosing a pair of simple jeans and a fitted T-shirt. Nothing too loud, nothing that would make her stand out more than she wanted to.
Medina, on the other hand, grabbed short jeans and a T-shirt without hesitation. "It's a party," she said with a grin. "Not a lecture."
After paying, they headed to the next store, picking up the rest of what they needed—small accessories, shoes, and last-minute essentials. By the time they stepped back outside, bags in hand, the sun was already beginning to dip.
Blue glanced at her reflection in a shop window, feeling that quiet mix of excitement and nerves settle in her chest.
************
The house felt unusually quiet without Lola moving from room to room.
Blue stood in front of the mirror, tugging lightly at the hem of her T-shirt, while Medina sat cross-legged on the bed, sorting through accessories. Lola had insisted she'd be fine, waving them off with a tired smile.
"You sure you don't want to change again?"
Medina asked, holding up two bracelets.
"This one or this one?"
Blue glanced at them, then back at her reflection. "This one's fine," she said, though her tone carried hesitation.
Medina smirked. "You've said that three times already."
Blue exhaled and sat down on the edge of the bed. "I know. I just… don't want to look like I tried too hard."
Medina softened. "You won't. You never do."
As Medina braided a small section of her hair, Blue's thoughts drifted. She wasn't sure what she was expecting from the night—nothing big, she told herself. Just music, familiar faces, laughter. And yet, beneath that calm reasoning was a flicker of something else. Curiosity. Nerves. The quiet question of who she might run into and how she would feel when she did.
She caught her own eyes in the mirror and barely recognized the girl staring back. Not because she looked different—but because she felt different. Lighter, maybe. More cautious. A little more aware of herself.
"You're thinking again," Medina said, meeting her gaze through the mirror.
Blue smiled faintly. "Am I that obvious?"
"Only when you go quiet."
Blue nodded. "I just… want tonight to be easy."
Medina squeezed her shoulder. "Then let it be."
They finished getting ready in comfortable silence, punctuated by the occasional laugh and the sound of drawers opening and closing. When Blue slipped on her jeans and shoes, she felt the anticipation settle fully into her chest—not heavy, just present.
As they headed for the door, Blue paused for a second, glancing back down the hallway toward Lola's room.
"I'll tell her everything tomorrow," she said.
Medina grinned. "Only the good parts."
Blue laughed, stepping outside, the air cool against her skin. Whatever waited for her at the party, she knew one thing for certain—this was her moment to step forward, not back.
The music reached them before the house did—low bass humming through the street, laughter spilling into the day. Blue slowed her steps without realizing it, her fingers tightening slightly around the strap of her bag.
"So," Medina said, bumping her shoulder lightly, "ready?"
Blue nodded, even though her stomach fluttered. "As I'll ever be."
The lights inside were warm and bright, bodies moving in loose clusters, voices overlapping. The air smelled like perfume and something sweet. For a moment, Blue just stood there, taking it all in, reminding herself to breathe.
Then she saw them.
Ann,Trisha and Annabelle stood near the center of the room, phones already out, angled just right. Their laughter was sharp and practiced, their poses effortless. Ann caught sight of Blue almost immediately. The smile she gave was tight—polite on the surface, strained underneath.
"Oh," Medina said casually, "they're here."
Before Blue could respond, Ann waved.
"Medina! Come take pictures with us."
Medina hesitated only for a second before stepping forward. "Sure."
Ann's eyes flicked to Blue. "You too."
The invitation didn't feel like one. Still, Blue forced a smile and joined them, standing just close enough to be included, just far enough to feel separate.
Phones flashed. Someone adjusted the lighting. Ann leaned in, laughter bright and hollow. Blue felt it then—the weight of eyes on her, the subtle shift in energy. Glares that weren't meant to be obvious but were sharp all the same.
She kept her expression neutral, her smile steady, though her chest felt tight. Just a few seconds, she told herself. It's nothing.
"Closer," someone said.
Blue stepped in slightly, the tension crawling under her skin. The flash went off again.
And again.
Then, like a lifeline cutting through the noise—
"Blue!"
She turned.
Alan stood near the edge of the room, waving her over, already grinning like he'd been waiting for the moment. "Come here, we need you."
Relief rushed through her so suddenly she almost laughed. She took a deep breath, murmured a quick excuse, and stepped away before anyone could stop her.
As she crossed the room, the noise faded just enough for her thoughts to settle. The weight lifted from her shoulders, replaced by something lighter.
Alan leaned toward her. "You looked like you were being held hostage."
Blue smiled, real this time. "Felt like it."
"Don't worry," he said. "You're safe now."