Ava
It doesn't take long for me to get ready with Lexie's help. She chooses a short, wine-red dress with puffy sleeves, paired with a black purse and black toe-strap kitten heels for me. She's dressed in a black leather skirt, a white top and black leather jacket.
I look at my reflection and give her a once-over look. We look like we're attending some gala. "Don't you think we're doing too much?"
Lexie gives me an incredulous look. "Did your flu take away your personality? It's Reagan Fox's party. All those rich kids are gonna be dressed to the nines."
She does have a point. With the kind of people we go to school with, a simple house party can easily turn into a celebrity get together.
When we're done with make-up, we take a few selfies then start tidying up. I have a rule to always leave my room tidy so that when I come back home I can sleep in peace.
When we walk into the sitting room, my grandma is lying on the couch watching suits, and my mum is seated on the loveseat holding a bowl of noodles. She briefly glances towards us, then does a double take, her eyebrows raising. Her eyes rake over our outfits and I can already tell what she's thinking.
"A simple houseparty, huh?" She quips sarcastically. Our outfits are anything but simple.
Lexie beats me to a response, smiling cheerfully. "Yeah. It's the first party of the semester."
I can hear my mother scoff, but she doesn't make a sound which makes me frown a little.
"Where's this party again?"
"Reagan's." This time I'm quick to answer before Lexie mentions the Fox's. My mum has always had some kind of beef with the influential families, and I'm certain that if she hears we're going to the Fox's mansion, she'll have some opinions.
She nods thoughtfully, holding my gaze intently. It's some kind of challenge and I don't look away. She finally relents and waves us off. "Alright then. You girls, be safe."
"Bye Mrs Addams," Lexie waves, more cheerful than a few seconds ago.
"Bye granny," I kiss her on the cheek and she pats my hand affectionately. My grandmother has arthritis and doesn't move around a lot, but she's one of the reasons why sharing a house with my mother is bearable. She puts her in place and dots on me.
Now don't jump to conclusions. I love my mother. She's a great mum and has done everything for me. We just have a strange relationship where I'm always trying to please her because she has such high expectations, and she can't seem to decide whether she should be grateful that she has the last piece of my dad, or whether to be strict with me so that I can do better than her. I know she loves me and she knows I love her, and we do have our happy moments. Just not everyday.
…
"We should get something to eat before we get there," Lexie suggests as she pulls out of the driveway. The Fox's mansion is a few miles from where I live and I haven't eaten all day so despite my lack of appetite, I don't say anything.
"Pizza?"
"Nah, you'll need a full meal."
I give her a confused look. "What does that even mean?"
Lexie doesn't look away from the road. "It means you're getting drunk drunk tonight. It's my mission for the night."
I frown suspiciously. "Your only mission I hope."
This time she glances my way and smirks mischievously. "Don't worry. Getting it on with someone will be your own choice."
Her phone chimes and I get it from her purse. "It's Noah. Alexa took the car so you have to pick him up." I relay the message and she doesn't respond. She has this contemplative look on her face that makes me lean forward to stare at her directly.
I smile, already feeling excited for whatever she's hiding. "Come on spill."
She sighs in resignation. "Can you at least wait till we get to Noah's? We're just about."
"Lexie," I draw out her name and she purses her lips.
I've known Lexie since we were kids and we've been best friends since middle school so I can read her every expression. Right now, I can't tell whether it's something big or silly. She has a habit of exaggerating things.
"Tell me already!"
"Okay fine. Noah is planning to set you up with someone," she blurts. The car fills with silence. Totally unexpected.
"What?"
Lexie gives me a quick glance then returns her attention on the road.
"I know what you're thinking but it's not my idea, okay? And it's not like we talk about you. It's just tahat you've been a little sad and Noah thinks that you might be lonely–"
"What?"
"–and he kinda thought that, y'know, you've never really had a boyfriend so–"
"Lexie, you're blabbing."
"... Just don't get mad at Noah because I think… I think it was Alexa's idea."
By the time she finishes and draws a breath, I'm stumped. I just stare at her speechlessly.
Lexie glances at me cautiously as we stop outside Noah's. "You're not mad, right?"
I know I can't control my facial expressions, and right now I can't really tell what my face looks like. Angry, annoyed, surprised. This makes no sense.
"Why the hell would Alexa want to set me up with someone? And why in the world are the two of them interested in my love life. Me and Noah are only friends because he's dating you. Me and Alexa are nothing more than acquaintances, and the reason I've not dated anyone is because I haven't met someone interesting enough to start a relationship with!"
I know I'm rambling when I look up and see Lexie staring up at me, her lips pressed together, then she asks in a very low voice, "Even Chris?"
My response is glare and a scoff. The front door to Noah's house opens, breaking the tension between us.
"I'm sitting on the front!" Noah yells even before he reaches the car. Normally, the statement would have turned into a childish banter between me and him, but I just open the door and move to the back.
Noah looks between me and Lexie, eyebrows raised quizzically. Lexie shrugs and he gets in the copilot seat. He turns his head to look at me as Lexie starts the car. "What's up with you?"
I heave a huge sigh, then plaster a wide smile on my face. "Nothing. Just saving my energy to get it on with someone later."
Noah raises his eyebrows at me, shares a look with Lexie then without saying a word, turns to face the front again.
I smirk, already in a better mood.