Chapter Text
When it comes to rooftop parties, I was told to wear extra layers to protect myself from the cold. These warnings fell on deaf ears when I heard that Zoey was going to be there. I would not allow myself to be seen wearing an amalgam of warm and comforting clothing by her. My attire had to be perfect, snug, ‘elegant’, and proper. She needed to see me, I needed to see her, and I can't allow myself to be anything less than perfect.
As per usual, my closet did not contain the stunning outfits that I imagined myself in on the metro ride back from work. Improvisation has always been my strong suit, and I was ready to flex that muscle as I tore through my bland closet. First, I decided to start with my brown docs. I will never be caught in the middle of the night without my two gals. Rummaging through my closet, I found a very flattering short-sleeve white shirt along with some lacy long sleeves to go under that. Those matched perfectly with my old black plaid skirt that I had not thought about since my June semester. All of this, combined with the powers of a flattering black belt and tights, meant I was ready for the challenge of a rooftop party!
I knew I could not escape my home without judgment, but stupidly I thought if I snuck to the front door I could leave without being noticed by…
“Wow, someone is looking awfully spiffy today,” Sherry said while sprawled out on the couch, eating a bowl of Raisin Bran.
Sherry was still wearing her normal clothes from work. Her blonde hair contrasted the goth, emo, punk aesthetic that she seemed to strive for, no matter the time or the place.
“Before you decide to cast judgment on me from your ivy tower, I will let you know that I was invited to a rather prestigious party,” I said, while inching my way toward the front door.
“Yeah, right, I bet a ‘party' for you is going out to another board game night with your college friends.”
“Quite the opposite!” I said confidently. “I was invited to a rooftop party. There's going to be things like, um, beer! Music! And dancing! My famous meter is about to go up like a million times just by being there.”
Sherry looked at me with the most confused look I have ever seen in my three years of living with her. “You are going to a party. An honest-to-God, balls-to-the-walls rager. The one time you go out on the town, is the one day YOU DONT INVITE ME?!?!”
I jump at the sudden power and volume increase in her voice. “It's not my choice! I got an invite from someone, and they said no plus ones, because they don't want it to ‘be a drag’. ” “Who is hosting it? Tell me right now. Give me their first and last name, and their Instagram handle, and their social security number for good measure.” Sherry starts approaching me like one of those eager salespeople at the mall.
“Their name is Anna Bower; she is one of my old work friends.” I quickly pull out my phone and pull up her Instagram page. “This is her Instagram, but I doubt you know her.”
Sherry scanned the phone quickly while typing the handle on her phone.
“I KNOW HER! YES!” Sherry quickly messages Anna, and not 10 seconds later, I hear a ping coming from her phone. “I got invited, let's go.”
“What? How do you know her? How did you get invited so fast?” I didn't even have time to question before Sherry quickly grabbed her keys off the wall and started dragging me out the door. “She is one of my clients! So she owes me many favors, including the discount that I gave her on her snakebites.”
“Okay, fine! Just try not to get too trashed tonight if we are taking your car, I don't want to have to drive it back here, your Chevy hates me!” “First of all, my Chevy does not hate you. Second of all, I will not be trashed at all. Tonight is going to be a clean night for me!” “Well, that's a shocker,” I said with an exasperated tone.
“I will be the one driving you home after you get trashed,” Sherry said
“What makes you assume that I will be trashed?”
Sherry looks at me with her eyebrow raised high, “The most I have ever seen you drink is in the light amount that gets infused into chicken when you cook it.”
“Actually, fun fact. When I cook with wine, most of it gets burned away, so it barely has any effect on those who consume it!” I say with a wide smile on my face.
Sherry pats my head while saying, “I know, Luna, I know. Also, are you really going in that? It's going to be cold tonight.”
“I'm fine, besides my body is very resistant to the cold, and I have been told that alcohol makes you warm, so I won't need anything else.”
A long silence is held while Sherry stares me in the eyes.
“I am bringing your jacket whether you like it or not,” She says, while grabbing my massive winter coat from the jacket hook.
And so, I can play the passenger princess in Sherry's car. This allows me to engage in my favorite tradition of watching an endless string of TikToks in an attempt to ward off anxiety. It helps. During this time, I decided to check out Zoey’s Instagram page; she is always posting, and I wanted to be prepared to see how bad I was gonna look compared to her. Her story was filled to the brim with posts talking about her day at the office. A quick coffee in the break room, a stack of papers at her desk, a midday stunning fit check, and an endless stream of thoughts throughout the day. Most people skip past those, but I don't. Zoey's thoughts are always so compelling and beautiful. I could sit and read what she writes for days on end. Her last post showed her in a meeting room with the caption “Looks like I am staying late, and to think I wanted to party. Smh, can't have shit. Check back in to see my boss be a bitch throughout the night.” “Fuck” I said in a monotone voice as I stepped out of the car, approaching the party. “What's wrong?” Sherry said. “I don't want to be here… Can you drive me home?”
I never thought it would get this cold. Thank you for reading! If you liked it, please let me know!