I was curled up on my bed, completely absorbed in a dark romance novel on my phone, when a knock suddenly came from the door.
"Who's there?" I called, not taking my eyes off the glowing screen.
"Baby, it's me."
"Ohhh, Mom—come in."
She stepped inside, smiling the way only she could. "Tess, dear, what are you doing?"
"Mom, I'm reading a dark romance novel titled My Billionaire Boyfriend. It's so good—the storyline, the settings, the whole background—it's just so intriguing."
She chuckled softly. "Alright, baby. Enjoy yourself. Breakfast is served. We'll be waiting in the dining room."
"Okay, Mommy. I'll join you and Dad shortly."
"Do quick," she said with a teasing grin before heading back downstairs.
I reluctantly set my phone aside, stretched, and followed her down. The dining room smelled heavenly. My parents were already seated, chatting quietly as they waited for me to join them.
"Ohhh, there's our little princess," Dad said as soon as I walked in.
"Dad," I groaned, sliding into my chair, "I'm seventeen, for heaven's sake. I'll be eighteen in 6 months. I'm practically an adult now."
"Alright, darling," he replied, eyes twinkling as he smiled at Mom in that secret way only they understood. I just rolled my eyes and grinned—it wasn't my place to interrupt what I liked to call the nature of love.
As I dug into the creamy mac and cheese Mom had made, another knock came at the door.
"I'll get it!" I called.
When I opened the door, my two best friends burst in—Charlotte and Avery. I hugged them tightly before ushering them inside.
"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe," they chorused politely.
"How are you, my darlings?" Mom asked warmly. "How are your parents? I hope everyone is doing well."
"They're fine," Charlotte said with a smile.
Mom, being the angel she is, served them generous helpings of mac and cheese. We all ate together, chatting happily while my parents asked about their studies, their siblings, their parents—and yes, put extra emphasis on their boyfriends.
As soon as we finished, I whisked the girls upstairs to my room. We spent hours talking—about our dreams, school life, our last year in senior high, college choices, their boyfriends, and everything in between. Time slipped away, and before we knew it, the clock read 4 p.m.
That's when they brought up Sofia's party.
"You're coming with us," Avery said firmly.
I shook my head. "No way."
But after an hour of endless persuasion, playful threats, and arguments I couldn't win, I finally sighed in defeat.
"Fine," I muttered.
They squealed like I'd just agreed to go on vacation with them. Their reasoning? Apparently, I wasn't enjoying life enough. And since I couldn't beat both of them, I gave in.
When I told Mom and Dad about the party, they were thrilled. They were just happy I was finally leaving my room—which they lovingly referred to as my cocoon.
The plan was to get ready at Avery's place, since she had an entire wardrobe full of outfits and constantly updated her closet. So, I grabbed my car keys, and we headed out.
Yes, I had a car. Long story short, I'd gotten my driver's license "by mistake" at the age of fifteen. Then I was in the first year of senior high. But hey—lucky me.
Avery's parents were out of town, so when we arrived at her house, I drove straight into their massive compound and parked in the garage. Then we headed up to her room to start the most stressful part of the evening: choosing what to wear.
We spent over an hour trying on outfit after outfit, until finally, the choices became clear.
Avery settled on a stunning red backless satin mini dress paired with silver strappy heels, a silver clutch, dangling silver earrings, and a delicate layered necklace that draped elegantly down her open back. She tied her hair into a sleek high ponytail that screamed sophistication.
Charlotte, on the other hand, picked an emerald-green cut-out waist dress. She paired it with black ankle boots, a black chain bag, a bold black choker, small silver hoops, and a silver cuff bracelet. Her hair was styled into half-up waves that made her look effortlessly glamorous.
Then there was me—the "nerd."
I stood in front of the mirror, torn between two dresses: a royal-blue deep V-neck wrap dress and a burgundy strappy slip dress. Both looked amazing, but the decision felt impossible.
"Guys, help me out. What do you think I should wear? These dresses are both beautiful, and I can't decide which one works best."
Charlotte tilted her head, eyeing me carefully. "The burgundy strappy slip dress. Definitely."
Avery nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it flatters your skin tone and fits your shape perfectly."
So, burgundy it was. I paired the dress with black lace-up heels, a black shoulder bag, gold hoops, and a layered gold chain necklace. I added a thin gold anklet to highlight the strappy heels and styled my blonde hair into a messy bun.
Oh, and in case I forgot to mention—I've got a figure-eight body shape, so choosing something flattering was a must.
I twirled in front of the mirror and grinned. "What do you guys think? Perfect, right? I know, I know—I've got great fashion sense for a so-called nerd."
Charlotte laughed. "Girl, you look hot. But you're still a nerd. Can you believe that if we hadn't forced you, you'd be home right now, sulking and drowning in your romance novels?"
"I don't sulk!" I protested. "Charlotte, tell her!"
She smirked. "Hmmm… she's not entirely wrong."
"Ugh! You two are the worst. I hate you both."
"Babe, we hate you more," Avery teased, blowing me a kiss.
We all burst into laughter, the room filling with warmth only best friends could bring.
"Anyway," Charlotte said, checking the time, "we'll be late. Let's go."
I loved my best friends more than I could ever say. But as I got into the car and started the engine, one thought lingered in my mind:
I really hoped this party would be over as soon as possible.