"I can't believe we're doing this," Auriella said, pacing back and forth in Penny's room
. "What if we get caught? What if we get expelled?"
"We won't get caught," Penny said calmly, rifling through her closet. She pulled out a black top and held it up against Auriella. "Here. Wear this with your jeans."
"Penny, I'm serious—"
"So am I." Penny turned to face her, holding Auriella by the shoulders. "Listen to me. We're going to be fine. We'll stay for an hour, maybe two. We'll leave before midnight. No one will even know we were there."
"But what if—"
"Auri." Penny's voice was gentle but firm. "You've been following every rule, doing everything right, stressing yourself out for a whole week. One night. That's all this is. One night to have fun and feel like normal college students."
Auriella's chest tightened, but she couldn't argue. She was exhausted. And maybe Penny was right. Maybe one night wouldn't hurt.
"Okay," she said quietly.
Penny grinned. "Good. Now let me make you look cute."
Twenty minutes later, Auriella stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing herself. Penny had done her makeup—nothing too heavy, just enough to make her eyes pop and her lips look fuller. Her hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and the black top Penny had picked out actually looked good.
"See?" Penny said, stepping back to admire her work. "You look amazing."
"I look nervous," Auriella muttered.
"You look hot." Penny winked. "Come on. Let's go."
They slipped out of Penny's room and headed downstairs. The hallway was quiet—most students were either in their rooms or already at the party.
When they reached the first floor, Celeste was waiting by the entrance, leaning casually against the wall.
"There you are!" she said, pushing off and walking toward them. "I was starting to think you'd chickened out."
"We almost did," Auriella admitted.
Celeste laughed. "Well, I'm glad you didn't. Come on, I'll take you. The place is kind of tricky to find if you don't know where you're going."
"How considerate," Penny said, linking her arm through Celeste's.
They slipped out of Ravenwood Hall and into the cool night air. The campus was dark and quiet, only the moonlight and scattered lampposts illuminating the cobblestone paths.
Auriella's heart pounded as they walked. Every shadow felt like a security guard. Every sound made her jump.
"Relax," Celeste said, glancing back at her. "We're fine. Security doesn't patrol this side of campus much."
"How do you know that?" Auriella asked.
Celeste just grinned. "I've done my research."
They walked for about ten minutes, weaving between buildings and across courtyards, until they reached the back side of what looked like one of the older dorms. Celeste led them down a narrow stone staircase that descended below ground level.
At the bottom was a heavy wooden door.
Celeste pushed it open, and immediately the sound of music and voices spilled out.
"Welcome to the party," she said, stepping inside.
Auriella and Penny followed.
The room was bigger than Auriella expected—some kind of old basement or storage chamber that had been repurposed into a party space. The stone walls were lined with string lights that cast a warm, dim glow over everything. A makeshift bar was set up in one corner, and a speaker system blasted music that vibrated through the floor.
And there were people. Everywhere.
Way more than Auriella had expected. At least fifty students, maybe more, packed into the space—dancing, laughing, drinking, kissing in dark corners.
"This is insane," Penny said, her eyes wide with excitement.
"I know, right?" Celeste grinned. "Come on, let's get drinks."
Auriella checked her watch. 11:05 p.m.
"Penny," she said, grabbing her friend's arm. "We leave at 11:50. Before midnight. Promise me."
"I promise," Penny said, squeezing her hand. "11:50. We'll be out of here."
Auriella nodded, though her stomach was still twisted in knots.
They made their way through the crowd to the bar. Celeste grabbed a beer. Penny took a shot of something clear and strong-smelling. Auriella opted for a soda.
"You're not drinking?" Celeste asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Someone has to stay sober," Auriella said.
"Fair enough." Celeste shrugged and took a swig of her beer.
The music thumped louder. Bodies moved on the makeshift dance floor. The air was thick with heat and energy and the smell of alcohol and sweat.
Auriella found a spot on an old couch near the wall and sat down, clutching her soda. She watched the chaos unfold around her—people dancing wildly, couples making out in corners, groups of friends laughing and shouting over the music.
It was overwhelming.
She glanced at Penny, who was already laughing with Celeste, swaying to the music. Penny looked happy. Carefree.
Maybe this was good for her.
Auriella looked around the room, her unease still simmering. The noise was deafening. How was no one hearing this?
She leaned toward Celeste, who was standing nearby. "Isn't the noise too much? Won't security hear?"
Celeste grinned. "Nope. This place is soundproof. Old storage room, thick stone walls. They've been throwing parties down here for years and no one's ever gotten caught."
"Soundproof?" Auriella frowned. That seemed... convenient. Too convenient.
But Celeste was already turning away, pulled into a conversation with someone else.
Auriella sat back, trying to relax.
An hour passed.
The party grew louder, wilder. More people arrived. The dancing became more chaotic. The drinks flowed freely.
Penny was in her element—dancing, laughing, drinking shot after shot. Celeste was right there with her, equally unrestrained.
Auriella stayed on the couch, nursing her second soda, feeling completely out of place.
Then a guy approached Penny—tall, dark-haired, with a charming smile. He said something to her, and Penny's face lit up. She glanced back at Auriella and winked before letting the guy pull her onto the dance floor.
Auriella watched them for a moment, then looked around for Celeste.
She was gone.
Auriella stood up, scanning the crowd. No sign of her.
Great.
She pushed through the bodies, looking for either Penny or Celeste, but the room was too packed, too chaotic. Everyone was moving, shouting, laughing.
After a few minutes, she finally spotted Penny near the bar.
But Penny was drunk. Really drunk.
She was leaning heavily against the counter, her eyes unfocused, her words slurred as she tried to talk to the guy from earlier.
"Penny," Auriella said, grabbing her arm. "Where's Celeste?"
Penny blinked at her, confused. "Celeste? I dunno... she was just here..."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Penny giggled, swaying on her feet. "I'm great! This is fun, Auri. Isn't this fun?"
Auriella's stomach sank. Penny could barely stand.
The music suddenly cut off.
The room went silent for a split second.
Then someone shouted: "SECURITY!"
Chaos erupted.
People screamed. Bodies surged toward the exits. Drinks were thrown down. The lights flickered.
"GO! GO! GO!"
Auriella's heart slammed into her throat. She grabbed Penny's hand and yanked her toward the back of the room where most students were running toward an exit.
"Come on!" Auriella shouted.
They pushed through the crowd, Penny stumbling and nearly falling. Auriella held on tight, pulling her forward.
But then someone shoved past them—hard—and Penny's hand slipped from Auriella's grip.
"Penny!" Auriella spun around, searching frantically.
But the crowd was too thick. Too chaotic. She couldn't see her.
"PENNY!"
A security guard appeared at the main entrance, his flashlight sweeping across the room.
Panic seized Auriella's chest.
She looked around desperately for Penny, but she was nowhere.
The guard's light swung toward her.
Without thinking, Auriella turned and ran.
She didn't know where she was going. She just followed the flow of students pouring through a narrow passageway at the back of the room. Her heart pounded. Her breath came in gasps.
Behind her, she heard heavy footsteps.
The security guard was chasing her.
"STOP!"
Auriella ran harder, her legs burning. The passage twisted and turned, dark and narrow. She could barely see where she was going.
She burst through a door and found herself outside—somewhere on campus, but she didn't recognize it.
Other students scattered in every direction, disappearing into the shadows.
Auriella kept running, her mind screaming one thought over and over:
Please let Penny be safe. Please let Penny be safe.
The guard's footsteps echoed behind her, closer now.
She didn't look back.
She just ran.