After You
Sophia blinked, surprised. “What? I wasn’t invited.”
“Who cares?” Mary grinned, leaning in closer. “You’ll be with me. We can share the invite card. No one’s going to ask questions. Besides, what’s a party without my bestie there with me?”
Sophia stared at her friend, her heart torn. She wanted to go— of course, she did. But the thought of sneaking into a party she wasn’t invited to filled her with anxiety. “Mary… I don’t know. The likes of me at a party like that? It could get me into trouble, and I don’t want any trouble. Plus…” she hesitated, glancing down at her plain clothes. “I don’t even have anything to wear. I don’t have a dress like yours.”
Mary, the problem solver tonight, didn’t miss a beat. With a reassuring smile, she jumped off the bed and darted back to her suitcase. “Who cares about that?” she called over her shoulder, rummaging through her things again. After a few seconds, she pulled out a second dress, a soft peach colored gown, simple yet elegant. She held it up for Sophia to see. “You can wear this.”
Sophia looked at the dress, biting her lip. It was beautiful, far more appropriate for a party like Cedric Hall’s than anything she owned. But still, she hesitated. “Are you sure? I don’t want to take your clothes…”
Mary laughed, shaking her head. “Sophia, please. I have plenty of dresses. Just wear this, and we’ll have the time of our lives. Trust me.”
Sophia met her friend’s gaze, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. For a long moment, she was silent, her mind racing with all the reasons she shouldn’t go. But then, slowly, she exhaled and nodded. “Okay… I’ll go with you.”
Mary squealed in excitement, jumping up and down on the bed. “Yes! This is going to be amazing! You won’t regret it, Sophia, I promise!”
Sophia couldn’t help but smile at her friend’s infectious enthusiasm. For the first time that evening, the weight of the day seemed to lift just a little.
HOURS LATER...
Sophia sat on a wooden chair, its legs slightly uneven on the old dorm room floor, casting faint shadows in the dim glow of the standing lamp. The room felt small tonight, like it was closing in on her as she stared at her own reflection in the mirror. Her roommate Mary stood behind her, gently running her fingers through Sophia’s long brown hair, preparing it for the night ahead. The reflection they shared in the mirror spoke volumes— one full of excitement, the other full of nerves.
Their dorm was modest, lived-in, and filled with the kind of clutter that only two busy students could produce. Textbooks were strewn about, some open, some closed, a small pile of laundry was tossed into the corner. It was the kind of room that had character— small and warm, but now there was a thick layer of tension hovering over them.
As Mary worked on Sophia’s hair, fashioning two neat ponytails, Sophia’s mind raced. She wasn’t the type to go to parties, especially not one like this. Cedric Hall was not just any student—he was a name everyone whispered about. His birthday party was a big deal, the kind of event where the who’s who of the school gathered. The state of the art glass penthouse deep within the staff quarters where the party was being held was notorious. Only the elite were invited. Sophia glanced at her reflection again, her face looked calm, but inside, her heart was pounding.
Sophia exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself, but her eyes betrayed her worry.
“Hey, relax,” Mary said softly, noticing again the tension in Sophia’s shoulders. She placed her hands gently on her friend’s shoulders and smiled at her through the mirror. “Everything’s going to be fine. It’s just a party. It will be fun, I promise.”
Sophia met her gaze in the reflection, her lips forming a tight, uneasy smile. “I know… I know,” she muttered, but it was more for herself than for Mary. She was still trying to convince herself that this was the right decision. She didn’t want to disappoint Mary, and after all, she’d promised she’d go. But the thought of stepping into a world that felt so out of reach for someone like her gnawed at her insides.
Mary finished with a final, delicate tug of Sophia’s ponytails, stepping back to admire her work. “There! You look amazing,” Mary said, clearly pleased. Sophia smiled a little wider this time, admiring how neatly Mary had styled her hair. The ponytails were simple yet flattering, and they gave her an air of youth and charm.
“Thanks, Mary. I love it,” Sophia said, genuinely grateful. She got up from the chair, offering Mary the seat so she could work her magic on her friend. As the two switched places, Mary plopped down, shaking her head with excitement.
“Your turn, girl,” Sophia grinned, pushing aside her own nerves for a moment. She began to work through Mary’s dark curls, sectioning them into neat ponytails similar to her own.
The mirror caught both of their reflections again, this time with Sophia standing over Mary. As she braided and styled, the girls kept the conversation light, talking about everything except the party ahead. Mary was in high spirits, humming softly to herself while Sophia carefully weaved the ponytails. It didn’t take long for her to finish, and soon enough, Mary’s hair matched Sophia’s— two friends, two ponytails, ready for a night they wouldn’t soon forget.
“Done!” Sophia announced, stepping back to let Mary take a look.
Mary turned her head from side to side, admiring the handiwork. “We look like twins!” she joked, running a hand through her hair.
Sophia laughed softly, “Yeah, let’s just hope we don’t get mistaken for each other.”
With their hair done, both girls moved to freshen up. The small bathroom connected to their room felt cramped as they stood side by side at the sink, brushing their teeth, washing their faces, and applying a touch of makeup. The sound of running water and the clinking of perfume bottles echoed through the room, and soon the scent of their cologne— a mixture of floral and citrus— filled the air. It was a small, subtle luxury, but it made them both feel a little more prepared for the night ahead.
Mary slipped into her blue gown first, the one adorned with delicate floral patterns. She had been saving it for a night like this, and it fit her perfectly, hugging her frame in all the right places. She twirled once in front of the mirror, watching the fabric sway and catching the soft light from the lamp.
Sophia, meanwhile, slipped into the peach-colored gown Mary had lent her for the night. It was simple, elegant, and unlike anything she’d ever worn before. The fabric felt soft against her skin, and as she looked at herself in the mirror, she barely recognized the person staring back at her. It was a surreal moment, as if she had stepped into someone else’s shoes, someone more glamorous, someone who belonged at a party like this.
“You look stunning,” Mary said, beaming as she turned to face Sophia.
“So do you,” Sophia replied, offering a shy smile. They always complimented each other, but tonight it felt different. Tonight, they were both stepping out of their comfort zones, dressing up not just for fun, but as if they were preparing for something bigger. And maybe, just maybe, they were.
Mary checked her phone, and the glow from the screen illuminated her face in the now dimly lit room. “It’s 10:15,” she said. “We should get going.”
Sophia took a deep breath, the weight of the moment sinking in. “Yeah… it’s time.”
They stood there for a second, both silent, both mentally preparing themselves for the night ahead. Finally, with a playful grin, Mary gestured toward the door. “After you,” she said.
Sophia smirked, gesturing back, “No, after you.”