four
Aaliyah's POV
Zaria's apartment looks like Fashion Nova and Sephora went to war.
There are dresses draped over chairs, a wig head staring into my soul, three curling irons plugged in for no reason, and at least sixteen lip glosses on the dresser — all open.
And in the middle of the storm?
Me.
Half dressed.
Half anxious.
One hundred percent being bullied by my "parents."
"This skirt is illegal," I mumble, twisting in the mirror.
"It's a party," Zaria says, hands on hips. "Illegal is encouraged."
Caleb walks by with a pack of White Claws, glances at my outfit, and immediately does a double take so dramatic he almost drops the drinks.
"Oh hell no," he announces. "ABSOLUTELY NOT. Go change. Something with sleeves. And a turtleneck. And some denim. Thick denim. Jeans from 2008."
I blink. "...you want me to wear bootcut jeans?"
"I want you to wear a hazmat suit," he mutters, placing the drinks on the counter. "Looking like that at a college party? Girl, somebody's son is gonna get folded."
Zaria tosses a pillow at him. "Shut up, Caleb. She looks GOOD."
I check myself in the mirror again.
Zaria is right.
I look... dangerous.
The tiny black mini skirt is clinging to my hips like it's invested in my future.
The cropped baby tee is holding on for dear life.
My curls are bouncy.
My gloss is glossy.
My thighs are thighing.
My waist is waisting.
I've never looked more like a threat.
"Fine," I sigh. "It's cute."
"It's STUPID cute," Zaria corrects, fluffing my curls. "Like... break-someone's-heart cute."
Caleb grabs a hoodie off the couch. "Wear this."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Zaria snatches it. "No, Dad. She's not wearing a hoodie to her first back-to-school party."
Caleb glares. "I hate this."
I turn around and wink at him. "Love you too."
He groans into his hands.
Zaria checks the time and claps her hands excitedly. "Okayyyy, pregame shot?"
"Absolutely," I say.
"No," Caleb says. "You're already chaotic."
Zaria grabs two shot glasses anyway.
Caleb gives up, opens a White Claw, and mutters, "I'm the only sane person here."
We take shots, we scream, we blast music, we dance while getting dressed — the entire apartment turning into a little pre-party universe.
Zaria lines my lips.
I fix her lashes.
Caleb ties his shoes and watches us like he regrets ever inviting us.
By the time we're all ready, we look like a trio that has every intention of making bad decisions.
Zaria: sparkly top, jean skirt, braids laid.
Caleb: white tee, chain, basketball shorts — the timeless boyfriend fit.
Me: black mini, cropped tee, curls bouncing like I paid them to.
Perfume on.
Gloss applied.
Vibes immaculate.
Zaria grabs her bag. "Alright, my beautiful black people. To the car!"
"We're Ubering," Caleb corrects.
"Same thing."
We step into the hallway, laughing, loud, alive.
The air outside is warm.
The night is young.
Music is already thumping from houses down the block.
Zaria loops her arm through mine. "Tonight we're drinking. Dancing. Vibing. And letting go of every single brain cell we used this week."
"Amen," I say.
Caleb closes the door behind us and sighs. "If either of you goes missing, I'm burning the campus down."
"You're so dramatic," I laugh.
"I'm realistic," he says.
We start walking toward the curb where the Uber will pick us up.
Zaria is talking about which shots we're taking first.
Caleb is lecturing us about staying together.
I'm adjusting my skirt before it starts a lawsuit.
And I can't help wondering...
Will he be there?
My stomach flips at the thought.
Zaria nudges me. "Thinking about your scary boyfriend?"
"HE IS NOT—"
"He's totally gonna be there," she sings. "I can feel it."
I swallow.
Caleb shakes his head. "If he is, I'm supervising the entire night."
"Good," Zaria says. "Because if Leo sees her in this outfit?"
"DON'T," I groan.
Zaria smirks. "He's going to implode."
Caleb opens the Uber door for us, grumbling, "I hate everything about this."
I climb in last, smoothing my skirt, heart already pounding with the music echoing in the distance.
A party.
Drinks.
Chaos.
Vibes.
And maybe — just maybe — a certain dark-eyed boy who hasn't left my mind since class.
Tonight is gonna be interesting.