9. New Year’s Eve #2
Applying my makeup is the next stop in my transformation journey.
Not too much, just enough to accentuate my features and give me a little extra sparkle for the evening.
Finally, I retrieve the dress from the bed, slipping into it with care.
The fabric hugs my body in all the right places, making me feel confident.
I do a little twirl in front of the mirror; the dress twirling with me.
Hazel gives me a nod of approval, a wide smile on her face. “Amelia, you look great,” she says, and I can’t help but return her smile.
As I share in Hazel’s infectious enthusiasm, my mind can’t help but wander to Reid.
I wonder what he’s doing right now, who he’s with.
A part of me wishes we were ringing in the New Year together, but the distance between us feels like a chasm I don’t know how to bridge.
A sudden impulse grips me and I find my fingers moving before rational thought can catch up.
I pick up my phone, my fingers skimming swiftly over the screen as I type out a quick message. “Thinking of you. Wishing you were here to bring in the New Year.”
I hit send, a wave of apprehension washing over me. The phone feels heavy in my hand as I wait for his response, the silence stretching on. Minutes tick by, but my screen remains a stark, empty void. My heart sinks a little.
I put the phone down, forcing a smile onto my lips and turning back to Hazel, but the aching silence of my phone lingers in the back of my mind.
We make our way to the car, Hazel in the driver’s seat and me as the designated DJ.
As we hit the road, I select a playlist full of our favorite songs and crank up the volume.
The music blares through the speakers, filling the car with a rhythm that has us bobbing our heads and tapping out the beat on the steering wheel and dashboard.
Our voices ring out, a harmony of laughter and off-key singing that fills the car.
I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed, this free.
Soon, the city fades away, replaced by the neon lights of the club. We pull into the chaotic mess that is the club’s parking lot, a sea of cars crammed into the limited space available. It takes a while, but after what seems like an eternity, Hazel expertly maneuvers the car into a tight spot.
We barely wait for the engine to quiet before we’re out of the car and making our way through the throng of people towards the entrance of the club. The sound of music growing louder with each step. As we step through the entrance, the atmosphere hits me like a tidal wave.
The music is a pulsating heartbeat that fills the room, reverberating through the air and sinking into my bones.
The club is a kaleidoscope of light and sound, the flashing neon lights painting the crowd in a myriad of colors.
Laughter and chatter rise above the music, a symphony of human connection.
People are dancing, their bodies swaying in sync with the rhythm, lost in the euphoria of the moment. The air is thick with anticipation, the electricity of the impending countdown hanging heavy in the air. I can feel the energy of the room seeping into me, igniting a spark of excitement.
It’s intoxicating, overwhelming, exhilarating all at once. I look at Hazel, her eyes reflecting the same thrill that thrums through me. We’re here, ready to usher in the New Year amidst this chaos of joy and celebration.
Hazel’s eyes suddenly spark with recognition, locking onto someone in the crowd.
Curiosity piqued, I turn around to see a guy weaving his way towards us through the pulsating throng of people.
As he gets closer, Hazel’s grin widens, and she pulls him into an exuberant hug.
Hazel breaks away from the embrace and turns to me,
“Amelia, meet Jamie,” she says, her voice barely audible above the thumping music. “Jamie, this is my best friend, Amelia.”
I extend a hand towards him, which he shakes warmly.
“Jamie’s brother owns the club,” Hazel adds, her voice filled with pride. She turns to him. “Thanks for hooking us up, Jamie!”
Jamie chuckles, his eyes twinkling under the neon lights. “Just remember, if you ladies get caught,” he warns playfully, “I’ve never seen you before in my life.”
He winks, then adds, “Enjoy your night, and if you need anything, come find me.”
With a last nod and a wave, Jamie disappears back into the crowd, leaving Hazel and me to welcome the new year in style.
“Hazel, can you grab us something to drink?” I ask, nodding toward the bar.
She quirks a brow but nods in agreement, turning on her heel and heading towards the bartender.
I make my way through the crowd, heading towards the neon sign that shows the bathrooms. The music fades a little as I push open the bathroom door, replaced by the echo of running water and indistinct chatter.
I quickly head into the first open stall, closing the door behind me and sliding the lock into place.
Pulling out my phone, I unlock it and immediately check for any notifications.
Nothing. No messages from Reid. I sigh, debating my next move.
After a moment of hesitation, I decide to call him.
Holding my breath, I press the call button and bring the phone to my ear.
The phone rings a couple of times before it’s picked up, the sound of blaring music coming from the other end.
“Hello?” I say, trying to make myself heard over the chaos in the background. No response. I try again, “Hello? Reid?”
A pause, then, “Hello, Slut,” comes the scathing reply. Jada’s voice, unmistakable and venomous, sends a shockwave of surprise and anger through me.
“Jada, what are you doing answering Reid’s phone? Where is he?” I ask, my voice intensifying with a mixture of anxiety and anger. My heart thumps loudly in my chest as I await her response.
“He’s not available right now, Amelia,” Jada replies curtly, her tone injecting an unwanted, icy vibe into the conversation.
“And what are you doing in his room, Jada?” I press on, my suspicions swelling.
“There’s a party in the dorm, Amelia. Not that it’s any of your business,” she retorts, her words dripping with her usual disdain. I’m about to offer a sharp retort when I hear her speak again, her voice muffled as if she’s not speaking directly into the phone.
“Reid, your phone was ringing. It’s Amelia. I figured I’d answer.” In the background, I can hear the muffled voices of other people, the indistinct chatter adding to my growing unease. It sounds like someone has covered the mouth of the phone, muffling the sounds.
“Reid?” My voice comes out more like a growl than a question, anger simmering in my chest.
“Amelia?” His voice is laced with surprise.
“Where were you?” I ask.
“I was helping one guy with something. Why did Jada answer my phone?”
“Why is she in your room in the first place?” My voice spikes, suspicions gnawing at my insides.
“She must have been looking for me,” he replies, sounding evasive.
“And why would she be looking for you, Reid?” I press on, my mind racing with unwanted possibilities.
“Are you just calling to argue with me, Amelia?” He snaps back, his tone matching mine with its sharpness.
“No, Reid, I called because I wanted to speak to you. But it seems your attention is elsewhere!” I retort, hurt seeping into my voice.
“We wouldn’t be arguing if you’d just trust me, Amelia,” he counters. His words hang heavy in the silence that follows, each of us grappling with our own emotions.
Silence swallows my anger and I whisper, “If you weren’t acting so weird, Reid, maybe I would.” The silence stretches between us, a chasm growing wider by the second.
“Happy New Year, Reid,” I finally whisper, my voice barely above a breath. Without waiting for a reply, I end the call, the finality of the hang-up ringing loud in my ears.