An Introvert's Night Out

"Are you coming tonight?" A petite boy jumped into the seat next to me.

I looked over to see that it was just my friend Xander. He fixed his uniform. Brushing back his hair away from his glasses.

"I don't know. It depends. Where we going?" I sighed.

"Really? We like just talked about this." He looked unamused.

"You know I'm old and tired." I whined.

"Uh calm down. You're 26. And remember my boyfriend is hosting a party and he really wants to meet you."

"Eww why?"

"Because for some reason he does." He mocked me. 

"Yeah, I don't know." I groaned not wanting to go anywhere.

"Really? We barely get to hang out as it is and now that we finally have the same days off you're trying to flake out on me."

"Aargh! Do you really need me to go?"

I can already feel myself getting exhausted.

"Yes. And as your one and only friend, I'm deciding for you and you're coming. Also, hand me a napkin. I got mayo everywhere." He tried to clean the table with his hands.

"Um excuse me. We are not friends. We are coworkers. Get it right." I handed him one.

"Correction. In order for us to be coworkers one of us actually has to work. Which is something none of us do. Argh!" He threw the dirtied napkin on the table. 

"Stingy much? What was one little piece of napkin supposed to do for me? Look at me, I'm a mess!" He waved his hands in my face.

"Hey, no arguments here." I snickered watching him trying to slop up his mess.

"I will throw a fit. Do not test me."

"Oh my god. Fine here." I tossed a few more to him.

"Thank you." 

"But wait, what am I gonna wear? I'm not going like this."

Great now I'm panicking.

"Oh mu gursh." He took a bite of his sandwich.

"We can stop by your place so you can change. And unlike you, I brought extra clothes."

"So I'm assuming I'm driving us."  I stood up clocking back into work.

"You know my grandma would never agree to drive me all the way there. Plus she still thinks JonJon is 'just a friend'." He shoved the last piece into his mouth.

"You're lucky I tolerate you." I packed my things into my lunch bag. Walking away.

"Hey wait for me!" 

After work, I took him back to my place to help me put together an outfit.

"Oo what about this one?" He held up a tighter dress from my younger days.

"Um sir, you do see the size of that dress right? I am thick with multiple Cs. If I wear that all my Krispy Kremes will be just hanging out. Not to mention my ass. So that's a no."

"Well are we or are we not trying to find you a man?"

"Yeah, no. I'm good."

"Okay. Then how about this one? It's loose, short and cute. You are almost guaranteed to get groped in this." He held up my black dress that had a mesh layer on top. With rainbow-colored glitter infused into the fabric.

"I'm not feeling it."

"Well, I'm not helping anymore. You dress your own ass while I go raid your fridge, okay." He walked out throwing the dress on the bed.

I searched my drawers pulling out a black lace button-up long sleeve, a pair of ripped jeans, and a jean vest. I closed the door and stripped out of my work clothes. I quickly got dressed. Making sure to change the long mask that I wear to hide my face. I chose one that was decorated to look like a sugar skull. I tied up my bangs back and shook out my curls. 

"Knock, knock, bitch, you ready?" My friend peeped into the room.

"Yeah pretty much." I grabbed my purse. Clipping a pocket knife and brass knuckles to my belt loop. 

"Ooo look at you all sexy in lace. Yes, yes. Side note. I did just realize that everyone there will most likely be gay with just a sprinkle of straight folks."

"That's fine. I don't mind. Wasn't getting ready to good for anyone but myself anyway." I slipped on my rainbow Crocs.

"Really? You're gonna wear those?" 

"Yes. I can look good and still be comfortable."

"Whatever let's just go. I can't be late to my man's party."

He hurried me out of the room. Making sure to grab a can of green tea before pushing me out the door.

"You have a license right?" I unlocked the car.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Here, you drive then. You know his address and we don't have the time to get lost." I tossed the keys to him.

"Gucci." He agreed sitting in the driver's seat.

I adjusted my seat watching him do the same. It took Xander a full fifteen minutes to push up his seat enough for his feet to reach the pedals. I swear if it weren't for him I'd never leave my place. He is the only reason I see the outside world. Besides the fact that I have to work.

The night air was cool. I enjoyed the breeze that blew through the open window. It was peaceful having the wind in my hair, staring up at the night sky that was filled with thousands of little stars. I looked around realizing that we were pulling into a neighborhood. Soon Xander parked the car along the street in front of a house that was bombarded with other cars.

How could so many people be here already? The party literally just started.

"Ready?" He giggled in excitement while I sank into regret.

"That uh, that is a lot of people." My heart pounded asking me why the hell I chose to do this.

"Come on. Get out of the car." He opened my door.

I hopped out staring at the swarm of people weaving in and out of the house.

"Hey, look at me. You're gonna be fine. Just stick with me." He tried to calm me down.

"Okay. But if you ditch me I will leave without you." I snatched the keys out of his hand.

"I would never." He dramatically gasped.

I followed behind him. Greeting strange people as we pushed passed the crowd. The music muffled most of their voices. So mainly we were just looking at voiceless faces.

"Babe!" A guy with shoulder-length brunette hair and a cute smile waved over at us.

"Mmm! What took you so long?" He ran up kissing Xander.

"We had to change after work. But never mind that. This is my friend Sara. Sara this is my boyfriend JonJon." He stepped aside holding his boyfriend's waist.

"Hey, nice to meet you finally. This one here never shuts up about you. If you were a guy I'd be worried." He waved at me.

"Luckily I'm not. He has also mentioned you a good few hundred times as well." I smiled hoping I looked decent enough.

"Well if your hungry or thirsty we can head over to the kitchen." He pointed towards the back of the house.

"OMG yes please I am starving. Come on." Xander grabbed my belt loop. Tugging me along as his boyfriend chauffeured us to the food.

It was really something. A mixture of people crowded the house. Each one looking especially nice. Making me feel like I didn't belong here. The bright lights of the kitchen brought me out of my head.

"Eat up." JonJon opened two boxes of pizzas on the counter.

Both of us picked up four slices while his man made us drinks.

"He told me that you don't like strong drinks. So I made is these strawberry teasers. It's my own concoction of sprite, strawberry syrup, and vodka. I usually add strawberries inside it but someone ate all the berries!" He yelled out to someone behind me.

"Yeah, sorry about that. You know I love my fruits." A tall girl with short slick back grey hair, wearing a black button-up shirt, with the first five buttons still undone leaned up against the table next to me.

I could barely hear anything they were saying. For some unknown reason, her face interested me. If I had a pencil and paper I'd love to draw her out. Maybe it was her gorgeous smile or her perfect teeth, or maybe it was that slit in her eye brown. I'm a sucker for those.

"Hey, you good?" She asked me.

"O-oh yeah, yeah I'm good. Sorry I started daydreaming." I could feel my cheeks heat up.

"Cute. I asked for your name."

"It's Sara." I couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Nice to meet you, Sara. I'm Donnie." I had to look down. Her gaze pierced right through me.

It was too intense.

"Now where has little Xandi been keeping you? Because we should have met a whole lot earlier." She leaned closer to me.

"Blame her. She hates going out. We usually hang out at her place or mine most of the time." Xander clung to his man while he stuffed his face.

"Mmm, is that so?" She looked me up and down.

"I'm not one who really cares for people as a whole. So I enjoy my time alone." I sipped my drink.

"Can we like sit please. I've been standing all day." Xander whined.

"Yeah let's head out to the pool area. It's a little less crowded there." JonJon showed us the way.

Xander held on to my belt loop again to keep me close. Then I felt a tug from behind me. I turned around to see if I got caught on something.

"I don't want to get lost either." Donnie looked at me with hooded eyes.

"O-okay." 

At this point, it felt like my pants were going to be ripped right off my body. I wonder what they would've done if I wore a dress?

A sigh of relief escaped me as we stepped through the screen doors. People were just chilling, smoking, and drinking along the pool.

We sat on a couple of chairs in the corner. Just talking about whatever our clouded heads could think of. We shared stories of times when life was a little more than rude to us. At one point we even played heads up. Which I was surpassingly good at.

"I'm going to get some juice. Does anyone want something?" I stood up holding my empty cup.

"Naw we're good." The couple replies snuggling into each other.

"Then I'll be back."

"I'll come with." Donnie followed me back into the house.

"Hey, um do you want to dance or something? I mean since we are here." She played around with her cup.

"I'm not really good at dancing." I blushed.

"Then that'd make two of us. So, what do you say?"

"Argh! Fine. You're lucky I had a few drinks already." I placed my cup down.

She grabbed my hand. Leading me deeper into the crowd that invaded the living room. The loud music roared around us and I let it take control of my body. The vibrations from the base pulsed through me. Giving me the courage to just let go. I turned around to roll my hips back against Donnie's. Leaving no space between us. I felt her hands grip my waist. Pulling me closer. Her breath grazed the nape of my neck. Sending a chill to run down my spine.

I turn my head to her. Not realizing how close she actually was. Our lips practically touched.

"U-uh Donnie I really need a drink." I show over the music.

She stared into my eyes like she was trying to unravel some hidden secret.

"Yeah sure. Let's go to the kitchen." She grabbed my wrist.

When we reached the kitchen I realized just how hot it was in there. The windows were fogged and I was dripping with sweat.

"Here you go Sara. A nice tall glass of cranberry juice. Yum"

"Thank you. I really needed this. I am dying." I fanned myself. Slightly pulling down my mask to chug half of it down.

We both walked back outside. I took off my socks and crocs and sat at the edge of the pool dipping my legs inside. The cool water felt amazing against my heated body.

"Girl you are crazy." Donnie laughed sitting next to me.

"I was close to overheating" I chuckled feeling my face steam up.

"Can I ask you a question?" She looked into her cup.

"Sure."

"Why do you wear a mask? I think it'd be cooler without it."

"It probably would be but I never take it off in public." I touched the fabric around my neck.

"Why not?"

"Well, not to sound depressing or anything but I just don't like my face. And I don't want to give anyone the chance to judge it either." I moved my feet around in the pool.

"So there's a secret underneath there?"

"Yes and no one will ever know it." 

"Can you bring it down so it's not covering your lips?"

Hesitantly I inched the mask down. Making sure to keep my cheeks and neck covered.

"Well Sara, I think it's a shame that you would hide such a precious thing away." She leaned in closer.

"Whatever." I took a sip from my drink.

"No, I'm being for real. Sara, you're beautiful. But I guess it kind of is a good thing you're hiding it."

"And why is that?" I braced myself to hear her harsh words.

"Because that way, I'm the only one who knows exactly how beautiful you really are. It's our little secret." She winked at me.

I felt my face flush bright red. Suddenly feeling extremely heated.

"T-thank you." I wiped the sweat from my face.

"I know you said you never dated anyone, but what is your preference?"

"To be honest I'm attracted to all kinds of people. Gender doesn't matter to me." I shrugged.

"Really?" She scoots closer to me.

"Yeah. I think I just like being alone. You know. Not having to worry about anyone, is kind of nice. Plus I really don't have the energy to give my attention to anoth-" My chin was being pulled. Turning my head towards Donnie.

It took a good three seconds to realize that Donnie's lips were placed on top of my mine. I didn't know what to do. This was all very, VERY new to me.

She pulled away biting her bottom lip.

"Have you ever kissed anyone?" She gazed into my eyes.

"N-no. Never." I quickly turned away from her.

"Good, then I was your first." She smirked.

"If you don't mind, can get your num-"

"What the hell Donnie?! Who the hell is she?" A very beautiful girl with long blonde hair rushed in fuming.

"Damn it. Kaitlyn, why are you here?" Donnie got up. Standing between me and the blonde chick.

"What does that matter? So if I'm not around you'll just make out with whatever slut you can get your hands on!" She glared over at me.

"You have no right to say that. You cheated on me. Which is why we broke up! So what I do and who I do it with does not concern you." 

Xander rushed over to me with JonJon right behind him.

"Sara are you okay? What happened?"

"I'll tell you in the car." I stood up.

While they engaged in an argument about who cause who heartbreak, I shoved my socks into my pocket. Sliding my wet feet into my crocs. We slipped through the back door making our way to the car. 

I smiled touching my lips. Laughing about everything that just happened. 

"Bye babe I'll see you later. And Sara, sorry about Kaitlyn. She just gets a little crazy when it comes to Donnie." JonJon helped Xander into the seat.

"It's okay. Enjoy your party." I started the car.

"Did you have fun at least?" Xander yawned.

"Yeah, I did. But I think next time let's just go watch a movie."

"Yeah. You're probably right."