Post-pandemic

“Are you coming out tonight?” Alex's voice rang through FaceTime as she rummaged through her closet looking for an outfit.

Alex burst out laughing at her best friend’s horrified face. Even though Mila was an extrovert, the pandemic drastically increased her social anxiety and now she was terrified to go anywhere. Australia had finally opened, and they were finally able to go out to a party. Last year of high school was meant to be full of activities and fun before they headed off to university and Alex promised herself during the pandemic that as soon as everything opened, she was going to take Mila out everywhere and help her readjust to post-pandemic life. There was no way she was going to let Mila miss out on final year experiences of high school! They only had a couple more months until they graduated, and Mila left for the University of Oxford while Alex stayed in Melbourne.

“Listen” Mila dragged out her words, huddling even closer to plushie.

“Nope, I don’t want to hear it! LA LA LA LA LA! I can’t hear you! You’re coming with me no matter what so get your cute butt up and go shower Mils.” Alex was having none of it. She pulled her stern face and her best friend relented. Secretly Mila was happy that Alex was making her go to Chris’ party, but her social anxiety was through the roof! She felt sick and a constant dread filled her stomach to the brim.

“Come on Mils, one step at a time. All you need to do is take a shower right now. If you’re not feeling like going to the party it’s fine, but it’ll make you feel better if you have a shower! So come on, get into the shower and wash your hair please! Bird’s nest hair is so not in trend right now Millie.” Alex snickered to herself at the flippant glare she received from her best friend.

Mila’s heart seemed to calm down at the fact that Al wouldn’t force her to go if she didn’t want to. And surely even if she didn’t go it would be nice to have a shower, the sticky heat was doing nothing to help her nausea. She finally got herself out of her bed and washed herself clean (including the bird’s nest on her head).

“Millie why is your door locked omg. Hurry up, slowpoke.” Alex’s overly excited voice penetrated through the wooden door. As soon as Mila opened the door, she got tackled into her bed.

“Alex as much as you love me, I don’t think you want to see me naked so please let me go.” Mila laughed out clutching her towel tightly against her body trying not to reveal any skin to her best friend.

“Oh whoops. Oh, heh heh are you trying to seduce me, Millie, because I can tell you right now it’s working.” Alex’s shrieks and laughs only increased in volume as she got shoved to the floor getting hit with all the pillows on the bed.

Taking in her friend’s tomato red face, Alex pulls herself together and goes the closet a cute outfit for her friend.

“Are you feeling in the mood for a dress? Or maybe a cute skirt and top?”

“Alex, I’m not sure I’m ready to go out yet.” Mila’s small voice cuts through the dreamland Alex was in. Sighing she sits down facing her on the messy bed.

“Hey, I know it’s scary being out for the first time, but we promised each other that we would try and live it up this year. Who knows what the pandemic will disrupt again so we might as well seize the opportunities we have now? Plus, it’s no one new at Chris’ party, so wouldn’t it be nice to see old friends again?

I know you’re scared but what if we take it one step at a time. Like let’s get dressed now because you can’t stay in a towel and if we end up wearing some cute outfit ready for a party, well I’m not gonna complain”

Mila contemplated for a moment; she was scared but Alex was right. This was her last summer of high school and last summer before she went to the UK for university. And one step at a time sounded good.

Alex handed her a black leather mini skirt and a satin white cowl top. This was fine. Mila was okay, she was just getting dressed. Nothing else. Alex handed her a minimalist gold chain; a matching bracelet and a couple gold rings for her to slip on. Mindlessly she started to blow-dry and style her hair while Alex chose her shoes.

This is going great; I’m just dressing up to feel good for myself. Nothing else. There’s no pressure.

Even though a slight feeling of dread started to fill her body once again, but Mila stuck through it. She looked her reflection in the eye with a determined glint in her eyes and grabbed her makeup.

“Mils if you don’t feel comfortable going, we don’t have to. We could just order pizza and watch the new Gossip Girl.” Alex had been studying the girl for the last few minutes and hearing her lightly laboured breath made Alex feel guilty.

“No, it’s okay, I want to do this. You’re right I don’t want to miss out on anything, especially since I’ll be leaving Australia soon and I’ll need my social skills for university.”

Smiling at her amazing best friend’s response, she hands Mila some black platform lace-ups. They finish dressing up and grab a couple bottles of alcohol before driving over to the most anticipated motive of their high school. Getting a couple gulps of alcohol into Mila really seems to loosen up the tension and they grin widely when Chris greets them at the door.

“Welcome beautiful ladies! Mila, it’s so lovely to see you again gorgeous.” Chris flirts with them over the thundering music and pulls them to the dance floor squirming with people.

The bass vibrates through Mila’s heart and a familiar happy feeling rushes through her. She grabs Chris and pulls them together laughing at the joy she feels to finally be out again with friends. Winking to Alex over her shoulder Mila loses herself to the music, dancing with Chris, a slice of pizza, and a bottle of vodka.