"So, are you coming to my sleepover tonight?" My coworker Jas asked with her hand on her hip, leaning on my desk. She knew I was quiet and didn't socialize much, especially at work. I started to think that her invite was out of sheer pity of my nonexistent life.
"I don't know," I began. "You know I don't do social gatherings--sleepovers at that."
"Come on! Don't be a buzzkill."
I continued typing on my computer, acting as if I didn't hear her.
"There'll be drinks!" she said.
I assumed that that was her way of trying to convince me. I gave her a look of baffle. What made her think I drank?
"Hell, and soda. Juice. Whatever your libation."
"Yea. I think I'm good." I giggled.
"Look. If you change your mind, my address is on the invite. Just come through." She handed me a pink and red invitation, her address showing that she was located on Fern Street, about a five-minute drive from where I lived.
"Who's all gonna be there anyway?" An introvert's favorite question when they get invited to an event and wanted to know what the potential outcome was gonna look like.
"Some of the coworkers--Mya, Shawn, Sienna. And a few of my other homegirls."
Sienna? I wondered if she'd be there. She was quiet like I was. She came to work, kept her head down, did her duties for the day, and turned around and did the same thing the other four days of the week.
"Your inquiry leads me to believe you'll be attendance," she said slickly.
"Just wondering."
"Well Jay, hope to see you there. You'd be missing a good time." Jas gave me a sly smirk.
I gave the invitation another once-over. I noticed the picture of Jas and a few of her friends dressed in lingerie on the front. The invitation headline read, "Girls' Night In."
"So, are we supposed to dress sexy for this occasion?" I dreaded the answer as I pondered on my wardrobe. I didn't own a piece of sexy clothing. Not only was my social life nonexistent--so was my sex life. I didn't have much of a need for anything outside of work clothes and sweats.
Jas laughed. "Just be comfortable. It is a sleepover." She started towards her desk. "Later love!"
Nothing about this night would be comfortable if I decided to show up. I haven't been to a sleepover since I was young. I didn't know grown women had these. But then again, I practically lived under a rock and didn't know about most things that existed outside of my precious little bubble. Maybe going out tonight would be just what I needed. It would give me a chance to engage, possibly meet some new friends. And the drinks that would be available would probably be just what I needed to loosen up.
Five o'clock arrived and it was quitting time. "Cheers to the FREAKIN' WEEKEND!" I'd say in my head in my best Rihanna voice every Friday afternoon, even though I rarely had anything to do with my weekends. I eagerly stood up to prepare to head out, Jas's invitation in hand. I glanced it over, still debating my attendance.
"Are you going?" A voice crept up on me from behind. It was Sienna.
"I'm not sure yet actually. You?"
"Same. I don't know. I don't really do these things."
"SAME! I'm a complete hermit. But I've been thinking, maybe I should. It might actually be fun."
"True. I just don't know what I'm gonna wear though."
"SAME!" I exclaimed.
There were a lot of "sames" about us. I didn't realize our temperaments were so in common. Another introvert that may or may not have decided to engage in tonight's festivities.
"Well, maybe I'll see you there," she said.
"Maybe."
Sienna smiled and walked out the door to the parking lot. I peered back at the invitation.
"Maybe I'll just take a peek in my drawers," I said to myself.
I made it home and dropped my bag on my bed and pulled open my dresser drawers. Jas's sleepover started at seven thirty. I wanted to be on time, which to me meant about fifteen minutes early. I didn't believe in the whole "fashionably late" thing--drew too much attention.