As I finish tying my sneaker, an almost perfectly timed honk sounds from the driveway. The soft glow of headlights beam through the windows. I walk over to Ava's lime green 2005 PT Cruiser. As usual the bass can be heard, and almost felt, from outside the car. It quickly dies as I open the door and get in after she throws her bag into the backseat. As I slip into the seat, I kick the miscellaneous empty cans of energy drinks and herbal teas until my feet touch the floorboard.
Ava's car is.. an otherworldly experience at night. The compact cabin is illuminated with strips of lights lined in most corners and ledges. The the color change flows in waves of rainbow, making the stickers covering the dash and the field of fake flowers she painstakingly stapled into the fabric of the ceiling shift in color to varying degrees.
"Did you see the video Jacob posted on his story? Since when did him and Kayla break up?" The wild look in Ava's eyes tells me she's already had a drink or two. Great.
Ava and I have been friends since third grade when her family moved from the east coast to be closer to her only living grandparent. We became inseparable, even when our tastes grew apart. She's always stood out from a crowd, constantly changing her hair color and quickly amassing a sizable amount of piercings. I never grew to find what made me confident or what I liked. Ava has always been more of the stand out. Even now in the crocheted black halter top I made her, chunky glitter hair sprayed into the hair line of braids. I can't help but admire her confidence even just sitting in my driveway.
"Weren't you like hoping for that?" I ask, watching as she pulls into reverse and rolls out of the driveway. The light up aqua numbers on the dash read 10:37pm.
"Manifesting. But yes, she's a massive twatbag." She corrects, pulling her phone out to change music and turn up the music again as she costs down and out of residential.
Since graduating high school, Ava and I decided to enroll in our local university together. She nicknamed herself the "girl boss of physics" due to her being 3 in roughly 89 physics majors. I on the other hand developed a passion for English, specifically for creative writing. I hope one day to share my own stories with the world.
Tonight is another of Ava's "good ideas" to try have a memorable college experience and show up to as many parties as possible. Tonights antics are curtesy of Jeremiah Haulverson's lake front home being vacant while his parents are gone. Most of our graduating class attend the same university, joy.
Ava's music and her voice start to blend together as I stare out the passenger window at the residential houses becoming fewer and businesses more frequent. The only way to get to Jeremiah's is straight through to the other side of town. I focus more on the DIY lavender air freshener Ava attempted and made way too strong. Even completely closed and the vents off, it still tickles at the back of your throat. Every time I complain about it, I'm reminded of her stubbornness and have learned to stop bringing it up.
"Did that make sense? I hope I don't get it mixed up." It's not until she asks that question that I snap back to attention, looking over.
"Umm, yeah that made sense." I reply.
As she parks and turns to me, giving me a skeptic look and narrowing her eyes.
"Earth to Jane. Are the lights on today?" She asks jokingly with the faintest hint of annoyance behind it.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to." I apologize and offer a sheepish smile.
She turns the car off and gets out, coming around to my side of the curb and puts her hands on her hips. It's now that I can see her sporting a deep orange mini skirt that complimented her magenta hair, golden clips in it. She was always so bright and infectiously in a good mood.
"I'm not mad. But you're not wearing that." She says and motions at the zip up hood I had on. I make a face at her in protest, but she don't not budge, in tru Ava fashion. I sigh and give in, taking the maroon cover off. The cool air rushes to my bare arms and I feel goose bumps rise.
I watch Ava give me another look as she looks over my plain blue Levi's and a graphic t-shirt. She's clearly disappointed in my choice. It only makes me give her a look back.
"I gave you my sweatshirt, that's progress." I remind her.
She thinks about it briefly and nods, acknowledging it as a win as grabs my hand to walk to the front door. Cars line down the street for blocks from the house. As we walk passed expensive lakeside homes, I realize the stark difference in us and people like Jeremiah. His home is huge. We're greeted by a guy who I recognize vaguely around campus. He waves us through, making a comment to Ava. I'm too engrossed on looking at the people here to listen to their passing comments.
The house is a large mid-century modern home. Large vaulted wood ceilings span as far as I can see. All floors are matched to the same dark oak. It looks like a staircase to more rooms and bathrooms above, leading to a large railed landing that oversees the front entryway. I follow Ava as she tugs on my hand to walk passed the stairs and to the open concept kitchen. There are two large plastic laundry bins full of mixed drinks accompanied with cases of canned drinks, and bags of snacks littering the island. The kitchen table is out fitted with a crowd of people cheering on the game of pong happening.
Ava weaves between people to the drinks, taking two cups and ladling them full of the mystery bright blue drink. She hands me mine and raises hers, looking at me. The crowd from the right of us cheer and chatter as someone makes a shot. We both try knock back a couple of gulps from the full solo cups. My face quickly scrunches up at the sour and burning feeling in my throat. Ava is much more receptive to the drink, getting a kick out of my reaction.
I know if I want to at least enjoy being out, I was going to need somewhere less noisy. Ava is quick to pick up on this and automatically leads the way to the back yard. I see an in ground pool, littered with more people and music playing on someone's speaker. A pool right by the lake seems a bit self indulgent.
"You think he'll be here?" Ava asks, siting off the side of the deck and nursing on her drink.
"Who, Jacob?" I ask, looking over as I follow suit.
"Yes, him. Who else!" She exasperates, elbowing me. "Now I have the chance for a rebound." She jokes.
I smile and roll my eyes, taking small sips of my tooth decaying level of sweet rubbing alcohol.
"I have great authority to say probably. Him and Jeremiah are good friends." I say. It's only logical.