Kristie consoles Erin

Downstairs, Kristie and Erin had slipped out of the kitchen, trying as hard as they could to look invisible as they navigated the crush of bodies clustered around the stairs. The thud of music followed them relentlessly, vibrating up through their shoes and the floorboards as they climbed. Erin kept her head down and her eyes fixed on the stain on her dress, trying to pretend the people around didn’t exist. She was still blotting at the sticky mess with a handful of crumpled napkins.

The upstairs hall was mercifully a little bit quieter, even if it was only a touch. Looking around for where to try, Kristie only spotted a couple making out against the wall near the end of the hallway, lost in their own world. As they hovered uncertainly at the top of the stairs, a tall, good-looking guy caught their eye. He’d been leaning over the banister, and something in Erin’s strained expression must have caught his attention.

He stepped over with a friendly enough, if not half-crooked, smile. “Hey, you two looking for a bathroom? There’s one just down there.” He nodded toward a door halfway down the hall.

Kristie thanked him and led the way, but when they tried the handle, it was locked. Before either could protest, the guy was already there, reaching past them to rap on the door. “Yo, man- wrap it up!” He fished a key out of his pocket, unlocked the door, and, with a quick, uninterested glance at the half-panicked guy at the toilet, said “Shaking more than once is just playing with it, man. Come on, let’s go.” And with that, he shepherded Erin and Kristie inside before even giving him a chance to tuck himself away. “Ladies’ emergency, bro. Move it,” he said, grinning as he gently closed the door behind them, as soon as the occupant stepped out.

His casual charm and helpfulness were appreciated by Erin, long after the door clicked shut.

Inside, the bathroom was lit by harsh overhead bulbs. The tile looked cold and sterile compared to the rest of the house. Erin darted to the sink, dabbing furiously at the front of her dress, not bothering to hide the shake in her hands. Kristie locked the door, then leaned back against it, crossing her arms.

“Hey,” she said quietly, catching Erin’s eye in the mirror. “Screw Madison. Seriously. You looked awesome before that bitch even opened her mouth.”

Erin tried to laugh, but it came out thin. “It’s not just her. It’s… everything. I feel like everyone’s been staring at us since we walked in.”

Kristie stepped closer, softening her voice even more. “That’s because they were. We actually turned heads tonight. For once, we weren’t invisible.” She nudged Erin’s arm, managing a small, real smile. “That counts for something.”

Erin dabbed at her dress a little more, watching the stain spread and darken, then gave up, unable to stop her shoulders from sagging even more. “This isn’t the way I want to get noticed!” she exclaimed, exasperated and pulling at her dress. “I just… wanted to fit in. Not be a meme by Monday.”

Kristie sighed, pulling a wad of paper towels from the dispenser. She started helping Erin blot, ignoring the silence between them that was thick with frustration and unspoken regret.

Somewhere down the hall, a burst of squealing laughter echoed. Someone was having a much better night.

Kristie tried to keep her tone light, even as she wiped at Erin’s dress. “Look, let’s get you cleaned up. If we want to bail, we can try to find Chet, but either way, we bail. But I say we give it one more shot. We didn’t come all this way just to let some basic sorority queen run us off.”

Erin met Kristie’s eyes in the mirror, a little of her old fire returning. “Okay. But I’m only doing this because of you.”

Kristie managed a small, real smile. “Thanks. And I’d do the same for you. I mean, if our roles were reversed and I was the one covered in pink jungle juice and social anxiety.”

Erin finally let out a tiny laugh, rolling her eyes. “Thanks.”

They shared a moment, showcasing their real friendship, enough to cut through the haze of humiliation. With a last look in the mirror, Erin squared her shoulders and took a steadying breath.

Kristie cracked the door open, scanning the hall before motioning Erin out. The music washed back in, punctuated by the thump of footsteps and muffled shouts from the party below.

The guy who’d let them in earlier, a lean, sharp-featured sophomore in a backwards OGT cap, was leaning against the wall, texting. He looked up when they emerged, raising his eyebrows in a mix of curiosity and concern.

“Hey, you two alright?” he asked, slipping his phone into his back pocket, and looking down at Erin’s dress. “Did Madison do her usual ‘queen of mean’ routine?”

Kristie shrugged. “It’ll be fine. No damage other than her… costume.”

He grinned, nodding at Erin’s dress. “You wear that like a badge of honor. Most people wouldn’t’ve lasted five minutes before they bailed. Respect.”

Erin attempted a polite smile, still not quite able to meet his eyes. “We’ll survive. Thanks for checking.”

He looked them both over, his eyes lingering just a fraction longer on Erin. Kristie, with her higher energy and blonde hair teased up in what must’ve been differently colored hairsprays for all he knew, looked every bit the part in the electric blue dress that was covered in sequins. But it was Erin who stood out to him, though not in the way she probably feared.

She was smaller, with a trim, delicate frame and understated curves. The pink skin-tight ‘80s dress hugged her in all the right places so that even the heavy shoulder pads somehow made her seem both taller and more fragile at the same time. The glasses perched on her nose gave her a quietly thoughtful look, an unexpected contrast to her party outfit. He caught himself wondering how many girls could pull off that kind of throwback and make it work.

He noticed the subdued lines of her slender waist, the subtle flare of her hips, and how the dress pulled smooth over a tight little ass, nothing flashy, but enough to make a guy like him look twice. She wasn’t the kind of girl who usually drew every eye in the room, but she was certainly attractive, and something about her made her impossible for him to ignore.

He smirked, finally breaking the silence. “So, uh, I’m guessing you two are here with the… what do I even call him? The roided-up Don Johnson? The guy in the white blazer that looks like he wrestles grizzly bears for cardio?”

Kristie grinned, some of her confidence returning. “Yeah, that’s our… friend. Chet.”

He let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “Well, I hope you’re not looking for him right now. Pretty sure that dude’s destroying my bed as we speak.”

Erin’s mouth dropped open; Kristie tried and failed not to laugh. “Wow. Sorry about your furniture.”

“That was probably the laughing we heard in the bathroom,” Kristie said, looking over at Erin.

He shrugged, resigned but amused. “Honestly, it’ll probably be worth it for the story. Just… I hope he doesn’t break my headboard.”

Kristie offered a concerned smile with sparkling eyes. “No promises he doesn’t. But if he does, I’d bet he can fix it.”

The guy chuckled, giving them a warm smile and a nod. “I’m Tyler, by the way. Hope you two still find a way to enjoy the party.”

“I’m Kristie, and this is Erin,” Kristie said, before turning them both toward the stairs. “We really appreciate all your help.”

He watched as they started to make their way back downstairs, watching Erin’s butt until it was out of his view.

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