Second subject change: PARTY TIME!

"Alright, why don't you tell us more about where we're going this evening?" you ask to give Ian something else to talk about.

"Right, so like we texted you a lot of students with pets like to get together, kind of like we do at the park, but this is just for people our age. Sometimes it's only a couple of people and sometimes it's a real crowd. Tonight there's a party in one of the old college buildings, and they want as many of us to show up as possible because it's the first event of the semester."

"It's also a place for pets to show off their accessories (and their owners!), which is why I said you should dress up," Eric points out as you leave the game room.

"Well we weren't going to show up in rags, even if we were only visiting you four," Ashley says.

At the door you stop while the barefooted Melanie slips into a pair of sandals and Deedee dons a pair of white faux-leather boots. Even the laces are white, which makes their shiny red aglets stand out even more. Eric puts on black boots with white aglets, the opposite of what his pet is wearing, while Ian dons a green pair of sketchers. Then you're ready to go.

After another short bus ride you step out in front of one of the gymnasiums the college owns but doesn't really use anymore. There's quite a few people your age milling about outside, about half of them pets, but the real draw is the open double doors. All you can see through them is a regular old hallway, but it's lit up by flashes of colored light and the sound of thumping music emanates from further in.

Once inside, you realize the music is loud enough that your body automatically moves to its beat, but not so loud that you'd have to shout to hear each other. The lighting has also been set up with care: while the entrance area keeps flashing different colours, the dance floor is more evenly lit to make sure people don't knock into each other. A thin layer of white fog over the ground catches the coloured light from the entrance as well as several strobing lasers that are aimed into it. The areas around the edge are darker, only lit up by rows of wall-mounted blacklights that give everything a soft purple glow. The most amazing thing happens when it hits Melanie.

The dark paint on her skin barely reflects any light, but the white paint is practically glowing. The result is a patchwork of bright spots and black voids that draws quite a few eyes to your little group. And Melanie isn't the only attraction. Denise's white hair and Ashley's ears shine under the blacklight, and Tibby's jewelled collar sparkles brightly.

They're all beautiful, but you can tell Ashley is feeling a little shy. To take her mind off the eyes on her, you swing her out onto the dance floor the moment a new song starts. Despite her surprised yelp, it's not long before the bunny's hips are swinging to the beat and she can't help but enjoy dancing with you. It's a slow number at first, a good way to get started before the music changes to something faster. It's one of those songs where you swap partners every minute, which is a lot of fun as all the girls in your group take a turn spinning around you and the other guys.

Ashley even gets over her nerves and allows some strangers to dance with her. At least you think they're strangers, but when that song ends and you leave the dance floor for refreshments you can see her leading a group of them your way.

"I want you all to meet some people. This is my owner John and the kitty is Tibby. Those are his friends, Eric and Ian, and these two are Melanie and Deedee."

Everyone says hi and you look at the group with interest. There's two pet girls, two guys, and a girl. "Are these your friends from the Biology department?"

"Uh-huh. These are Veronica, her boyfriend, Spencer, and their pet, Billie." She points at the couple, a raven-haired girl in a tight orange dress and a brown-haired boy in a chartreuse button-down shirt, who are standing on each side of their pet.

Billie has a bold color scheme as well: she's wearing a short black skirt and a yellow vest that leaves her arms bare as well as showing off some cleavage. Yellow and black striped tights lead down to a pair of shiny yellow pumps, and a headband secures two antennae that stick out on either side of a vibrant blond fringe, which contrasts with her otherwise dark brown hair. She's a bee!

Ashley points at the remaining two. "That's Chris, but he goes by Crash. And his pet is Tiana."

Crash is a muscular guy in a tight white tank top with a skull printed on it. The skull shines under the lights, as does his bald head. He's wearing black jeans that match his pet's form-fitting tracksuit bottoms, which she's wearing over a skintight leotard of the same color. She has the most subdued aesthetic out of anyone here, and you have trouble placing her. If Ashley hadn't introduced her as a pet you wouldn't even know she is one.

You wonder if it'd be impolite to ask what kind of pet she is, but you don't get the chance to anyway. Tiana has already been sucked into a conversation between Crash and Eric, who hit it off instantly and are now talking about some band you haven't heard of. And before you can think to ask Ashley, Veronica plants herself in front of you. "So you're the John Langwell Ashley's told us so much about. She says you're the best owner ever, but how do you really feel about her studying Bio?"

Confused by Veronica's confrontational tone, you respond defensively. "What's with that question? I couldn't be more proud of Ashley. She was my friend years before she became my pet, and I wouldn't want her to sacrifice anything for me."

"Easy Veronica," Spencer says with a hand on his girlfriend's shoulder. To you he says, "She stood up for Ashley when some professors questioned her right to attend college. I guess Veronica just wants to be certain that everything's good here."

"Well John is the best owner ever! And don't you forget it," Tibby butts in, making you and Ashley laugh. Both of her hands are on her hips, but you can just imagine a pointer finger tapping Veronica on the chest.

"Message received," Veronica says with a smile. "Just don't say it too loudly in front of Billie, or she might decide to switch owners."

Billie giggles, her antennae shaking. "It's OK. I'll settle for second- and third-best. Or should I say you're tied for second-best so there are no hurt feelings?"

"If you were the best pet you would," Spencer tells her with a grin.

"Nope." Billie sticks her tongue out. "Comments like that put you in third place behind Veronica."

Veronica pumps her fist in the air. "I win again! And for the record, Billie is the best pet."

"I have two reasons to object to that claim, but if I get into that my pets will want to know which one is my favorite," you remark. "Why don't we get some drinks instead?"

Now that's something everyone can agree on. After a round of drinks you hit the dance floor again, now with a larger group. You take the opportunity to look at Tiana under better lighting conditions and you spot a stubby pair of brown ears hiding in the dark auburn hair on the sides of her head. You still don't know what animal she takes after, but you give up before your staring becomes weird. it's not like you can really inspect her while everyone is moving around anyway.

Dancing with a big group is even more fun than when it was only a handful of people surrounded by strangers, but you're starting to overheat from all the activity under the spotlights. Maybe that's why so many people were milling around outside when you got here.

Grabbing another round of drinks on your way, you head out into the night. It's nice and cool out here, and you find a good spot to sit down and chat some more. This time the conversations are about what other events to expect and what to expect from college life in general. This would be a good time to ask Tiana about her affinity, but you feel awkward about bringing it up after waiting this long. You'll just ask Ashley later.

Eventually everyone starts to feel tired. The Biology students excuse themselves and walk off toward the parking lot. Part of you wonders whether Crash being their designated driver is cause for concern.

The rest of the group heads over to the nearby bus stop. Your friends' bus gets there first, but it's only a few minutes until a bus going your way arrives.

As you sit down with your pets you ask them...