After about twenty minutes, we heard another knock at the door, and my dad appeared with three pizza boxes that radiated the enticing smells of baked thin crust, tangy tomato sauce, melted cheese, and various toppings. He also carried three cups of delicious pink lemonade in a cup carrier. We all cheered for my dad as we made room to sit down and enjoy our meal. It was at that point him and my mom were heading out and we were on our own.

Val perched on my desk chair and asked for a towel to lay across her lap, in case of any spills. I happily grabbed one while Iah chimed in with her cheeky two cents on the subject: “Should’ve asked for a bib while you were at it, princess.” Oh if looks could kill….

Iah and I sat on the floor together, and we all opened our pizza boxes in unison. The smell was intoxicating, the heat wafting up to hit me square in the face. My mouth was already watering, and I hadn’t realised how hungry I was until that box landed in my lap. We all sighed in unison and started to dig in.

I reached for one of the cups, but Val quickly stopped me.

“No, wait! I want to do something with those,” she said, her voice full of excitement and mischief. I raised an eyebrow as she placed her pizza box carefully on my desk and reached down to pull her overnight bag toward her.

I was about to ask if she thought this was turning into a sleepover when she pulled out a bottle of sparkling rosé. Her eyes lit up as she dramatically announced, “Ta-dah!”

Iah gawked, practically dropping her pizza.

“No way that’s a bottle of Felicité!?” she demanded, wide-eyed.

Val nodded with a smug grin and handed her the bottle. “I’ve got another one in the bag… and there will be more waiting for us on ice when we get to the limo.”

I actually choked on a bite of pizza.

“Limo? Val, this is way too much!” I protested.

“You’re worth it,” she said simply, with a shrug. “That’s why I’ve been ‘galivanting’ the past couple of months, as you call it. Just wanted to earn a bit extra to make tonight perfect.” She gestured all around her, smiling sweetly.

I was touched. Honestly, I’d never dream that a friend would do this for me, nor would I ever expect it. But guilt settled in quickly, knowing I could never reciprocate such a gift.

“Val, you know I could never top something like this for you,” I said softly.

Val smiled and shook her head. “Elena, you and Iah took little awkward me in when I started at high school. You never laughed at my dreams of becoming a model, and you stuck by me through every breakup and every stress-induced junk food binge. Both of you,” she glanced warmly at Iah, “taught me what real friends are. That’s why no one can replace you—no matter where I go, no matter how many shoots or shows I’m doing. The rest of the world feels like it’s stuck in dull, muted greys, but you two? You’re like a burst of colour in the middle of it all. Everyone else is just… noise. I always run back to you two.”

Iah set down her pizza box and stood up, and I followed suit. Without a word, the three of us wrapped each other in a huge, crushing hug.

We pulled apart, and Iah wiped something from her eye, clearing her throat.

“Ugh, mushy stuff. Girls, are we here to party or what?” Iah grinned, shaking the bottle of Felicité. Val and I looked at each other, still in a half hug, and we both raised our arms and woo’d as loud as we could. Iah popped the cork, and before we knew it, we were scandalously mixing our pink lemonades with expensive, delicious sparkling rosé. Music was blared, and we sang our hearts out to the songs we’d loved in high school. We devoured pizza, laughed, and when we were halfway through the second bottle Val had pulled from the bag, she grabbed the high-end fashion bag and held it up high.

“Now! It’s time for the makeover!” she announced. She pushed aside the pink tissue obscuring the item and pulled out two pieces. A black corset and a satin skirt. My eyes widened. The corset had delicate black lace on top, and silver buttons ran down the front. The skirt was so soft to the touch it felt like my fingers were gliding over it.

“Val, this is stunning!” I had indulged in quite a bit of liquid encouragement at this point, so I was more than ready to wear something daring like this. If I had been sober, I would have immediately said no, run for my comfy sweater, and called it a night. But in that moment, I was excited—no, thrilled—to wear something so provocative and sexy. I wanted to feel free to be myself.

Iah and Val helped me into the corset, and I blushed, painfully aware that I couldn’t wear a bra. I kept quiet, not daring to mention it aloud in case Iah teased me even more.

Val, apparently an expert at tying corsets, moved behind me as I stood there with my hands on my waist, awkwardly holding the corset up. I winced slightly as she tugged and pulled, fidgeting with the laces at my back.

“Where did you learn to do that?” Iah asked, watching as Val laced, tightened, and tied the bow with practised precision.

“I’ve been around all sorts of fashion,” Val replied with a smirk. “A corset never goes out of style, so it’s easy to remember how to do it right.”

The skirt laced at the back as well, completing the look. I paired it with sheer black stockings, and Val pulled out a pair of shiny black heels from her overnight bag. I recognised these from her closet! The shoes were pointed and featured a sleek strap detail over the arch of the foot, highlighting its curve without restricting the ankle. The straps were adorned with shimmering diamantes, catching the light with every movement and adding a touch of glamour to the already stunning design. The best part? Val and I wore the same shoe size, so these beauties fit perfectly!

Iah began curling my hair while Val started on my eye makeup. I couldn’t see what they were doing, but I trusted them completely. Honestly, I was enjoying the pampering.

All of a sudden, my phone vibrated again. I was sitting in my desk chair, facing away from my desk this time. I leaned back and grabbed my phone. My heart sank—it was Carter. Again. Quickly, I put the phone back on my desk without replying.

Iah and Val exchanged a glance.

“Woo, trouble in paradise…” Iah quipped, spraying another curl with hairspray.

Val raised an eyebrow and nodded, a makeup brush balanced between her teeth as she used another to blend shadow into my creases. Finally, Iah decided to press the issue.

“Leni, what’s the deal? What happened between you two? I know things were going well—you basically ghosted us for a while too.” She raised a knowing eyebrow at me.

I sighed. I couldn’t exactly tell them the full truth. Maybe I could skate around the more complicated parts of the story.

“As a way to reduce stress, I took up drawing,” I began.

Iah’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“No way! Leni doing something creative? Oh man, I have to see these drawings!”

Val shot her a look and took the brush out of her mouth.

“Hush, let her finish.”

Iah rolled her eyes but gestured for me to continue.

“Well, one day I went to buy a sketchbook and some supplies, and that’s how I met Carter. He worked there and ended up asking me out.” I smiled at the memory, glancing away from them. “He was really hot.”

Both of them rolled their eyes this time, and I chose to ignore it.

“Anyway, lately he’s been pushing me to show him my drawings. I’ve told him over and over that it’s a private thing, something I do just for myself. I’m not trying to become the next big artist or anything. But he keeps insisting. Says he just wants to ‘know me better.’” I paused, the bitterness creeping into my tone. “That painting he showed me? It was basically a ‘I showed you mine, now show me yours’ move.”

I sighed again, feeling slightly sobered by the thought. I reached for my cup and took another sip of the spiked pink lemonade.

“What a dick,” Iah said, releasing another curl.

Val nodded, but her gaze was sharp, calculating. “You don’t need to explain yourself to him. You don’t owe him anything, Elena. Especially not your art.” Her tone was firm, and her eyes were like ice. I knew Val could get intense, but this gave me quite a shiver. She is quite protective of me, it seems. 

“Same, girl,” Iah said, pulling me into a one-armed hug. “I know I joked earlier, but seriously, don’t feel pressured. Show us only if you’re ready.”

I smiled weakly, feeling a small sense of relief. At least with them, I could breathe a little easier. Val’s cold expression shifted, and she suddenly perked up, her voice changing to teasing.

“Elena, would you please ask Iah about the band already? It’s her latest fad, and I feel like she’s ready to implode.”

Iah scoffed. ‘I am not!’ Val shot her an unimpressed look. ‘Okay, fine,’ she continued. ‘So the lead singer is f-i-i-i-ne, his name is Howl. Well, so is the keyboardist, Raven—she’s very hot in a woe-is-me-gothic way. Oh! And the drummer, Midnight has all these tattoos and piercings. Oh wait, I cannot forget the bassist, Shade with the really long hair…’ Iah continued on like that for a bit, and I shot a small ‘thank you’ nod to Val for creating a distraction. She smiled and nodded back before finishing up my makeup.

It was time for the big reveal and Iah, though shorter than me, stood behind me and covered my eyes as Val guided me to my standing mirror. Iah removed her hands and shouted, “Ladies and gentleman, prepare to have your hearts broken by our delectable and gorgeous Leni!”

At first, I thought I was looking at someone else in the mirror. The person staring back was confident, though a little wide-eyed from the shock, and in total control of herself. The corset clung to my waist, pulling in just enough to create an effortless hourglass shape while hugging my chest without feeling too constrained. The black lace of the corset revealed itself in subtle glimmers of light, its intricate lace-up back making my skin appear even paler.

The pencil skirt, sleek and smooth, fit perfectly, hugging my hips and tapering down to my knees. The material, a deep ebony with a subtle sheen, clung to my curves and made every movement feel graceful. I rubbed my hand along the fabric, relishing in its cool, silken texture. The shiny black heels, simple yet elegant, hugged my feet in a perfect fit. The diamantes along the straps sparkled with every shift of light, catching my attention like stars scattered across the night sky.

My red-copper hair was curled like a Hollywood starlet in a side part, and my makeup accentuated that, with smoky grey eyes and bright ruby lips. I smiled and I barely recognised the reflection staring back at me—her presence was magnetic, the confidence practically radiating from her.

“Oh, you guys, you did amazing.” My voice cracked. I turned to face them, my friends, and hugged them tightly. “Thank you!” Maybe the spiked lemonade was really kicking in, but my emotions were bubbling to the surface, and I felt like I might cry from happiness. Val noticed right away.

“Don’t you dare cry! You’ll ruin the amazing job I did.” She started to scold me, but I squeezed her again. She softened and added, “Also, you’re welcome, darling. I just emphasised the beauty that was already there.”

Suddenly, Iah piped up, “Leni, you’re welcome too, but little ol’ me is struggling to breathe.” I pulled away, and Iah gave me a grin. She nodded in appreciation at my look before turning to Val.

“What time was that limo showing up again?”

“Oh shit, where’s my phone?!” Val shouted. Iah’s eyes widened at me, mock shock crossing her face at the expletive coming from Val’s lips. I gestured a drinking motion with my hands, and she stifled her laughter, hands pressed to her mouth.

Val found her phone under my rumpled clothes on the bed and sighed in relief. “It’s meant to be here in the next five minutes. No time for tidying up, sorry, darling,” she said apologetically. “Grab your purses and phones—we’re out!”

We scrambled to grab our things and raced down the stairs, just as a sleek black limo pulled up outside. The cold December air hit my lungs, shaking me awake from what felt like a dream. We were doing this. We were actually going to Club Dusk. A small twinge of fear and guilt hit me. I hadn’t told Carter I was going out, and I doubted he would like the idea of it being Club Dusk.

The driver stepped out of the limo and opened the passenger door as we approached. We hopped in, and inside, the interior was sleek white leather, illuminated by changing rainbow LED lights. Iah immediately found the USB port, plugged in her phone, and queued up some music while Val reached for the already uncorked Falicité Rosé, pouring it into fancy flutes.

Rock music suddenly filled the limo and Iah started to nod her head to the beat. Val raised her glass in a toast.

“Happiest of birthdays, Elena,” Val said with a mischievous glint in her eye. “May this night be one for the ages—an indulgence in sin and revelry, as only the underworld can offer.” 

Iah raised her glass and shouted, “Happy Birthday, Leni!”

I raised mine, and we all clinked and sipped the now-cold sparkling rosé. Iah and Val began to sing along to the lyrics, while I listened, smiling. I sipped my drink, my eyes drifting out the window as the cream and neon lights of the North Side faded, giving way to the brown and black urban decay of the South Side. It was as if the world outside had been trapped in another time.

The cobblestone streets glistened with rain, reflecting the dim glow of weathered lampposts that struggled to cut through the gloom. Buildings, once vibrant in cream and red brick, now loomed overhead—crumbled and worn from smog and corrosion. High-rise flats jutted into the night sky in jagged clusters, their windows crooked, some flickering with an erratic buzz I could almost hear. Occasional shouts and bursts of laughter echoed down narrow alleyways; their sounds warped by distance. Dodgy figures lurked on street corners—some blended into the shadows, others slouched on cracked steps, their eyes sharp as they sized up the ostentatious limo rolling past.

My breathing quickened, adrenaline surging through me. I shouldn’t be doing this. I glanced at Iah and Val, lost in their own world, singing along to their favourite song and sipping drinks. How could they be so relaxed? Wasn’t what we were doing wrong?

I swallowed hard and turned my gaze back to the dull brown and gold of the Underworld of Averon. Then, it appeared. The sign. The bright red neon glow of Club Dusk sliced through the darkness like a beacon, and suddenly, all that anxiety vanished. The red letters loomed larger and brighter, drawing me in, every ounce of doubt evaporating into nothing.

A fierce, almost primal determination roared inside me. This was what I wanted. I wanted more.