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34

Sophia’s POV

My last anthropology exam ended with a flourish of relief and satisfaction. The three hours had felt like an eternity, but as I handed in my paper and walked out of the hall, a wave of accomplishment washed over me. I had done it. The first ever college exams was behind me and it had gone well. I pulled out my phone to call my parents, eager to share the news and make plans to go home for the weekend holidays.

“Hey, Mom,” I said when she answered. “The history exam went really well! I’m thinking of coming home.”

There was a brief pause on the other end before my mom’s voice came through, but there was an hint of regret I didn’t understand. “Oh, Sophia, I’m so proud of you! But we’re not home right now. We decided to visit Grandma with your siblings for the holidays. The house is empty.”

My heart sank. I had been looking forward to some home-cooked meals and the comfort of my own bed. “Oh, I see. Well, maybe when you guys are back then.”

“Definitely, sweetie,” she replied. “You take care and have some fun. You deserve it after all that studying.”

As I hung up, I felt a bit deflated. I had been counting on the familiarity and warmth of home to recharge after the stress of exams. But now, it seemed I had to find another way to unwind.

Back at my dorm, I found Jenny lounging on her bed, flipping through a magazine. She looked up as I entered, her face lighting up with a smile. “Hey, Soph! How did it go?”

“It went well,” I said, dropping my bag on the floor and flopping down next to her. “But I just called my mom, and my family is at Grandma’s place, so I can’t go home for the holidays.”

Jenny’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Well, then it’s settled. We’re going out tonight. We need to blow off some steam, and I know just the place.”

I raised an eyebrow, curious. “Oh really? What’s the plan?”

“Nightclub,” Jenny said with a grin. “There’s this new place downtown that everyone’s been raving about. Music, dancing, the works. It’ll be fun!”

I hesitated for a moment, but the prospect of a night out was starting to sound appealing. “Alright, let’s do it. But I need your help picking out something to wear.”

Jenny’s enthusiasm was infectious. She jumped up and began rummaging through her closet. “I’ve got just the thing! Trust me, Soph, you’re going to look amazing.”

After an hour of trying on outfits and a lot of laughter, we finally settled on a sleek, black dress for me and a shimmering silver number for Jenny. As we did our makeup, I felt a sense of excitement building. It had been a while since we’d gone out like this, and the thought of dancing the night away was becoming more and more appealing.

Normally I’d have thought of going out with Ian or just going to spend the weekend with him but right now I needed the weekend off with my best friend.

By the time we were ready to leave, the sun had set, and the city lights were twinkling outside our window. We grabbed a taxi since Jenny didn’t want to drive to a place she didn’t know well, and headed downtown, the anticipation growing with each passing minute. When we arrived at the nightclub, the neon lights and thumping bass welcomed us.

Inside, the club was alive with energy. The dance floor was packed, the music loud and infectious. Jenny and I made our way to the bar first, ordering drinks and soaking in the vibrant atmosphere.

“To a night of fun and forgetting about exams!” Jenny shouted over the music, raising her glass.

“Cheers to that!” I replied, clinking my glass with hers.

The first sip of my cocktail was sweet and refreshing, the perfect start to the night. We made our way to the dance floor, the music pulsing through our bodies. It didn’t take long for us to get lost in the rhythm, our worries and stress melting away with each beat.

Dancing with Jenny was always a blast. She had a way of making everything more fun, her energy and enthusiasm infectious. We moved to the music, laughing and letting go of all our worries and stress. The crowd around us was just as lively, everyone caught up in the same exhilarating moment.

After what felt like hours of dancing, we took a break and found a quieter corner to catch our breath. I leaned against the wall, a satisfied smile on my face. “This was a great idea, Jenny. I needed this.”

Jenny beamed at me, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “I told you! Sometimes you just need to let loose. And you look like you’re having a blast.”

“I am,” I admitted. “It’s been a while since I felt this carefree.”

We chatted for a while, watching the crowd and sipping our drinks. The music continued to pump, and the energy in the club remained electric. It felt like we were in our own little world, removed from the pressures of exams and everyday life.

As the night wore on, we made our way back to the dance floor. The DJ switched to a mix of classic hits, and we sang along at the top of our lungs, our voices lost in the sea of sound. It was liberating, a night to remember.

At one point, Jenny grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the DJ booth. “Come on, let’s request a song!”

We squeezed through the crowd, reaching the DJ who was happy to take our request. Soon, our favorite song filled the club, and we danced like there was no tomorrow, reveling in the moment.

Hours later, we finally left the club, our feet aching and our hearts full. The city was quieter now, the streets bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. We hailed a taxi and headed back to the dorm, exhausted but still high on adrenaline. Before we stepped out of the taxi, I took off my shoes since my feet were aching badly.

Jenny paid of the taxi man and we made our way to our room.

As we stumbled into our room, Jenny kicking off her shoes and we collapsed on our beds, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. “That was amazing,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jenny nodded, her eyes closed and a content smile on her face. “It really was. Best night ever.”

I drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face, the memories of the night playing in my mind like a favorite song. Despite the initial disappointment of not being able to go home, the evening had turned out to be exactly what I needed. I had it at the back of my mind that I hadn’t checked in on Ian but I decided I’d just do it later.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of Jenny groaning. “Ugh, my head,” she mumbled, sitting up and rubbing her temples.

I laughed, feeling surprisingly refreshed. “That’s what you get for drinking all those cocktails.”

Jenny threw a pillow at me, but she was smiling. “Worth it. So worth it.”

We spent the day lounging around the dorm, recovering from our night out. We ordered in pizza, watched movies, and laughed about our antics at the club. It was the perfect way to unwind and recharge.

By the time Sunday evening rolled around, it didn’t seem so bad spending my holidays with Jenny. In fact it seemed like that was what I had really needed. The weekend hadn’t gone as planned, but it had been better than I could have imagined.

Whether we knew it or not, Jenny and I had created more memories and it was really fun to be doing that with her.

As I laid in bed that night, I thought about how lucky I was to have a friend like Jenny. She always knew how to turn a disappointing situation into an adventure. Being friends with Jenny simply means I would rarely have a bad day. And I loved her for it. There was nothing more that I would ask for.

“Goodnight, Jen,” I said, my voice filled with warmth.

“Goodnight, Soph,” she replied sleepily. “Let’s do it again sometime.”

“Hmm,” I answered and my phone vibrated. I looked at it. It was an incoming call form Ian.

I placed the phone to my ear. “Hey,” I greeted.

“Are you home?” He asked and I shook my head even if he couldn’t see me.

“Oh no, I’m not. My parents have travelled with my siblings so I’m at the dorm with Jenny. What’s up?” I asked.

“I just wanted to check in on you. And are you having fun?” He asked.

I smiled. “Surprisingly, yes.”

“Oh and I also called to tell you how proud of you I am. You came out with the top score in history. I’m not supposed to be telling you this but I couldn’t help it,” He said and I grinned.

“Thanks,” I replied softly.

“I knew you had it in you. Anyways, I have to hang up now, I have much to do. Go to bed and take care of yourself, okay?”

“And you too,” I answered before hanging up. I went to bed with a smile on my face.