05

ENTER PASSWORD . . .

I blinked at the screen in front of me, the big bold letters making me raise a brow at my laptop. Okay, so maybe putting in a random hard drive I found in the coat pocket of a coat I thought was mine probably wasn't my brightest idea but I only did it because I at least thought it would information on here on who this could belong to but all I'm meet with when I plug in the drive is a small window asking for a username and password.

I folded my arms across my chest as I thought for a moment. I uncross them a moment later and start typing on my laptop. I let my fingers glide over the keyboard typing whatever comes to my mind first and when ERROR pops up on the screen in big red letters I let out a frustrated groan.

"Okay, so Watermelon7 is not the password," I say to myself shaking my head.

God, I just really want to find out who shit this is so I can give it back to them and get my coat back. I got it on clearance for like forty bucks, that's a steal for a good quality trench coat. The person I swapped with has a nice one too though, probably coasted a hell of a lot more than mine seeing as I can't even read the brand name on the tag. The only problem is the trench coat is way too big for me, and practically covers my entire body like I'm a damn nun. Maybe I'll go get it tailored one day if I never find its owner.

I pull out the hard drive and close my laptop. I'll try again tomorrow. I stretched my limbs, looking down at the time on my phone seeing it was almost time for us to leave for the party.

I've only been to a handful of parties in my life. Most of which were when I was in elementary school when the kids in my class's parents would bring cake and ice cream to the class and we'd sing Happy Birthday. Growing up I didn't even get to attend parties for family or anything, not because my mother was strict and kept me away from family or anything but because she just doesn't have family. From a very early age it's always just been her on her own and then I came into the picture and her single life became a double. I remember how when I was younger I used to save up my allowance so I could buy her a chocolate cake for her birthday. She'd smile and blow out the candles and we'd spend the rest of the night eating cake and watching Disney movies. It wasn't much but it was enough.

Even though I never really go to parties I'm not one of those antisocial people you see in movies that act like every conversation is the first time they've ever spoken to another human being. I know how to act and conduct myself around people . . . even the bitchy ones.

"Five more minutes or I'm leaving without you two, and you can find your own way to the party!" Tristian's voice rings through the apartment as he zooms past my opened room door. I don't know what he's going on about, I'm already ready. A simple white T-shirt, black cargo, and black Gianni boots with a few pieces of silver jewelry and I'm good to go. I'm a simple man, I like simple things. Also, the boots give me a few inches.

I walked out into the living room to see Tristian looking down at the silver watch on his wrist inspecting the time. "Three minutes!" he calls out.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Semaj comes out of his room, hopping on one foot as he shoves a single shoe on his foot nearly falling on his face but he reaches out to the couch and catches his balance. "I bet Aurora's never said that before."

Tristan makes a face, threaded brows narrowing before he begins to march towards Semaj but I swiftly come in the middle of the two just before they can collide head-on. "Woah there turbo," I push the two away from one another. "none of us have even sipped any alcohol yet and you two are already trying to tear each other apart. C'mon man, at least wait till we get to the party so everyone can see." I say them trying to lighten up the mood though Tristian didn't seem too pleased with my words.

He snatches away from me, adjusting the designer jacket he wore, dusting it off with his hands like I was the sandman or something. "I'm leaving." was all he said before making his way out of the apartment.

I exhaled a low sigh, hands stuffing into my pockets as I motioned my eyes over to a sly smiling Semaj. He shakes his head but the boy's out of the apartment to acknowledge it. "You're so dramatic Tristian and I don't know what you're storming off for you know how slow the elevator is princess." Semaj follows him out, the bickering continuing in the hallway.

I exhaled a low sigh, flicking off the lights in the apartment. "Woo, a night out." my voice is barely above a sarcastic whisper as I close the door behind myself.

•••

The last party I went to was back home in someone's basement and the cops came after like an hour, but the place right here where this party was being held was nothing of the sort.

It's all things New York. A luxurious high rise so tall I was almost too intimidated to go inside. Suddenly my plain white t-shirt and Gianni boots didn't seem appropriate for this place. Tristian seemed to be fitting the aesthetic just fine with his designer buttons up and expensive shoes. I squint ahead at the entrance of the place to see a few students already making their way in, making sure to check with the security at the door as they pass. I can already hear the music blasting from outside, a colorful array of lights flashing from the top of the high rise.

We make our way towards the entrance. The security guard eyes Tristian first before his eyes bounce over to Semaj and me. "These two are with me. Sadly." he sighs the last part. Surprisingly the security guard accepts it without saying anything and gestures for us to make our way insane. The place and the vibe are just how I imagined. luxurious and rich and this is just the bottom floor. We follow Tristian to an elevator and he presses the top floor and it's there where the real party begins.

The elevator doors open and we're on the roof of the high-rise. Lights flashing, a DJ being a booth playing music and servers were walking around with gloved hands and silver serving trays that carried expensive bottles with names I couldn't even afford to pronounce. Everyone is cladded in clothes with names so fancy and exotic and the air smells of Dior, Chanel, and Gucci cologne. Girls throw their heads back in laughter, their luxurious heels clicking against the floor as they move to the music as they swayed to the beat with men in equal luxury.

"Tequila?" A random server pops out in front of us with a tray of already-filled shot glasses. I blinked at him and turned to my roommates to see them with the same expression. "What's wrong Johnson? Scared of alcohol?" Tristian makes a face at me and teases me.

Semaj didn't think twice about grabbing a glass, and I followed behind grabbing a glass of my own. The server sent us a small smile before making his way over to another pair of guests. Taking a sip of our drink, we continue to make our way around the rooftop. I look over at the people throwing themselves in the lively-colored pool, the water so blue under the pale moonlight it's almost hypnotizing.

"They gonna be sick as hell tomorrow." Semaj shakes his head at the students lunging into the chilling water, throwing back another shot he got from somewhere.

Oddly enough the night was warm, the vibe on the rooftop shifting the temperature I guess making everything feel warm and fuzzy like I was in a dream state, and for a moment New York looked different. Almost unrecognizable. Almost like you're somewhere else. Almost.

Semaj is bopping his head awkwardly to the music that plays, Tristian's eyes are wandering around somewhere, and I'm too in the moment to speak. We moved over to the sitting area by the pool and I took a seat on one of the couches placed out. I glance up at the moon as the party goes on around me. Even the moon looks different in New York. It comes out to play now, looking pale and wan as if it shouldn't be up on a night like this. I look around at the people in front of me and I can feel their stares on me, studying me, questioning me.

At a school like St. Mary where everyone knows everyone, I'm pretty sure it's easy to spot when someone doesn't belong, and I know I stick out like a sore thumb. I feel a nudge in my side. I looked to see Semaj sitting next to me with two glasses in his hands.

"Here," he shoved a cup towards me and I looked down at the mysterious liquid with my brows raised.

"It's Sexy Sunrise or whatever the bartender said." He reassured, trying to hand me the drink again. Hesitantly, I took it from his hands but quickly placed it down at my feet. I'm not much of a drinker, like I can drink obviously and I'm pretty good at handling my liquor but I just really wish everyone would be honest with themselves and admit that alcohol tastes foul as fuck and maybe we shouldn't drink it like Caprisuns.

Tristan is beside us still standing, his phone pressed against his ear as he tries to drown out the noise around him. "I'm right by the pool babe, yeah, I'm wearing a red shirt."

Semaj scrunched his nose up at the boy before turning his attention to me. "You look bored Lo," he says, cup pressing against his lips.

I let out a soft chuckle. "That's just my face man." I'm also a little too busy scanning the area and observing everyone. I like to scoop out the scene before I start interacting with people. It sounds a bit crazy but it's just something I've always done, watching how people communicate and vibe with one another before I interject myself in.

"Oh my god, it's about time you got here," A familiar feminine voice chimes from behind me. I turn and I'm met with the face of the dazzling starlet of St. Mary's and all of New York. Aurora Chambers — prima ballerina and daughter of the mayor of NYC. The blonde bombshell places a soft kiss on Tristian's lips that makes Semaj scrunch up his nose a bit. When she pulls apart from her boyfriend's lips her Bambi brown eyes motion over to me. "and you brought company. Kylo Johnson . . ." my name parts for her glossed lips effortlessly, a hint of surprise and amusement in it.

"Aurora." I return the energy. No more no less.

"I never thought I'd see you at a party. This doesn't really seem like your vibe." she starts, making her way around to me fully. A manicured hand falls on her slim waist as she eyes me.

"It's not," Tristian answered for me.

"You don't know me," I told him, my brows narrowing slightly as I sent him a look before bouncing it over to his girlfriend. "and I'm here Aurora because I want to be here obviously."

Aurora's lips pressed into a sly smirk, raising her red solo cup. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Hopefully, you don't party too hard. Wouldn't want you stumbling over yourself like you do at rehearsals." she cheekily smiles before making her way elsewhere with Tristian following behind.

I grimaced at her from behind. "That girl is such a–"

"Bitch, cunt, the reincarnation of pure evil. Yeah, I get that." Semaj finishes for me, taking another swig from his cup. He removes the cup from his lips and looks over at me. "Forget about her and Tristian. Have a drink, loosen up, go for a dip in the pool if you have to just have fun."

I look down at my drink beside my foot for a moment before picking it back up. I gave it a sniff, nose hairs burning in an instant — yeah, that's vodka. I blinked at Semaj. "Wait," he paused for a moment. "You have a had a drink of alcohol before right? You're not that much of goody goody are you?" he asked.

I made a face at him. "Of course, I've had a drink before. I'm not fucking twelve."

"By twelve I was already getting shit-faced with my brother and his friends."

"You might wanna talk to someone about that."

"Whatever, go on, drink! There's plenty of enough to go around." Semaj encouraged, pouring more drink into his already empty. He didn't think twice about throwing it back. I shrugged before I followed behind with my own.

"Come on!"

Semaj's feeling it now and I can see it in his eyes, large and brown like pools of freshly watered soil. Music is blasting, drinks are flowing and the vibe is surprisingly just right, and for the first time since I've been here it feels like I'm in the city for once. We danced together to the hypnotizing beat of the music that played. A few more songs passed and a lot more drinks came faster the Semaj decided we could use a little break for a bit, now parched, we both found ourselves sitting by the pool again. A few other students were already there sitting in a circle around playing a drinking game.

"Truth or drink," One of the girls sitting started. I follow her eyes to see she's talking to Aurora who's sitting cozily on Tristian's lap as they share a space on the couch. "have you two ever broken up?"

Aurora's pink lips scrunched up as if slightly offended by the question. "No we haven't," the blonde answers matter-of-factly, brown eyes narrowing at the girl who asked. "we're locked in for life so if you were thinking of trying to snatch him away . . . keep dreaming sweetheart." She leans down and presses her lips into an already smiling Tristian as he leans into her. My face automatically scrunched up at the scene. PDA is only okay when the couple is attractive otherwise it's sexual harassment.

Aurora pulls apart from Tristian's lips, eyes returning to everyone sitting around the fire. "So who's next?"

Tristian turns his head elsewhere before speaking. "Yo Enzo," everyone's head immediately turned towards the guy sitting around the fire slouched in his chair lazily, a joint in between his lips and his fingers wrapped around a bottle of Casamigos. Even Enzo seemed to be a little caught off guard by his name being called, neat brows raising a bit at the couple.

I don't know much about Enzo but then again did anyone at this school? I heard from Tristian and Semaj one time that he barely shows up to any of his classes and when he is at school it's because he's there selling drugs to the students living in the dorms. I don't know how true that is obviously and I'm not saying I believe it either but I wouldn't put it past him.

"Truth or drink?"

Enzo pulled the joint from his lips, smoke coming from his flared nostrils as he sat up properly in his seat. He raises the bottle in his hand, a sly smile stretching across his honeyed skin as he nods towards the two. "How much money do you make selling dope around school?" Aurora blurted, earning a few laughs from people around the fire.

Even Enzo seemed slightly amused. "What the hell kind of police-ass question is that princess? Gonna get your daddy to come after me or something?" he laughed at her.

Aurora's eyes rolled slightly. "I'm no snitch and it's not like it's the biggest secret in the world Enzo. Just answer it."

"The numbers are too big to say aloud." was all the boy said before pressing the bottle of Casamigos to his lips and taking a longer-than-expected gulp. He didn't even flinch.

It's Enzo's turn but as he's looking around from his target he makes a soft groan. "How about we spice this party up a bit huh? None of this truth or drink bullshit let's get crazy!"

"Your idea of crazy is doing shrooms and jumping off the Empire State Building. No thanks." Tristian said to him.

"Aw c'mon pretty boy," Enzo stood up making his way over to Tristian. "acting pussy in front of your girl is crazy my guy. That shit turns you on Aurora?" he joked, playfully pinching Tristian's cheeks before the boy quickly smacked his hand away.

"Don't be weird Enzo." Aurora kissed her teeth, brows furrowing at the tall tattooed boy in front of her. Enzo didn't seem phased, a bottle of alcohol rising to his lips again. "You guys are so fucking boring!" he blurted out, his words loud and aggressive.

"I don't even know why I keep coming to these lame-ass parties," he made air quotes with his fingers causing a few people around the fire to laugh. "this is the shit they do in middle school. What's next we're gonna sit crisscrossed and play spin the bottle?"

Semaj sent me a look. "I actually wouldn't mind that, to be honest," he whispered.

"When you people wanna have some real fun let me know, ight." Enzo finished his bottle, tossing the empty bottle of Casamigo in the pool almost hitting someone.

Littering is crazy. The earth is already on her last breath have some respect.

"You're such a party pooper Enzo!" Aurora shouts out to the boy as he walks away from the fire.

He waves her off with a shrug. "Whatever princess!" he yells back.

"What kinda fun do you have in mind?" I shouted so he could hear causing him to pause in his steps. The others sent me a questionable look but I shrugged it off keeping my eyes on Enzo as he walked back over to us. Honestly, I just called his name because I didn't want him going to his car while under the influence. I know that's where he was headed and I'd rather not have a potential DUI or dead person on my conscience.

"We shouldn't let him drive off all by himself," I whispered to Semaj. "he's drunk."

"Yeah, that's kinda his thing."

I made a face at his words, my lips upturning. "And you guys just let him? He could get hurt or fucking die from driving under the influence."

Semaj shrugged his shoulders at me. "I mean it's Enzo. Once the guy has his mind set on something it's hard to get him to change it."

"Bullshit," I said shaking my head. Turning my attention back to Enzo who was now standing in front of me. Reaching into his pockets he pulled out a small clear bag filled with what looked to be pills.

"Wanna do molly?" He asked me shaking the bag in my face like it was candy and maybe it was to him, but to me, it was anything but.

Aurora scoffed from the side. "Of course, your only way to make a party more interesting is fucking drugs." she air quoted.

"Aw c'mon princess," he rolled his dark eyes at her. "I thought you were one of those cool rich white girls, the ones that don't mind a little MDMA or nose candy — Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie type but I see you're just like the regular white girls around here but that was foolish of me to expect anything other than from the mayor's daughter."

Aurora's face shifted into a painful expression like that was the most hurtful thing she'd ever heard. Maybe it was.

"Come on this is some good shit, you know? It's exclusive. You can only find shit this good in Columbia and here I am offering you all a free sample of something that costs more than our tuition." Enzo teases. He's a good talker. He'd make the perfect salesman, I'll give him that.

"Where do you even get this stuff?" Tristian asked, standing up from his seat to get a closer look at the bag. Enzo'a shrugged his shoulders, a sly grin on his pink lips exposing the diamond tooth gem on one of his teeth, the moonlight reflecting off of it with a twinkle. "I know people." was all he said.

Who does he know because he's not lying. I've seen the things he wears, and the cars he drives, he clearly has a lot of money and if selling drugs around campus gets you riding around in a Ferrari then maybe I need to rethink this whole dancing thing I got going on. Who am I kidding? I could never sell drugs. I don't even know how to buy them. What do you say? "One weed please?" No one would sell me anything.

"It's not gonna kill me is it?" Tristian asked, taking the bag from Enzo's hand, and holding up the bag in the light for a better view.

I raised a brow at him, and I wasn't the only one because Semaj and Aurora's faces matched my own. "Tristian!" The girl gasped.

"No, it's not no crazy shit like fentanyl. It's just a potent empathogen–entactogen with stimulant and psychedelic properties," Enzo explained and everyone blinked at him like he was speaking another language. He makes a face at us. "You guys should really pay attention in chemistry."  he takes the bag away from Tristian and reaches inside handing him Molly.

"Anyone else?" He spins around to us, waving the bag teasingly.

"Fuck it," Semaj stands up from his seat. "I've done worse." Enzo smiles and hands him one, before turning towards me and Aurora.

"Don't be lame princess." He teases her.

Aurora looks over to me, arms folding over her chest. She exhaled a low sigh before standing up. "Fine, I'm no pussy," she holds out her hand. Enzo smiled down at her. "I'll give you half of one since you're small. It won't affect you that much but you should still feel a little something to liven you up a bit." For the first time since I've known her Aurora Chambers doesn't look like she wants to curse me out. Her eyes softened for just a split second before blinked it away. "Well Kylo, what are you waiting for? Get one!" she barked.

I'll never really been into the drugs scene if I'm being honest. The most I've done is a little weed and even then it was just a one-and-done kind of situation. Tonight was MDMA - something I have never tried, but everyone else seemed to be familiar with. Peer pressure is a motherfucker and though no one is physically forcing me to take the molly I did feel like if I didn't I would feel left out. Is FOMO from drugs even possible? I think that's addiction but I'm not addicted to something I've never even done. Okay, I'm rambling now and I can see the others with their eyes on me waiting to see if I accept Enzo's offer. If my mom was here she would throw Enzo off the roof with his drugs and give me a PowerPoint lecture on why drugs are bad but she's not here and I'm alone. I'm all alone in the big city that never sleeps — a dream for some people, a dream for me once upon a time, and here I am living it.

I need to make the best out of it.

"Give it to me," I said, holding my hand out like a baby to a bag of hot chips not even knowing what it was.

"That a boy," Enzo winks, placing the molly in my hand. With a molly in everyone's hand we tapped them through like champagne classes. "now let me show you what a real good time feels like." Enzo said before placing his on his tongue, everyone following suit.

The anticipation of what was to come made it feel instantaneous. Enzo said it would take a couple of minutes before so until then we all headed to the dance floor. The hairs on my arm bristled, even though I was warm. Too warm. The music coming from the DJ booth became more intoxicating, its melody pulling me along like an inner tube in a river.

"How do you feel?" Semaj asked beside me, his face flushed and pupils dilated. Somehow the cadence of his voice harmonized with the song.

"Amazing," I breathed. I felt alive and bright, my heart pounding, laughter bubbling. "It feels so fucking good, it feels like magic but without the spells and complications and consequences," I looked up and met Semaj's eyes - little chocolate flecked with gold.

He laughed, his pierced nose crinkling. "Oh just wait,"

"EVERYBODY TAKE A FUCKING SHOT BITCHES!" I looked ahead to Tristian's standing on the DJ booth, Aurora wrapped around his waist with the widest smile on her face.

Oh, somebody's feeling it.

Shot glasses filled with freshly poured alcohol raised to the sky as Tristian and Aurora continued to shout the words, the flashing lights of the place making the many faces in front of them follow suit like nothing more than a sea of colorful blur. Semaj nudges me, smiling as he hands me a shot. I tossed the clear liquid down the back of my throat, my tastebuds numb to the rubbing alcohol taste it leaves, sending a feeling of warmth throughout my insides.

The music blasting from the DJ's speakers makes the hairs on my neck rise and my skin tingle against my bones. It feels like I'm on cloud nine right now, and I never wanted it to leave.

••••

I don't remember much of the last few hours which I don't if that's a good thing or not, but according to everyone around me, it was the best night of their life. We didn't leave the rooftop until nearly 4 am, and even then I can't recall myself walking out of the building but when I was finally able to regulate my thoughts and realize what was happening around me I found myself back on campus, in the back of a car with the wind blowing against my face from the opened window.

"Drink this." Someone hands me a water bottle and I see it's Semaj beside me in the backseat. I'm thankful it's him. I take the water bottle and open it not realizing just how thirsty I am until the water touches my tongue.

"Doing Molly dehydrated is kinda wild my guy," I hear Enzo say from up front, eyes peering at me from the rhetorical rearview mirror. "thought you were gonna OD in my car."

"Where are we?" I asked, sitting up.

"On campus. The party's over. I'm taking you two back to your dorms." Enzo answers.

"Where's Tristian and Aurora?" I questioned.

Semaj made a face a me. "Those two caught an Uber to a nearby hotel. Said they needed their own room tonight because they're gonna . . . you know," he makes sexual innuendos with his fingers and I rolled my eyes. Thank God.

"At least they're somewhere safe." I let out a low breath. "Of course, they got there safe. What kind of person do you think I am?" Enzo shakes his head.

He stops the car and I realize we're in front of our building. Semaj gets out, dapping Enzo up in the process and I follow behind him. "Appreciate the ride Enzo. That was cool of you." Semaj thanked him.

Standing on my own two feet takes a quick second to get used to but I manage. Outside I take a look at Enzo's car. A sleek black Ferrari so clean and polished the moonlight reflected off the exterior like a mirror. The black rims intensify the overall expensive look of the vehicle. He hangs a long tattooed arm out the driver-side window.

He shakes his head at us. "Free drugs and a ride home? Yeah, I need to lay off the drugs myself because I've never done any shit like this before."

"You live on campus?" I asked him.

He makes a disgusted face like that offensive. "Fuck no. They couldn't pay me to stay in those cramped ass rooms and share a bathroom with two other niggas."

I threw my hands up at me. "My bad for asking, damn."

Enzo laughs, the diamond gem sparking again and he's about to say something else when his phone starts going off beside him. He picks it up and looks at the screens the smile from his face completely vanishing as he lets out a low groan. "I got some shit I got to handle. You boys take care, ight?" and with that, he speeds off.

Semaj and I make our way back to our room, thankfully it's only on the fifth floor and not the tenth. That elevator ride would've killed me. We walked into the room and Semaj instantly collapsed on the couch with a thud.

"Too tired. Can't reach bed. Grab blanket please." he mumbled. I rolled my eyes at my roommate, grabbing the nearby blanket and tossing it over him earning a small thank you of appreciation.

Oddly enough the little sleep I managed to get in the car must've woken me up a bit because I'm not as tired as I should be. I make my way to the bathroom preparing myself for a shower. I need to wash away all the sins from tonight, and also I don't like getting in bed with outside clothes on. My mom did not play that in her house and it's stuck with me ever since.

Letting the shower water run I make my way into my room, the temperature suddenly shifting. It's warmer in here so I walk over to the window and push it open letting the chill air from tonight enter my room cooling me a bit.

I grabbed my shower essentials before rushing back to the bathroom. The shower water, hot and ample, is by far my favorite part of the night. I let the steaming water come over me I'm in a trance that can't be broken. It doesn't help that music is playing from the speakers only hypnotizing me more to the point I'm sometimes shouting lyrical nonsense in the air. It doesn't last for long though because I suddenly hear an alarm. I think it's from my phone at first, just another amber alert or something but then I realize it's coming from the intercom in the hallway.

I turned off the shower water, stepped out, and wrapped a towel around myself before I walked outside. I see Semaj at the front door with his head poking out trying to get a better listener and I follow behind him seeing the other students in the hallway as well.

"ATTENTION STUDENTS! WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDERGOING LOCKDOWN. THERE ARE ARMED INTRUDERS ON CAMPUS, I REPEAT THERE ARE ARMED INTRUDERS ON CAMPUS PLEASE GO INSIDE YOUR ROOMS AND LOCK YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS UNTIL WE ANNOUNCE OTHERWISE!"

The hallways become filled with voices as everyone comes out of their rooms trying to see what's going on. "Is this one of those practices where they say something is happening but it's not to see how well we do?" Semaj questioned, scratching his head.

"It's four in the fucking morning," I groaned. We watched the halls as students ran to their rooms, doors slamming and locking behind them. "but I don't think it's a practice." I tell him.

"What the fuck? Can I please just get some sleep?" He groaned aloud and my eyes grew wide, realizing my window was open.

I quickly pulled Semaj inside and he locked the door as I walked to my room. The window is still open, curtains blowing from the wind coming inside. I walk over and push it down making sure to secure the lock on it, but then my door slams behind me and before I can react there's a hand over my mouth and neck keeping me in place.

"Scream and I'll break your neck."

••••

EXCUSE ANY MISTAKES OR ERRORS