CHARLIE

“Well, you know, have some fun! You've forgotten how to enjoy yourself! Sometimes, you need to shake things up a bit and then return to your path," Avery suggested, her voice taking on a more serious tone. She really understood the pressures of my job.

"I didn't think a little distraction was what I needed, perhaps… maybe I just needed a little more focus?"

We shared a giggle as I cautiously balanced my phone on my ear with the shoulder of one of my hands.

I was anticipating an offer to hang out with her, and it was possible that she might want a movie night at my house as well, so I did some light cleaning and attempted to retrieve the papers that I had thrown on the sofa earlier.

I was only trying to tidy up a little since I knew it when Avery talked like way. It's not like we aren't comfortable with each other yet to see each other's homes in disorder or in a complete mess.

She was presumably up to something - something that would need me to quit my work for a while and shake things off a little bit, and as soon as I thought of that, she simply spoke with excitement.

“No! You already focused enough with your work, Charlie. So for now, you need to have fun. And I am sure you’re up for it!”

"Yeah, right. When will I ever learn to say no to you, Avery?" To alleviate some of the uneasiness, I let out a lighthearted chuckle.

All my worries, I didn't really want to speak about it just now — neither the odd phone calls nor the ludicrous text messages that I've been getting a lot more often recently.

In addition, since I was working as a journalist at the time, I made an effort to classify them as belonging to the category of "normal."

To allow these things to impact me in real life and, of course, in a more intimate manner, I felt it could be unprofessional of me to do so because of the nature of the relationship we had.

My first reaction was that it was probably not essential for me to become involved with or immerse myself in these straightforward hoax calls and texts.

“Yes, and it sounds like a lot of fun! Trust me!" Avery exclaimed once more.

"Okay, fine. Tell me, when will it be?" I inquired once more and I did not stop her from continuing.

“Tonight, Charlie! The celebration was in honor of Mason's birthday. One of our close pals from high school, do you remember him? Additionally, he was a student in our English class!”

I gave Mason a little amount of my attention and did my best to picture his appearance in my mind.

"What’s with the silence, Charlie? Oh God! How could you possibly forget the only student in our English class who knew twenty other languages?” Avery sneered at me.

"Mason Kingston? Oh that guy!” As soon as I recalled him, I instantly referred to him as ‘the one who always sits beside Fiona’.

“Yes! And while we're on the subject of Fiona, she would be there as well. I've heard that several of our old friends and classmates from high school will also be there! Exciting, right?” It sounded as if she was rather thrilled.

“Hmm, I see…” I only murmured as I was trying to make an educated estimate about the list of persons whom I could run into later on at the party.

"Just say yes! You already know you can’t say no to me so, I'll come get you up at nine o'clock!”

After I gave my ‘okay’, the two of us ended the call. After that, all I did was put my phone somewhere else and concentrate on getting my assignments done.

Thankfully, after I had eliminated all potential sources of distraction, I was able to complete my work well in advance of 7 o'clock and had plenty of extra time to get ready for the party.

Just now I was wearing a form-fitting cocktail dress. It was dark in color and had a seductive slit along with a little bit of glitter on the bottom part of it.

Avery came to get me at 9 o'clock that night, as we had previously arranged, and we drove to a lavish penthouse that was given the name “Pentagon”.

The apartment was decorated with a sophisticated color scheme of black and dark blue.

Everything, from the floor to the furnishings, and even the strobe lights, was a rental. Avery and I went outside, up to the rooftop, where there was a large bar that seemed to be rather elegant as well as a pool.

On the edge of the rooftop, there was a seating area with sofas that gave off an upscale appearance, while another was located by the pool.

A lengthy bar had been stocked with expensive bottles of booze in neat rows. Because the volume of the music was higher inside than it was here, we decided against going back inside initially.

I was a bit self-conscious since there were a lot of people around me whose faces I didn't remember, even if some of them seemed somewhat familiar. In contrast to Avery, she seemed to be smiling at everyone she saw as if they were all old good friends.

"Gotcha! There he is!" Avery exclaimed and pointed to a guy who had a wide back with his finger.

To my surprise, I struggled to recognize the resemblance between our dorky high school classmate Mason and the striking figure before me.

“That was Mason, right?” I spoke to Avery in a hushed tone.

CHARLIE

"Unbelievable, right? But yeah! It was him all along! He has gone through a lot of transformation and has become a lot more gorgeous as a result!” Just now I became aware that Avery had begun drinking when she waved to Mason while holding a bottle of vodka in her hand.

Mason approached us with a kind grin, instantly putting me at ease. "Wow! Hey, there! Charlie Caivano and Avery Guavez, right?"

“Yeah! And last but certainly not least, the unrivaled Mason Wickson! What a wonderful birthday!" Avery gave Mason a bear hug, which made it uncomfortable for me to not reciprocate, so I gave Mason a little bear hugs out of embarrassment instead. Mason seemed to appreciate the gesture.

"You caught me off guard! You both look amazing. I wanted to catch up, but more guests keep arriving. Let's reconnect with our old classmates later. For now, just enjoy the night," Mason said graciously before excusing himself to attend to other guests.

I hadn't expected him to have such a large circle of friends. In high school, Mason was an awkward dork, rarely seen with companions.

He hurriedly turned around and entered the penthouse before leaving. He had a lot on his plate between mingling with the freshly arriving guests and walking about.

"See? I told you he was so adorable now!" Avery chortled and dragged me closer to the water as she glanced about for a spot to sit down.

"And when did you start admiring nerds?" I teased.

"Oh, for God's sake! Just take a look at him now! He is not like anybody else!” Avery replied.

“There!” She continued right away while pointing to the large sofa that was next to the pool.

"You know what, Ms. Journalist? Instead of second-guessing your preferences, why don't you fetch us some vodka?" Avery settled onto the sofa, gesturing toward the bar. As Avery relaxed into the party, my shyness waned. I agreed and headed toward the bar.

I approached the bartender who was standing closest to the edge, despite the fact that all of them seemed to be in good grooming.

"Vodka for two, if you could, please!" The bartender seemed to be no more than 20 years old based on his appearance alone. After receiving the order, he began preparing the beverages.

"Yes, two vodkas coming right up, for you lovebirds," the bartender joked as he started preparing the drinks. I waved off his comment, not wanting to entertain any romantic notions.

“Love birds…” I began to say, but before I could finish, a familiar voice interrupted me from behind.

To my utter astonishment, I recognized an old friend. A tall, gorgeous man who wore a suit that seemed like it cost a lot of money – almost as much money as the broad grin he sported on his face while glancing at me.

"Hi Charlotte!" I was speechless, my jaw dropping at the unexpected encounter. Memories flooded back, and it took a moment for me to regain my composure.

I had no way of forgetting that this person was involved. It took me a few seconds to blink before I understood that he was listening for me to make a comment or question.

I gave myself some time to process the fact that I was gazing at Julius for an extended period of time. I was really captivated by him. It was indeed him, right in front of me.

‘Julius Ferguson.’

However, he was not like any of the other students in our high school class. He was one of a kind of our classmates.

In my mind, he was never just an average student who shared the same classroom as I did and sat next to me. He was priceless to me; he was a star, serving as a fascinating inspiration and a source of motivation for me throughout those days, and I could tell... maybe even till today.

“Charlotte, I apologize for appearing out of nowhere like a specter here. Have you forgotten me already?" Julius grinned and walked closer to where I was standing.

"Oh hello! Julius! It was –" Even though there was no genuine cause for my nod, I nevertheless gave it. "It was wonderful to have you with us today. I simply... didn't really expect to see you around"

As I blurted out my response, I was aware that my face was becoming pink. So, I had to look away.

"You haven't changed one bit, Charlie. You still get tongue-tied around me, and I have no idea why," Julius said with a playful smile, approaching me.

"What do you mean?" I chuckled nervously, feeling the intensity of his gaze. Even looking at him was too much for me to bear.

"Perhaps because I always seemed to show up unexpectedly. But don't worry, I won't be the only one here tonight," Julius teased, walking beside me.

I slowed my pace, unable to process his sudden presence. I had no right to inquire why he was here, and I didn't want to embarrass myself further.

Julius was standing next to me as I turned to face the counter. Unfortunately, by the time I had feigned to observe the bartender, he had already finished making the drinks.

"Here it goes! Two vodkas for you, love birds!" As he was setting the drinks down on the counter, the bartender again mentioned the word, ‘love birds’.

“Uh no–” I made an aggressive motion with my hand. "He was not... my... I wasn't even his—"

When I looked across at Julius for a moment. He seemed to be making fun of me by smiling widely and giving me the impression that he was taunting me.

"Sorry, but we’re not love birds. Thanks for these, by the way!" I immediately accepted the beverages, and Julius stopped me just as I was going to make an embarrassment of myself by walking away.

“Charlotte, calm down. There is no need for you to behave awkwardly. He was unaware of it," he uttered.

I was completely taken aback by him, being here, and I had no idea what action to do next. I am not allowed to inquire why, and I never had the right to do so.

"You're hanging out with Avery, right?" After giving him another quick glance, I nodded in his direction.

"Oh, I see. Well, let me introduce myself to her!" He stated and I didn't say anything. On our way to Avery, I just let him to accompany me.

As soon as we got closer to Avery, we could see that she was already feeling a little tipsy and that she had a large number of empty glasses in front of her. There were both male and female voices heard conversing alongside her.

"What took you so long?" Avery inquired in a jovial manner, and then she spotted Julius standing next to me. As she spoke, I saw that her eyes were becoming wider.

I gazed at her, warning her not to make any fun comments or so, but to no avail.

"Oh my! Charlie, you really shouldn't have come back sooner. Now the two of you can have a good time together, in secret, if you'd like..."

It was obvious that Avery was being playful. She was aware of the fact that I had a significant crush on Julius while we were in high school together.

And perhaps, up until now as obviously, I am blushing.

CHARLIE

The stars in the night sky had already begun to appear. The penthouse seemed so near up in the sky that it gave the impression that you could reach out and touch them if you jumped off of anything.

As midnight drew closer, the volume of the music that was playing inside increased. Because the penthouse is outfitted with enormous transparent mirror walls, it is possible to see the occupants from the outside.

I stood back and observed the other guests as they danced with one another. Some of them were gathered in the bar, while the others were perched on the edge of the rooftop looking down at the city lights.

There were some other people who seemed to be having a good time with others who I had believed they had just met at the party, and then I noticed Mason taking a drink from each of his closest pals one after the other.

There were guests waiting at the doorway who seemed like they were about to leave the party, but some of them had remained and were becoming rowdier. Just like me and Avery.

We didn't actually get off the sofa, and in fact, Julius didn't really walk away as well. He had simply been standing there next to me drinking.

But a few seconds later, he only said his goodbyes to Avery after exchanging a few brief pleasantries with her before leaving.

"Avery, what was that, huh? Why do you have to make things even more awkward?" I gave Avery a little squeeze on the arm before rising from my seat to take in the sights of the city after dark.

"Oh come on, don't act like you're so bothered by it! I was only kidding around with you!" We had a guffaw together.

Avery handed me another glass of liquor. And while I watched the city lights shine like chunks of the Milky Way, I took a drink from my cup.

"By the way, you two make a really cute couple! It was, undeniable!" She persisted in making fun of me. I just shook my head and then returned to my seat next to her.

And before I could even drink more on my glass, I realized that Julius was on his way back to our seat. And with that, I took another gulp from my beverage. He was coming back with more beverages for us.

"Would it be okay if I came over to hang out with you tonight? There isn't anybody else in this place that I know quite as well as the two of you.” He explained.

After placing a large number of beverages on the table, he proceeded to come over and sit down next to me. Avery chuckled and then just nodded in response to him.

Julius surprised me by moving closer to where I was seated and I felt my heat racing faster than usual.

I was conscious of the fact that Avery was aware of how uncomfortable this situation was for me. I had a feeling that she would come up with something, but I wasn't sure whether it would be humiliating or not.

Even so, I was certain that she would think of something. While I waited, sipped, and savored the flavorful tequila, I gazed at the opulently beautiful pool that was in front of us.

"So, tell us, how have you been all these years, Mr. Ferguson?" Avery's question finally broke the tense stillness that had been there.

"Well, I've been good. The business is doing great. Things have been...” Julius was still talking but Avery cut him off.

"Oh, I see. But what I mean is…” Avery stated and then stared at me. After a few seconds of pause, the next words she uttered were unexpected.

"I just need to know… Have you already tied the knot with someone else or are you dating or something?" Avery’s smirk after her litany was something else.

I gave her a lethal look before pinching her arm to get her attention and then I gave her a lethal look.

The word "What?" escaped her lips, embarrassing me greatly. I couldn't entirely blame her; she was clearly intoxicated. I was also curious about Julius's response, but apprehensive about what he might say.

“Ah, no. Not really. Right now, I am single.” Julius answered with a smile.

The words 'I'm single' lodged a knot in my throat as I heard him utter them for the first time. I sat upright, glancing briefly in his direction.

"Single… can you elaborate, please?" The lips of Avery never really understood when to be quiet.

"Single. And no rings yet. So, I can basically say, I am ready to mingle,” Julius lightly chuckled after he responded.

"How about you guys? Are you married? Or still single?" Julius’ smile didn’t escape from his face as he asked us this question.

“Yes! We are, of course! Charlie is single, she’s also free to mingle!" A straightforward response from Avery, which was somewhat embarrassing. My pupils drew more widely.

"Yeah, right! What she said was true," I reasoned that it would be less humiliating to go along with it, letting out an uncomfortable giggle, rather than confronting the question head-on.

Avery persisted with her inquiries to Julius, undeterred by my feeble attempt to silence her with a gentle cheek squeeze.

During that time, I mostly kept to myself, while Avery and Julius engaged in conversation. They reminisced about our high school experiences, both the good and the bad.

My participation amounted to the occasional comment or nod, merely to show agreement or respond to unrelated questions.

As time passed, I noticed the guests inside gradually dispersing. I ventured indoors to find Mason to bid our goodbye.

Inside, the lights were still flashing rapidly, but the volume of the music was lower than it had been previously.

Inside was a massive dark blue sofa, the kind that appears on the cover of well-known furniture magazines, and that's where I discovered him chatting with Fiona.

I felt it was important to let him know that we would be leaving since Avery is unable to drink any more. I only wanted to also say thank you and wish him again a happy birthday, but I chose not to annoy them while they were engaged in their passionate make-out session.

Both of them seemed to be having a good time but were visibly under the influence of alcohol, exactly like Avery, who was passed out on the sofa in the backyard.

"Gosh, forget it then!" I pondered the situation and then stumbled out of the room.

Even though I was aware that I was intoxicated myself, Avery was the only thing on my mind right now. Similarly, I was not capable of allowing her to drive a vehicle in such condition, nor would I ever do so.

"Hey, Miss Guavez! Let’s go!" I called out to Avery, finding her slumbering on the sofa.

"She had already had too much alcohol. I can drive you home,” Julius stated who I noticed was standing by the side of the pool.

He dropped a cigarette on the ground and carried our pouches on his arm at the same time.

Because I was feeling dizzy, it was difficult for me to focus on him and determine whether or not he was intoxicated.