Everyone except for Jack turns to me.

I guess I’m expected to lead the way.

I knock on the door, but nobody answers.

“Just go in,” Benny says, and when I turn to give him a “get up with me, you coward” look, he shrinks away and hides behind Xavier.

The door is unlocked, and I mumble, “I hope this is the right place,” before pushing it open. Immediately, the sound of the bass knocks into me, reverberating off the walls and escaping through the door. The house may be small, but it’s wall-to-wall bodies, and I breathe a sigh of relief that I brought so many extra people. The hazy air inside reeks of skunky pot and sweat, and the lights are low, giving the living room a distinct club vibe. It’s beautiful chaos.

I recognize a few people from class and others from having passed them in the hallway of the visual arts building. CIA is not that big, after all, and the animation program is even smaller. I turn around and look for Jack, but he’s gone, disappeared into the sea of people, along with Rhett, Benny, and Xavier. Rae and Harry stick close by, and she grabs a fistful of fabric from the back of my shirt to not lose me.

“There you are, birthday kid!” Chloe exclaims, literally appearing out of thin air. She’s wearing a bright-orange skintight dress that hugs her curves. She throws her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek. It’s wet and sloppy but nice. I introduce her to Rae and Harry. Her eyes have trouble focusing, but she gives them equally enthusiastic hugs. “It’s time for y’all to get drunk! Go into the kitchen! We have jungle juice in the big Gatorade cooler, beer in the fridge, and some harder stuff on the counter. I think Sofía is there, but who knows.” With that, she jumps back into the crowd, dancing her way to the center of the room, red Solo cup in hand.

Jack’s in the corner leaning against the wall like James Dean. He’s talking to some girl who looks straight from the cast of Riverdale. He laughs, and it’s so over-the-top that my fists clench.

I need a drink.

Rae, Harry, and I snake our way to the kitchen, and we almost make it unscathed.

Almost.

I see her before I hear her, but it takes my brain a few seconds to process Leila leaning against the counter nursing a cup of jungle juice, talking to Benny, Rhett, and Xavier of all people, before she screams, “Rae!”

My whole body goes numb.

Rae screams, too, and they barrel toward each other.

“What’re you doing here, you tall drink of water?” Leila says, practically squealing.

Rae turns to me, and suddenly her eyes sober up. “It’s Chase’s birthday. His friends live here,” she says in a “Chase was invited, what’s your excuse?” tone.

Leila turns to me and offers a polite wave but doesn’t say, “Happy birthday.”