She rubbed some pomade between her hands to warm it, working the product through the ends of her curls. Her hair had taken her years to fully understand—the photos of herself from before she learned that brushing was her enemy always made her cringe—but it was better late than never.

“Is it corny if I put on that Vitamin C song?” Bee scrolled through Sophie’s phone, which plugged into the speaker.

“Yes,” Alex responded, “but it’s also cute. The Green Day one, too.”

“The ‘I hope you have the time of your life’ thing?” Sophie asked, holding her jaw open as she brushed on mascara.

“Look at you, knowing American culture,” Bee smirked, pulling up the song.

“She grew up here,” Alex said, a nervous edge to her voice. She clocked Sophie, and the look of minor disapproval on her face, in the mirror’s reflection.

“I know, I know, I’m teasing,” Bee reassured, starting the song. “Can I use some of this?” she asked, Alex’s setting powder already in her hand.

“Of course,” she answered, knowing she would never dare ask to use some of their expensive products. “I have spray, too.”

The girls were, predictably, dressed in mostly black: a miniskirt and sheer blouse for Sophie; a jumpsuit with an intricate lace detail for Bee. Only after arriving did Alex realize that her black cocktail dress formed an unintentional trifecta.

Alex looked at herself in the mirror, more expertly made-up and coiffed than she’d ever been, her hair forming a lush mane around her heart-shaped features. Her lips, painted a glossy pink, were almost begging to be kissed, and she imagined Danial doing just that as they spoke in hushed tones about what she’d said in her letter. She imagined him leaning down, whispering something soft and beautiful in her ear as their cheeks brushed. Something like:

“I love you, too.”

Tonight was the end of a lot of things, but to her, it also felt like the beginning of her real life.

“Okay, the song is cute,” Sophie admitted, moving to Vitamin C’s nostalgic lyrics. “I’m officially fucking sad.”

“Don’t be sad yet,” Bee replied, turning the volume up. “We have a whole party to get through, and then we can be sad.” She walked over to her best friend and took her hands in her own, leading the two of them in a dance. Sophie blinked back the tears in her eyes as she swayed, looking up at the ceiling to preserve her mascara.