Rexan yanked the comb through her hair with the ferocity of a mother hen protecting her chicks.
It wasn't like her hair was tangled, she just needed to vent.
The idea of going to this party filled her with the kind of dread reserved for dental surgeries or the apocalypse she secretly hoped would happen one day.
Meanwhile, Benny was practically vibrating with excitement as he checked himself out in the mirror for the fifth time.
He was dressed like he was hitting the Met Gala after-party: slicked-back hair, a designer jacket that was definitely not his, and enough cologne to suffocate a small army.
"Bro, it's just a shitty party with watered-down beer and fake leaves as decor," Rexan scoffed, rolling her eyes.
Benny turned and glared at her, putting on an offended pout. "Excuse you, Riley is going to be there. Do you understand the gravity of this situation?"
Rexan scowled as she pulled on her boots. "You're delusional. She's way out of your league, Benny. Like, several universes away."
"Doesn't matter. She's so fine, bruh." He sighed dreamily, clasping his hands together like some kind of lovestruck Romeo.
"Sometimes I don't know if you're my friend or just a dumb pain in my ass," Rexan muttered, tying her laces.
Benny grinned. "I'm your pain in the ass."
Rexan groaned but couldn't suppress a tiny smirk as they headed downstairs.
They were met by her dad, who was in full-on dad mode, sporting the "World's Best Dad Chef" apron she'd given him for Christmas.
The smell of whatever concoction he was whipping up filled the house.
"Don't be home late!" he called from the kitchen. "I know it's your first party, and I'm so proud of you!"
"God, Dad, I'm not a kid!" Rexan groaned, her face flushing.
Her dad walked out, still holding a spatula. "Just remember, sweetie, use a condom." He kissed her on the top of her head.
"Ew, I hate the men in my life!" Rexan yelled, shoving her way out the door as Benny howled with laughter behind her.
They climbed into Benny's rust-bucket truck, which rattled to life with an alarming cough.
The paint was peeling, and the passenger-side door squeaked so loudly it made Rexan's teeth ache. But it worked, and that was enough.
Benny turned up the volume on his ancient stereo, and soon they were screaming Taylor Swift's Bad Blood at the top of their lungs as the truck barreled down the road.
The music blasted so loud that it felt like the speakers might explode, but they didn't care.
When they pulled up to Bryan Alec's house, Rexan groaned.
The place was already swarming with teenagers, sprawled out on the lawn and hanging out of windows like some kind of infectious disease.
The music pounded so hard the vibrations practically made her stomach churn.
"This is worse than a zombie apocalypse," she muttered as she climbed out of the truck, glaring at the scene.
Benny, on the other hand, was practically skipping with excitement. "Come on, Rexan! Don't be a buzzkill. Let's party!"
Rexan sighed deeply, already regretting every decision that had led her to this moment.