Party invitation

Shirley

“Shirley, come! I will give you a ride,” a familiar voice called behind me.

I turned to see Ivan, a boy from my school, leaning casually against his shiny new car. His parents had bought it for him as a birthday gift, and it gleamed under the early morning sun. Ivan was one of those rare students everyone knew about he was rich, charming, and effortlessly handsome. He had brown eyes that seemed to see straight through you and a smile that made girls go crazy.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should accept, but the thought of walking all the way to school in the morning rush made me nod quickly.

“Thanks, Ivan,” I said, trying to sound casual, though my heart raced slightly.

He opened the car door for me with a gentlemanly flourish, and I slid in gratefully. As we drove, he broke the silence with a teasing grin. “You look beautiful today, Shirley. Do you have a date or something after school?”

I laughed nervously, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “No, I just decided to dress up a little,” I said.

Ivan leaned closer, his smile widening. “Well, if you don’t have a boyfriend, I’m inviting you to my party tonight. It’s Friday, and we have no school tomorrow, so no excuses. You’ll look stunning just like this.”

I froze, caught between excitement and worry. A party? I had never been to one in my life. What would my parents say? I was still underage, and leaving the house without permission could bring me chaos. But Ivan’s insistence and charm made it hard to say no.

“Bring your friends along,” he added. Relief washed over me, I had only one close friend, Kelly, and she would be the perfect companion.

The drive was short, only about five minutes, but it saved me precious energy and time. I hurried to finish my project before class began, my mind buzzing with thoughts of the party. As I entered the classroom, I spotted Kelly at her desk, her hair falling perfectly around her face. She looked up and smiled.

“Hello, Shirley. You are late today, I was waiting for you,” she said, her tone playful yet slightly pointed.

I sat beside her, my bag still clutched in my hands. “I know, and I am sorry. I had some things to do this morning,” I said.

* * * * * * * *

The teacher arrived, and I breathed a quiet sigh of relief, I had finished my project, thanks to Ivan’s timely ride. Many classmates were not so lucky and faced punishment for their incomplete work. I felt a small surge of gratitude toward him.

During lunch, I finally asked Kelly about Ivan. “Do you know Ivan West?” I whispered across the cafeteria table.

“That rich kid? Everyone knows him. Girls are dying to be his girlfriend,” she replied, her smile tinged with curiosity.

“Well, he invited me to his party tonight. I can bring one friend, and I want you to come with me,” I explained.

Kelly’s eyes widened. “Really? How did this happen?” she asked, her curiosity practically bouncing out of her.

“He gave me a ride to school this morning. That is when he told me about the party,” I said. I noticed her smile faltered slightly, though she quickly recovered. “We will go,” she finally said, though I sensed a hint of unease in her tone.

Throughout the day, I couldn’t focus entirely on classes. My thoughts kept drifting to the party, to Ivan, and to the strange excitement I felt in my chest. It was unlike anything I had experienced before, an anticipation mixed with nervousness and thrill.

By the time school ended, the plan was set. Kelly and I would attend the party, and I could hardly contain my excitement. But deep down, a small voice whispered caution. My parents were strict, especially about things like this. Sneaking out would not be easy. I would have to be careful if I wanted this night to be a memory I could cherish forever.