Free Tagged by Mara Purnhagen

blast.
    â€œCan you believe it?” I asked as I slid into the passenger seat. I pulled the invitation from my pocket. It was a little bigger than a ring box and “Tiffany-blue.” Lan was silent as I flipped back the lid. Inside was a blue plastic bracelet and a piece of paper folded into a diamond shape. I carefully unfolded the cream-colored stationery and read it aloud, being careful not to sound excited. I already knew that if Lan wasn’t going, neither was I. There was no way I would choose some party over my best friend. Ever.
    â€œYou have been chosen to celebrate Tiffany Werner’s sixteenth birthday on Saturday, March 3 at the Cleary Country Club. Please arrive between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. Tiffany will make her entrance at 8:00 p.m. sharp. No one will be admitted after that time. All guests must wear the bracelet provided. Only those invited may attend—no uninvited dates. Formal dress. Guests may not wear blue or white.”
    I turned to Lan, who was just staring out the window watching the crowd slowly drift away.
    â€œCan you believe her? I’ve never heard of someone telling people what they can’t wear.”
    Lan didn’t answer.
    â€œLan?”
    â€œYou should go,” she said finally.
    I thought she was telling me to get out of the car. “Lan, I had no idea that Tiffany was going to invite me! I don’t know why she did, honest! Please don’t be mad!”
    Lan looked at me. “I’m not mad at you, Kate. I’m saying that you should go to the party.”
    I folded my arms across my chest. “Nope. No way. Not without you.”
    â€œWell, I’m not going to be invited without divine intervention.” She sighed and looked out the window again. Only a few kids and the camera crew remained. “I hate the fact that this means something to me,” she murmured.
    â€œI’m not going,” I said again. “You and I will do something fun that weekend instead.”
    Lan gave me a sad smile. “You say that now, but this is going to be the only thing anyone talks about for a month. You’ll want to go and I won’t blame you. You should go. Then you can tell me all about it.” She pretended to wipe dust off her dashboard.
    â€œI can tell you about it now,” I said. “Tiffany will wear a ridiculously expensive dress, she’ll arrive on the back of a unicorn or something, and everyone will have to stand around and clap any time she sneezes. No thanks.”
    Lan began to protest, but I held up my hand. “I’m not going. End of discussion. Now take me to work, please.”
    I was only a few minutes late to Something’s Brewing, so Iknew Bonnie wouldn’t mind. I invited Lan inside for a cappuccino and she said okay. When we got inside, Eli was there with Brady.
    â€œSorry I’m late,” I said as I took off my coat. “Traffic was crazy. The parking lot was jammed.”
    Brady was staring at Lan, but she didn’t seem to notice. Eli did, though, and he winked at me. I tried not to smile as I made Lan an almond cappuccino, her favorite.
    â€œRight. The invitation thing was today,” Eli said.
    â€œYes, and I heard your name called, so you’ll have to get your invitation from Tiffany tomorrow.”
    Eli rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I’ll be sure to do that.”
    â€œYou don’t want to go?” asked Lan. I noticed that Brady had inched forward and was standing right next to her, which wasn’t difficult to do in the small space of Something’s Brewing. Her long black hair contrasted with Brady’s pale blond, closely cropped cut.
    â€œNo. She only invited me because Trent said she had to or he wasn’t coming.”
    â€œWere you invited?” Lan asked Brady. I couldn’t remember if his name had been called or not.
    â€œUh, yeah. I mean, I think so. I don’t know,” Brady stammered. He was actually blushing a little.