Pandora's Echo

The loud bass travels with the rowdy teenagers along the road. Dominic presses his back into the driver’s seat, right hand gripping the leather steering wheel. His eyelids fold as he exhales the smoke from his royal blue pen, before handing it off.

Ashanti thumps her slender fingers along her lace before grabbing the pen whilst scrolling through her reels. She slowly inhales as she side-eyes the tan boy beside her. She quickly exhales the dense smoke before her face screws up. “Nigga, can you slow down?”

Dominic returns her low-eyed expression, before scoffing lightly and turning down the volume on Jay’s playlist. “Nah. Cus if this music gets any worse, I’m crashing the car.”

“Nuh uh, just throw Jay ass out,” she tsks loudly, gesturing to the backseat before pulling the pen to her lips.

The blond boy quickly leans forward, pulling Naomi along with him. “What about throwing me out?”

Ashanti glances over her shoulder into his light brown eyes, “Your playlist is so fucking ass. You don’t deserve the aux.” She palms his covered forehead, pushing him back into the backseat. Jay gasps dramatically as he readjusts his hold on Naomi’s body.

Jay purses his lips into a playful, upset expression, “Say that again, but slower.”

“It’s not a party unless Dom almost kills us first,” the fair-skinned girl perks up from the other end of the backseat.

“It’s worse when you’re up here, Cove. Trust me, he’s an fucking awful driver,” Ashanti adds on with bright snickering.

“I don’t see anyone complaining about the free rides, though,” Dominic bites back at the light criticism. “So, how about y’all shut up’n let me drive, before I really crash this bitch.”

Naomi readjusts her head on Jay’s shoulder with a snort, “You’re not even wearing your seatbelt, Dom. You would literally die first.”

“She’s got a point,” Reis grumbles whilst he readjusts his black hood.

“Put your seatbelt on, dom,” Clover sings as she ducks Reis’s large arm.

“Ain’t none gon’ happen, relax.” Dominic dramatically sighs. “Y’all acting like y’all don’t love’n appreciate me.”

“No, we don’t.” The entire group immediately responds in unison.

Dominic smacks his teeth loudly as he eases the car into park. “Y’all lucky we here, now get out.” His large hand massages his eyebrow, feeling the silver bar underneath his skin. “Is the entire school here? Damn,” he grimaces at the packed house they’re approaching. Teenagers are surrounding the venue, multiple of their peers pouring out of the house. Dominic glances back at his stone-faced friend, noticing his eyes already glazed over with boredom. “Reis, you good?”

“Yeah, I’m cool,” he replies, stuffing his hands into the kangaroo pocket on his black hoodie.

Naomi quickly jogs to the boy, “You gotta keep your promise, don’t just drift off immediately.”

His eyes soften, moving to settle on Naomi’s face, “I’ll try.”

Reis, Dominic, and Jay slightly bow their heads as the group enters the house. The scent of weed, cigarettes, and alcohol aggressively travels through their noses. Slightly crushed, cheap dark-red solo cups littered around the booming, low-lit house. They all shuffle toward the kitchen to grab shots. The group forms a loose circle, shortly cheering before throwing back the burning liquid.

“There’s Cam. If I disappear, find another way home,” he doesn’t utter another word as he beelines through the crowd to cling onto his girlfriend. Naomi and Ashanti turn towards one another, matching scrunched-up expressions. The two lock eyes for a still moment before bursting with ringing laughter.

The laughter dies down as Naomi reaches for another refill, while Ashanti mutters under her breath. “Fuckin’ punk ass bitch,” she mutters. “Why the fuck would you bring us here as the driver just to leave us?”

Clover flicks her hair from shadowing her vision and gently pinches her refilled shot glass, “We can just stab his tires. Now, c’mon, let’s drink. I thought you wanted to get drunk, Ma?”

Ashanti wickedly grins and kisses the Korean girl on the forehead. “Great idea, Cove! Now, shots!” Jay, Naomi, Ashanti, and Clover take their second shot of the night with Reis watching, slowly sipping his mellow drink.

Ashanti doesn’t let her friends rest as she loads up the next couple of rounds. And before they knew it, she’d gotten them heavily buzzed. The kitchen is bumping with overlapping voices and messy dancing. “I will definitely remember this tomorrow,” Ashanti slurrily promises, hoping her threatening tone reaches the boy, as she’s tired of his teasing.

“...But you’re drunk,” Jay snorts, knowing she’s all talk.

“That doesn’t matter, I will remember white boy,” she barks before reaching to get another refill. Naomi breathily laughs at their exchange, losing her footing before bumping against Jay. He effortlessly wraps an arm around her waist, hoisting her up against him.

“You too?” Jay bends slightly to inspect her sobriety.

She waves him off reassuringly, “I just tripped, I’m fine.” He nods before emptying the rest of the drink down his throat, finishing it off with a dramatic shout.

The girl can’t suppress her laugh watching him dramatically roll his shoulders to the loud song bursting from the speakers. “You are not Magic Mike, stop it,” she snorts, glancing away before locking eyes with him again.

“Don’t hate, you love it,” he continues his silly dancing, ridding himself of the space between them with each move.

“It’s ’ight,” she rolls her eyes as he offers his hand, gesturing to the busy dance floor. She bites her lip, unsurely, before shrugging and setting her cup down to take his hand. Jay celebrates with a wide smile, gently pulling her to the middle of the room.

The DJ had switched up the music with a thick, R&B vibe, perfect for the two. Jay positions himself behind her, his hands gripping her bare hips. Naomi’s dark wash, low-rise jeans rub against his lower half as his chest meets her back. The two friends grind on each other, the other drunk teenagers disappearing from view.

Naomi waves her hands in the air as she sings along to the familiar tune. Jay’s arms slowly wrap around her torso, his slender fingers brushing against her belly piercing. His arms flex as he squeezes her while singing along to the lyrics. Naomi throws her head back, laughing at the singing brushing along her ear and neck.

Her dancing stills as she meets Reis’s tired eyes as he drifts outside. She groans lowly, feeling the lively alcohol in her system. Naomi bites her tongue softly as she tries to follow him, but she’s quickly reminded of Jay’s embrace. She taps his arm, “Hey, lemme go.”

Jay whines childishly, pushing his head over her shoulder to squish his face against hers. “Why?” He drags the word out, “It’s only been like ten minutes, I don’t want to stop dancing yet.”

She sighs, laughingly trying to bury her smirk, “Boy, let me go.”

“I don’t want to, you gotta make me,” he grins and silently hopes that she’ll play along.

“Bitch you’re built like a stale Pop-Tart. Now, move.” Naomi kisses her teeth and pops his arm.

Jay lets go swiftly, and Naomi turns to face him, laughing as he cradles his arm. “You’re so mean to me,” he pouts as he rubs the stinging feeling away.

“You’re being dramatic, I’ll be back,” she giggles as she follows where Reis made his exit.

Naomi shuts the creaky door behind her and sees Reis to her left with his arms resting on the paint-chipped railing. He grips the plastic cup in his hand, still sipping on his beverage from earlier.

“You know,” she calls to him, leisurely approaching. “I won’t make fun of you if you just admit you’re a little shy. You always ghost everybody mid-party.”

Reis peers down at the girl, “I’m not shy, I’m just allergic to talking to people. Too many niggas, got me feeling claustrophobic. Plus, Jay, already acting like a dumbass.”

She grins loudly, “He’s so fuckin’ unserious, but y’know he’s harmless.”

He hums and turns to face her, while resting his elbow on the railing, “He’s starting to get a little bold.”

Her grin slips as she faces him, “We both know it’s not serious. I like having fun with someone I trust. It’s just dancing.”

His eyes steady as he sees her expression slightly change, “I know.”

She rubs the goosebumps running along her arm, waiting a moment before speaking slowly, “You think I’m doing too much?”

“Nah,” he shakes his head. “You do what you want, that’s why I fuck with you,” he reassures, slightly raking his fingers through her hair.

She looks at him for a moment, biting her lip before she clears her throat, “Wanna go inside?”

He huffs while smiling, “Yeah. It’s a little too cold out here.”