Dressed to Impress

22

Riley

I headed back to my room after Ethan went to get ready. It hit me that I still hadn’t decided what to wear. Sure, tonight was all about Ethan, but I couldn’t exactly show up looking like I’d just rolled out of bed.

The clothes I bought with him were still in the bag on my chair. I pulled them out and held the shirt up to my chest in the mirror. It was nice—sleek, fitted, and way classier than my usual vibe. Perfect for tonight.

Still, I was feeling a little... stressed. It wasn’t just about Ethan pulling this off; it was about me not screwing it up. What kind of friend would I be if I let him down now?

I quickly got dressed, the jeans fitting just snug enough to make me wonder if I’d eaten too much pizza lately. The shirt, though, was a winner. When I buttoned it up and gave myself a once-over, I had to admit I looked decent. Not that it mattered.

“Alright, Riley,” I muttered to myself, pacing my room as I pulled on my shoes. “You’re here to help Ethan, not to stress about whether you look good.”

I grabbed my jacket and headed to the living room. Ethan wasn’t out yet, so I figured I had a minute to chill. By the time he returned, I’d managed to straighten a few things and convince myself not to overthink the night.

“Wow,” Ethan said, stepping into the room. “You look... put together.”

I smirked, brushing imaginary lint off my sleeve. “Yeah, well, I figured I should at least try to look like I belong at this party. You, on the other hand...” I gave him a mock once-over. “You’re stealing the show.”

He rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the faint smile creeping onto his face. “Thanks. You ready?”

“Born ready,” I said, grabbing my keys off the counter. “But, uh, quick question—how stressed do I look on a scale of one to ‘I’m-about-to-lose-it?’”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “You? Stressed? What’s going on?”

I waved him off, trying to act casual. “It’s nothing. Just making sure I don’t screw this up for you, that’s all.”

He shook his head, laughing softly. “Riley, you’re not going to screw anything up. If anything, you’re the reason I’m even walking into this party tonight.”

I blinked, caught off guard by how sincere he sounded. “Well, okay, then,” I said, clearing my throat. “Let’s get going before I start blushing or something.”

As we stepped outside, the crisp night air hit us, and Ethan locked the door behind him. Just as I was about to ask if he wanted to drive, Ava appeared, walking out of Ethan’s house like she owned the place.

When she spotted me, her jaw nearly dropped. Her eyes widened, and then her expression shifted to one of unfiltered chaos—typical Ava. “Riley!” she exclaimed, practically skipping over. “You’re always hot, but now? Wow. You’re *dangerous.*”

I laughed, shaking my head as Ethan rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Ava, it’s not that serious.”

“Not that serious?” she repeated, gesturing dramatically at me like I was a masterpiece unveiled. “Please, the party won’t survive. People are going to be passing out left and right. Ethan, are you seeing this?”

Ethan glanced at me, his smile a mix of amusement and annoyance. “Yeah, Ava, I’m seeing it. Can we go now, or are you planning to write a sonnet about Riley’s outfit?”

Ava gasped, clutching her chest as if he’d just suggested she insult the queen. “You *wish* you had my poetic skills.” She spun to me, winking. “Seriously, though, you look amazing. Don’t let him dull your shine.”

“Noted,” I said, suppressing a grin. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got a party to crash.”

Ava waved us off with a dramatic flourish, calling after us, “Steal the spotlight, Riley! And Ethan, don’t ruin it!”

We both laughed as we walked to the car. Ethan sighed. “I should’ve known she’d find a way to make this about her.”

I shrugged, still grinning. “That’s Ava. But hey, she’s not wrong. Let’s do this.”

As I slid into the passenger seat, I couldn’t help but feel a little lighter. Maybe tonight wasn’t just about Ethan. Maybe it was about proving we could both handle whatever life threw at us.

Ethan climbed into the driver’s seat, his jaw tight and his fingers gripping the steering wheel like it was the only thing tethering him to the ground. He didn’t say anything as he started the car, but I could feel the tension radiating off him.

Without a word, he turned on the radio and cranked the volume up, a sharp beat filling the car and drowning out any chance for conversation. It was one of those high-energy songs, the kind designed to pump you up or distract you entirely.

I shot him a sideways glance, raising an eyebrow. “You okay there, DJ Stress Vibes?”

He didn’t answer right away, his eyes fixed on the road as he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel in time with the music. Finally, he exhaled loudly. “Just trying to psych myself up, that’s all.”

“Psych yourself up or drown out your own thoughts?” I asked, my voice cutting through the music just enough to be heard.

Ethan’s lips twitched into a brief smirk, but it faded just as quickly. “Maybe both.”

I reached over and turned the volume down a notch—not off, just enough so we didn’t have to yell. “Talk to me, man. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

He hesitated, his grip on the wheel tightening before he finally spoke. “It’s just... this party. It’s not just a party, Riley. It’s *the* party. If I mess this up...” He trailed off, shaking his head.

“You won’t mess it up,” I said firmly. “You’ve got this.”

Ethan let out a humorless laugh. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one everyone’s going to be watching.”

“No, but I am the one who’s going to make sure you don’t completely implode,” I quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

He glanced at me, his expression softening just a bit. “You really think I can pull this off?”

I snorted. “Ethan, I *know* you can pull this off. You’re Ethan-freaking-whatever-your-last-name-is. You’re charismatic, you’re confident, and you’ve got me by your side. What could possibly go wrong?”

He groaned, but I caught the faintest hint of a smile. “Why do I let you talk me into these things?”

“Because I’m your best friend and you know I’m always right,” I said, shooting him a grin.

Ethan shook his head, laughing softly. “You’re insufferable.”

“Yeah, but you’d be lost without me.”

For a moment, the tension in the car eased, and we both relaxed into the banter. But as we pulled up to the party, Ethan’s fingers started drumming against the wheel again.

“Alright,” he said, taking a deep breath as he put the car in park. “This is it.”

“You’ve got this,” I said again, clapping him on the shoulder.

He nodded, his jaw set as he turned off the car. But just as we stepped out, he paused, looking back at me. “Riley, seriously... thanks. For everything.”

I smiled, shrugging like it was no big deal. “That’s what I’m here for. Now let’s go show them what you’re made of.”

He nodded, and together, we headed for the entrance, the muffled thrum of music inside signaling that the night was just beginning. Whatever happened, we’d face it together—stress, chaos, and all.