Shared Spaces. phan

3

On Saturday our apartment turned into a waiting room for a Hollywood's blockbuster audition. A cluster of disney characters, horror movie villains and overall things that I had nightmares about growing up were dancing and drinking on he floor of my flat. And I, a skeleton in a black hoodie and black jeans combo, felt terribly out of place. It was my own house for God's sake, but the only people I knew were a guy in Jesus costume who used to be Flo's uber driver (whom she also dated for three weeks) and a girl in DIY minion costume, Beth's step-sister who lives two blocks away from us. Plus I recognized a few faces from the 'People you may know' feature on Facebook, but the rest of the guests were either wiped from my memory or there was no occasion to meet.

The night was only so young, people were at their second drink and most of them were still very casual. Perhaps the parties don't get more exciting than this as we get older, perhaps that's the first and the final stage aleady. It's not like I mind, I would rather have them drinking cocktails and talking with each other than puking on my favorite carpet in the middle of the night. Let's hope it won't end up that way.

As I sat there, observing all the faces I hadn't had a memory off my eyes fixed on Sophia, standing in a half circle with two other girl. She was wearing a dress that could be worn by Gucci models and sold for more money than even my father had in the bank. The top half of the dress was deeply red and progressed into much more darker shade at the bottom. A few red roses were pinned down to her hair styled into wavy curls and golden jewelry blinked from the so called 'mood lights' Florence set up all over the house.

She dropped the idea of a couple costume with Phil a day before the party and ended up as Persephone. Despite her Italian roots she chose a Greek Goddess, but it was very in character for her to exceed everyone's expectations.

She caught me staring and signed with her hand for me to come join her and her friends in conversation. That was fair, I was sat on the couch watching people by myself anyway. In a few ungrateful steps I went up to Sophia and the other girls who smiled at me brightly.

"Dan, this is Hayley and Veronica, the two new fashion majors I took under my wing this semester." Sophia introduced, teasing at the fact that the two girls looked way younger, probably at the edge of nineteen. I shook both of their hands awkwardly. The girl who I assumed was Veronica was dressed in a very High School Musical-like cheerleader costume and Hayley had Mickey Mouse ears she probably bought as a souvenir from Disneyland atop of her head and a pink too-too around her waist. I can only assume they didn't have much time to plan out their costumes, otherwise they have a lot to learn as fashion majors.

I can't really judge though, I must have the laziest costume at the party.

"Hi Dan, you painted your face yourself?" The cheerleader asked, studying my face. I almost forgot about the makeup.

"Yeah but the girls helped me with something they call 'countor', I only knew how to use white powder." I smiled sheepishly and they both giggled, covering their mouth with the hand that wasn't holding a beer bottle.

"Keep lying Dan, without us you would look like a ghost or someone who hasn't been in a sun for two decades. Speaking of pale-" she paused, looking around for someone but I already knew who she meant.

Her eyes stopped at the tall figure in a pikatchu onsie, who turned around and wived at the group. His cheeks were painted red with Sophia's red lipstick and his hair flopped down against his forehead under a hood resembling the pikatchu's face. Just as awkwardly as me, he walked over to us, trying to avoid bumping into dancing bodies that were in his way.

"This is Phil, my childhood bestie." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder. He went to stand in between me and Sophia, which made me glare at him as per usual.