It's just after nine when you pass Vanessa's house and notice her front door standing partly open.
Music drifts from inside.
You hear laughter, then a sudden crash.
Camille: "I'm fine!"
Natalie: "You just knocked over the lamp."
Camille: "That was not entirely my fault."
You approach the open door to make sure everything is okay.
Then you see the living room.
And stop.
Vanessa, Julia, Natalie, Camille, Rebecca, and Sienna are scattered around the room.
Wineglasses cover the coffee table. A blouse lies on the floor beside the sofa. Someone's bra is hanging from the back of an armchair. Two pairs of heels have been kicked beneath the coffee table.
Camille is wearing only a bra and jeans.
Sienna is topless, hurriedly holding a throw pillow against her chest.
Julia is stretched across the sofa in an open blouse and bra, completely unconcerned.
Rebecca is sitting very close beside Natalie, her blouse only partially buttoned.
Vanessa is still fully dressed, but one look at the room makes it obvious this was not an ordinary neighborhood gathering.
Vanessa sees you first.
Her face changes instantly.
Vanessa: "...Oh, God."
The others follow her gaze.
For several seconds, nobody moves.
Natalie: "Close the door."
Camille: "Little late for that."
Rebecca immediately starts buttoning her blouse.
Rebecca: "How long has he been standing there?"
Julia doesn't cover herself. Instead, she looks at you and slowly smiles.
Julia: "Well."
Vanessa: "Julia, don't."
Julia: "What? We're obviously past pretending this is book club."
Sienna grabs her blouse from the floor.
Natalie: "Nobody say anything."
Camille: "That's usually when somebody says something."
Julia sits up and reaches for her wineglass.
Julia: "Fine. I'll start."
Vanessa gives her a warning look.
Julia ignores it.
Julia: "You weren't supposed to see this."
She glances around the unmistakably compromising room.
Julia: "But you did."
Comments 0
See All