Chapter 1 The Party Pt 1

• Four years earlier.
• It's exactly eight o'clock in the evening when the doorbell rings, I peek out and it's my best friend waiting for me outside; I quickly say goodbye to my mother who keeps reminding me to be careful at the party. I blow her a kiss and quickly leave the house.
• The school costume party for Halloween and Day of the Dead is being held today at a prestigious venue, we were told it has a swimming pool and plenty of hidden spots where students usually meet. My friend and I are freshmen, so it will be the first university party we attend.
• "Ready?" Ximena approaches, greeting me with a kiss on the cheek.
• "Of course," I take her hand and urge her to turn around to see her dress, "look at you, the outfit looks great on you."
• "You're not far behind, you look really good," she gives me a wink in complicity, "do you have the masks?"
• "Of course," I open the small box I'm holding and take out hers, "this is yours."
• "It's beautiful! You've made it so beautifully," she says excitedly.
• "Don't exaggerate, come on, let's go, we're running late."
• She puts the mask back in the box and we both walk to her car to head to this "famous" event.
• For the past two weeks, everyone at the university hasn't stopped talking about it, even many classrooms agreed to dress according to a theme. Ours, of course, didn't, we're not that close. At least not yet.
• Upon arriving at the venue, we realize that it is nothing more and nothing less than a grand mansion in a very luxurious gated community in the city. To enter, we had to show our student IDs for the guards to verify it on their list.
• "Wow, this is... very big," I declare as I look at the place from the outside.
• "Yes, it is, pass me the mask so I can put it on. I don't want anyone to recognize me."
• I hand Ximena the mask and put on mine, trying to hide the ribbon among the curls I made for tonight.
• "Are you ready to shine, babe?" she says to me, using the nickname she's been calling me since middle school when we first met.
• "I am, and you?" Ximena smiles and blows me a kiss to signal that she is too. Then she gets out of the car and I follow her.
• We walk to the entrance where we are not the only ones waiting to get in. When we manage to enter, we realize that the place is packed with costumed students, including one with very little clothing who is only wearing a baby diaper.
• "Remember, call me when you want to leave," Ximena whispers in my ear to remind me that she will leave me alone at this party, as her new boyfriend requires her attention.
• "Don't worry, I'll call you. Have fun," I blow her a kiss and walk away.
• From a distance, I see her joining her annoying boyfriend. I walk through what is supposed to be this mansion and go out to the garden, nobody recognizes me, but it's not like I have many friends. We just started college and I've barely had a chance to talk to a couple of classmates.
• Around the pool, there are different lounge areas and some sunbeds, the exterior garden is decorated with the theme of the event. Students come and go throughout the place, at the back of the garden in one corner, there is a large dance floor with a DJ playing "Vivir mi vida" by Marc Anthony. A few people gather around the dance floor while in the middle of it, a couple of young people are engaged in a sensual dance.
• I approach a little closer to admire the spectacle that has captivated so many. Then I see better, a young woman with dark skin dancing with what seems to be one of my classmates. The truth is, the girl dances very well, I would even say too well.
• "And who is that?" I hear a girl dressed as a sexy baseball player ask on my right.
• "That's Simone, she's Brazilian and here on an exchange program," another girl dressed as a maid responds.
• - "Dance of the turnip," the first girl expresses. In that moment, I know they are a couple of bitches, envy speaking through them. The second girl is about to respond, but something in me makes me answer for her.
• - "It's not true, the girl dances so well that she could easily embarrass anyone who tries to dance like her," both girls turn to look at me when they hear me, I decide to continue taking advantage of my courage to speak. "All her movements are natural, just admire her."
• I confront them and gesture towards the girl in the middle of the dance floor, who gives everyone present an incredible spectacle, both for the men who mostly wet their costumes with their mouths open, or for the girls who are dying of envy for being able to dance like her.
• The two girls don't say anything else out loud, but they whisper to each other and look at me with faces that want to make my catrina costume more than symbolic.
• Well, since dancing is not my strong suit, nor tolerating superficial people, I leave there with the intention of finding a bathroom.
• Before leaving the house, I drank a lot of water and now I need a bathroom. I approach some bathrooms that are on the side of the pool, but there are already some girls waiting in line, so I go back inside the mansion and look for one in there.
• The service bathroom on the ground floor is a mess, so I go up to the upper floor. One of the bathrooms in a bedroom is occupied by a couple, a bit noisy. I walk to the other end where it seems to be the least frequented place by the guests, one of the doors is half open so I enter. What I thought was a simple room is a huge, grand, and exquisite bedroom. At the end of it, there is a door, so I run to it hoping it's the bathroom. When I open it, I realize that it is, and I enter in a hurry, as the basic need has become urgent. I enter and forget to lock it, but I don't think anyone will come in, so I lift my dress, pull down my panties while trying not to sit completely on the toilet.
• "Blessed bathroom! Ah, how nice!" I sigh with relief.
• Before leaving, I wash my hands and then check my phone, nothing. No messages and no calls, that's the summary of my social life, at least for now. When I leave, I see the huge bed in front of me. A perfectly made King size bed is begging me to lie down on it, "if only I could."
• I settle on the comfortable mattress and take my phone to take some selfies. The place, the makeup, and my outfit deserve it. I grab some pillows behind me and strike a pose, leaving the mask next to me. First, a cute photo, something that highlights my innocence. A calm look and a fake smile make the perfect capture.
• Little by little, I change positions and the photos become more suggestive, starting from the traditional innocent photo to the one that suggests something hotter. The self-photoshoot of daring poses makes my thoughts fly and slowly, but constantly, the desire within me increases.