The evening sky draped itself in hues of deep, velvety purple, accented by delicate wisps of pink that danced among the billowing clouds. Nightfall was imminent, promising a clear and tranquil night ahead. As the descending sun lingered on the periphery of my vison, I exhaled a steam of smoke, an attempt to confine my addiction to the open air outside this cube of an apartment. With the aid of a small pink fan, I battled against the persistent odor of the tobacco, hoping to evade any detection, especially by my little brother whom I shared the same bedroom with.

Beside me, a pack of my cigarettes lay dormant on the window ledge, its contents dwindling to a mere three remaining. I had entertained the thoughts of quitting countless times before, yet each time, the allure of nicotine proved too potent to resist. This time, however, I resolved to make it different. This would be my final pack.

I reflected on how my smoking habit had taken root at the age of sixteen, when pilfering cigarettes from my mother's stash became a clandestine ritual among my friends and me. Perhaps, I mused, it was time to explore alternatives like chewing gum or something.

Brining the cigarette to my lips, I inhaled deeply, the smoke filling my lungs like a rush of bittersweet memories. As I leaned out the window, a sizzling sound echoed, the ash crisping on the edge of the bud, nearing its end. With a slight tilt of my head, I seized the miniature fan, its gentle breeze aiding my efforts to expel the smoke into the night.

A sudden ping jolted me from my reverie, and I swiftly retrieved my phone from my back pocket. Sammy's face illuminated the screen accompanied by the urgent message: "Call me."

My heart plummeted as I contemplated the myriad of worst-case scenarios. Dread coiled in the pit of my stomach-had there been an accident? A speeding ticket? The party was just a stone's throw from our block, and whole Sammy possessed a learner's permit, she lacked a car of her own.

Regret gnawed at my insides as I debated whether to return Sammy's call or light up another smoke. I extinguished the smoldering ember in the ceramic mushroom shape ashtray dish, hiding it over the folds of our curtains from eye view. But before I could muster the courage to dial her number, my phone sprang to life with Sammys image emblazoned across the screen. With a swift swipe, I answered the call.

"What happened? I demanded, my words clipped with tension, the distant thump of music pulsating in the background.

"I'm so sorry, Cam, please don't be mad," Sammy's voice trembled with anxiety, her words a tightrope stretch taut between panic and remorse. She only ever used my nick name if it was serious.

I fought to contain the torrent of emotions surging within me, striving to keep my voice steady. "Tell me," I urged, my adrenaline-fueled fury barely contained beneath the surface, as I paced the small room in a whirlwind of agitation.

Before I could unleash my pent-up frustration through the phone, a cascade of giggles erupted in the background, mingling with Sammy's laughter like a bubbling brook merging with a playful stream. "Nah, I'm just messin' with you," she declared, her voice a buoyant melody that washed away the tension knotting in my chest.

Releasing a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, I felt the grip of anxiety loosen its hold on my body. "I was literally going to murder you over the phone," I confessed, my nervous chuckle attempted to mask the lingering adrenaline rush.

More laughter echoed through the receiver, a chorus of mirth that enveloped me in its warmth. "We just pulled up at the party, it's lit for sure," Sammy announced amidst the din of excited voices. In the background, Kara's voice rang out, followed by a cacophony of chatter that blurred together in a symphony of anticipation. "But I wanted to know what time you wanted me to meet you tomorrow morning, 'cause the girls decided we're all gonna crash at my place."

Amidst the raucous music on the other end of the line, memories of Reggie's legendary parties flooded my mind like snapshots from a distant dream. Though I was the designated driver at his last party he did a few months back, the recollection of past beer pong battles and midnight swims brought a nostalgic smile to my lips."

"You're the DD tonight, right?" I inquired, a touch of concern seeping into my voice as I sought reassurance from Sammy, my maternal instincts kicking in.

"Yes, bestie, don't worry," Sammy assured me, though her words were punctuated by a sudden scuffle as if someone was engaged in a playful tussle. "Ill take care of these little babies," she added, her voice muffled against the backdrop of commotion.

"We ain't about to get buck wild tonight, Becky," Sammy proclaimed, her tone brimming with playful admonishment.

Joining the lighthearted banter, I chuckled at the antics unfolding on the other end of the line. "Yeah, and no throwing up in my car either," I interjected, the smile evident in my voice.

"Yeah!" Sammy exclaimed, her voice rising above the din. "You hear that? No throwing up in Camila's car!" she announced to the revelers.

As the music faded into the background, I lay back against my pillow, my gaze drifting upward to the ceiling. With a languid twirl of my finger, I toyed with a loose strand of hair.

The crackling static of the walkie-talkie suddenly burst to life, Tio's voice cutting through the silence of the room like a sharp blade. "Someone's at the door," he announced, his words reverberating though the dimly lit room.

I scanned the shadow expanse, my eyes landing on the small yellow Pokémon-themed walkie-talkie perched atop the aged wooden dresser. Crossing the room with a purposeful stride, I reached for the gadget, fingers deftly pressing the button on its side.

"Roger that," I replied, my voice a playful echo that bounced off the walls, reaching the living room just a few feet away where I could hear myself chime in on the other end of the device. "Roger that," I replied, my voice a playful echo that bounced off the walls, reaching the living room just a few feet away where I could hear myself chime in on the other end of the device.

"Ive gotta go,but meet me down at the parking stalls around eight tomorrow morning," I relayed to Sammy, anticipation flickering in my chest at the prospect of their rendezvous.

Sammy's voice emerged crystal clear now, the distant strains of music fading into the background as if she had distanced herself from the clamor. "Want to grab some breakfast before work, maybe?"

I responded eagerly, the mere thought of coffee sending a jolt of excitement coursing through me, my stomach chiming in with a low growl of anticipation. "Yeah, let's swing by Rosie's Café."

"It's a quadruple date then," Sammy teased, her affectionate tone laced with laughter. "Love ya!" With that, the music was getting louder in hearing range, the chatter of voices mingling with the pulsing rhythm.

After saying the deairing words back, I ended the call and reached for the phone charger, its cord snaking across the nightstand between mine and my brother's bed.

With the walkie-talkie still clutched in hand, I made my way to the front door, curiosity piqued as I peered through the peephole. The lens offered a narrow frame, revealing a figure with a protruding head that was adorned with the unmistakable insignia of High Bridge Pizza emblazoned on a red cap.

Setting the walkie down on the TV stand, I opened the door, greeted by the tantalizing aroma of melting cheese that enveloped my senses, igniting a flame of hunger pangs in my stomach loud enough to rouse even the tiniest ears. "I've got a large pepperoni pizza with a side of mozzarella sticks," the older gentleman announced cheerfully. "Its all been paid for, tip included," he added, his smile radiant enough even the weight of the world couldn't dim his sunny disposition.

"Thank you," I murmured in gratitude.

I watched as the pizza man departed down the hall; my gaze soon lingered on Dominics doorway. Hesitant thoughts swirling in my mind like a tempest, contemplating whether to extend an olive branch to him. The fear of rejection loomed large, threating to consume me in a vortex of self-doubt and embarrassment.

Before I could spiral any further into the abyss of my own mind, my feet took charge, propelling me towards his apartment door. Drawing in a deep breath, I rapped lightly on it, the sound echoing in the hallway.

Moments later, it swings open, revealing a wild-haired, shirtless Dominic, his sculpted abs glistening with a post-shower sheen that caught the light like polished marble. The left side of his ribs and shoulder covered in tattoos. Unaware of my lingering gaze, my cheeks burned, meeting his amused eyes. A smirk played at the corners of his lips, betraying his enjoyment of my discomfort.

"Hey, um, my brother and I are having pizza," I stammered, clutching to an obvious warm pizza box.

He ran a hand though his damp hair, droplets of water clinging to the strands like diamonds. "I see that," he remarked, his gaze drifting down to the pizza in my hands. There was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, as if he was waiting for me to break the silence, to the void with words.

I considered backing out, retreating into the safety of a simple offering of handing him a slice of pizza and being on my marry way, but the weight of my earlier actions pressed down on me like a leading shroud. "Yeah, it's really good pizza," I managed, my voice faltering like a train struggling up a steep incline. I cleared my throat, desperate to find my footing in this awkward dance of words.

Finaly mustering the courage to lay bare what I was trying to get out in the first place. "I felt like shit about what happened earlier, and, well, Santiago had a great idea in inviting you over for some pizza," the words spilled forth unable to reel them back in.

He smiled, a nervous twitch at the corners of his lips but there was warmth in his eyes, a glimmer of understanding. "Please don't feel bad, I get it. No hard feelings at all," he reassured me.

As I looked at his lips, a strange sensation rippled through me, sending tingles down my spine. His smile was lopsided, enduring, reaving a glimpse of pearly whites.

"You don't have to if you don't want, I just..well, Tio thought it would be a nice gesture," I say as nearly stumbled over my own white lie of words. I felt my cheeks get hot again.

His smile softened, his green eyes sparkled with flecks of gold as they met mine with a new fond closeness. Delving deeper into them, I found myself lost in their mesmerizing depths by the subtle shift in hue, reminding me of the ever- changing colors of sea moss.

"Sure, I'd like that," he replied, breaking the spell with a simple affirmation. "Let me get changed real quick, and I'll head over," he added.

I waved a casual farewell as I turned to leave, resisting the urge to steal another glance at his half-naked form. "Yeah, take your time," I called over my shoulder, unwilling to risk another chance for my eyes to betray me.

*******

A swipe of gloss across my dry lips gave them a luscious sheen, accentuating their fullness. Contemplating my reflection in the mirror, I pondered whether to leave my hair cascading down or to sweep it up into a high ponytail, a subtle enhancement to my native cheekbones. Before I could decide, a sharp knock at the front door shattered the quiet of my deliberation.

With small, heavy footsteps padding towards me, little Tio's head popped into view by the bathroom entrance. "He's at the door," he announced with a gentle tilt of his head and a soft, melodious smile that illuminated his face at the mention of Dominic.

When I had told him that our neighbor would be joining us for dinner, he'd been buzzing with excitement, eager to finish his homework ahead of time in anticipation of Dom's arrival. He even set plates and drinks for all of us at the table.

Wiping a smudge of gloss from the corners of my lips, I stole one final glance at my reflection. My chestnut-brown hair framed my face in loose tendrils, and my eyes, the color of rich earth soil held a quiet intensity.

"Why are you putting makeup on?" Tio's innocent inquiry interrupted my thoughts, "You trying to impress someone?" his playful gesture of raising and lowering his brows accompanied the question.

"I just put a little gloss on, that's all," I replied, shaking my head at his teasing.

As I headed towards the door, nerves tingled in the pit of my stomach yet again. Giving myself a silent thoughtful reminder of it only being nice to your neighbor and nothing more, trying to quell the rising anxiety.

"Sure, you are," My baby brother teasing persisted from behind.

Taking a deep quiet breath, I opened the door, greeting Dominic. His simple white shirt and jeans exuded effortless charm. His tousled hair, freed from its usual slick-back style.

"Hey," I say as I made my way for him to enter.

Hi, Dom!" Tio exclaimed excitedly, his enthusiasm contagious.

Dominic's welcoming smile shifted from me to Tio as he greeted him with a friendly handshake. "Hey, little man, thanks for inviting me for some pizza," he acknowledged, his warm demeanor putting Tio at ease.

Confusion clouded my brother's features as his brows furrowed in a tangle of uncertainty. "I did?" he questioned, casting a sideways glance at me, revealing the little fib about the invitation.

"Let's eat some pizza, yeah? I'm starving," I interjected, a touch too loudly. Well, that didn't last long.