"I forgot to tell you just now but you look absolutely stunning, Daria," Aiko pointed out, winking at me playfully.

I blushed, smoothing down the layer of lace over the actual material of my dress. It was the night of the Halloween party, which was inconveniently on a Sunday night. I was completely relaxed despite the terrifying math test I had bright and early tomorrow. I needed a break anyways, though I knew that was a complete lie.

We were currently situated in the back of Darren Parks' beautifully enormous kitchen, each holding a glass of water after downing two bottles of beer. By we, I meant Aiko and I. We had met up earlier at Darren's house for the party of the month.

The party seemed to be in full swing as other students we recognised from our school danced to Nicki Minaj in the living room like there was no tomorrow. If only I could remind them that school still existed and this week was revision week, which meant that pop quizzes and random tests would be hitting our school like a storm.

"I wish more people would say that to me. It would help me cope better in school," I joked to Aiko, who was dressed up as a Japanese version of Taylor Swift. My fake angel wings and golden halo was nothing in comparison to her costume.

Aiko Hirayama was my best friend and the sweetest person on the planet. She should be the one wearing my costume for that was what she was in everyone's eyes: an angel. Her smooth black hair and fair skin fit the profile too.

After my parents died five years ago, she allowed me to stay with her for around a year. That was until my 24 year old aunt Alexia, who happened to be my mother's younger sister, decided to show up and took me in. 

Despite that, I still spent most of my time at Aiko's house. That was because Alexia was busy working at a perfumery somewhere near her university. It had been her dream to work at that company since she started doing her first degree. 

I owed my life to Aiko. I would have been lost without her. She had been my non-biological older sister ever since we met during my first swim training in Year 4. We had been best friends even when there were way cooler people in her grade.

"I think we're being rude by standing here," Aiko spoke, her eyes on a group of girls raiding one of Darren's fridges. Yes, one of them. The boy had three in his kitchen.

"Why?" I asked.

"We haven't even greeted Darren yet," she pointed out before finishing the water in her glass. "We've already danced to two songs and ate spider cupcakes yet we didn't even say hi to the host."

"You're too polite for your own good, Aiko," I said to her. "I bet Darren Parks doesn't even know us."

"What do you mean?" she said, frowning, "the two of you take physics together, don't you? And Darren was Tarzan and I was Jane in last year's production."

The three of us did, and Darren was the best at physics in our class of twenty. I envied him because of that. I also envied him because he was a master at theatre which allowed him to land the main role in our school production every year. And did I mention he had three refrigerators yet?

"We're completely average girls, who are not worth remembering to a Brad Pitt like him," I pointed out nonchalantly. "Correction: I'm a completely average girl. I bet he remembers you."

Aiko lightly hit my arm. "You're so mean to yourself. You're a beautiful girl, Daria, and definitely not average. You're smart too."

"At which subject?" I eyed her.

Aiko thought for a second, her eyebrows furrowing. "You're alright at chemistry. And, um, I'm pretty sure you're good at writing essays in English class."

"But that's it!" I exclaimed, my nose scrunched up as I said, "I'm so normal."

She shook her head at me disapprovingly, though I'm sure Aiko was used to my depressing self-deprecation. She was always the more positive one.

I sighed. "I just wish something cool would happen to me for once, Aiko. Like a prince charming coming to pick me up on his white horse, or maybe a rocket landing on my garden."

Aiko rolled her eyes. "Prince charming? Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously," I said firmly, setting my glass down on the counter behind me. "My love life has been so dry."

"No it hasn't!" Aiko countered, putting her glass down too. "What about Gian? You guys dated for a whole year."

My mind diverted to the memories I had with the boy next door before he left three months ago. My heart started to race as I thought about him.

Gian Moretti was an Italian boy with curly brown hair and eyes green like emeralds. The moment I saw him carrying boxes up to his doorstep two years ago, I developed a monster crush on him. Eventually, we became friends and then to my luck, something more. 

"I'm pretty sure he still loves you," Aiko spoke, breaking me away from my thoughts. She was retying her hair into a ponytail now, the blond wig she wore previously now sitting on the dining table next to us. The room seemed even stuffier as more people entered to throw up in the sinks.

"How would you know that?" I narrowed my eyes at Aiko before pulling her to the side to allow a girl to get an empty glass from behind her. Aiko's skin was freezing as usual.

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure the girl's name was Ella Swanston, also known as Darren's gorgeous girlfriend. She was dressed up as Black Widow. I bet she had all the boys gawking when she first joined the party.

The intro of ABBA's Dancing Queen could now be heard in the kitchen as the music blasted from the living room. Ella squealed before rushing out of the kitchen.

"He still texts you, doesn't he?" Aiko asked as if she hadn't known already. I tell her everything about my mundane life. She practically shrieked when Gian texted me three months ago about landing safely.

I shyly nodded. "He texted me this morning, for your information. Apparently he's working part-time at a library near his apartment," I informed her.

"See! He's totally still interested if he's telling you little details about his life!" she exclaimed excitedly. "God, Daria, you are so bloody oblivious."

I rolled my eyes at my friend. "I doubt it, I mean it's been months! I bet he's met even prettier girls in Italy by now."

"Once again, you're too hard on yourself, Daria," she sighed. "When will you realise you are pretty?"

I shrugged.

"Girls! Stop talking!" Darren Parks exclaimed when he suddenly stumbled into the kitchen. "You both need to quit isolating yourselves and go have some fun."

Darren was dressed up as the Joker, a typical Halloween costume for boys my age if I do say so myself. He looked handsome regardless, though his supposedly slicked back hair was sticking up everywhere on his head.

"We're good, thanks," Aiko told him as he approached us, the reek of alcohol a little stronger now that he stood in front of us.

Darren picked up Aiko's blonde wig that was lying on the table and eyed it suspiciously. "Who left their omelette here?"

I raised my eyebrows at him in confusion. Next to me, Aiko was shaking her head as she stifled her laughter.

"I think you've had too much to drink, Darren," I pointed out, snatching the wig from him. I handed it to Aiko who put it back on her head.

"Daria's right," Aiko said, "you should go find Ella so she can put you to bed. We'll be fine over here."

Darren groaned, probably from a headache. Reason number 376 why I don't down twenty shots at every party I go to. No matter how upset I am after a breakup either, which does not make sense since Darren was in a pretty happy relationship with Ella.

Before we could say anything else, he staggered out of the kitchen and into the bathroom.

"I'm glad we both have low tolerance in drinking," Aiko said to me. I nodded in agreement.

"I don't understand people who drink until they're proper pissed."

"Me neither."

"Should we go?"" I asked, turning to Aiko who was grabbing another bottle of beer. "We've been here for over an hour and we have that math test tomorrow."

She nodded. "After we finish this bottle and dance to one more song."

I cheered and we boogied out of the kitchen and onto the dance floor, which happened to be the marble surface in the living room. The previous song ended and was quickly switched to New Rules by Dua Lipa.

Aiko turned to me, an excited look on her face before she dragged me to the centre of the room. My face lit up as well. We both were diehard Dua Lipa fans.

As the music flowed, we grooved to the beat. Girls and boys started to flow into the living room, joining us as we danced along to the upbeat music. In between my powerful moves, I took a sip of beer from the bottle in my hand before handing it to Aiko once again. 

In my peripheral vision, I could see girls downing shots of tequila. Others were quietly sitting on the couch examining the people dancing while they smoked their own individual cigarettes. What else could I expect?

I turned away and looked at Aiko who was yelling the lyrics as she danced fervently like the world was hers. I couldn't imagine Taylor Swift dancing so passionately to a Dua Lipa song. Weren't there supposed to be rivals in the music industry or something?

"I got new rules I count them!" everyone belted enthusiastically before the song ended.

"Let's go," I murmured to Aiko before dragging out the front door of Darren Parks' mansion.

The autumn breeze quickly greeted me the moment I stepped out, making me shiver slightly.

"I regret wearing this," Aiko groaned as she tossed her bottle into the dustbin at the end of walkway from Darren's front door. Aiko was referring to her black mini skirt and red striped tee. I thought it was a cute outfit choice, though the chilly weather seemed to disagree as the wind continued to blow mercilessly.

"I'm glad you live just a block away from Darren," I said to her as we walked down the street. "We don't have to walk in this freezing weather for so long."

Aiko nodded in agreement as we walked down the empty street before turning right into her street. The irritating sound of barking could be heard as we passed by Aiko's neighbour's house. They were an old couple with no children and only an adorable beagle named Opal to protect their house, though he wasn't so cute when he was barking loudly at 12 in the morning.

"My parents aren't home," Aiko told me as she unlocked the front door, "they've gone back to Japan for the week."

"What about Minami?" I asked, referring to her older sister. She was currently studying law at UCL. Aiko was just as intelligent as her sister, and they were both identically beautiful too.

"She's away in Manchester for a project," Aiko informed, closing the door after I stepped inside. She quickly locked it and together, we headed upstairs.

The moment we got into the room, I jumped on the bed. A feeling of relief and satisfaction passed through my body as my legs felt like jelly from the exhaustion. The white floral sheets were cool under my skin.

"Gross, Daria! Take a shower first before you sleep on my sacred bed," Aiko exclaimed, glaring at me. I laughed and stood up once again.

"You're right. I really need one," I murmured, feeling the fabric of my white dress stick to my skin. I was incredibly sweaty because of the dancing.

"I'm gonna shower first though. Taylor Swift smells really bad at the moment," she said with a chuckle.

"Okay but don't you go performing your second world tour in there!" I exclaimed at her.

"I won't be long don't worry," Aiko responded as she grabbed her pyjamas from her closet before closing her bathroom door behind her.

I decided to sit on the carpet on her floor and scroll through social media like every other 17 year old girl I knew. Suddenly, I got a text from Gian. I clicked on the notification and saw that he had sent me a picture of him smiling in front of the library he was working at.

Gian: Thought you might want to see this picture ;)

Me: Why do you think so hmm?

Gian: Maybe you're missing this face?

Me: Pshh you wish

It was an incredibly adorable photo though. Gian was dressed in a white button-up and faded jeans as he posed in front of the building, the old architecture making the photo even better. I sighed as I admired his messy curls.

Gian: When are you visiting me?

Me: Where do you live again? I can see when I'm free

Gian: Wait really?

Me: Sure

Gian: Turin

Gian: Please visit. I miss you

Me: I miss you too