1 Nightclub

Frodo was out with friends, celebrating. Some of them had gotten accepted to Capital University, like him. Others had gotten into other universities. There was envy, of course. But their friendship was stronger. And so they lay their envy bare, and even laughed at it and with each other.

Frodo was a son of the Velvet family, one of the prominent families of the city. His friends were from comparable families, though not equally prominent. Families comparable to the Velvet family were rivals. The rivalry extended to the children. And as such, they couldn't be friends.

Anyway, Frodo was out with friends, celebrating at Blu, the most popular nightclub, with permission of their families. Not only were they adults now, they had even gotten into universities of their choice. Their families were proud, and allowed the boys, no, adults now, to party.

The five friends were getting drunk, and swaying to the music, when Frodo froze. In the middle of the dance floor, the most gorgeous girl he had ever seen, was dancing free, like she was all alone in the whole world. His friends followed his eyes, and froze too at the sight of the stunning girl. As were most others at the nightclub. The girl was so beautiful, she scared away the majority with just her beauty. And the brave scoundrels who didn't fear death were kept away by the two equally handsome young boys by her side, one of whom was dancing just as wildly, and the other was merely swaying on his rooted feet. The trio were the stars of the night, everyone else serving as props. Until, the trio left. And the nightclub returned to normal. No one who had been at the nightclub along with the trio were in the mood for partying though. The boys couldn't get the girl out of their minds. The girls couldn't forget the two boys.

It was just such a night. No one was to blame. Nothing Blu could do about it.

Frodo and his friends left not long after the trio. Their souls were stolen. And along with them, their celebratory mood. They weren't even drunk. And the night was far from over. They couldn't return home just yet. The next best thing, grab a late night dinner at a roadside stall. There was nothing better than breaking the curfew for a roadside snack. It was an inseparable part of school.

"Who was that?"

The five were enjoying the kind of conversation that went best with such a meal. Girls. And the best kind of girl too.

"Who was she?"

"I don't think we've seen her before. We wouldn't forget."

"Oh, not all of us."

Four snickered. One blushed.

"All of us will admit, she's the prettiest we've ever seen."

All five nodded.

"Do you think we'll cross paths again?"

"I know I will see her again," Frodo said with certainty, surprising his friends.

"How?" Four asked together.

"Just a feeling. She looks our age."

"How does one look any age at all?"

"True. Look at us. Three of us look nineteen. Our age. One looks ten. And to think this someone is the only one with a girlfriend. And the last one looks a hundred."

"You've got a point there."

All five laughed.

"I just know it," Frodo repeated. "You have this feeling sometimes, don't you? You can't explain it. You just know. I'm going to see her. Maybe at university. Maybe we'll be in the same class. That would be something."

"We wish you the best of luck," the four friends said.

And then, they cheered themselves. Calling it a night, they returned home. In a few days, they would be starting with a new adventure. College. And everyone needed to prepare.

*

Emily laughed at her cousins. Antonio was fine. He liked partying almost as much as her. Poor Danny, however, loved quiet nights. With food. Or books. Or movies. And if a party, with few close friends. A nightclub was near the bottom of his preferences. The only reason he had come along was Emily, and her dragging him along.

"Tell me you had fun," she said, when they were home.

"No," Danny said without hesitation.

"Yes," Antonio said, just as honestly. "Though, it would be more fun without you."

"How can you say that?" Emily asked, with a horrified expression. "How can anything be better without me, than with?"

Danny smiled. Antonio laughed.

"You're not the centre of the world," Antonio said, "contrary to what you believe. Let's not this very often. Let's party more by ourselves. Alright?"

Emily snorted. Danny nodded.

"You've got your friends, Emily," Antonio continued. "We've got ours. And you'll make news ones. You're starting college. Capital University. The number one university in the country. There'll be many interesting people. You'll find enough to party with. Spare us."

The cousins, who were also best friends, laughed, and called it a night.