||Jamilla Tate|| First Person ||

        "I don't know, guys... I think it's too much--"

        "Tara, hold me back." Scarlet says in reply with a deeply frustrated inhale, her eyelids fluttering closed with annoyance at my constant nagging. "I'm about to fight." Unsurprisingly enough, I've been going on about the figure-hugging Black Widow costume that I impulsively bought. I've only just managed enough confidence to put it on, even within the confines of my dorm room, and I've been voicing my many concerns.

        Becca stands in front of her mirror next to her bed, trying to fix her hair for the party that Tara and Scarlet are forcing us both to go to. She's wearing a matching 1920s flapper outfit like Scarlet, a shimmery, layered dress that comes up to around mid-thigh length and a headband with an extravagant feather placed on the side of her head. Her hair is styled in loose curls and pinned up to give the illusion of a bob cut, but she's been trying to add more pins to keep her hair in place throughout the night. Becca was more excitable about the idea of me wearing Natasha Romanoff's outfit than I was, but that's mostly due to the fact that she's a really kind and supportive person and I'm probably the human equivalent of a bag filled with anxiety and existential dread.

        "It's just... people are gonna stare." I say nervously, craning my  head to catch a glance at the bodysuit that seems to hug my curves almost expertly. It's strange for me to see myself in something so tight and revealing in the slightest 'no-skin-showing' way. I guess it's just the way that my butt seems to be double the size it usually is, and that absolutely terrifies me. An eighteen year old girl (that has little to no life experience might I add) at a party until an ungodly hour of night with drunk college boys? It didn't sound like a fun time to me, but Becca, Tara, and Scarlet somehow managed to convince me with their charm to go.

        "Damn right, they're gonna stare! You're hot!" Tara exclaims encouragingly as she adjust her own classic Harley Quinn costume to her liking. The confidence oozing from these young women makes me feel almost inadequate in the sense that I can't seem to do anything without feeling vulnerable for it. "Have some confidence, Jam." Easy for you guys to say. You're all gorgeous.

        "I do--"

        "Sure," Scarlet hums in such a way that I simply stop speaking and instead watch idly as she works on her makeup with her compact mirror. She's wearing a bold, red lip colour with her outfit and simply radiates an allure that would make anyone lose their wits. I go to sit down now that my outfit is on and my dark hair is styled accordingly, wanting to lay down on my back and mentally prepare myself for the night ahead, but then there's a knock sounding from the door and it's suddenly up to me or Tara to get it considering that Becca and Scarlet are still working on giving their outfits the finishing touches. Since I'm the closest, I head over to the door and tug it open just a crack, peeking out to see who it is.

        Josh Dun stands in front of me in what must have been the hottest outfit of the century. I almost forget to allow myself to breathe precious air when I see the grinning boy fiddling with his dark hair that was tousled with the miraculous powers of hair gel to get the perfect 80s Greaser look that he sports. A number  of strands string together with the aid of the hair agent and leave a loopy curl to droop attractively over his forehead in the hottest sort of way, the dark hair contrasting against his fair skin colour in a way that makes me feel lightheaded. He wears a classic white t-shirt with a leather jacket tossed over it simply, his pants rolled up at the cuff to show off his black Converse like a true Greaser. I remember watching the movie the Outsiders back in high school, and goddamn did Josh just destroy teenage Matt Dillon, and I couldn't be any more distraught.

        "Are you ready?" He asks inquisitively, and I pull the door open wider after a moment of drinking in his appearance once more before I step back and lean against the door, my gaze lingering on his hair once more. Josh falters for a moment when he sees my costume, and it drives me crazy when I hear his breath hitch as his eyes roam the outfit that I had bought at a rather decent price.

        "I guess," I mumble distractedly, and he nods his head shortly before his eyes are flicking upwards and meeting my gaze once again nervously. Josh licks his lips quickly before gulping and looking away, his cheeks flushing with a light tint of cherry red that is all too adorable.

        "I, uh, thought you were going as..." Josh pauses, turning his head so he doesn't have to look at me for a moment, which makes me self conscious. "...not Black Widow."

        "So did I," I chew on my bottom lip, and Josh is suddenly twisting away from me and running a hand through his dark hair-- the air in my lungs escapes painfully, almost like someone's just punched me in the gut. He really has no clue.

        "You still want that ride, right?" Josh asks, as he leans against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. I turn around, my back turned to him as I look back expectantly at the three girls getting ready in the room. Tara is sitting on my bed with her phone clutched tightly in her hands, possibly texting someone about the party happening tonight. Scarlet and Becca are laughing about something together as they add the finishing touches to their elaborate makeup, which would no doubt be ruined after the inevitable drinking they plan on doing. I clear my throat awkwardly, wincing as my gaze flickers between the three.

        "Is it alright if I meet you guys at the party?" I ask nervously, unsure of what their response is going to be as my gaze flickers between the three girls. "Josh is giving me a ride..." I elaborate further, twiddling my thumbs as I wait for an answer.

        I really like Josh's presence, simply because he's such a kind soul to be around. I also definitely don't mind being around him when he looks the way he does, with his entire outfit and still, that gorgeous smile toying on his lips that match with his warm eyes. Becca is grinning at me though, waving her hands at me excitedly as to encourage me to go with him. Tara and Scarlet exchange glances with each other before they both nod their heads eagerly. I can't help but blush.

        "My brother'll drive us with Mark," Becca smiles easily, trying to put me at ease about leaving with Josh. I nod my head gratefully to them before moving further into the room, grabbing my cell phone off of my bed.

        "Call me when you get there," I tell them, and Tara simply nods her head and observes me idly as I turn back on my heel and hurry out of the room towards Josh, who has disappeared back into his own dorm room, the door propped open for me. I peer around the door frame and find Josh glancing at his reflection in his mirror, adjusting his leather jacket anxiously. He doesn't notice my presence yet, and I lean my head on the door frame as he fiddles with his collar. "Is Tyler coming with?" I ask him carefully. Josh turns around and visibly relaxes when he sees that it's just me.

"He's looking for a sharpie, I think, but yeah." Josh tells me. He stuffs his hands into his pockets and looks down at his feet for a quick moment. "You know, Jamilla, you look really nice."

"How Natasha Romanoff works this, I'll never know. It's uncomfortable." I tell him, and Josh laughs at that easily, a happy grin replacing the anxious expression that he had been wearing before I announced my presence.

"I'm back!" Tyler's voice rings out excitedly as he slips back into the room, wearing a white sports jacket with red vertical stripes on the sleeves and almost indistinguishable writing on his hand. It takes me a moment to read it when he brandishes his hand to me and Josh, but when it finally registers to me, I can't help but burst out into laughter.

"Troy Bolton?" I laugh loudly. "I was only joking--"

"--the million times you called me Troy?" Tyler finishes my sentence with his own variation of words, a grin on his face. "I might've drew some inspo."

        "Also helps that Ty here has a scholarship from basketball," Josh interjects with an easy smile, and I raise my eyebrows in surprise, oblivious to this piece of information.

         "So you are the real-life Troy Bolton?" I grin excitedly at the realization that I've been right all along. Tyler Joseph truly is the epitome of the protagonist of High School Musical. "Great,"

        "Let's just go," Tyler narrows his eyes at me playfully, and I laugh easily before following the two boys out of Park-Stradley hall to Josh's Jeep Wrangler.

         The party that I had only managed to find out about through Scarlet was going to take place at a large manor that the host(an impressionable rich, pretty boy named Cody) had borrowed from his parents-- with or without their permission, it didn't seem to matter. It was supposed to be hot and sweaty with copious amounts of alcohol and dancing-- all things that I would typically opt out of if it were not for the fact that I might not get the opportunity to do so again. Getting out of Josh's jeep, which he parked on the side of the road behind a long row of cars, I first notice a lawn that stretches so far out that it might as well have had its own area code. Situated on top of it is a castle-like house that erupts streams of colourful lights and music that shakes the ground. It's something that throws me off entirely, but Josh only laughs as he absentmindedly places a hand on the small of my back to encourage me to move.

People mill about the lawn-- maybe seventy people alone--, all clutching red beer cups in their hands like in the movies that I watched when I was younger. Most people are dressed up, costumes ranging from Link from the Legend of Zelda series to Playboy bunnies-- I even notice a group of girls dressed in "sexy police officers" costumes, though they don't necessarily look like something a police officer would actually wear(what with the mass cleavage exposure and stilettos involved). Tyler's head turns to follow after them as they pass, and without quite realizing it, I tuck my fingers under his chin and turn his head away from them. "Get your head in the game, Troy." I say warningly, and Tyler only glares at me while Josh laughs in amusement.

"Jamilla!" A voice shouts from within the crowd of people, and it takes me a moment to locate the tall boy who is now jogging towards me in a full suit and tie combo with sunglasses on his face.

"Garrett!" I call out when I finally realize it's him, and he grins widely at me before pulling me into a tight hug, one that leaves Tyler shuffling his feet and Josh whistling awkwardly. I think passingly that Garrett smells really nice, and that he looks really freaking good in a suit. "Lemme guess? 007?" I say, and Garrett immediately strikes a pose and looks down at me cooly.

"The name's Bond... James Bond," he says in a deep voice, and I can't help but giggle easily at that. He stands up straight with an adoring smile tugging at his lips as he tosses an arm over my shoulder, pulling me in close as he observes the two guys behind me. "Wanna introduce me to your friends?" He asks me.

"Oh, Garrett, this is Tyler, my neighbour, and his roommate Josh." Josh makes eye contact with me for a tantalizing, short moment before he averts his gaze to Garrett, putting on his charming grin that I simply can't get over. The boys shake hands politely with Garrett before Tyler excuses himself to go and search for Mark and the others. Josh pats my shoulder and shoots me a mesmerizing grin before following after him, leaving me behind with Garrett.

"So, Miss Natalia Alianovna Romanova," Garrett looks at me with a twinkle in his eyes, which I only notice once he tucks his sunglasses into the pocket in his suit jacket. "I'd like to say that you look radiant," he smiles at me, offering his elbow to me. I blush and laugh nervously, hooking my arm around his own to allow him to lead me inside the large mansion.

"Promise I won't die tonight? Because Bond has a knack for causing his girls to die." I joke with him, and Garrett laughs easily as we step through the open door to the main party.

        "I'll keep you safe tonight," he tells me. I'm met with a sudden wave of heat once we enter the building, and Garrett protectively tightens his grasp around me as we push past the throng of sweaty bodies to the kitchen, where a keg has been set up and a game of beer pong has already been started. Garrett gets me a drink along with himself, and I find myself staring apprehensively at the amber liquid within the cup.

        "Thanks," I say.

"First drink, huh?" Garrett leans against the door frame as he takes a slow sip from his cup. He observes me silently as I sigh and shuffle closer to him to avoid the oncoming partiers. "It gets easier after the first." He tells me.

"You sure about that, Bond? Alcohol poisoning is part of the death clause in our agreement." Garrett throws his head back in laughter, a sound that is practically drowned out by the overpowering thump of the hip hop song vibrating through the floorboards.

"I'll keep track," he tells me, taking another sip. I bravely bring the cup to my lips and do my best to chug the beer down, hating the taste but loving how it makes me feel at first. After the initial nausea it gives me, I gulp down the last of it and crush the cup in my hand, looking up at an impressed Garrett.

"How's that for starters?" I tell him, and I'm shocked by how velvety my voice comes out, earning a twitch of Garrett's lips as he observes me.

"Perfect,"

It's bordering two in the morning by the time that I stumble into the living room with a slightly less trashed Garrett Mason trailing behind me, his hand clutched loosely in my grasp. His suit jacket is unbuttoned by now, his tie thrown around his neck and the first few buttons of his shirt undone. He looks absolutely incredible in his drunken manner, and I'm just drunk enough to give him more affection than I really should. I rest my head against his chest tiredly and let him wrap his arms around my waist.

"F*ck, I'm smashed," I chuckle lazily into his shirt, gripping the white fabric in my hands to steady myself. "Why didn't you stooooop me?" I can feel my words slurring together, but I'm sure that Garrett can still comprehend what I'm saying, so I don't bother worrying about it.

"You threatened to kick me in the throat after the fifth one, Ms Romanoff." Garrett says in response, and we pause for a moment before we both burst out into laughter, pulling away from each other to see each other's facial expressions. I turn my head in my fit of laughter and notice a boy leaning against the wall with a slightly shorter girl in a Playboy bunny costume pressing up against him. His gaze is focused on her as she whispers something in his ear that makes one of his hands tighten around her waist.

His eyes flicker upwards and our eyes meet for a split second across the room, but then the girl is wrapping the collar of his white t-shirt around her fist and she's crushing her mouth to his, kissing him passionately in all the ways that I should be doing. Josh kisses her back, his gaze finally moving away from me--knowing that I'm watching--and then he's cupping her face in his hands and deepening the kiss. I grip Garrett's shirt in my fists tighter as the Playboy bunny-Regina George lookalike pulls away from him, taking his hand and sending him a seductive smirk, saying something to him in her sultry voice I bet. He nods and smiles at her-- my smile!-- before he's allowing her to lead him up the stairs, his leather jacket clutched in his other hand now and and his tattered Converse hurrying up the steps after her.

It's in that moment where I throw away all inhibitions of mine that once belonged to Josh Dun in my drunken stupor and turn back to Garrett Mason, looking straight into his gorgeous hazel eyes before pulling him in for my first kiss.