Catalina applied the last bit of mascara before leaning away from the mirror. She gave herself a once-over and squealed. "I look perfect!" She swung her head from side to side, letting her curled hair bounce.

    "I can't believe you actually dressed like that. What're you, a hoe?" Paola crossed her arms over her chest. She sat on Catalina's bed, a bowl of popcorn in her hands.

    "What?" Catalina looked up. "This isn't bad. High-waisted shorts and a halter top are not bad at all."

    "The garters coming from the shorts are hoe-ish. You look like a stripper. The cat ears are far from helping too."

    "But if I wear the leather pants, it gets way too hot, you know that."

    "Alternatively, you wear different shorts."

    "Okay Pao, I like these ones and I never get to wear them. I'm not there to talk to guys, I just wanna lay back and party a bit, what's so bad about that? Plus, Jae is gonna be my fake boyfriend, he'll make thirsty boys back off. I know he will."

    "What if he's the thirsty one?"

    Catalina shivered. "Stop. You're scaring me. He's not like that."

    "Just because you're friends or whatever doesn't mean that he won't be, like, interested or anything. Knowing how touchy-feely you are, I wouldn't be surprised if he already has feelings for you." Paola looked down at her nails and frowned. "I just don't get why you're trying so hard for this."

    Catalina groaned. "God, Pao, It's a party and I want to look pretty, is that so bad?"

    "I'm not talking about the party, sopelona, I'm talking about this stupid fake relationship."

    "I don't get why you immediately think it's bad. We're friends. The only thing that's different is that we go out to different places and take pictures. We aren't, like, kissing or anything."

    Paola grimaced and looked away. "Whatever. I'm gonna stay over at a friend's today so don't be surprised when you get back."

    "Okay! I should be heading off, my babes are probably waiting for me."

    "Please make sure you guys have a designated driver. And if you're driving, Cata, not a single drink or I swear."

    "I know." Catalina rolled her eyes and grabbed her leather jacket. "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Besos."

    "Chao." They exchanged a kiss on the cheek.

    Catalina raced down the stairs and hurried off. She was glad her mother wasn't home from work yet and her father was back home or she would've been told to change those shorts. She was in her car within seconds and was already off to pick up he friends. Since Daniel lived two houses down the road, he joined her a minute after she beeped in his driveway. He decided to dress like a prince, he said it was the simplest thing he could pull off in a short notice and the only decent costume they had in the store, or else he would go as a vampire.

    "You're so cheesy, ya know?" Daniel cringed. "A cat? Couldn't you be anymore creative?"

    Catalina laughed. "And you're a prince? Please. Last year you dressed as a t-rex, what happened this year?"

    "Well, last year we weren't going to a party, okay? Plus, I think Maddie and I will match well, don't you think?"

    Catalina's face twisted as she shut her eyes closed. "Who's cheesy now? Huh?" It wasn't a secret that Daniel had feelings for Madeline, but as thick and dense as Madeline was, she never noticed. She probably wouldn't notice if he kissed her, or even if he'd ask for her hand in marriage.

    "Ah, shut up." Daniel punched her arm before she started to drive. They made it to Madeline's house within ten minutes and she joined them in the car, complementing the other two on their outfits. She'd gone all out; there were flowers in her hair and glitter around her eyes, a couple of fake gold tattoos on her arms as well. She always dressed up the most, always made a statement.

    Finally they reached Jae's building and Catalina gave him a call to head down while they waited in the car.

    "So, you're wearing the cute shorts, Cat?" Madeline asked from the back seat.

    "You know it! I'm so happy I finally got to wear them. Pao was telling me to change but thank god my parents weren't home. They'd kill me before I left looking like this."

    "Why?" Daniel asked, frowning.

    "Pao said I looked like a stripper."

    "What?" Madeline gasped. "No you don't!"

    "Right?" Catalina nodded. They continued to talk as the radio played and soon enough, Jae was there, prying at the door handle.

     Catalina saw him first. His lab coat fluttered in the same wind that made his already messed hair stick up in weird places. A cheap pair of fake plastic glasses squeezed the bridge of his nose. He looked like a biology student that woke up about seven minutes ago and was running late for class, but she couldn't help but feel her throat constrict.

    "Don't tell me you took my advice!" Daniel cooed from the car window as Jae reached the car door.

    "Shut up." Jae hissed as he opened the door. "It's the only thing I had."

    "Sure..." Daniel chuckled as Jae settled in the back seat.

    "You look good, Jae," Catalina said as she started the car back up.

    "Thanks." He turned away, wishing she didn't catch his blush.

    The three best friends sang along to the radio while Jae kept to himself, looking straight out the window. Sure, he'd been clubbing and out to parties but it was different with this friend group. He just felt different.

    He received a text from Iris about if he was going or not and he assured her he'd be there soon. He wasn't going to lie to himself, the only reason he even dressed up was because he remembered Daniel telling him that Catalina liked scientists. Even something as trivial as a Halloween party was an excuse to get her attention. What the hell was he thinking?

    They parked the car in the street someways away from the house and made their way towards the only detached house that was as loud as a rave. The houses were spaced enough that noise wouldn't be too much of an issue to the neighbours.

    Catalina turned to Jae just as they reached the driveway. She reached and ruffled his hair. "If you're going for the mad scientist look, your hair is perfect. You look fire."

    He rolled his eyes. "Fire?"

    "Meaning you look hot." Catalina fixed his lab coat and noticed that his earrings were in the shape of Erlenmeyer flasks. She smiled at the thought that he actually put effort into his 'no-effort' costume.

    "You shouldn't say that." He looked away.

    "Why not? You look very good. Your girlfriend will be such a lucky girl." She winked.

    "You are my girlfriend, Cat."

    Catalina laughed. "I mean when you get a real one, now, let's head inside."

    "Wait." Jae took a hold of her wrist.

    "Yeah?" Catalina lifted an eyebrow.

    He eyed her bare shoulders and shivered. "Aren't you cold?"

    Catalina shrugged. "I wasn't gonna bring my jacket inside to sweat buckets. Plus, if someone spills drinks on it I will have to murder them. It's better if it's in the car."

    The four of them entered the house and the music overpowered them. Sure, they'd previously felt the beat of the bass, but now it seemed to beat along with their hearts. The sweat in the air was so pungent that Jae could feel it on his tongue.

    "Wait!" Catalina called before Daniel and Madeline wandered off. "Who's gonna be the designated driver? It ain't gonna be me. And we have to meet back here at twelve thirty."

    "I had a beer before I came," Daniel smirked.

    "And I had two shots of tequila!" Madeline added, Catalina wanted to call bullshit but she wasn't ready to play with their lives.

    "Did you have any drinks before coming?" Catalina asked Jae and he shook his head. Jae and Catalina looked at one another. There was an instant where neither of them moved.

    "I—"

    Catalina grabbed the closest drink to her, which happened to be some random girl's and downed it in one go.

    "Cat!" he groaned. "What the hell?"

    "Take the keys." She grinned in success and tossed them towards him.

    He gave her an even look and refrained from complaining as he shoved the keys into his back pocket. Giving a roll of his eyes, he followed Catalina, Madeline and Daniel to the kitchen, where he guessed the drinks were. Iris had also said that she'd meet him there and they needn't worry about bringing their own drinks.

    "Finally! I thought you were playing me, Jae-Jae."

    Upon hearing the nickname, Catalina turned and caught sight of a girl running up to Jae and wrapping an arm around him. It was the girl from the library. The really beautiful girl.

    "Iris." Catalina caught him smiling and she pretended not to notice as she picked up a bottle of some pink cooler that lay untouched near the fridge, pulling another out from the package for Madeline.

    Catalina tried to tune out their voices but she could still hear them.

    "What do you think? Don't I look sexy?" Iris, Catalina realized that was actually her name, giggled. Out of the corner of her eye she could see her strike a pose. Her poison-green drink sloshed in its glass. There was no denying that the tanned girl was drop dead gorgeous, especially in the devil outfit she wore.

    "You look good."

    "What're you supposed to be? A nerdy kid?"

    "Mad scientist," he corrected and Catalina could tell he was embarrassed

    "Take those glasses off and ruffle your hair a bit more, you'll look better. Anyways, where're your friends?"

    "Cat." She turned around upon hearing Jae call out to her. Since she'd been so caught up listening to Iris and Jae's conversation, she'd lost sight of Madeline and Daniel.

    Catalina stepped towards them and offered a smile. "Hi," she murmured.

    Jae wrapped an arm around her shoulders and refrained from snapping her head towards him in shock. What was he doing? Didn't he like Iris? He's ruining it! "This is Cat."

    "Oh." Iris smiled, bright red lipstick adorning her lips to match her outfit. "Are you two seeing each other?"

    "No." Catalina shot just as Jae answered 'yes'. They looked at one another and Jae clarified.

    "We're in between."

    Iris sipped at her drink, raising an eyebrow at Jae over the rim of the glass. Then she smiled at Catalina, her body swaying. "You're a kitty? You look completely adorable."

    "Thanks." Adorable wasn't what she was going for.

    "Where'd you get the kitty ears?" Iris asked, twirling a lock of her pink hair.

    "Walmart."

    "They look super good on you. Well, I just wanted to see that you guys got here safe. Happy to see you here. I'll be around if you need me, and please, guys," she waved her drink around in a grand gesture, "dance, have fun." Iris gave a mock salute before she disappeared to the backyard.

    "Why'd you say we were seeing each other?" Catalina grumbled.

    "Because that's what we're telling everyone?" His gaze narrowed.

    She groaned and tapped her foot. "If you like her you should've told her we were just friends."

    Jae stared at Catalina, dumbfounded. "Who said I liked her?"

    "I just thought—"

    "Well, I don't."

    Catalina cleared her throat after a moment of silence and then huffed. "Should we, er, dance or something?"

    Jae looked over at the living room, which was packed of people dancing. "Sure." As much as he didn't want to, he noticed that Catalina had been swaying her hips to the music ever since they entered the house.

    Catalina smiled and took his wrist before dragging him into the crowd of university students. After squeezing and weaving through, she found a small spot for them near the wall.

    She didn't waste any time in starting to dance as a new song played. Her arms were in the air and she was already singing along. Jae liked dancing, just not in a crowd of people where he had no space and felt nearly suffocated.

    "Why aren't you dancing?" She asked, her lips pouting as she slowed her dancing.

    "I don't like dancing."

    "What?" She took his hand in hers, pulled him close and twirled under his arm. "Let loose, bae, it's a party."

    He couldn't really hear her but he didn't complain as she urged him to move. He didn't care about following the music or anything, he just cared that she was paying attention to him. So much for getting her off his mind at this damn party.

    They weren't dancing for long before some guy was dancing behind Catalina, unbeknownst to her. But the closer he got to her, the more irritated that Jae became. When he saw saw the guy attempt to pull her towards him and possibly ask her to dance, Jae reached out to her, placing his hands on her waist and pulling her closer. He shot a glare to the man and he backed off.

———•———

author's note

sopelona= n. feminine. slang for soberana pelona, meaning colossal moron.

Finally I have finished my exams! Yay!!! But like i got a 57% on my exam which i doubt i did that poorly when I studied and made 26 pages of notes like there is no way in my lifeeee. I swear this is a mistake! But it costs me like 30$ to review my exammmmm I am a poor bean with no money but I know at 90% certainty that that's my mark. no way jose!

anywayyyy y'all ready for some fun drinking chapter??? Drunk Cat??? Drunk everyone save for Jae????