Forever

1.

[Alexis]

My name is Alexis Morris, and I am an 18-year-old from New Jersey. I am currently a senior in high school and have a great group of friends who support me. After graduation, I plan to follow my passion for fashion. While some may be intimidated by Christian, the basketball star and hottest guy at our school, I believe in myself and know I can show him what a real relationship looks like. He may be in an on-and-off relationship with his girlfriend, Shantel, but I know that I can do better.

Tonight, Christian is having a house party, and my best friend Bella wants us to go. Although I wanted to stay indoors and watch movies, I couldn't let her go alone, so I got ready. I styled my hair and makeup, put on my best outfit and heels, and looked in the mirror. Bella called out that we were going to be late, so I grabbed my bag and jacket and headed downstairs.

"Damn girl, you look amazing," she said, smiling at me. I blushed and thanked her, feeling a bit self-conscious about my outfit.

"Thank you, I wasn't sure if it was too much," I replied, looking down at my dress. She shook her head.

"Nope, you're good darling. Let's go have some fun tonight," Bella said, putting her arm around my shoulder. I smiled and followed her out of the door, eager for a night out.

As we were about to leave, my parents stopped us. My mother looked at me with a disapproving expression.

"Where are you ladies going?" she asked, crossing her arms. I hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest.

"We're going to a party, Mom," I said, feeling nervous about her reaction. She looked at me sternly.

"Not. You're not going to a party," she said, as my father walked in. I gulped, knowing that he was even more protective than my mother.

"What's going on?" he asked, looking at us suspiciously. I took a deep breath and tried to explain.

"I'm going to a party, Dad. It's important to me and all my friends will be there. I promise to be responsible," I said, hoping to convince him. He looked at me for a moment before speaking.

"No way, you're too young to be going to parties. It's not safe," he said firmly. I felt my heart sink, knowing that I wouldn't be able to go.

"Dad, please. I'm almost an adult and I can make my own decisions. I promise to be careful and have fun," I said, trying to sound mature. He looked at me for a few moments before nodding reluctantly.

"Fine, but you have to be home by midnight. And no alcohol," he said, giving me a warning look. I smiled and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, Dad. I won't let you down," I said, feeling grateful for his trust. As we left for the party, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves, knowing that I had stood up for myself and convinced my parents to let me go.

We strolled towards Christian's house, which was situated just a few blocks away in the same neighborhood. As we walked, we laughed and chatted, excited for the night ahead. The sound of loud hip-hop music filled the air as we approached the house.

Upon entering, we were greeted with a lively atmosphere - friends and acquaintances mingled, drinks flowed, and the music was pulsing. We made our way over to the refreshments table, where we grabbed some drinks and nibbles before hitting the dance floor.