Under the stars

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“Come on, Christy, We're going to be late for the party!” Martha screamed from the bedroom of her best friend, where she was spending the weekend.

“Would you be patient? The party is not going to run away” Christy replied, walking into the room with her makeup kit.

“I know, but I can't wait to see Chris” Martha said swooning and sighing with a lost look on her face.

Christy chuckled and observed her friend from the mirror on her dresser. They were dressed almost the same way, crop tops and jean trousers, but Christy wore vintage boots while Martha wore heels and their jackets were different, of course. Christy applied her eyeliner, tapping her boots against the floor, which grabbed Martha's attention.

“Nice boots Christy, I love them. Can I borrow them tomorrow?” Martha asked expectantly.

“Not on your life” Christy replied giving her a scary look. Somehow, all the stuffs Martha had borrowed from Christy never found their way back to her.

Martha burst out laughing and ordered her friend to hurry. In a few minutes, they were done and headed down the stairs.

“Mum, we're leaving” Christy said to her mother who was seeing a movie and eating popcorn in the living room.

“Okay, dear, the birthday party is at the field, right?” her mother asked.

“Yes mum” Christy replied hugging her and stealing a handful of popcorn.

“Be careful girls, and come back at 10pm” Christy's mother instructed.

With giggles and playful banter, they stepped out of the house and into the cool night. The stars lit up the sky and the moon shone brightly, so the girls decided to walk to the field instead of driving. They linked arms and walked slowly, greeting the neighbors and friends they passed on the way.

People turned to watch them as they walked. Christy and Martha had grown into beautiful 17-year-olds but had walked this way since they'd met each other at crèche. They were practically joined at the hip and did everything together. Their friendship grew stronger as they grew older.

Soon enough they got close to the field and the loud music confirmed the party had begun.

“Ohhhh” Martha screeched “Nice party, but it will become better as soon as I find Chris”.

Christy rolled her eyes at Martha, who was obsessed over her new boyfriend.

“Relax dude… Oh my God” Christy said hurriedly turning around and dragging Martha with her.

“What is wrong with you?” Martha asked, trying to look back.

“Jay is here” Christy whispered and Martha burst out laughing.

Jay was one of the hottest guys in town and had harbored a crush on Christy since junior high school, and while Christy claimed not to feel the same way, her actions whenever Jay was around proved otherwise.

“Christy, darling, honestly this nonsense has gone on for too long. Give Jay a chance, he's a nice guy, and he's obviously crazy about you” Martha said, steering them back to the direction of the party. They walked past the abandoned amusement park and into the field.

Christy held on tightly to Martha trying to spot Jay in the crowd, but she didn't see him anywhere and Christy started to relax. Maybe she had imagined seeing him she thought to herself biting her lips. She and Martha mingled with friends from school and the celebrant dancing, singing along to the music and playing games.

“Are you OK” Marty asked looking at Christy who had turned a funny shade of red.

Just then, Jay and Chris walked up and Martha lit up like a Christmas tree. They found a spot to sit and Martha and Chris held on to each other like long-lost lovers, while Christy and Jay looked at each other and smiled sheepishly.

“So I finally have the opportunity to talk to you without Martha” Jay said to Christy, smiling.

“I'm sorry I keep avoiding you” Christy replied shyly.

“It's fine, but I'll have you know I don't bite. I'm not a vampire or a wizard” Jay said winking at her.

“Perhaps you're a werewolf?” Christy asked.

This made Jay throw back his head and laugh, and Christy had a funny feeling in her belly. Wow, what was that? She thought to herself.

“Christy, did you hear me?” Jay asked.

“Sorry, I was…erm…what did you say?” Christy asked, clearing her throat.

“I asked if you would like to go somewhere with me” Jay said.

Christy looked beside her and discovered that Martha had snuck away with Chris. She smiled and decided to go with Jay.

“What? Are you crazy?” Christy said in disbelief to Jay when they got to the place.

“I'm perfectly normal my dear” Jay replied laughing.

“It says 'KEEP OUT', and there's a drawing of a skull on this signboard” Christy said pointedly staring at the sign on the entrance to the abandoned amusement park.

“I come here a lot, it's really spectacular. Come on” Jay said making puppy eyes at her.

“But the sign says we shouldn't enter” Christy replied, biting her lips.

“Stop doing that” Jay said hoarsely looking at her lips. He cleared his throat and ruffled his hair, “Come on, I need an accomplice in case I get caught today”.

Christy was really curious to see the park. It had been closed down for ages, and the last time it was open she'd been about two or three years old.

“Fine let's do this!” she said suddenly feeling brave. They moved through a part of the gate that had been cut off and walked into the park. Jay used the light from his phone to guide them as they walked.

“Ahh!” Christy screamed a few minutes later.

“What is it” Jay asked looking back as Anna pointed to green eyes glaring back at them. He shone the light in that direction, laughing as Anna discovered it was a clown's eyes in a statue above an entrance labelled 'HALL OF HORRORS'.

“Sorry” Christy mouthed and blushed.

“Want to check out the hall of horrors?” Jay asked mischievously, and Christy replied that she'd rather bite her fingers off than step a foot into the hall.

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They moved carefully, until they arrived at the center of the park. The light from the moon reflected on the machines, and the place was still in pretty good shape, and Christy wondered why it was shut down. She and Jay sat under the stars on the concrete chairs talking about family, school, and everything in general.

Christy was amazed at how easy it was to talk to him and realized that he had genuine feelings for her. They lay there for hours just talking and laughing. Christy lost track of time until Jay asked for her contact and sent her a text.

“Will you now officially agree to be my girlfriend?”

She giggled and blushed until the time on her phone caught her attention. It was 9:45pm, which meant she had about fifteen minutes to make her way back to the party and retrieve Martha.

“Oh Lord” she groaned. She got up hurriedly and told a worried Jay what the problem was. Jay offered to drive them home, and Christy dialed Martha's number.

“Martha, get your ass to the entrance of the amusement park and check the time” she said as soon as Martha picked the call.

“Oh crap! Give me 5 seconds” Martha replied, hanging up.

Martha arrived 10 minutes later with Chris, and they all piled into Jay's car. They arrived at Christy's house at 9:58pm, and she and Martha thanked Jay profusely as they alighted.

“And about that text…the answer is yes” Christy said, closing his car door. Jay pumped his fists excitedly and blew her a kiss.

“What text?” Martha asked, confused as the boys drove off.

“Shut up, come in and promise to be a good girl, then maybe I'll tell you all about it” Christy replied happily.

The door swung open before they could let themselves in.

“I almost thought you girls wouldn't make it. How was the party?” Christy's mother asked.

“Great and our friends brought us home” Christy replied.

“It was remarkable” Martha replied, clearly still high on seeing Chris.

They declined offers of food and headed straight to Christy's room.

“Christy, you better give me the gist before I beat it out of you” Martha threatened.

“So impatient” Christy replied laughing as Martha settled down ears open, legs crossed waiting for her to begin talking.