Take Uber

You decide to call an uber, and sit on your couch, tracking the app as the driver approaches. You get into the car after locking up, smiling at your driver, a small man with thick lenses in his black framed glasses. He turns the radio down and pulls away from your house.

"So where are we headed tonight?" He asks, his voice deeper than expected.

"Just a party. My friends engaged." You reply, looking out the tinted window as the outdoors flash by.

"Engagements are wonderful, aren't they?" The man asks, grinning at you through the mirror.

"I guess."

"The celebration of eternal love. Spectacular. Do you think they'll last?"

"I'm not sure. They seem pretty devoted to eachother but things do happen."

"Tsk Tsk Tsk. Such a pessimistic look on love."

"What's your name again?"

"Yuri."

You nod and check the app to confirm that this man is indeed your driver. The conversation dies out awkwardly and you're glad when Yuri turns onto Erikas street.

He drops you off in front of the driveway and you thank him quietly as you get out of the car. The Windows are illuminated with colorful lights and you hear the faint muffled sound of a bass blasting through the walls.

Quickly to walk up to the door, the creak wood of the porch the only thing giving away the age of the house. You knock hard and the door swings open almost immediately.

Erikas eyes widden when she sees you. "You're early!"

"I am!" You wrap her in a tight hug.

"Good, you can help finish setting up." Clarice says, walking in front the living room. "There's some bowls on the dining table waiting for some chips."

"Great." You smile tightly at her before following her and Erika into the kitchen.

You help her and Clarice fill the glass bowls with various chips and other snacks while the loud party music pulses through the house.

At 8:04 Erika walks over to the front door and pulls it open, using a door stop to keep it open. A minute later, large groups of people come walking in, greeting Erika and Clarice with big hugs and scattered congratulations.

You know a few of the guests and say hi to them, some of them from work. Eventually, the party devolves into scattered dancing and conversations.

"Hey there!" A man walks up to you, a beer in his hand and leans against a near wall. "Erikas getting married. Wild right?"

"Crazy." You reply.

"Do you know anything about the fiance? Clarice?" He asks and you give him a side long glance. "I'm just asking because I tried to look her up but there's no information about her out there."

"Yeah, she has an instagram." You answer and the guy shakes his head.

"With a thousand posts, but no information. There's no job, no parents, no former schooling. Its as if she manifested out of nowhere." He pushes.

You shrug. "I'm not the biggest fan of Clarice," You admit. "But I also want to give her the benefit of the doubt. She's marrying my best friend."

"Fair." The guy replies, tipping the rest of his beer into his mouth. "My names Daniel."

You stare at him for a moment before giving him your name. He smiled and extends a hand for you to shake.

You shake his hand, and then you feel your stomach begin to churn. You wince.

Go to the bathroom

Push through the pain