telephone

Alicia sighed into her hands as she plopped down on the toilet lid for the eighth time today.

Her cheeks burned a bright red as her puffy eyes rested against the balls of her hands.

Small sniffles escaped her nose as she took a deep breath to relax. Her shoulder sagged into her arms as they pushed, smacking hard against her calves. Quickly sniffling, she cleared under her nose as she swallowed back a whine.

“I hate this, I don’t wanna be here,” Broken whispers entered the silence as she stared at the door with an empty look. She swallowed another whine as she rested against the wall, feeling the back of the toilet push into her back hard.

She sniffled hard, wiping the tears from her face as she yanked her phone out of her pocket. Tapping in the six-digit code, Alicia started scanning through the different applications like a zombie.

Doing anything to feel something, she worried between the unanswered phone calls, the flashing notifications, the buzzing of news updates, and the white noise of social media notifications drained Alicia’s ears until she heard nothing.

Until. A message popped in. Buzz.

Hey! Reminder: Purple 2night for DeeDee's GNO kay? You show up in blue, you're 6ft ⬇️ . PURPLE. Like purple ♾️.

What?

Hello???? Alice? Give me a buzz thanks.

Alicia furrowed her eyebrows and opened the message. She typed out, "Um - I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong number?" Alicia watched the message bubble pop up.

Are you serious? You’re not Alice right?

Alicia rocked her neck back in confusion.

Um. No. I’m Alicia. You have the wrong number.

The message bubble popped up, then back out, then back up again, OMG - this is wack! I can’t believe I got this wrong - ugh. FML.

Alicia grinned to herself as she read the message, typing out, "Maybe check in Wonderland."

The minute the message was sent, Alicia swallowed hard and huffed. As she rubbed her hands over her face, the phone buzzed in her lap.

Alicia picked it up and smiled softly as she read a reply, "Yeah she best love there 'cause she gonna get a beat down from the bittie."

Alicia nodded as another message came through.

Huh? I tots can't ghost - it’s Delilah’s 30th. The big 3-0, fly solo dolo to something like that!

Alicia nodded, "Well, I don’t know, what about maybe - your boyfriend or something?"

Why am I still talking to this stranger?

Why am I even entertaining the idea?

Alicia shook her head as she started to type a quick farewell.

A message popped into her view that made time stop.

No. Go! u free 2night? plus one to the party? Plz 🙏

Alicia swallowed as she read over the message again; the thought of being kidnapped passed through her head. The thought of her body being thrown into the chaos came to her frontal lobe. There was a bright white flash of lightning between her ears as she turned a deep red.

This is a complete stranger!

What are you doing?

Alicia sniffles as she hears the restroom door creak open and someone taking a seat in the stall next to hers.

Alicia swallowed, typing back a reply with her ghostly fingers, "When and where is it?"

Yes! TY! - what’s your name again, deed before we GFOOOM 🎉

Alicia.

Kendall - that's what's up! Anywho, loc: The Plush. Very modern, tres chic. Tighter purple, better. GNO/bust down. 🔑 🔑🔑🔑🔑 water, lines, condoms. 'Member, your name is on the gift - Moet for the pillow princess, nothing like a bestie with a gold digger kink. Oh! And BOT - fun starts at 9. Sharp. FSAD, FUBAR vibes -bet? QCCs?

Alicia scanned over the text quickly. She swallowed softly as her stomach started to churn, shaking her head out of her trance. Her throat tightened, and her arms were stiff, her heart and blood rushing like she’s coming into a sugar high. The stall next door to her flushes.

What the fuck am I doing?

The door opens, and the person walks out to the main area.

What the fuck am I doing?

Alicia stood up slowly as another text popped in, this one from her manager demanding that she come back into the office. Alicia sniffled again as she sighed to herself. She went back to Kendall’s message and tapped out the reply, "No questions. See you at nine."

A message popped in after a second.

Cya soon girlie pop! 🫶🏼💋

Alicia steeled her nerves as she walked out of the bathroom and back out into the hotel’s event space - taking the 5,000-step stroll back towards the banquet staff’s HQ.