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At 9:30 p.m., Julie was in her outfit and boots for tonight, looking her appearance over in the restroom mirror. Midnight had water and a berry bowl, which was enough to last him for the time she'd be gone. She had a salad earlier and was still full from it, so she wouldn't need to eat until tomorrow.

She entered the room and saw him sitting on the bed, walking toward him. "You're all set, right? I'll be back before you know it."

"Umbre." He was. Midnight didn't need much. He'd just be up awaiting her return, not only because he was built for it, but he'd be worried. Julie still hadn't given him details about her outing.

She heard her phone vibrate in her pocket and took it out, seeing a message pop up on her screen. It was Anna letting Julie know she'd be at the building in five minutes.

She put her phone back and leaned in to kiss his head. "I'm gonna go now, love. I'll see you soon."

Midnight watched her turn off the light and head out the door, leaving him in silence. He really wondered where she was going, but he was sure she'd be fine. Julie was smart.

She'd just entered the elevator and pressed for the first floor. Julie had yet to go out this late during her time here, so she was beginning to feel some excitement to balance out the nerves. It felt refreshing.

She stepped out of the elevator and walked down the empty hall illuminated by soft lighting, pushing the front door open upon reaching it and standing outside by a lamp post lighting the immediate area. It was chilly, so Julie stuck her hands in her jacket pockets while looking around at a dark, dead campus. Not a single student was present. It was almost eerie.

After some minutes passed, she saw a figure approaching in the distance and assumed it was Anna, but Julie would stay put just in case.

"Heyy!" Anna said upon getting closer. She could make Julie out under the light.

Julie grinned and met halfway, glancing up at her. "Hi." Anna was in jean shorts, a jacket, and had on make-up. Julie hadn't thought to apply any since she rarely went out, but she wasn't trying to pretty up anyway.

"It's a fifteen-minute walk off campus and in a good neighborhood too," Anna smiled. "What made you decide to come?" She started walking past the dorm toward one of the campus exits, prompting Julie.

She strolled with her past dark buildings and rows of lamp posts, some flickering. "Oh, I've just never been to one and thought it wouldn't hurt to try. I want to be able to step out of my comfort zone sometimes."

"I get you. I can see you're the type to keep to yourself, so this is brave of you. Starting young is a good idea," Anna said. "And in case you're nervous, don't be. It's not a huge wild party. It'll be more like a small hangout if anything."

That brought her some relief. Julie would be overwhelmed otherwise. "That's good," she replied as they stepped off campus and were entering a quiet middle-class residential area. It was just as dark, but with some people walking or biking.

"Are you single, by the way?"

"Huh?" Julie glanced at her. That came out of nowhere. "Uh, yeah." She'd likely have to go through life telling most people that, which sucked when she had a boyfriend she loved dearly. She just couldn't express it. "Are you?"

Anna sighed. "Ha, it's complicated. Boys are irritating sometimes, but I love him. Just some communication issues. I'm sure we'll get through it. We're separated at the moment."

"I'm sorry. How long have you been together?"

"Almost three years now. It's the longest one I've been in, so I'd like to keep it. Maybe it'll turn into a beautiful marriage... or a toxic love trap, who knows?"

Julie grinned. "Awe, I hope you both can work it out. Long relationships are so sweet." She couldn't wait until she and Midnight passed several years together. They had yet to have a single issue, but Julie lying to him couldn't help. She felt bad about it already and knew it wasn't a good decision.

---

As Anna said, they made it to the lit-up white two-story residence in just over fifteen minutes. It was a pretty area too, with trimmed greenery decorating walkways and large gated homes. Julie could imagine herself living in one like this in the future.

"And here we are. Just in time, too. It'll be ten in a few," Anna said as they crossed the pavement along the yard lined with rich grass to the front door.

Julie stopped behind her and let her knock. She didn't hear any music, which may be because of the area the party is in. She saw the door open and a few people cheerfully greet Anna, then came the moment Julie had stood there preparing for.

Anna turned and looked at her. "C'mon," she mouthed. She wouldn't leave Julie to navigate alone.

Julie walked after Anna as she entered.

"Who's your friend?" one girl asked. There was another with a drink in her hand, as well as a guy too. They all looked Anna's age or older and were dressed casually, except one of the girls in a crop top and leggings.

"Oh, I'm Julie." She didn't want to appear too shy, considering she already was. She glanced around and saw several pokémon among people, including a persian, growlithe, and slowpoke. They were in the living room ahead lit brightly by an overhead chandelier, where groups were chatting.

The layout was relatively upscale. There was a short hall leading to a door to the left of the entrance and a classy kitchen to the right with hanging kitchenware and an island. Julie may have judged what this party would be too harshly. It was one that students from an acclaimed university were attending, after all.

"Cute name. I'm Jamie," the brunette said. "You're new, huh? Under Anna's wing?"

Julie didn't know Anna was popular-- at least that's what she assumed, which wouldn't be surprising.

"Something like that," Anna answered.

"Well, drinks and snacks are in the kitchen if you're feeling it, but no smoking, please," Jamie said.

"Yeah, my parents would kill me if I allowed it here," the guy said. "They're just out of town and let me do this as long as I keep it classy."

Julie assumed he was the host. He seemed cool. He had a calm voice and a black ponytail. "That's no issue. I don't smoke." Julie didn't feel that she ever would unless the urge to experiment really hit her one day, but she didn't see a future where that'd happen.

"Sick. Enjoy yourself then." He nodded before turning to the kitchen.

Anna tapped Julie's arm and walked over to the dark hall out of sight after the group disappeared, leaning on the wall as she met her. "How are you feeling so far?"

Julie glanced back. "I don't know. I like that it's laid back."

"Yeah, we're not trying to draw attention to ourselves. The cops pulling up would be detrimental. You should go talk to people, though. It'll loosen you up. I'll be around, probably in the kitchen, so get me if you need anything."

"Sure. Thank you." She watched Anna head to the kitchen. Julie walked and stood a few feet from the living room entrance, staring at people laughing and in their own circles. She felt so anxious-- too anxious to enter. She'd just be awkwardly standing in the center.

Julie looked down after feeling something rub her leg. It was the persian that she saw minutes ago, and it reminded her of Lilly. "Awe, hi." She wanted to lean down and pet it but didn't know who it belonged to.

"Veci, leave her alone."

Julie looked up and saw a male approaching that had to be around her age with short red hair.

"She can be a bit too friendly sometimes. I'm surprised she hasn't been napped yet." He pulled Veci aside and looked at Julie, extending his free hand since he had a water bottle in his other. "Aidan. Dumb question, but you go to Castelia uni?"

Julie grinned and shook his hand. "I'm Julie, and I do, but I'm only on my first year."

"Oh, congratulations on getting in. I'm about to be on my third at late twenty. I actually have a tough exam early tomorrow morning, so only water for me." Aidan looked back at the people he was with. "Wanna come over here?"

"Sure." It'd beat standing around. At least she had some direction now, although she was still stiff as a board. Julie followed him to another guy and a woman.

---

In thirty minutes, give or take, Julie had warmed up a decent amount. The woman, Rissa, was Aidan's girlfriend and two years older than him, and the guy was a friend that eventually separated with Aidan for a while. Rissa was fun to be around and more laughable with each drink, outgoing with curly light blue hair and a white shirt revealing her tummy.

Julie was sitting on one of the living room couches with her and had a palm atop Veci's head, who was by her leg.

"Wait, you've never had any kind of alcohol?" Rissa asked, putting some chips in her mouth from a small bag.

Julie shrugged. "Other than a taste of wine when my mom had it sometimes, no."

"Ohh," she giggled. "Hold on." She stood, swaying slightly, and passed several people while heading to the kitchen.

"Rissa?"

She turned around and saw Aidan. "What?"

He held her wrist. "No more, babe. You said you wouldn't overdo it."

She rolled her eyes and tugged away. "It's not for me, damn." She kept walking and went to the open cooler next to Anna and a couple of others talking, grabbing a beer, and opening it with a bottle opener on the counter.

Julie knew what Rissa was doing and hadn't planned on or wanted to drink, as she told Alyssa. She saw Rissa pacing in from the kitchen, almost tripping over the slowpoke who was lying at the center of the room, and sitting beside her again.

Julie also noticed something peculiar. There was a man seemingly in his late 20s standing by the living room entrance. He was talking to another woman but kept glancing at Julie and Rissa with two small glass bottles in his hand. He was in a black jacket and jeans, tall and slim with a short black cut, and emitted an oddly intimidating aura.

"Here." Rissa started to hand it to her but pulled it back for a second. "I don't even know how old you are."

"I'll be nineteen soon."

"Psh, more than old enough. You're just trying it anyway."

Julie eyed it before slowly reaching and taking it. She didn't want to kill the vibe, and it wouldn't hurt. She brought it to her lips and took a sip, her face contorting slightly. "Ugh."

Rissa giggled. "It's like an acquired taste for most people. You'll get used to it."

"Uh? I don't think I want to get acquired to this. It's like bitter tasteless soda," Julie giggled quietly and gave it back, then took out her phone to check the time. She wanted to be back before midnight, so she'd leave soon. The crowd was starting to thin.

"More for mee." Rissa took it and drank some, glancing at Julie's phone. "I know we just met but wanna swap numbers? We can talk more later."

"Sure thing." However, Julie didn't know if it'd stick, knowing her track record with friends. She felt Veci bump her hand with her head, so Julie rubbed her neck.

So they exchanged, and just afterward, someone sat beside her. It was that guy Julie had seen watching them.

"Hey," he said with a subtle smirk, then noticed the silence in the air. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Nah," Rissa said. She looked at him and tilted her head. "But who are you?" She'd never seen this person before.

"Oh, I go to school here. I just never came to any of these. Thought I'd try and get to know the fun side of the community. You can call me Justin."

"Well, nice to meet you. It's my first time too." Julie looked at him. She didn't want to be rude, even though it was kind of awkward.

Suddenly she had the beer bottle back in her hand and looked up at Aidan approaching.

"Rissa, I saw that you liar. We're going home." He went for her arm while she pulled it back.

"I was barely touching it. Go away," she grumbled as he grabbed her and started pulling. She complied reluctantly, stumbling as they walked off with Veci following.

Julie watched Aidan glance back several times at Justin, but they kept going. Now she was left with this guy.

"Guess she had too much, huh?" He scanned her legs, then looked at the bottle she held. "Was that actually yours?"

"Oh, no. I don't drink." Julie set it on the carpet and mainly kept her gaze ahead. "She was just letting me try it, but I don't like it."

"Why's that? How old are you? You look young," he grinned.

"I'm..." Julie could feel her cheeks getting red. "I'm eighteen."

Justin could tell he was pressing her too hard. "My bad. I was just curious. I should be asking your name first."

"Julie."

"Are you single by chance?" That question was another jump. "Sorry again. I just found you very cute. I had my eyes on you for a while."

"Am..." She glanced at him. "I'm not. I have someone."

His demeanor altered after that statement. He grabbed one of the two mini bottles in his hand and held it out. "No problem. I know you said you don't drink, but wine cooler is pretty tame. You should try some." Justin opened the other and took a sip.

Julie took it, but that's all she did. She didn't know what he was looking for, but she could be interpreting it wrong. She looked around at a few people who were paying no attention, and most had left. She didn't even know if Anna was still in the kitchen.

"I guess, but I'm leaving soon." This was the last thing she was tasting tonight to be polite. Julie twisted the top and drank a little. It was definitely sweeter and something she may enjoy if she got into it. "It's not bad. I just don't want to start drinking." She set it beside the other bottle.

"For sure. You'll grow into it, and I'm probably going to go soon as well. Have a houndoom at home." And after he said that, he placed his hand on her thigh, subtly enough so that no one would notice.

She flinched and felt her breath quicken. All she could do was tense and not look his way while he rubbed it. Now Julie knew precisely what he wanted, and it was easy to take advantage of her nature, which he must have felt out.

She felt him remove his hand moments later, and Julie saw someone approaching from the kitchen. It was Anna.

"Hey, we're closing for the night soon." Anna looked at Justin, then back at Julie. "Who's this?"

Julie was frozen stiff. "I just met him..." she said quietly and eyed Anna, hoping she could feel the tension.

She peered and folded her arms. "Okay, dude, who are you?" Anna could tell Julie was uncomfortable.

He briefly looked around, feeling eyes on him. "I'm just talking to people. Isn't that what this is? I go to the same school."

"Okay, but I think you should go." Anna stepped aside to leave the path open and stared at him.

"What's going on?" The host came to the scene after hearing the commotion.

"Some creep I've never seen a day in my life is harassing Julie," Anna replied.

Julie moved aside slightly, but she didn't have it in her to stand. She'd never felt more terrified in her life than now and was fighting tears.

"I'm not a creep, you annoying bitch." Justin stood with closed fists and glared at Anna, who hadn't budged.

But the host stood in front of her in case the guy got violent and pointed to the door. "We get it, man, but it's best if you just go before this gets out of hand."

"Good to know you people treat guests like this." He paced out of the house without looking back.

Julie took a deep, shaky breath and shut her eyes. She was glad he was gone and that she was safe but felt as if she were going through an out-of-body experience.

Anna and the host asked the remaining people to leave and shut the front door afterward, then went back to the living room.

Anna knelt before Julie and gave the bottles by her feet to the host to throw away. "I'm really sorry that happened, honey. I should have checked on you."

"It's okay..." She wiped her eyes as tears started to well. "I just want to go home."

"Sure. I'll walk you." Anna stood and held her hand out, which Julie took. "I'm gonna take her home, Devin. It was fun." He'd been standing at a distance.

"You sure you two are good walking alone?"

"Yeah," said Anna. "We'll be fine."

They went out in the front yard and started walking in silence until Anna broke it halfway down the block. "I really should have taken time to check on you, even once. I know you aren't a child, but..." Julie wasn't accustomed to party settings and was timid in general. She would never have been there without an invitation and being talked into it in a way.

"It's not your fault. I don't think anyone knew that man." Julie stuck her hands in her pockets. "I think it was just wrong place... wrong... time." She started feeling lightheaded and stopped, raising one hand and holding her temple.

Anna stopped with her. "What's wrong?"

"I feel dizzy." Julie barely drank, so she had no idea where it was coming from. Her legs started feeling weak, and her body grew warmer.

Anna placed her hand on her lower back and eyed her. "Did you drink anything?"

"I only tasted two beverages." She shut her eyes as the effects gradually amplified.

"And who gave it to you?"

"A girl named Rissa and the guy."

"Julie..." Anna knew exactly what he'd tried to do, and she was livid. "Let's get you back to the house."