The music was loud and I could feel my heart beating to the gloomy tune as Parker and I walked through to doors of Mickey's, later that night. She was wearing a black vintage Ramones t-shirt and a short pleated kilt with her rainbow knee-highs. I just changed into a navy blue tank top and jeans. I was sill feeling down and wasn't in the mood for dressing up.

I watched as my friend began to rock her hips...her whole body to the song. Her slow rhythmic movements seemed hypnotic and before long, I couldn't look away. There was a part of me that really wanted to, but oddly enough, another part of me loathed the idea. Why? Parker was my friend, I knew, but in that one moment, I ...No. No, no and no!

"What is this song? I love it," she said.

I cleared my throat before speaking. "It's, 'In the House of Flies' by the Deftones," I told her. She simply nodded her head and returned to dancing. Desperate to leave that awkward moment that I caused without her noticing, I asked Parker if I could but her a drink.

"No, I asked you to come. Let me get you a drink," she insisted.

She was gone before I could even tell her what I wanted. I took a seat at an empty table near the window. Bored, I tapped my fingers to the tune of the ending song. Within minutes, Parker returned with two drinks in her hand.

"A root beer float for me and a large chocolate milkshake with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles for you, Lil," she said with a smile.

I looked at her, my drink and once again at her. "Parker...how did you know this was what I wanted?" I asked suspiciously.

"Fact: when Lily Randall is feeling blue, she loves the sweet stuff. This is the sweetest stuff they have here, so I figured you'd like it." I smiled at her. How did she know me so well already? We'd only been friend for a few months and she already knew some things that Ray still didn't know, years after friendship.

"There's the smile I know and love," Parker said.

I attempted to take a sip of the viscous, sugary substance in front of me, and failed. The drink was so thick that I ended up sucking the straw right to the back of my mouth. I choked as I felt it almost go down my throat. Parker abandoned her drink to be by my side, gently patting my back.

"I'm ok. I just sucked too hard," I said. Parker stared at me immaturely. "Shut up!" I yelled, humorously, knowing the kinds of dirty jokes going through hear head. We both started to laugh. She was about to respond, but Mickey came on stage.

"And now, the band you've all been waitin...Hey kid, you break it, you bought it," he yelled at a boy in the back. "Anyways, the band you've all been waiting for, Hot Water Mouse!" Mickey moved out of the way so that the lead singer, Andrew, could be seen.

"Hey, how's it going?" He asked the crowd shyly. Everyone cheered as an answer. "This first song is about a girl that I was obsessed with back in high school. You all know how it is, right? When the one you love just can't look at you in the same way?"

"I hear you, Buddy," Parker said under her breath while the rest of the crowd cheered more. The band started to play their song.

I found it kind of weird how the night had been full of loud, depressing music, and yet, I was having fun. I looked over at the girl beside me. She was the reason why I was having fun. Parker was a great friend to me.

I watched as she bobbed her head left to right. Her eyes were closed and I could see her slightly mouth the words to the song: "When will you see that I'm alive. When will you care? I'm right over here."

I listened to the song, cheerfully. Cheerfully, until they walked in, that is.

"Lily, Parker, I didn't expect to see you here?" said Ray. He was with one of his many new girlfriends and he actually had the nerve to come talk to me.

"Well, it's no place you and I have never been before, Raymond," I said, my voice dripping with impatience. I wanted to leave now. Whatever fun I was having was lost once Ray and What's Her Name showed up.

"Um, Parker, I'm suddenly not feeling well," I lied. Once again, she saw right through me, but this time, she decided not to call me on it.

"I guess we should be leaving. My parents are expecting me home soon anyways," she said. "See ya, Ray. Bye, um..." She had no clue what to call the girl on his arm. I had a few choice words, but didn't want to get into it.

"Shelly," the girl introduced herself. It was probably better that way, since I was sure Ray had forgotten her name by the way his eyes lit up when Parker didn't know it either.

I grabbed my coat and walked out with my friend, leaving the performance that I was enjoying, not long ago. A tear rolled down my cheek. Seeing Ray was a reminder of what I missed out on. A reminder of what was now available to every girl but me. I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Parker, pulling me closer.

"It's ok, Lil. Everything is ok."