The last day of school felt like a fever dream. The hallways of our private academy were buzzing with a chaotic energy that only the promise of a long winter break could bring.
Everyone was wearing their thickest designer coats, and the air smelled like a mix of expensive perfume and the gingerbread lattes being passed around in the student lounge.
For me, it was a day of holding my breath, navigating the space between the excitement of the crowd and the growing hollow in my chest.
I stood by my locker, watching the flurry of activity. Hailey and Brianna found me just as I was stuffing my last textbook into my bag, their faces bright with that "school's out" glow.
"Happy Last Day!" Brianna cheered, her energy as infectious as ever despite the freezing December temperature outside. She was already wearing her sparkly earmuffs, looking like a winter catalogue ad.
"I can't believe we're actually done for the year," Hailey said, leaning against the locker next to mine. "But I'm already dreading the packing." I felt that familiar pang of sadness.
"I'm going to miss you guys so much. The house is going to feel like a fortress without you. Just me, the echoes, and Martha's cooking."
"Oh, stop it," Hailey said, pulling me into a tight hug. "You have Layla moving in! That's a huge deal. And besides, tonight is the send-off. Noah's party is going to be insane. No sad faces allowed until we're at JFK.
"Noah's family penthouse on the Upper East Side was the only place to be that night. I wonder how many houses his family owned.
By the time I arrived, the place was already packed to the brim with the city's elite teenagers. The decor was "Winter Wonderland" meets "Neon Disco"—a massive trend —with blue and silver streamers illuminated by pulsating UV lights that made everyone's white clothes glow like ghosts in the dark.
I'd dressed carefully, wanting to feel confident even if I felt lonely inside. I wore a white cropped sweater that caught the neon lights, black leather pants, and the platform boots I'd picked out with Layla. I'd even applied a bit of the silver eyeliner Brianna had gifted me, giving my eyes a sharp, icy edge.
As I pushed through the crowd, the bass of a trending remix thumping in my chest, I spotted the group gathered near a massive floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the snow-dusted Manhattan skyline.
"Andrea! You made it!" Noah shouted, stepping away from the bar. He looked energized, the perfect host in a silk button-down.
He handed me a mocktail that was glowing a strange, bright green. "Try this. It's the 'Emerald Frost.' We had a professional come in to do the drinks."
"Thanks, Noah," I said, taking a sip. It was surprisingly good—tart, cold, and refreshing.
Logan and Henry were standing nearby, deep in one of their classic, loud debates."I'm telling you, Logan, the skiing in Cortina is unmatched," Henry was saying, gesturing wildly with a slider in his hand. "The runs are steeper, the views are better, and the après-ski is actually sophisticated."
"Yeah, if you like dodging tourists in five-thousand-dollar snowsuits," Logan countered with a smirk, leaning back against the glass. "I'd rather be in the back-country where I don't have to wait twenty minutes for a lift. You're just a snob, Henry."
"I am a man of taste," Henry laughed, turning his attention to me. "Andrea, back me up. Italy is the only place to spend December, right?"
"I wouldn't know," I said, trying to keep my voice light despite the sting of being left behind. "I'll be right here in the city, guarding the fort while you guys are living it up."
"Hey, the city is great during the break," Logan added, trying to be supportive. "No traffic, and you get the best reservations because everyone else has fled to Europe or the Hamptons."
"Exactly," Brianna chimed in, joining the circle. "And we are going to have the best time before I leave for my mom's trip. We have a whole list of movies to watch and recipes to mess up."
"I'm holding you to that," I said, though my eyes drifted across the room.The cafeteria tension from earlier in the week had followed us here. I saw Benjamin across the room, laughing loudly at something another girl said, but every time his eyes landed on our group, he looked away with that same annoyed expression. It was exhausting.
"So, what's the plan for tomorrow?" Logan asked the group. "What time is the flight?"
"Ten A.M.," Hailey sighed. "My dad is making us get to the airport three hours early. He's paranoid about the snow causing delays."
"The snow is supposed to be heavy tonight," Noah noted, glancing out the window. Large, white flakes were already beginning to swirl against the glass, caught in the glow of the penthouse lights. "It's going to be a white-out by morning."
"I love it," Brianna said, spinning around. "It makes everything feel so cinematic."
As the night went on, the music got louder and the dancing more intense. I stayed close to Hailey, trying to soak up every minute of her company before she disappeared across the Atlantic. We danced to all our favorite songs, screaming the lyrics and taking blurry photos that I knew I'd be staring at in my room for the next three weeks."Promising me you'll call every day?" I shouted over a heavy beat."Every single day!" Hailey promised, squeezing my hands. "Even if the time difference is a nightmare. I'll FaceTime you from the vineyards."I looked around the room, taking in the faces of the people I'd spent every day with. There was a weird finality to it.
For them, it was a grand adventure starting tomorrow. For me, it was the beginning of a long, quiet stretch in a very big house.By the time I finally decided to head home, the party was still going strong, but the exhaustion was setting in.
I found Noah near the entrance."Great party, Noah. Thanks for having me," I said."Anytime, Andrea. Stay warm out there. The roads are getting crazy," he warned.
I walked out to the elevator, the silence of the hallway a stark contrast to the thumping bass behind me. As I waited for the doors to open, I checked my reflection in the mirror. My silver eyeliner was still intact, but I looked tired—not just sleepy-tired, but emotionally drained from the "almosts" and the "goodbyes" of the week.
The ride home was slow. The Uber driver navigated the slushy streets of New York with extreme caution.
I watched the snow pile up on the sidewalks, turning the city into a quiet, muffled version of itself.Walking into my house felt different tonight.
Usually, the silence felt heavy, but tonight, knowing that Layla was officially moving her things in tomorrow made it feel like the calm before a new chapter.I went up to my room and stripped off the leather pants and the glowing sweater.
I pulled on an oversized hoodie and climbed into bed, listening to the wind howl against my window. It was the last day of school, and everyone was leaving. I was alone, but as I closed my eyes, I realized I wasn't as afraid of the quiet as I used to be.