AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I met my big sister, Harper, who will be guiding me in the next few weeks. And while I was smiling and talking to her, my brain kept going back to the last time I saw the man who helped me. To how close his body was, how he was holding me against the wall, his fingertips on my chin.
By six p.m. I’m ready to go to bed. This whole day was exhausting, and I’m not as social as I used to be. Peach is on me the second she sees my gaze getting lost in nothingness.
“No. Alex,” she whispers as she snaps her fingers at me. We’re all sitting in the gigantic living room, listening to the president’s end-of-day speech. “You are not acting like a grandma and going to bed at eight p.m. tonight.”
“Ladies,” our president calls out to all of us. Camila Diaz is a beautiful woman with the most gorgeous curves I’ve ever seen. I can see Peach practically devouring her from the corner of my eyes. “We’re going to leave it here for today so you can go home, get rest, and get ready for our bid party tonight. The party will start here at eight p.m., and eventually we’ll join the Zeta Nu guys during the night. Please, remember to behave yourselves at frat parties. You represent Xi Epsilon now, and we are respectable ladies. I’ll see you girls later.”
There’s a round of applause for her before we all make our way out of the house.
“I’m exhausted,” I groan as we start walking back to the main campus. “Do we have to go to that party?”
“Here she goes.” Ella rolls her eyes as she nudges Peach. “Our little antisocial worm is back.”
“We’re going to find her wrapped under the covers if we don’t keep an eye on her.”
“Alex, you’re not allowed to nap when we get home. We’ll never get you out of bed if you do,” Ella scolds me.
“Let’s just get ready and drink at our place. We’ll invite the guys,” Peach suggests as she gets between Ella and me, wrapping an arm over each of our shoulders.
“Fuck yeah. That’s what I wanted to hear,” Ella jumps in, encouraging Peach’s idea of fun.
“You know what,” I smile. A party and drinking could take my mind off Ziad and the countless thoughts I’ve had for him in the last few days. “Let’s do it. I might even have a drink. We ought to celebrate being Xi Ep girls.”
“Oh my God, girls. I love you.”
“Ella is getting emotional again,” Peach laughs. “Let’s get her a beer.”
“Oh, oh. Wait!” I grab my Polaroid camera from my bag and extend my arm in front of me. “Get in. This is this month’s picture.”
Click.
* * *
I stop by the entrance mirror as Peach opens the front door. “Come on, Alex. We’re late.”
I finish putting on my lipstick and dab it with the tip of my forefinger. It’s a fuchsia color that perfectly contrasts with my porcelain skin, which I used to love wearing. I haven’t worn it since that fateful night, but I’m feeling a little more like myself today after all our fun, and I want to keep the mood going.
The moment we step back into Xi Ep, my big sister, Harper, finds me. “I love your dress,” she squeals as she grabs both my hands and takes a step back to admire me. I’m wearing a black bodycon dress with spaghetti straps that embraces my curves perfectly—especially my boobs.
“Thank you,” I smile. “I’m so excited to be here.”
“Come. Let’s get you a drink. I’ve been waiting for you to do some tequila shots. We’re joining the Zeta Nu guys in an hour, and then we can get onto the hard stuff there.”
The hard stuff? Aren’t shots of tequila hard enough?
I’m not sure how I feel about downing shots. I’ve practically never had a drink in my life apart from the occasional glass of wine my dad would share with me to teach me how to taste them. I follow her to the long table with all the drinks anyway. Peach and Ella are with me, so I know I’m safe.
By the time we make our way to the frat party, I’m drunk and having so much fun. I’m screaming the Xi Epsilon chants down the street with my sisters, holding Peach and Ella’s hands like there’s no tomorrow, and when we finally get inside the house, happiness is adding to my euphoric state.
“Chester,” I shout as I see him up the stairs. “We made it!” He’s just as drunk as us. He’s got Zeta Nu written in black marker on his forehead and a tie tied around his head, the long bit hanging to the side.
“Yes, baby.” He runs down the stairs and wraps an arm around my waist before he lifts me and spins, making me feel like I’m flying. He drops a kiss on my cheek as he puts me back down. “How’s bid night going?” he slurs.
“So good. So, so good. I’m happy.”
His eyes cross with mine and an honest smile spreads on his handsome face, his light eyes lighting up. “I like when you’re happy, Alex. You deserve it.”
I slap his chest and shove him away. “Shut up, you big softie. I love you.”
