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There’s pity in her eyes as she says, “You should come out with me tonight! I’m on my way to meet some friends at a bar nearby, and you should totally come with us!”
A part of me thinks I should take her up on her offer when an idea occurs to me.
“Actually, I was going to ask you if you would want to come with me to a party tomorrow night over at the Theta Phi house?”
Sarah looks thrilled with the idea. “Yes, of course! I haven’t been to that house in a few weeks!” She looks down at the gold watch on her slender wrist. “I have to run now, but yes, definitely. I will see you tomorrow night!” The elevator doors open, and after a few people step off, she steps inside.
Just as the door closes, I say, “Can’t wait!”
Operation run into Nathan at a random frat house I’ve never been to before is either going to be a successful mission or it is going to backfire on me completely.
“May the odds be ever in your favor”resonates in my head.
* * *
It’s Saturday, the day of the party. The day I will finally tell Nathan thetruth.
After texting Sarah about when we want to meet, I spent the whole afternoon getting ready, which I knew would take some time in my condition.
First, I soaked in a bubble bath while letting a rose face mask absorb into my skin, hoping this would take away any puffiness. Next, I applied a deep conditioning mask to my hair and took the time to shave every inch of my body. And finally, after stepping out of the bath, I painted my nails, moisturized everything, and styled my hair in loose curls. I looked in the mirror and was relieved to see I was beginning to appear like my usual self.
The next thing to do was pick out an outfit. I settled on a tight pair of dark denim jeans and a curve-hugging black off-the-shoulder V-neck top, leaving very little to the imagination. Finally, I threw on a pair of silver hoop earrings and charcoal-heeled booties and grabbed my grey velvet crossbody bag, ready to get this night, or more accurately this mission, started.
When I open the door to leave my apartment, I find Sarah sitting on a hallway bench with a drink in her hands.
“Here, this one is for you.” She holds up another drink that had been sitting next to her.
“I don’t know …”
“I promise it will take the edge off. And I can tell by how ridiculously amazing you look that you’re a girl on a mission tonight.” She gives a playful wink.
“You’re right.” I take the drink from Sarah and wait for her to give the cue.
“Bottoms up,” she says before we clink our cups and chug.
Thirty minutes later, we show up at the Theta Phi house along with what feels like half of the school. A group of rowdy people in the front yard are playing games, using the streetlights to see what they’re doing. We walk up the cobblestone path, enter the house, and are met with music blasting from every corner and packed young bodies having a good time.
Sarah and I push through the masses of people, trying to find some space. She immediately recognizes a few faces and introduces me to everyone she knows, while I keep my eyes open for Nathan. Eventually, we walk into the kitchen, and Sarah pours us each a glass of whatever is in the punch bowl. We both yell “cheers” over the raucous music before gulping down every last drop.
“Sarah!” I hear someone shout from across the room.
She instinctively recognizes the guy calling for her. He’s tall and skinny with jet black hair and tattoos all over his neck. A little too punk rock for my taste, but maybe not for Sarah’s.
“Will you be ok here if I go say hi?” she asks, looking at me for confirmation.
“Yeah, of course!” I say as loud as I can. I fake a smile, but I’m a little uneasy about being left alone when I don’t know anyone here. Cue social anxiety.
She lays her hand on my arm. “I’ll be right back. Promise!”
But a few minutes later, I look around and realize she is nowhere in sight.
Great.
I’m also continually checking to see if Nathan is anywhere in the crowd of people, and he’s not. As time goes by, I realize Sarah won’t be coming back anytime soon and Nathan might not even be here. And, I’m now slightly tipsy and alone in a house full of people I don’t know.
This was a horrible idea.
“Hey, gorgeous.” I hear a husky and unfamiliar voice to my right.
