Sweet eighteen

 Here I go with a new week, Everything went on so fast during the weekend— so fast and crazy. So many things happened at the party but I couldn't tell what, till date when everything came popping into my head this morning. They gave me a severe migraine which made me last longer in bed past my rise up time. I didn't want to tell my parents I wasn't sound because I knew what question will follow.

What did you do while at Jess's? 

Mum will ask, as she always does in such cases.

Usually I rehearse on the answers I'll give to that question but right now my head was at the verge of explosion. I could barely tell what day it was. I just knew it was a school day thanks to the alarm clock. So I struggled to get myself ready for school. I dawdled to the fridge to get myself a bottle of fresh milk.

“You look sick Audrey, Is everything alright?” she questioned with a worried look on her face.

“Yeah mum, everything's fine.” I gulped some milk hoping it helps somehow, returned to the fridge and got an apple, tossed it in my bag and headed for school.

“Hey,Jess what's up? ” 

“Never felt so good.” she grinned.

“Euhmm! What did Alex tell you at the party. You know.....after the fight.”

“Huh! Who's Alex and what fight are you talking about?” she questioned.

The wretched bell rang before I could shoot the next question. I don't get it—well its OK if she doesn't know Alex by name but not if she can't remember there was a fight she witnessed. Was this some kind of prank or something? Ten minutes into the class, a guy walked in. He was familiar, those ice blue eyes and blonde hair, not forgetting the evil smirk he always wore...... It's him. It's Alex, the handsome weirdo. What's he doing here? I peeked at Jess hoping she'll notice me, I even waved at her but she didn't seem to notice. Her eyes were fixed on the guy.

“Pssstt! Jess.” I whispered but still no answer, I got a paper, balled it into my hands and shot it at her.

“Heyyy!” she exclaimed in a whisper.

“That's him, he's the guy I was telling you about. ” I whispered.

Mr Orloff cleared his throat before calling on Jess and I to stop fidgeting.

“Alex by name from North Carolina.” He introduced.

Well, not just Jess had all his attention but all the girls in the class did. Some smiled at him while others blew kisses. I buried my face in my hands in disappointment.

They're all weirdos. I thought

After his brief introduction he walked to the seat right in front of me. He winked at me before sitting.

Jess's eyes were still fixed on him. I rolled my eyes and slid a little into my chair.

“Holy shit! You didn't tell me you were friends with this gorgeous new guy.” 

“Yeah that's right, simply because we've never been friends.”  I sighed. I stopped walking when I remembered what I wanted to ask her earlier, so did she. “Are you serious you can't remember any fight at the party?”

She looked up as if trying to think hard. “ Nope.” 

“Tell me, What's the last thing you can remember? ”

“I spent all night with Jack.....Hey! What's up with you? Did someone brainwash you after the party or something?”

“Never mind. ” 

Jess crossed her arms and stared at me intently. As if sent from heaven, Nick walked past me and I knew he was the perfect person to answer my questions without any intent gazes, I  looked at Jess who still had her arms crossed above her chest and I  subconsciously rolled my eyes.

“Nick!” I called making wide steps towards him in other to meet up. He stopped and stared at me for a bit.

“Hello Audrey. Need anything? ”

“Yeah, just want to ask you if there's anything you can remember about the party.”

He chuckled. “ Yeah sure, You practically broke up with me.”

What!!?? Actually I was planning on that but I didn't do that. What's going on here? I didn't want him to notice the questioning look on my face. I noticed the faint purple color on his neck and smiled at it. At least an evidence on what happened. I cleared my throat.

“Who did you get into a fight with? ”

“Oh! Can't really remember, was too drunk to notice the person.”

This doesn't sound good at all. Something's wrong with them and I will get to whatever it is. “ Did I actually break up with you?” the question slipped out my mouth. 

Nick laughed out loud, loud enough to get everyone's attention. I flushed a light red.

“Are you kidding me?” he finally spoke. “ Have you been brainwashed or something? ” with those words he began to walk away.

I haven't been ‘ brainwashed ’. But you guys have. I thought.

~~~~~~~

“Happy birthday bestie! ” Jess said as she made a dived for my covered body on the bed. She repeatedly shook me but I won't bulge. It was a yearly routine Jess and I came up with.  Be the first to..... 

I looked at the clock which read 6:30am, without a word I snuggled into bedcovers like nothing happened. She actually was the first to wish me a happy birthday.

“Jess please, today's Saturday for God's sake.” I mumbled in the covers.

This was a Saturday morning, my parents had postponed my special day from Thursday to saturday with the intentions of not disrupting my studies and those of my friends. I wondered how many will show up by the way.

“Come on bestie, we got a long day ahead of us.” She spread the curtains, luckily enough for me the sun rays weren't too harsh. 

“Did you come across my parents?”

“Nope.”

I thought as much, they informed me about this a day ago. I wasn't totally disturbed with this sudden appearance and disappearance of theirs before today. I mean today's my special day, their daughter's special day for heaven's sake. What's this business thing which is more important to them than once in a year birthday party??? I lightly exhaled.

I got the covers off my body and swung my legs to the bed side. Jess was at the doorframe with both fingers swiftly punching her cellphone.

After a cool shower, I returned to d bedroom with a thick towel on my hair and a pink bathrobe, Jess hadn't moved an inch from the last position. She was still busy punching and swiping.

“What are you doing?” 

“Just punching.” She said with a sarcasm.

I raised a brow and crossed my arms on my chest gently tapping my feet on the white tiled floor. She stared at my feet and then my face. “ OK! ok! I'm trying to use this opportunity.....I mean your parents being away for a while, to make your eighteenth birthday an unforgettable one.”  With that she grinned and continued punching. She stopped and stared at me from head to toe.

“Come on, put something sexy on. They'll be here in less than two hours.” She walked to my closet and began searching for God knows what. “oh my! ” she exclaimed as she held her nose bridge. “ Luckily we still got time.”

“What are you talking about Jess, who are those coming over?”

“Chill sweetie. The only part you play here is observe OK.”

Already past midday I was still in my room, didn't even have a clue on what was going on downstairs. Wish I hadn't promised Jess I would stay in my room till she tells me to leave. I heard people chattering and laughing and suddenly became too antsy. I couldn't wait to see what Jess has been busy doing almost all day long.

She got into my room an hour later with a black plastic bag and a little box, I could tell it was a make-up box. She removed a short ,fitting,red dress from the plastic bag. After the light makeup I put on the dress, it was really uncomfortable, I wasn't into above knee level fitting dresses. In less than an hour I was ready for the days event.

My eyes began to be watery.

“What the hell are you doing Aud.” 

Without offering a word, I ran to her with a hug.

“Thank you bestie.”

She hugged back. “I just want you happy remember.”

“I didn't need this to be happy, just needed you and......” I trailed off.

“Come here.” she pulled me for another hug. After what felt like an hour of just hugging. “ Wipe those tears before you ruin the make up I used an eternity to work on.” she chuckled, it later turned to a laughter.

“There's more downstairs.”