Chapter Two

"So are you going to Brian's party tonight?" Kim asks me as we are sitting on some benches on campus. It's a beautiful sunny day today and for the first time since Matt disappeared a week ago, I feel better.

That doesn't mean I am in a party-going mood. When I was still a first year I always jumped at the opportunity of attending these parties but after a year they get kind of boring. Kim however still enjoys them.

"Nope. Not tonight Kim." I sigh as I lift my face up and try to absorb the UV rays.

"I went alone last time and it sucked. You have to stop sulking about Matt and have some fun. For fucks sake live while you are young!"

"Shut up Kim. You didn't go alone you went with Luke."

"Yeah, and you know what he is like. He ditched me the minute a cute guy started flirting with him."

I can't help but laugh at this because it is probably true.

"Did someone mention cute guys?"

A voice says behind us. I turn my head and speak of the devil he shall appear.

Luke is the last member of our trio. We met him last year at a party and we immediately bonded to Beyonce's Single Ladies on the dance floor. He is Bisexual and currently going through his whore phase.

"Kim is trying to bully me into going to a party tonight." I tell him

"Sweet. Who's party is it?"

"Some kid called Brian who is trying to climb the social ladder by association." Kim says with a shrug.

Woodridge much to my disappointment is like high school in some ways. We still get people who are trying to fit in and sub coming to peer pressure.

The richer and more powerful your family is then the higher you are up the social ladder.

"Well, I don't care who he is as long as there will be free booze and some good pot I am going and so are you, Ria."

Kim claps her hands in excitement knowing I don't stand a chance against the two of them together.

I am currently driving to Kim's room since her dorm is a walking distance away from the party. I plan on sleeping over at her place tonight instead of driving back home after I have had a couple of drinks.

I decided to wear my designer black dress and matching sexy black pumps are on my passenger sit because I still haven't mastered the science and art that is driving in heels.

When I park my car in the parking lot I grab my overnight bag that contains all the clothes and stuff I will need for my stay. I still have a class to attend tomorrow since this party is on a Tuesday night. The weird thing is the best parties are thrown during the week.

I don't bother knocking when I get to her room I just let myself in. technically I don't think we should call it a room since it's practically a small apartment. All the dorm rooms are like this at the university.

Luke is already sitting on Kim's couch looking bored out of his mind. He is wearing jeans and a white T-shirt Kim got him for his birthday last month. He loves it because of the words printed in black saying: "I'm sexy and I know it." in the front.

His sandy blond hair is a curly mass as usual but somehow he makes everything work.

I see why Kim was attracted to him when we first met him. With his deep blue eyes and his perfect white teeth.

She tells me that attraction ended the minute she found out that he is as big a weirdo as she is. But there are times when I catch her staring at him longer than what is necessary. When he notices me he jumps in my direction and gives me a big hug.

"Thank God you are here Ria. Kimberly is taking a lifetime. I swear half of my life has gone by since I have been locked up in this room. Is it still 2018? Please tell me Trump is no longer president."

I laugh at my best friend's exaggeration. Have I mentioned that I love my friends?

"Shut the fuck up you cry baby. I am done we can go now." Kim says while throwing a pillow at him.

She is also wearing a short dress like mine only hers is red and hugs her body like a second skin. Her blond curls are loose and ironed straight. She is wearing heels two inches higher than mine and it automatically makes us the same height for the night.

Luke covers his ears playfully and laughs.

"See that Ria. She is trying to kill me with a pillow and damaging my virgin ears with her crude language."

It's Kim's turn to burst with laughter.

"Please the only virgin ears in this room is princess Ria over there."

They both start laughing as we get out of her room. I laugh nervously because the topic is suddenly making me uncomfortable.

Luke must have noticed my mood because he suddenly drapes his long arms around my shoulders.

"Lighten up Ria. There is nothing wrong with being a virgin we are just messing with you."

I nod my head in what I hope is a reassuring way. Deep down I feel like shit.

Sure there is nothing wrong with being a virgin at my age. The only problem is I haven't been one for months now and they had no idea.

****

The party is already in full swing when we got there. Students are all over the place. The lawn is packed with drunk people and empty beer bottles. When we finally make it into the house I am greeted by the stale smell of sweat, alcohol, and vomit. There is a makeshift dance floor in the living room and I immediately know that is where I will be spending most of my night. As soon as I get a drink.

Luke throws his arms in the air and runs towards the dance floor and I already realize that I might not see him again until tomorrow. I grab Kim's hand and lead her towards the kitchen where I am hoping the alcohol will be. There is no one in the kitchen except for a girl who seems to be passed out on the kitchen table.

There is alcohol spread out everywhere. I grab a bottle of vodka and I don't even look for a cup I just open the bottle a start drinking it straight from the bottle. I start drinking it as fast as my throat can take.

"Stop!" Kim takes the bottle from me with a panicked expression on her face.

"Gosh, Ria are you nuts? I bought you here so you can have some fun and forget about that asshole not so you can kill yourself by drowning in vodka!"

I want to laugh because when she is pissed her Australian accent becomes worse but I stop myself because she is still talking.

"Matt is an idiot just forget about him."

I nod my head because she is right.

"You are right. I deserve better. I will forget about him and move on."

Kim has a smile on her face, clearly happy that she has gotten to me. I quickly snatch the vodka bottle back from her.

She tries to grab it again but I lift my hand in front of her face stopping her for a second.

"I will follow your advice first thing tomorrow morning. Tonight I will drink my problems away and have a fucking good time."

I leave Kim with a shocked expression on her face. She knows I don't like swearing.

I take another swing from the bottle as I make my way to the dance floor.

I hope I never see Matt's lying face again.

I start to feel the warmth of the alcohol in my veins and that is the last thing that I think about before I let the music and alcohol take over.