Rosalie
My eyes widen as I step into the frat house.
The place is crowded. Music blasts throughout the place as we step inside.
“Asshole,” a girl yells at some guy who spilled his drink onto her. I take a step back, making sure I don’t get caught in the crossfire. He shrugs her off and walks over to another girl, leaning down to kiss her before throwing her over his shoulder.
“I told you,” Gabi says to my right. “Frat parties get a little crazy. Isn’t that dress dry clean only?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.
I rub the fabric of my white silk dress between my fingers. “Yeah.” I narrow my eyes at her. “But it’s a party. I wanted to look good.”
Especially because this is my first party. Ever. I don’t mean the family gatherings my mother would host at the country club. I mean a real party. Drinks, guys, fun.
Tonight is my first taste of freedom, and I’m going to make the most out of it. If I do end up getting a drink spilled on my dress, I can always make another one. Though this is one of my favorite designs I have done.
“She looks good,” Madi says to my right. “Besides, it’s better to overdress than to underdress.” Her red lips shoot me a smile. She’s right. And Madi is dressed to perfection. Her dark, mahogany skin shines from the body oil she slathered on her body, which stands out in her tight black dress.
She flicks her long, dark brown hair behind her shoulder and leans into me. “Don’t listen to Gabi. Her idea of fashion is a hoodie from Target.”
“And I stand by that,” Gabi says, running her hands down her black denim jeans. “It’s a frat party. Not a gala or some shit.”
“Dios,” Leila mutters, laughing at the antics we’re used to seeing between Madi and Gabi. “You two never stop arguing,” my best friend since high school says before turning to face me. “C’mon, I need a drink if I’m going to deal with these two all night.”
A laugh escapes me when Gabriella gasps. “Rude,” she says, making Leila roll her eyes at her dramatics.
Leila links arms with me as we walk across the room through the crowd. Madi and Gabi follow us behind. I blatantly stare, gaping at the people playing beer pong. A guy stands shirtless as his friend pours alcohol on his body, and girls lick it up. My eyes widen as we keep walking across the house.
“Jesus, that was crazy,” I breathe out when we enter the kitchen area. It’s quieter here, but the music still blares in the other room, echoing through the door.
“You haven’t seen anything yet. Halloween parties are insane around here.” Gabi says.
My eyes widen. “Really?” I ask.
She nods with a smirk on her lips. “My sister used to go here. She would let me sneak in with her when I was still in high school. My poor little brain was exposed to things no one should see at that age,” she muses, shaking her head.
Madi rolls her eyes. “You were sixteen,” she says. “Your brain was probably already corrupted by then.”
Gabi snorts out a laugh. “True. You know me so well.” A smile spread across her face making us all laugh.
The door opens when someone walks in, and Leila curses. “Oh god,” Leila says, crouching down behind me. “Hide me.”
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Tiffany just walked in,” she whispers. “I’m going to end up in jail for killing her if I have to hear about her fucked up relationship one more time.” She narrows her eyes. “I envy you. Living alone in a huge apartment.”
I drop my eyes. For as long as I remember, I’ve felt guilty about my money. I come from a family who’s never had to worry about anything. Everything I’ve ever wanted, I had. Even the apartment I definitely did not want.
My mother might have rented out that apartment and bought every piece of furniture there, but I’m not fooled by it. She doesn’t support my dream of going to college at all.
What she really wants is to remind me of the life she has, of the life I could have if I just married rich. But I don’t want that. I’m following my dreams by going to college and becoming my own person. I want to start a clothing line, and I’m not going to let my mother deter me from doing exactly that.
“Is she gone?” Leila asks when the door closes again.
I look around the room, not seeing Leila’s roommate anywhere. I nod, and she exhales, lifting herself off the ground. She adjusts her purple romper, the material hugging her full figure.
“I can’t believe you’re living off-campus in a huge apartment, and you’re only a freshman,” Gabi says.
“Yeah, well.” I sigh. “My mom said dorms are for crack whores and drug addicts.”
“Guess we’re crack whores,” Gabriella says to Madi with a smirk.
“And addicts,” Madi replies, making us laugh.
“I at least wanted to try it, you know? I’ve always imagined myself in a dorm when I thought of going to college.”
Gabi shakes her head. “You aren’t missing out on anything but annoying roommates and fear of catching infections in the showers.”
“Uh… I’m your roommate,” Madeline says, narrowing her eyes at her.
Gabriella grins; her eyes are on me. “My point exactly,” she says.
“Like you’re any better?” Madi says. “At least I don’t bring people back to the dorm when you’re trying to sleep.”
Gabi faces Madi. “That was one time,” she says, lifting a finger. “And in my defense, I thought you were asleep.”
“If I was, I would have woken up,” Madi adds, letting out a laugh.
Gabi rolls her eyes. “You’re so dramatic. She left right after. Plus, she was quiet.”
Madi scoffs. “But you weren’t. I’m traumatized from hearing your sex noises when I was sleeping less than six feet away.”
Gabi presses her hand to her mouth, trying not to laugh. “You’re just strung out,” she says, “you need to get laid.”
“What I need is a drink,” she says, holding out her cup. “Fill me up, Perez.”
“Careful,” Leila says, filling up Madi’s cup, trying not to laugh. “Make sure you don’t pass out like Gabi over here.”
Gabi groans. “Not this again,” she says. “Jesus, you pass out one time,” she muses.
“You passed out?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I might have.”
“She definitely did,” Madi says.
“From one drink,” Leila adds.
“You have no proof,” Gabi says, crossing her arms.
“I definitely do,” Madi replies. “The picture of you passed out on the floor is proof enough.”
Gabi’s mouth drops open. “You took a picture of me?” she asks. “What kind of friend does that?
“The kind who knows you’re going to lie about it. Plus, you were passed out for like a minute. Calm down.”
“You want to be my new best friend?” Gabi asks me. “Madi just got demoted.”
“Thank god,” Madi mutters, making Leila and I laugh.
Gabi links arms with me. “I’m a great friend.” Madi snorts in the background, but Gabi ignores her. “And I have alcohol,” she says, handing me a red plastic cup filled with the beer she poured. “Stick with me, and you’ll have fun,” she says, flashing me a wink.
I look down at the liquid and bring it to my mouth, taking a sip. My face screws up as the bitter taste burns my throat. But it’s not completely horrible. I throw back the cup and down the rest of the drink.
“Woah. Slow down, Rosie,” Leila says. “Have you ever had alcohol before?”
“Of course I have.”
She smirks. “I mean, other than the wine they serve at communion.”
I shake my head which makes her laugh. “Then take it easy. You’re probably a lightweight, just like Gabi over here.”
Gabi groans, pulling away from me. “That’s it. I’m not taking any more of your shit,” she says, walking away from us. The kitchen door opens as she walks away. “I’m leaving,” she yells at us, looking over her shoulder.
“Goodbye,” Madi replies. Leila and I smirk, trying not to laugh.
“Forever!” Gabi yells back, and then she’s gone, muddled into the crowd of drunk college students.
I can’t help but laugh at Gabi’s dramatic exit. Madi shakes her head with a smirk on her face. She’s always been like this. Since the day I met her, she’s been a drama queen, which is funny considering Madi is the actress in the group.
“Should we go check on her?” Leila asks.
Madi sighs and downs her drink. “I’ll go. If she ends up drunk and passed out somewhere, I’m going to have to drag her home.”
She exits, and Leila links her arms with me. “C’mon,” she says, opening the kitchen door and following Madi out. Noise fills the room as soon as we step out of the kitchen. My eyes scan the room, taking it all in. The music, the dancing.
“Hey.” My head snaps to my side, and I see a guy smiling down at me. His teeth are bright as he grins, his blue eyes shine down at me.
“Hi.” I smile back at him. He grins again, taking a sip of his drink. I turn my head, seeing Leila not so subtly wink at me and taking a step back, leaving me alone with this guy.
I look back at him, meeting his blue eyes as he does a once over, licking his lips. What do I say? If Leila were here, she’d touch his arm and flirt with him, maybe compliment him.
“I like your hair,” I say, attempting to form a conversation with him. I don’t know how to do this. This is all new to me. Should I flip my hair, flutter my eyelashes?
He chuckles. “Thanks,” he says, running a hand through his dirty blonde hair. He lifts a brow and asks, “You new? I haven’t seen you around.”
“Oh, um. Yeah.” I nod, trying not to fiddle with the hem of my dress. “I’m a freshman. I don’t really go to these.” I gesture around the room. “This is my first time here,” I tell him.
“Cool.” He grins, his tongue dipping out to lick his bottom lip. “I’m Ben, by the way.”
“Rosalie,” I reply.
“Rosalie,” he mutters to himself, flashing me a smirk. “You want a drink?”
I lift my half-full cup at him. “Already have one.”
“Right,” he says. “Well, some of my friends and I are going to play beer pong. You want in?”
I look around the room and see Leila talking to a guy, laughing in the corner with him. “Uh… I’m here with my friends,” I tell him. “Maybe another time?” I say, trying to placate him. He seems nice, but what do I know? I barely know the guy.
“No worries,” he says. “Nice to meet you.” He flashes me another smile while walking away.
I sigh, taking a sip of the cheap, bitter beer. My eyes catch on Leila as she walks toward me.
“So, how did it go?” she asks.
I shrug. “Okay, I guess. He asked me to play beer pong.”
“You didn’t want to?”
I shake my head. “I hardly know him.”
“That’s fair,” she says, nudging my shoulder, a smile on her lips. “You want to play Never Have I Ever instead?”
