Apartment 311

Ch | 45

Brooklyn Noelle Brankovich

Chapter Forty-five: "I'll have what he's having"

It was early in the day and I woke up feeling like shit. Work was killing me the past week since my debacle with Natalie, and I needed a break.

I ventured out of my apartment for the first time since getting in from work at three in the morning. Like an idiot, I left my things in the car because I was too tired to do anything when I got off.

When I spun after locking my door, I saw Cassie with her eyes fixed on me. She had a bag of food delivered, giving me the idea to probably eat something as it was noon and I hadn't eaten since last night.

"Brooke? Got a second?" She called out for me.

My heavy head lifted slowly and I walked toward her. The closer I got, the more I noticed how awful she looked. It was nice seeing I wasn't the only one looking how I felt. "You look like shit," I proclaimed, "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Uh, yeah. I'll be better tonight once you say yes."

I pursed my lips and hummed with suspicion. "What am I saying yes to? It would probably be yes anyway, but I need to know what I'm doing."

"How do you feel about frat parties?" asked Cassie.

Honestly, I loved them! I loved the whole aesthetic. Having snuck out to attend a few, I found out they were just like what you see in the movies and moments like that make me feel alive. Not to mention the hot guys, fun people you meet, and outfits I get to wear!

"What's the theme?" I asked her, hopping on board with the plan.

"Eighties party," she laughed, wetting her cracked lips. "Super colorful. Everything I'm not."

Excited, my eyes grew big and I started thinking of my costume already. "I'm in," I exclaimed in agreement, "Is it just us? Or you inviting anyone else?" Obviously I meant our only mutual friends, Noah and Gael. It would be nice to have some guys with us, you know, to assure our safety.

Cassie shrugged her shoulders and said, "He told me to bring my friends, which I'm assuming would be all girls, but I'm going to tell Gael and Noah, too. We should all go out; I need it." Agreed. I'm glad she let herself realize she needs a break and is open to enjoying something, especially with all of us.

I was almost excited until I noticed my girl's hair. I gritted my teeth, the corners of my lips pulling down. "You need to wash that hair before you go anywhere," I scoffed in a joking manner but really meant it, "See you later." Cassie can take the criticism, I'm sure she knows my heart by now and that I'm just looking out for her. We were both a wreck, I wouldn't have been surprised if she called me a bum, too.

*

When I came back from my car, I stopped right in the middle of the kitchen to reply to Gael's text. He insisted he wouldn't be the designated driver for the night which I disagreed with. I wanted to drink, too. I dropped the purse and heels on my counter and typed away.

That's when I got the idea to challenge him. My elbows supported me as I leaned over the counter, grinning at the screen. I sent him a request to play me at the virtual game of cup pong, something I thought I excelled at.

Not too much longer, I moped about my loss and exited our thread. Looks like I'll be driving tonight. When I came back from the fridge with a bottle is water, I paused in thought.

"Fuck," I breathed out, "what am I going to wear?!"

Frantically, I scrummaged through my closet in search of outfit ideas.