The Tuition Fee

Chapter 32: October, Year 4

Alina

I pulled at the leather of my pants, frowning in the mirror of my vanity. "Mar, these pants are ridiculous." 

She grinned at me in the mirror, pulling on the vibrant Pink Ladies jacket over her own leather jumpsuit. She was the Rizzo to my Sandy and Reese was Kenickie and Nathan was Danny. I didn't want to do the matching group couples costume, but Marissa didn't leave me with much of a choice when she handed me the leather pants and black crop top this afternoon. I tried protesting, tried arguing, but she would not budge. 

"They look great! Your ass looks fantastic." She grinned at me and pressed a tube of red lipstick into my hand. "Put this on." 

I sighed but did as she asked, leaning forward to apply the makeup. Marissa had been my crutch, my literal lifeline, since August. She sat with me at almost every hospital visit, every doctor's appointment, every phone call with my mom. She made sure I studied, made sure I ate, and let me stay at her apartment more times than I could count. I was sleeping in her bed now more frequently than I was mine. 

A knock sounded on my bedroom door and I glanced at it. "Mar, you almost ready?" Reese called. 

She hopped off the bed and pulled the door open, grinning at him. "Yes, I was just helping Lins. Everything okay?" 

He stepped into the room and smiled at me before looking back down at his girlfriend. "Yeah, everything is fine, the guys are just starting to arrive. You both look nice by the way." 

I took in his 50's greaser attire and laughed when he took a comb out of his pocket to brush back his oiled-down hair. "Getting into character Reese?" I teased. 

He winked and slid the comb back into his pocket. "Can't have a hair out of place. Come down whenever, the punch is ready." He waved a hand and left, closing the door behind him. 

Marissa looked at me twisting her hands in front of her. "I know I kind of made you do this, but will you be okay?" 

I rolled my eyes and capped the lipstick, picking up the black jacket off the bed and shrugging it on. I stepped into the red heels, also Marissa's, and nodded. "Yes. I think being around people will be good for me. Just keep me away from Nathan." 

She frowned and stepped forward, adjusting one of my curls. "You've got to talk to him at some point honey," she whispered.

No. I didn't. The last time I held a conversation with Nathan was when Mr. Francis had been here and I'd had a minor mental breakdown. Okay, well not small, but that was the last communication Nathan and I had willingly. We seemed to be talking through our mutual friends, so I know he knew about my dad. The surgery had gone well enough, but they weren't sure if the new medicine was working. But we weren't thinking about that right now. Right now we were thinking about music and alcohol and dancing and not thinking. Tonight was not a night for thinking. 

"Maybe later. Are you ready?" 

She pursed her lips at my dismissal but nodded and we walked downstairs together to the kitchen. I poured both of us a large cup of punch from the cauldron and swallowed half of mine in one go. 

"Lina!" I jumped and turned around. 

"Harry? I thought you were working?" My favorite coworker besides Marissa came up and bear hugged me, lifting me off my feet and swinging me around the kitchen before setting me down. 

"Rach let me off and Nate invited me. How are you love?" He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear and I melted a little. He was dressed as a vampire, cape and all. 

"Doing as good as can be expected I suppose. How is Louie?" I handed him a cup to pour a drink which he filled and drained just as quickly as I had before filling it again. Louie was Harry's current fling, possible boyfriend, I wasn't really sure. They'd been talking for the past two months and it seemed to be going pretty well.