Unexpected

5. Helen

Friday

The weekend has finally come. It's been a grueling seven days. I studied a lot and went a bit further with both the music and theater programs. I had more free time because Miss Williams was sick and she gave us some days off during her absence, at least that. All this means that in these three days I'll do nothing at all. Later we have to start preparing for the party, on Saturday me, Jade and Grace plan to go to the gym — just to have some fun and work off a few grams — and on Sunday that armchair will be mine all day, and so will the remote, since Jade must necessarily go to study.

I took an afternoon nap of at least an hour and a half; I needed it, otherwise I wouldn't make it until who knows what time of night. At Friday parties you know what time you go but you never know what time you will come home.

Jade stumbles on her own feet as she walks into the living room. I look away from my phone screen and burst out laughing. "Stupid!"

She laughs too and then I make room for her on the sofa. She sits next to me and with a worried expression she says to me, "I have no idea what to wear. Help me. Please."

I stretch and haven't answered her yet.

"Helen! Tonight's outfit must be a bomb, you have to help me. Come on, move that ass." She gets up, takes me by the wrists and starts pulling me off the sofa.

I snort and get up once and for all. "All right, just because when you get there they'll have to think you're hot as hell. Otherwise it wouldn't make sense," and I make a face at her, sticking my tongue out.

I open her closet. She has so many beautiful and super sexy things, only she never gets a chance to wear them, but today she does! "Well, well, well... let's see," I say as I peek through her clothes.

Found it.

A tight black shirt with off-shoulders neckline and long sleeves, a white leather skirt and fairly high black heels.

"Try this, in the meantime I'm wearing what I chose for myself," I tell her.

I go to my room and start getting dressed. For me I chose a tight black cotton dress with a jewel neckline and sleeveless, it reaches mid-thigh and makes my shapes stand out. I wear a not too flashy waist belt, thigh boots with high heels and an open white shirt that acts as a jacket. A few necklaces, one of my favorite bracelets and some earrings. I tie my hair in a messy bun but to which I spent at least fifteen minutes. I just have to wear some makeup, not too much. A swipe of mascara, nude eyeshadow and a little highlighter on the nose and cheekbones.

I'm ready.

"Jade—" I open the door to her room and she is dressed. Wow. She looks so good. "You look great!"

She takes a spin on herself, her wavy hair waving over her shoulders. "Oh my God!" she exclaims. "Did you put these boots on?"

I take three steps back and forth. "Yeah, you like them?"

"To death! You look like a model, Helen. You'll certainly not go unnoticed."

I thank her. We take a couple of pictures before we go out, because later the makeup and hair will be gone.

We take our bags and go out. Jade drives, because with these boots it gets too complicated for me. In a second she takes off her heels and puts on some comfortable Toms. We arrive in front of the frat house, before getting out of the car she puts on her heels again.

It's still early, it's half past nine, but the place is already full of people with glasses in hand chatting animatedly. As we make our way inside someone greets us, but I've no idea who half the people are.

"Girls! I'm glad to see you," Grace meets us on our way and holds us in a tight embrace. "Something to drink?"

I look at Jade and in chorus we say to each other, "You drink." We both burst out laughing, then she adds, "You drink, don't worry, you think about having fun since you studied like crazy this week."

Okay, I allow myself. I accept Grace's proposal and she passes me a red glass with a clear liquid and ice in it.

"The guys called two bartenders to make cocktails— it's mojito," she informs me. "But they are strict," she tells me in my ear, "they serve only to adults."

Just as they should, I would add, but I shut up and smile. And then if they don't check the documents how do they know? Perfect, Grace is already gone, she started saying nonsense.

"Come and sit with me."

We follow her to the back of the house, where most of the university basketball team and a few other guys are. I notice that one of these — which is not bad aesthetically — immediately catches sight of my friend, so with a light nudge I signal her to sit on the sofa where he is sitting. I sit in an armchair, I don't want anyone next to me, I just don't want to and then the armchairs are more comfortable.

Around eleven the rest of the basketball team arrives and Harry is among them. I don't understand why he is always with them if he doesn't play. Who knows.

After three drinks I feel the need for water. I get up and feel a little unstable on my legs, but I still manage to make it to the kitchen safe and sound. I drink two glasses of water and then immediately go back to the others. But my place is occupied by that asshole Harry.

"Davis, move, that was my place," I point out, barely supporting myself on my heels.

He chuckles. "Scott, you got up and it was empty. Now it's mine," he says, challenging me.

Yeah, but I need to sit down. "Well, I'm drunk and I can barely stand up, and since you're worth as much as a garden chair..." I don't finish the sentence as I sit on his lap. I don't care if it's Harry Davis, the only thing I care about is the pain my feet are feeling right now.

I have the impression that his body stiffened the moment mine touched him. Strange. For him, every girl is the same as another, he should be used to it. Instead I feel he's very uncomfortable.

His hands rest on the armrests of the chair for quite some time, but tired of having remained motionless for at least ten minutes, he moves them and puts one on my waist and the other on my thigh. When his skin comes into contact with mine, a feeling that I cannot define runs through my body and he moves his gaze to my face, our eyes lock and I can't help but love the blue of his.