Without You

Chapter Six

Chapter Six: Normalcy and Alcohol

"What are you doing?" I tore my eyes away from my Calculus book and glanced at her puzzlingly while she raided my closet.

"We're going to a party." She answered simply.

I gave her a blank stare.

"It's a school night." I pointed out matter-of-factly, getting back to my studies. "Besides, we have a Calculus exam on Tuesday. I need to study."

Natalie turned to me with a frown etched on her face, shaking her head disapprovingly. "You've been cooped up in your room for days studying that gruesome subject. You need a change of environment."

Returning to her task at hand, she threw clothes out, trying to find an outfit that's, and I quote, "sexy but not skimpy."

"You can always study tomorrow, right?" She said while pulling a hot pink dress, staring at it thoughtfully.

"No." I immediately denied that pink demon of a dress. Why do I even have it? I'll remember to burn it later on. "I need to study, or I'll fail this damn subject."

Throwing yet another shirt to the floor, she scoffed at me. "And what's your definition of fail? B+?"

Okay, I may be a total nerd, but I wouldn't be one if I didn't study until my eyes pop out of my sockets and my brain functioned only with the information it was given. It's the grades that matter, right?

"C'mon Jules, it's Ryan's party. We're seniors! We should go crazy and party all night, you know, do stupid things that we won't regret when we get old. We're not gonna stay young forever."

I almost broke down laughing at the enthusiasm bubbling in the tone of voice she used, "That has got to be one of your most cliché rants that has ever escaped your mouth, Natalie Morrow. I swear, it's like you have a cheesy rants here sign stuck to your forehead."

I didn't regret laughing when she threw a dress at me, the hanger hitting me in the face. The laughter died down when I laid eyes on the dress. I caressed the soft fabric, my mouth hung open in awe. Since when do I have this dress?

Natalie smirked in triumph then nodded her head towards the bathroom. I hesitated, I needed to study, but . . .

Another look at the dress had be standing up and rushing to the bathroom. It felt silly, to have this urge to wear this magnificent dress. I was still a girl, I couldn't resist. I had to try it on. I stepped out of the bathroom, and a huge grin spread over her face, her eyes widening joyfully.

"You're definitely wearing that."

Standing in front of the mirror, I smiled at my reflection. The black dress was figure-friendly; the v-neck cut didn't show much cleavage thanks to the crisscrosses. It wasn't too short, nor too long, it was a perfect length that reached just above my knees. It hugged my body, showing my soft curves, but not enough to suffocate me, thankfully. It wasn't too tight, nor was it a princess puff; it was nice and comfortable. This dress said "elegant but sexy" all over it. I loved it, and I didn't want to take it off.

I turned to Natalie, who gave me a knowing look, dashed to her room and came back with a make-up kit.

"And how is your mom okay with this?" I asked while crossing my arms, eyebrows raised suspiciously at her. A sly smirk formed on her face, making an uneasy feeling tickle my stomach, "Natalie."

She sat down on my bed, innocently shuffling through my notebooks and papers, "She has a night shift, we'll get back before she does, and she won't suspect a thing. I've already paid Shane twenty bucks to keep quiet about it, too."