Animalistic

2

Once the man disappeared into the crowd my hand found it's way to my heart and I let out a shaky sigh of relief. My eyes search their way through the crowd, looking for any sign of Audri or Alex and catch sight of the guy Audri was drooling over, but no Audri. Fearing the worst I headed to the small gazebo shaped brick building built in front of the entrance to the east woods, knowing the bathroom was where I'd find my heart broken friend. I stand at the door and turn the handle, of course she'd forget to lock the door. My footsteps echo off of the walls of the marble tiled floor as I enter and lock the door behind me. I can hear faint sniffing and shaky breaths. "Audri" I call out softly, turning the corner to find my weepy friend sitting atop a fancy bench against a wall of mirrors.

"Jas?" her weak voice pains me to the point of wincing "Oh Jas." she sniffles a bit as I approach slowly, as if approaching a cornered beast. "Jas I was so stupid!" she finally raises her face to me and I see she did not opt for the waterproof makeup, probably thinking she wouldn't need it. I take a seat next to her and wrap one of my arms around her.

"Shh, shh, it's okay Audri." I muse, it's been quite a while since I've needed to console my strong willed friend. The last time being freshman year, after some upper-classmen douchebag called her a fat cow. From that moment on she never let anyone push her around and ended up rejecting to date that douche. She transformed from a shy quiet girl into a fierce woman that day, using her strong personality to empower others who felt bullied, creating an anti-bullying club at our school, virtually abolishing any and all forms of bullying in our community. She became a force to be reckoned with, empowering other girls perceived as heavier, showing them that no matter what other people think, they are perfect and beautiful. She was an inspiration to all, and now I'm wondering why that strong girl regressed back into her shell and let something tear her down.

"No Jas, it is not okay" she sobs into some mascara stained toilet paper. "He was so rude, I mean, I sauntered over to him super confidentially and probably looked absolutely stunning and when I opened my mouth to speak he just turned and walked away." I don't say anything just rub her arm soothingly, though I have a feeling that that is not where this story ends. "I walked after him through the crowd and tried talking to him, asking him what pack he was from and what his name was and he just kept walking until we came to the edge of the crowd and he turned around and growled at me! He growled at me!" I could see the tears beginning to end and the anger rising in her eyes. "Like how rude is that! And then he yelled at me to leave him alone, that he wasn't interested. But I don't give up on what I want as you know" she turns to me and I nod in agreement. "And then he somehow got into my head, I don't know how but I could feel him rooting around in my mind and all of a sudden I was a self-conscious freshman and I ran for the bathroom." I don't quite understand what she was saying, but that is not what was important right now, getting Audri back to herself was my task at the moment. "Ya know what Jas?!" she suddenly stands and I begin to smile to myself, "Who cares if he rejected me? I'm amazing and if he doesn't want any of this then that's his problem!" She turns to the mirror and takes the paper towel in her had and wipes away the black streaks on her cheeks, pulling out her makeup and with swift accuracy she reassembles herself "And guess what Jas, today is only the first day, we have a whole week to attract a mate!" I grimace at her reminding me of that, god I don't want to be here another day. "Which means I have a whole week to show off and get back at that asshole" her empowered voice rings clear as she reapplies her red lipstick expertly. She turns to me "Thank you so much Jas, you always know what to say to cheer me up."

I smile and nod "Anytime Audri." She pulls me up and links our arms, with her head held high.

"Now lets get out there and show these pups what's what" we walk in unison as she swiftly unlocks the door and throws it open, strutting confidently out the door as if she didn't just have mascara streaming down her face. We walk back to the crowd of wolves and Audri pulls us up to a couple of guys standing near the bar, pulling us into a conversation with the two. I know she has good intentions and all but she seems to have forgotten its a bit hard for me to put myself out there like this. It's okay though, she seems to be addressing the two, taking all of their attention as I stand to her side quietly, just the way it has always been. "And this is my friend Jasabell." Well shit.