Unplanned Expectations

Chapter 1

Alina

I was going to be late.

I knew at that point that this was going to happen but still...

You should've just went with her when she said she would.

Nick, Natalie's boyfriend of three years, was already picking her up and I hadn't felt like being a third wheeler then.

Anyway, it was all for the sake of independence. Well, it would've been a huge leap for me if only it wasn't a party with people I didn't have the first idea of their existence.

And vice versa.

It would be easy to stay here, bury my face in one of the books I just bought from the bookstore two blocks away -- the same bookstore that was the sole reason for my delay.

Except that I'd promised Natalie that I was going to make it no matter the circumstances, and I wasn't one to break a promise. Besides, she said she'd clean and cook the entire month if I came, which trust me, was the deal maker for me.

So I took a deep breath and looked over what - in my best friend's eyes - she called a dress. It was a sleeveless, mauve, leather material with a zipper all the way to what I assumed would be the lower back.

Well, thank God I just took a quick shower so, searching in my drawer for a matching purple underwear set I remembered Natalie buying me, I slipped into the panties and clipped the bra into place.

Once I got into the dress, I examined my attire in front of the mirror. I seriously contemplated whether I should look for a pair of jeans or not. I mean, the hem barely reached midthigh!

Two can play in this game.

Abandoning the nude high heels she left by the bed, I searched for a pair of white ankle socks and my plain Adidas Superstars. I wasn't about to break my neck wearing 6-inch heels!

Sitting at my dresser, I applied some matching nude lip gloss, coloured my eyelids a dreamy shade of amethyst and curled my long, dark golden brown hair into a soft, wavy style. I looked good.

Putting my phone, keys and whatever else that could fit in my designer black and gold clutch purse, I sprayed a light dose of my favourite perfume and left the house, making sure the door was locked behind me.

I might have been a tad bit late, but Natalie sure wouldn't dwell on it when she'd seen my, honestly, pretty decent makeover.

The walk wasn't that long, and the road wasn't as deserted as I thought it would be, so watching the excited crowd of college students go by had me reaching the house before I'd even realised it.

I couldn't say I wasn't intimidated, as I made my way up the stairs and peeked inside the house. Just the sight of the dance floor had me recoiling back and moving onto the backyard.

It was much better. For instance, it hosted much less people and the scenery was way prettier; the air carried the essence of the various colourful flowers surrounding the garden.

I scanned the groups of chattering, laughing people in search for my best friend. With all my heart, I hoped she was here. I couldn't imagine myself ever getting into the manslaughter going on inside.

It didn't take me long to find her, with her catchy platinum blonde hair free-flowing like she was shooting some sort of shampoo commercial. Aparentley, she was already in full blast, going all out in impressing the group of people surrounding her and Nick.

I wasn't really surprised with the very interested expressions all over their faces. Natalie had the power to draw attention in whatever she did. Not just with her striking features and killer body, but for her bubbly personality and kind heart. She was truly admirable.