How To Love Again. (Sequel to 5YIN)

-fifteen-

   The world says everything happens for a reason. And while some may disagree, I have to agree entirely. Over the last few years, people have come and gone and awful unimaginable things happened. And the overall outcome, was what I wanted all along. Harry. And I refuse to believe his involvement in my life was an accident or some freak thing. He was supposed to be here. 

Since Liz left Harry a couple weeks ago, they finalized the divorce. And surprisingly, it wasn't messy. She did not like me by any means. And I can't even imagine how she felt about Harry. But she moved out without another word. Jess hasn't been back. I didn't care to see her. 

  My pencil made a constant pecking sound as I tapped it against my book. My one photographer professor often gave us pictures out of the textbook and we had to analyze them and things like that. While it was easy for me, it didn't make it go any faster. My headache grew as I continued to work. Then the loud banging at the door didn't exactly cause it to diminish. 

"Hey let me in. I forgot my key." Jess half shouted from the other side of the door. The anxiety I kept pushing back found its way throughout my body. I'd been terrified to see Jess only because I knew what she was capable of. And I knew that'd she'd been in touch with Brandon. When I haven't. 

"Hi." My voice cracked.

"Hey." She walked right past me into the room and began rummaging through her closet.

"Where have you been?" I couldn't help but wonder. She always disappeared for days at a time. She had to go somewhere. 

"At. Liz's new apartment helping her move in. Y'know, since she kind of had to leave her other one." 

"Yeah. I realized that. Has she said much?" I asked curiously. 

"Why does it matter?" Jess turned halfway before turning back to her closet.

"I don't know. I feel bad I guess." I shrugged and sat on my bed. Feeling bad was an understatement. Not just for Liz. I actually didn't feel that awful about her. It was more-so Brandon.

"I'm going to a party tonight. Wanna come? You kind of sit in here everynight and that has to get old, right?"

"I kind of thought you were pissed at me. Now you're inviting me to a party?" 

"I'm not pissed at you. Liz happens to be. But I have no reasoning to. You're my roommate. And this is college. Not high school. She'll be fine." I was taken back by Jess's words. My plans for tonight didn't include going to a party.. But they didn't include anything else. I hadn't been to a decent party since high school.

"Sure. I'll go." 

                                                                +++

I'd just finished my hair and makeup when Jess tossed a dress at me. I took the tight fabric in my hands and looked at it. It was entirely strapless and a deep shade of blue. It also looked like it would cling so tightly to me that everything would show. \

"Don't just look at it. Put it on. You have the perfect body type for it. I couldn't wear it. I'm too thin." She sat at her normal spot by the window. She smiled while she blew the smoke from her cigarette out of her mouth.

She turned around as I stripped down and put the dress on. Surprisingly, she was right. It didn't look bad.

"Let's go." She called as she stood up and I was putting my black heels on.

"Where's the party?" I asked as I followed close behind down the hallways.

"A frat house on the other end of campus."