The Consequence of Falling - THE PREQUEL

Chapter Three

"You know that whole hoes before bros rule only work if there are bros to brush off in the picture," Jamie said from the bathroom.

"We're effectively of brushing off the bros, also known as fuck boys, by not having them in the picture at all."

Jamie laughed. I smiled and continued to do my makeup. We were getting dressed for a Halloween party – we were both going as pink ladies, the bad girl versions, with skin tight black jeans, black bodysuits, and killer heels. I had a feeling that my mother, who was a huge fan of Grease, would be proud. If I was on speaking terms with her right now, I'd send a picture. Not that she'd receive the picture being that she was sailing around the world right now with her new boyfriend. I felt my excitement dwindle as I thought of her. I set my make-up brush down and walked to the kitchen, picking up one of the Jello shots we'd made for the occasion – orange and green. After two years of partying hard, Jamie and I had decided that this year we'd tone it down and be good girls, the kind who focused on school instead of boys. So far, we'd succeeded, but tonight was looking a little bit like the former years.

"Jamie, did you already take a shot?" I counted the little cups. There had been fifteen and we were down to ten. "Or five?"

She laughed, walking toward me. "I couldn't taste the alcohol in the first two."

"So you took three more to make sure?" I raised an eyebrow and turned to her. She shrugged, plucking another one from the counter and squishing it into her mouth.

"Tonight's about having fun."

I lifted a little cup up in the air. "To having fun."

**

Two hours later, we were in the Meatpacking district with Jamie's boyfriend and a few of his friends and their girlfriends. I would've felt like the sixth wheel, had it not been for Adam, whom I'd just met and was keeping me laughing the entire time.

"Why in the world would you want to become a politician?" I asked.

Adam shrugged, smiling. "I want to change the world."

"I've known a lot of politicians in my day," I said, "My own father included though he only did it for a short time, and the only thing it changes is your morals."

"I've heard that before. I'm up for the challenge."

The way he said it, with a warm gleam in his eyes, made me feel like maybe he'd be the one to survive politics. Maybe he'd be the one to change the world. Who knows? When he smiled at me, I felt like genuinely smiling back.

"I guess I'll be on the lookout. Maybe I'll vote for you if you get on a ballot. If I feel you're a good fit, of course."

"Maybe I should take you out and prove that I'm the perfect fit." His eyes twinkled as he said that and I found myself smile wider.

"Maybe you should."

Two of the guys and their girlfriends stood up and one walked over and clapped Adam on the shoulder. "We should head out."

Adam nodded and looked at me. "You should give me your number so we can set something up next weekend."

I tapped my number into his phone and waved goodbye as Jamie saddled up in the seat beside me.

"Well, well, well," she said.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't start."

"I won't." She laughed. "I knew you guys would get along though. He's one of the good ones." She turned to her boyfriend Mark. "Right?"