See me playing

I can't even pronounce it anymore

Winnie

Girl's nights were usually at Janice's house because her single mother was constantly travelling for work.

I guess heavy drinking couldn't be called a typical girl's night, but that's the way we have been doing it ever since Soph's brother became old enough to supply us with alcohol nine months ago. It took us two months of begging to get him to buy us alcohol and some money every month to make him promise he won't tell a soul.
Well, you couldn't exactly call it "heavy drinking", it is just the three of us watching the Kardashians and taking shots every time someone says "like".
Some episodes get us shitfaced in a record time.

So that's how we ended right here, drunk on the floor of Janice's living room talking about our college plans.

"Just think about it, we have about four more months in this circle of hell before we move to the next one. I don't know what our sins are, but they must have been extra bad."

"Come on Soph", said Janice, "it's just cogl... colea...colega... see, I can't even pronounce it anymore." By the end of her sentence we were laughing our asses of.

"You don't understand me at all. We won't be there together. You are going to England, I will be in Washington and Winnie is staying here for Juilliards. I hate meeting new people, I'm shy." That was the truth, when we first started to hang out with Soph our freshman year she stutterd for about half a school year. She was that shy.
And then I remembered girls did not know about Academia.
Maybe I don't have to tell them.
They can find out after, right?
Just tell them you idot.

"It seems I won't be going to Juilliards."

"Wait, what the hell?" said Janice.

"But I tought you got your acceptance letter. Please don't tell me your father bullied you into going to St. Clair Academy."

"We made a deal Soph. I go there for a year and if I hate it I can transfer to Juilliards. It won't mater that much because they have good enough music course."

"And you said yes? You do realise he counts on you making friends and deciding it is not worth transfering?" asked Janice.
She was right. My father knew how much I appreciate good company. But if he tought I would alter all of my plans for a group of people, he had another thing coming his way. Mom likes to say that my father's stubborness is his biggest flaw. But that statement is always followed by: 'But trust me, he is nothing compared to you.'
I have to say, she is wrong, oh so very wrong. I said fine when he demanded I go to Academia for a year, didn't I? And all I wanted to say was 'go to hell'. True, it did take us months to come to that point, but the important part is we came to an agreement. One I wish I had rejected.

"Like that will ever happen. Mark my words. In a year I will be coming back from California to attend Juilliards. Nothing, and I mean nothing will stop me."

"What did your mother have to say about that deal."

"She is the one who stopped my father from enroling me to St. Clair Highscool in the first place Soph, she said that we have to leave her out of our 'negotiations' this time. And let's think about it, this is the only way I will ever be able to attend Juilliards without my father looking at me like I made the mistake of my life."

"I don't see what he likes about that place. It is a duchebag's den, barbie factory, only place in the America that does not offer scholarships. And that information alone shows how posh they think they are. God forbid someone not wearing Versace comes in. Most importantly you don't want to go there."

She was right, I was not against going to Academia because it was not good. The reality is quite the opposite. Maybe, just maybe, I should feel proud because I got offered to study there without applaying. My father had a reason he always said 'every Owens graduated from Academia'.
It was a college for the most talented and succesful young individuals, no matter what that talent was. But first and foremost, those individulas had to be rich and let's not forget, majority of them attended St. Clair Highschool before enroling to St. Clair Academy (Academia). And attendance of St. Clair High turns most of those kids into snobbish little pricks.

Still, Academia is a place where people come to study because it gives them prestige and guarantees success. More than success, it guarantees afirmation as one of the best experts in your field of choosing.

You don't choose Academia, Academia chooses you.

"Who knows Janice", said Soph while falling from the couch, "maybe she falls in loooove and changes him completely and decides she wants to stay there. Trust me, it's destiny."

I couldn't stop laughing at her. "You are drunker than I tought Sophie."

"Stop it Soph, or I might actually throw up."

"And here comes Janice, my deepest apologies, I tend to forget you are alergic to happiness."

"And you are to high on it", countered Janice, "sometimes I think it is cocaine and not your obsession with rom-coms that keeps you so hyper all the time."

My two best friends were complete opposites. Where Sophie is tall, slim and blond, Jamnice is short, extra curvy and dark haired. Where Sophie is a succer for romance and happy endings, Janice is a lover of horror stories. Where Sophie has a boyfriend of four years, Janice usually spends time going to parties and...hangs out... with a different boy every time.

"Enough you two. Let's just watch new episode of Kardashians, someone has to finish this bottle of Tequila."

"First season?"

"First season." I said smiling.

~~~

The next day I woke up to the worst headache I had in my life. Sun was to bright, even though the clock on the wall of Janice's room said it was 7:30 in the morning, and eveytime a car horn sounded on the busy streets of Manhattan I could swear I felt myself dying from the pain in my head. Sophie's snoring was never a problem for me, but right now I have unexplanable need to suffocate her while she is asleep. But worst of all was the constant ringing signalling an incoming phone call. Why won't my phone finally stop ringing?
Wait.
My phone.
Ringing.

"Fuck!" I yeled while simoltaniously trying to untangle myself from the sheets and get to the phone.

"What the hell Winnie, do you know what time is it?" asked Janice after I accidentally woke her up by kicking her in the face with my leg.

Ignoring her I rushed to the phone and answered not playing attention to the caller's ID.

"Hello darling, I hope I did not wake you up."

Yes, you did.

"No mom, I just, um, finished breakfast."

Shouldn't I fell bad because I was lying?

"That's good, your father told me about you going to Academia after all. To be honest, I couldn't believe you gave up and decided to let him bully you into attending it after all."

"Mom, I know you want to talk about it, but I am not in the mood right now."

I just want to go back to bed. Is that to much to ask for?

"That's okey sweety, we will talk about it later. Anyways, I called you because Mrs. Strauss contacted me saying you weren't answering your phone, she said she has to move your class to nine AM because..."

"Wait, say that again! Nine AM!? That woman is absolutely crazy! Mom, I have to go."

I did not hear what she was saying because I had less than two hours to get ready and be on the other side of the city for my harp lessons.

I guess no sleep for me.

"Double fuck."

For a moment I wanted to cancel classes for the day, but considering my concerts were close I decided that was not a good idea.
Even though I am more than sure about my abilities as a harpist, I am a perfectionist and I never canceld any class I had, today won't be the first day.

So after getting ready in a record time I left girls to sleep and rushed out hoping I will be there on time.

But Jesus, that headache just won't go away.
Maybe that last round of Kardashians drinking game was a bit to much.
Well, it was extra unnecesary, there was no denying it.
I just hope I will survive this day.