I roll my eyes, Cassie has always wanted me to wear something besides baggy hoodies and jeans. I’m not one to wear dresses, but seeing my reflection as I wear this, I may reconsider—the next time it will be longer and less tight.
“Okay, let me do your hair and makeup. I also have shoes for you to wear.”
I stare at my best friend in shock. This is a woman who is closer to me than my actual sister and I want to cry. She’s gone all out for me and I love her for doing that. She always knows what to do, even when I don’t.
“I love you,” I whisper, my emotions getting the best of me.
She presses her lips together. “Don’t,” she warns me. “Don’t you dare, Rebecca Absyth, you make me cry and we’re going to have problems.”
I giggle, we can both be dramatic at the best of times. “Thank you,” I tell her once I’m able to control myself.
“Anything for you,” she tells me and I know that she means that from the bottom of her heart.
Cassie’s parents aren’t the best. Cassie spent most of her childhood starved of food, love, and attention. As we grew closer and got older my parents tried to fill the role of Cassie’s parents, but we all knew that it wasn’t the same. My heart bleeds for my best friend knowing the heartache and pain that she has suffered at the hands of her neglectful parents.
I got accepted into Clamount University and was over the moon that Cassie did too. My father is overprotective and wanted to ensure that I was safe so he purchased an apartment for me. His words were,“You’re hundreds of miles away from me, give me the peace of mind to know that you’re safe in an apartment that I have approved.”
I couldn’t deny him that. I love both of my parents, but I’m a daddy’s girl and knowing how hard he was dealing with me being so far away, I agreed. The moment I found out that Cassie was coming here too, I asked my dad if she could live with me and he was happy that I wasn’t alone and neither was she. She’s living here rent free, she has a part-time job—just as I have, we’re both working in coffee shops in town—and she’s building a new life for herself. Something that I’m proud of her for doing, and it’s been amazing to watch as she grows into a beautiful, happy, amazing woman. I lucked out majorly with having her as my friend.
An hour later and both Cassie and I are standing in line for the bar. The place is hopping and it seems like a great place to party. The line to get in isn’t huge, but is growing bigger by the minute. “Please tell me that you’ll at least have a drink tonight?”
I nod. “Of course,” I reply, faking offense.
“You’re a lightweight,” she tells me. “Just don’t go too hard, otherwise I’ll be picking you up off the floor.”
I chuckle. “That happened twice, Cass, it’s not like it’s a weekly occurrence.”
She shrugs. “Eh, semantics.”
I shake my head all the while we both smile brightly. I’m so glad that I came out, it’s been a while since Cass and I had a night out. It’s overdue and much needed.
We enter the bar and the music is pounding and there’s people dancing and drinking, generally having fun. Thankfully, I’m not over or underdressed for the occasion and with my mask on, I feel relatively free.
I’m a sexy cat—if there's ever such a thing. But the mask has ears and covers half of my face, only adding to the mystery.
I make a beeline for the bar, wanting to get some Dutch courage, before I’m able to order my safe drink—a vodka tonic—Cassie pipes up, having other ideas, and orders three different types of shots.
“What happened to taking it easy?” I ask her horrified as I manage to find a gap at the bar for us to sit.
She laughs. “You’ll be fine, we’ll drink these and the buzz will last a while.”
I stare at her in complete bewilderment. How on earth has she made it to twenty-one?
The bartender lines the shots up on the bar for us. Cass and I both pick up a glass. “Your turn to make a toast,” she says with a smirk.
Damn it. I raise my glass and begin my toast. “Here’s to those who wish us well, all the rest can go to hell.”
We clink our glasses and throw the shots back. The black liquor isn’t nice and I wince as it makes its way down my throat.
“Here,” Cass says as she thrusts another glass into my hand, this time it’s clear. “This’ll take the sharpness out of the last one.”
I bring the glass to my lips and down the shot. She’s right, it has taken the sharpness away from it. I don’t hesitate in reaching for the next shot that’s waiting for me. It goes down easy and leaves me with a slight buzz.
* * *
“Aah,” I cry as I plop down onto a stool at the bar. “My feet feel like they’re swollen.”
Cass shakes her head. “You’re not used to heels, you’ll be fine.”