“Let’s just go and have fun,” I tell her. I’m thankful I have someone in my life to push me outside my comfort zone. “It’s time for me to stop living in the fairytales I have been,” I tell her, whispering, “And maybe, just maybe, I’ll meet someone who can show me that life is worth living.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” She winks playfully. “And hey,” Rukaiya says, capturing my attention, as I move to the closet and pull it open. “Listen to me because I’m always right. You are going to meet some hot boy who’s going to sweep you off your feet.”
Her words have me laughing out loud. She knows how much I love my romance novels. I certainly talk about them often enough to have her wanting to know about the latest book, boyfriend.
“And, if I meet some weirdo, you’re meant to save me. Best friend pact, right?” I question, my eyebrows raised as I regard her.
“Of course, I’ll swoop in as any best friend should, and I’ll knee him in the junk.” We both fall into a fit of giggles. I’ve always had fun with her. Since the moment we met at school to the second she told me she wanted to attend Tynewood, I knew I’d have a friend forever.
She’s been there for me through my worst and my best. Even when I had a crush on the football captain in high school, and he bullied me, I could always count on Rukaiya.
“And if you do meet some hottie,” she informs me. “Make sure he has a best friend for me.” It was our pact to always be there for each other, not only on the subject of boys but also when we were both at our lowest.
My eyes prick with tears when I recall the past, but I blink them back and swallow past the emotion that’s clogged in my throat. I shouldn’t cry. Tonight is about fun. It’s about new beginnings, and I need to get out of my head and live in the present.
“Always, cupcake,” I tease, calling her the nickname I gave her the night we gorged ourselves on red velvet cupcakes and cherry soda. It may sound like a gross combination, but at sixteen, we were all for it.
“Now hurry! Or I’ll be dragging you out in your underwear.” She laughs, flopping on my bed, leaving me to tug out the clothes that I’ve been mulling over for hours. Rukaiya loves to pick out clothes for me, and her choice for me tonight is nothing short of what I would call slutty.
Maybe I’m overexaggerating, but the pink dress that’s hanging against the closet door doesn’t leave much to the imagination. The black one, on the other hand, would more than likely be my pick.
The thin straps are cute, the neckline isn’t too low, and the hemline hits mid-thigh. Scanning the shoe selection, I pick out a silver heeled sandal, which straps around my ankle and over my foot in a twisted figure-eight pattern.
Once I’m dressed, I make my way out to the spacious living room with Rukaiya hot on my heels. My gran is in the kitchen; I can hear the clinking of a mug, the whistle of the kettle, and soon, she enters.
“You look beautiful,” Gran smiles when she takes in my outfit. “Where is this party again?” She asks as she settles in her armchair, which is located beside the large bay window.
“Some house on the hill,” Rukaiya tells her.
My gran’s eyes meet mine, a flicker of something dancing in them before it’s gone.
“Be careful, will you?”
“Always,” I tell her as I press a kiss to her wrinkled cheek. Rukaiya and I make our way out the door, shutting it behind us before I stop on the wraparound porch.
“I’m not sure about this?” I glance down, taking in the dress once more. The material swishes against my thighs, the hemline is a little shorter than I anticipated, and I know if I were to bend over, there would be much more for people to see than just my tan lines from my running shorts.
“That,” Rukaiya points with a smile on her pretty face, “is perfect.” She slowly circles me, taking in every inch of me and my outfit. “We are going to wow all those college boys, and they’ll be falling over themselves to get a taste of the new students—namely, us.”
“You sound far too confident,” I tell her with a nervous giggle. I should’ve worn jeans. They would’ve been much more comfortable.
“Of course, I am, because I know my sugar cube is a babe,” she winks. As I follow her down the steps that take us out onto the main road, Rukaiya heads to the small blue BMW Coupe, which sits against the sidewalk, waiting for us.