Save Me From the Dark

Chapter 2: Andrea needs a dress for the Party

Alec, Sasha, and Andrea have finally reached the Cafeteria. When they finally settled at their table with their dinner, they started chatting about their new classes and timetables. 

‘Hi everyone,’ greeted Javier, beaming.

‘What’s up? Can I sit with you?’

‘Hey,’ responded everyone. 

’Yeah, sure.’  Andrea suddenly noticed that Alec started to have a strange glint in his eyes when Javier approached their table. 

‘Yo! Sit next to me, bro!' exclaimed Alec, making his voice sound somewhat more masculine and even more cheerful than usual. He heaved up his ragged black backpack with a sewn badge of a white skull, heavy with books and laptop, and hanged it on his chair to let Javier settle down. 

‘Guys,' voiced Sasha. 'Have you heard of Uni Welcome Party? It's organised for first-year students - which is us.' 'Are you coming?' 

'I am not really sure about that,' responded Andrea thoughtfully, feeling a bit uneasy, for she, by and large, tried to avoid rowdy parties with alcohol and unfamiliar people. She also did not have anything appropriate to wear for the party: most of her going out dresses were at her parents' house. That meant she had to go shopping instead of spending time doing homework and scheduling her following week or unpacking stuff in her new rented apartment. 

'No, you're going, girl!' exclaimed Sasha, twirling her head and gracefully placing her ginger strand back, that fell in front of her grey eyes. 'I won't let you miss all the fun!' said she, smiling like a Cheshire cat. 'Stop being the nerdiest person in the world!' 

'Will you be going to that party with Chuck?' asked Andrea, sceptically. 

Chuck was Sasha's boyfriend from school, who was two years older than Sasha. He was a junior and was majoring in business and finances. What’s more, he came from a wealthy family; his dad owned a large company that was involved in selling phones and laptops. Andrea was not fond of him. She felt that Chuck was a jerk and, also, a playboy. He did not appreciate Sasha enough.  Andrea knew that he did not have tender feelings for her; he used her mainly for s*x. He used to travel with her almost everywhere, even when she had her swimming competitions. Sasha thought that Chuck did that to cheer her up or to support when he had something different on his mind. However, he was not with her only for that... 

She also helped him to maintain his social status.  That was another reason why Chuck clung to Sasha and played her 'loving' boyfriend. She was from a well-to-do family. She was attractive and popular, many people wished, if not to be friends with her, then at least to be her acquaintance.

 Unfortunately, Sasha did not notice or more correctly to say — did not want to notice that Chuck was just using her. She liked him, and she thought that’s what only matters. Also, Sasha considered Chuck faithful to her; she never caught him cheating on her. However, Andrea saw Chuck flirting with other girls and heard him talking with his friends about Sasha’s rocking ass. He did not have enough respect for her, and that made Andrea to a great degree miffed and truly dislike Chuck. She felt that her best friend deserves someone better. ’

‘So Chuck is coming, huh?’ 

‘I know that you don’t like him, Andre,’ said Sasha rolling her eyes. ‘But you’re still coming with us. No excuses. Otherwise, I will ask someone to haul your ass to the party,’  she said, smirking. 

‘I can help with that’ responded Alec.

‘Me too’ seconded Javier. 

‘Fine, I am coming. It seems that I don’t have a say in that,’ said Andrea sighing.

‘That’s right - you don’t,’ said Sasha with a straight face, then giggled. 

'But I don't have anything to wear!' 

'Don't you worry. We can go shopping after yoga? How about we go to the nearby Mall at 7?

 We could buy you a nice outfit and then have some lunch,'  responded Sasha, warmly smiling. 

7:00 pm

‘Andre,' called Sasha in the phone ‘Where are yea?’

‘I am outside of the uni, next to the white colons where’s the main entrance.’

‘Got it, wait for me a few minutes. I am almost there.’

‘Okay. Bye’ 

‘Bye,’ Sasha hanged up the phone.

    While Andrea was waiting for Sasha, she sat at a nearby bench under the old oak trees. She could not help but think about her ex-boyfriend. These past few days, Andrea has been dreaming about him and how he betrayed her trust and broke her heart. The story she was writing for her Creative Writing Class was about him. Andrea still loved him; that’s was an issue - that’s why it has been even more excruciating than what he did to her. Andrea reckoned if she writes a book about him, and it becomes one day a best-seller, she will wash away this unwanted feeling, make him feel guilty and regret what he has done to her when she becomes famous. 

‘Andrea, I am here!’ Sasha was running towards Andrea on her expensive bright red wedge heel snickers. She was wearing light blue tight jeans, a lovely crop-top from Zara and classic sunglasses aviators from Guess. ‘Let’s go. I parked my car on the parking lot next to the uni.’ 

7:45 pm

In a Guess shop 

‘Hey, what do you think about this dress?’ Sasha showed Andrea a silver, strapless, knee-long dress. ‘I think it’ll look cute you.  Here, I think you wear a Small size. And you need to wear a pair of sexy heels. What’s your shoe size?’

’38,’ responded Andrea taking the dress into the fitting room.

‘Wow. You look stunning. Nice going!' ' Now, try these gleaming, black heals: I think they'll go nicely with your dress,’ said Sasha, handing shoes to hesitant Andrea. 'Aren't these heels, mmm, how to put it, TOO LOFTY?'

'Nah, try them. You are gonna love them' said Sasha sounding even more pushing than usual. 

Andrea indeed looked stunning in that dress and heels. The dress emphasized her willowy waist and accentuated her long slender legs: she looked like a Victoria Secret Model. Sasha was proud of her choice of attire for Andrea.’

‘I look kinda nice,’ muttered Andrea twirling in front of the golden mirror in the fitting room.

‘Of course, you are!’ exclaimed Sasha. ‘All boys at that party won’t be able to take off their gazes from you. And if your ex sees you in that dress, BOY, he will be regretting breaking up with you in his whole f*****g life.’

‘Thanks, Sash,’ returned Andrea with a tad smile.

‘And maybe you meet someone on that party, someone handsome and worthy,’ smirked Sasha at her. 

‘Now, let’s grab some food. I am STARVING!’

After having a hearty dinner at a small Italian Caffe, they went together to Andre’s apartment- where Sasha decided to stay with her.

9:45 pm 

‘Are you sure, you wanna stay at my place?’ asked Andrea. ‘ But if you need toothbrush and pyjamas, I can lend you mine. By the way, pyjamas are new, I bought it a few days ago, I have not worn them yet.’

‘Sounds good. Ooo, it is a sexy looking pyjamas, isn’t?’ said Sasha looking at a short pink silk dress with a deep cleavage and gown. ‘It makes one look spunky,’ she devilishly smirked. 

Andrea returned a smile, ‘Alright, make yourself at home, while I gotta finish my assignments. I have to write a poem for Creative Writing Class and read a few chapters for International Relations Class.’ 

‘Alrighty, if I need anything, I just call you from the living room. I’m gonna Skype Chuck.’ Andrea gave her best friend a judging look. 

‘Love yeah too, babe,’ said Sasha sending her a kiss. She has already been sitting on the couch and calling Chuck.  

‘I'll be in my room,’ returned Andrea and headed to her room.

She ensconced herself at her desk and stared at the laptop screen unblinkingly while thinking what poem she’s going to compose. Then, she drew a few blank sheets of paper out of her drawer and started jotting down her ideas. Nothing came to her mind, she kept desperately crumpling her papers and sending them to the floor. She spent about an hour, thinking, drafting, throwing away her writings. ‘I can’t think of anything. Nothing sounds right… It’s all rubbish!’ muttered Andrea, crossing written lines feverishly. ‘ I will give it a shot tomorrow.’