Anywhere But Home

{6} Drunk talk, tough truths Part 1

Emily Roberts

We woke up around midday. I haven't slept this much since I was twelve. After Tori's failed attempt at making an omelette for lunch, we went to the cafeteria to eat a salad. I am reducing on the carbs. She, however, is a proud Lacto-Ovo vegetarian. She stated that she couldn't ever be a vegan because she loves cheese and eggs too much. I feel her so bad. If eggs weren't bad for your cholesterol, I would eat them every day.

Around two in the afternoon, she called a cab and said she was going to go shopping to buy a few things that she was missing, but I decided to go to the University, because right now I can't afford to waste the little money I have left on pointless things, without finding a job first. So, I'm doing what I came here to do. Study, until I don't know what my name is. It's working.

I've been in the library for about... Two hours trying to understand ten pages of my anatomy book. Like seriously? What the hell was I thinking? Couldn't I be passionate about something less mind breaking?

In fairness, we haven't started school yet, but I like to know what the hell is waiting for me.

''I can't believe I will have to know all the names of the human bones.'' I mumbled to myself flipping through the thousands of pages in this book. ''It's ridiculous.'' I gasped a little too loud that what I intended.

''It's not, if you want to be a good doctor and save lives.'' A girl that was sitting on the table in front of me said. Her red hair and blue eyes caught my attention right away, making me adjust my posture on the chair.

''Oh sorry, I didn't want to disturb you.'' I apologized immediately, feeling slightly embarrassed.

''Oh please...'' She laughed, forming little dimples on her cheeks. ''I feel your pain.'' She added grinning at me.

''You're majoring in Medicine too?'' I asked intrigued, closing my book.

''Yes I am.'' She confirmed with a smile, getting up from her seat and walking to the bookcase that was behind her, to put a book she was reading on it. 'Memorial do Convento' by José Saramago? That's an interesting choice. I know the book because my mother loved Portuguese literature.

I saw the book was actually in Portuguese and wasn't a translation, so I had to ask. ''Are you Portuguese?'' Because if she was, I couldn't pick up any accent.

She laughed. ''No, I'm not.'' She stated. ''However, my parents are and every year I go to Portugal on the summer to visit my grandparents and they only talk Portuguese, so I know my way around the language pretty well.'' She added smiling. ''For us Americans, it's a difficult language to learn, but my parents are proud of the country they were born, so they made sure that I learned how to talk both languages since a very young age.''

''Well, I got a B in Spanish. Let's just say I'm not very good with foreign languages.'' I confessed giving an embarrassing smile at her.

''If it makes you feel any better, I sucked at French. I got a B and that was just because I was nice to the teacher and always got up to the classroom in time, which if you had my classmates, you would see that it was a rare thing to happen.'' She smiled taking a sit on the chair in front of me.

''I was just not good at that either.'' I cried recalling the hideous classes with Mrs.Clairet. That woman made my life a living hell. She had that French accent that I couldn't stand. No offence to French people, they are nice people, but this teacher really annoyed me for two whole years and made me hate her guts.

''I'm Jennifer.'' She introduced herself putting her hand out for a handshake, interrupting my little flashback.

I took mine from above the table and shook it back. ''I'm Emily.''

''Well, Emily...'' She began grinning. ''What are you doing here in a Saturday afternoon?'' She inquired narrowing her eyes at me. ''Shouldn't you be out there socializing?''

I laughed at her. ''I could ask you the same thing.'' I firmly replied shrugging.

''I'm not the social type of girl.'' She informed grabbing her phone to check the time and then quickly looking back at me. ''However and sorry if I'm wrong, you kind of look like you are.''

I'm not. I'm anything but social. ''You're wrong.'' I nodded, awkwardly.

''I am?'' She retorted.

''I'm better with books than I am with people.'' I stated pressing my lips on a thin line. In those two years, the library and books were the only things that kept me sane. I never was much of a reader, but in there a found refuge and hope. Hope that one day, everything would get better.

''I know what you mean...'' She sighed scrolling through her phone after she got a notification. ''But that is about to change.'' She added getting out an existed smile.

''What do you mean?'' I inquired curiously about her mood change.

''There is going to be a party in a sorority today and I think I want to go.'' She said putting her phone down. ''I know, I only met you like five minutes ago, but do you want to come with me?''

A party? No no. We all know what happens at those parties. Kids getting wasted, couples doing things beyond my comprehension and people, in general, doing things that I don't have the slight interested on.

''No, thank you.'' I refused right away.

''Why not?'' Isn't it obvious?

''I preserve my integrity too much.'' I simply stated shaking my head. ''Thank you for the invitation, but no way in hell.''

She smiled but nodded getting up from the chair, picking up her purse from the ground and placing on her back. ''The party is in one hour. If you change your mind, I'll see you there.'' She informed, walking out of there, leaving me alone stuck between books and more books.

I leaned back at my chair contemplating whether it would be worthy to continue or not. ''I give up.'' I muttered to myself, realizing that I had enough for today.

I collected all the books, handed then to the librarian and make my way to the dorms. It's a five minutes' walk from the library to my room and I hope that Tori is already in there.

''Why am I this fat? I bought this dress four weeks ago! God damn it Victoria! No more cheese tacos for you for a whole month!'' I chuckled at her statement, as I opened the door of the room, closing it after. She is thinner than an ironing board. Of course, I'm exaggerating. Maybe.

The door of the bathroom was semi-open so I decided to knock first. Knock Knock. ''Are you decent?'' I asked totally prepared for one of her silly replies.

''Oh for god sake. Haven't you seen a pair of boobs before?'' I heard her chuckle quietly on the other side of the door. ''Come in here and help me zipping this dress!'' She practically begged so I walked in without thinking twice. She had a towel in her head and was wearing a stunning red knee-length dress. Where is she going like that?

I walked towards her and with some strength zipped the dress. ''Where are you going like this?'' I finally asked sitting on the toilet as I watched her applying some makeup on.

She turned to me and said. ''The same place you're going.'' What? I'm going to get dinner and then its bedtime. That's my final destination for today. ''Talking about that, what are you doing still dressed like that?'' She asked pointing to my cloths narrowing her eyes.

''What's that even supposed to mean? '' I inquired getting up and walking towards her.

She turned her head and gasped in shock. ''The party Emily, the sorority party that it's starting in like ... '' She paused to look at her phone and then continued. ''...45 minutes. It's sort of like a ball, so we have to go slightly formal.''

Oh come on! Not the freaking damn party again. Why is everyone going to that thing? I sighed. ''I'm not going.''

She started laughing at me. ''Haven't you learned anything about me? '' She inquired firmly. ''You're going and that's the end of the discussion.'' She ordered signing me to walk into the room and dress something.

''I'm not goi-'' She didn't even let me finished and grabbed my hand and dragged me to the closet.

''Pick up a dress.'' She commanded.

I sighed again. ''I don't have any.''

''What do you mean, you don't have any?'' She asked in shock, raising an eyebrow at me, crossing her arms over her chest.

''I'm not a 'dress' person.'' I informed.

''What girl doesn't have the 'dress' on her closet? '' She gasped in disbelief. ''You my dear are a really weird girl.'' She stated with her finger in the air.

''You see? That's a sign that I shouldn't go.'' I said hoping that she wouldn't insist more on the subject.

''You wish it was that easy!'' She chuckled and walked to her closet. ''I have one just perfect for you.''

She immediately picked one and handed it to me. ''Try this on first.'' I accepted and walked into the bathroom, figuring that there was no use in arguing in a battle I would eventually lose.

***

''Hell no!'' I gasped, checking myself on the mirror. ''No freaking way I'm going to wear this dress!'' I shouted when I looked at myself in the mirror again. I am seeing too much of my own skin. I might as well just go naked.

''Come out! Let me see!'' Tori yelled from the room. Why I'm I picking excitement in her voice?

I took a deep breath and walked out of the bathroom.

''Oh my god!'' Tori gasped jumping off the bed.

''I looked horrible right? I knew this was a bad idea.'' I cried tossing my arms in the air.

''Horrible? Do you need me to take to a doctor's appointment? Because that sight of yours if screwed up if you think for a second that you look horrible!'' She protested. ''You look so freaking hot girl!''

''No I don't.'' I protested back. ''Have you seen my thighs?'' I cried. ''I look like a freaking potato ready to explode.''

''Oh stop being ridiculous.'' She rolled her eyes at me. ''The chubby girl in here is me.'' She sighed and I tapped her in the head.

''Ouch! What was that for?'' She cried massaging her head.

''For being stupid.'' I replied.

She huffed and walked into the bathroom again. ''Come in here and let me put on you some makeup. You look like you are about to die.''

Ouch. That hurt my feelings. I don't look that bad, do I?

Not knowing what to do, I just walked in there and let her do her magic. Fingers crossed.