For Better For Worse

CHAPTER THREE

"It's been good, I guess. My dad insisted I stay alone for a while and maybe later, I can find a roommate for myself." Ava tells me over the phone.

Avalon Parker, My actual Ride Or Die, my sister from another mama as she puts it, my best friend. Ava and I have been friends since when we were 5. She broke the brakes of a boy's bicycle after he called her favorite color, Stupido! And I happened to be in the center of all this. I was wearing my least favorite color of shirt, Violet, and this misogynist 6 year old Italian boy, who I may or may not have had a crush on when I was 4, looked at it with disdain and went further to call it Stupid.

Unfortunately for Mario, Ava overheard it and was pissed to the fullest. She went on behind his back, intentionally took out the brakes, and watched as he pridefully rode to his doom.

After he had fallen hard and lost his front teeth, she stood beside him, smiling at her act, I only noticed her when she said.

"No one calls my favorite color stupid!" I did that morning, when my mom forced me to wear it, but hadn't told her, because I was scared. And since that terrifying, yet wonderful incident, we've been inseparable.

"I would kill to be in your shoes-not like I don't like my roommate or anything she's pretty cool, but as you know, I prefer living alone," I tell I roll over, lying on my stomach, and place the phone in front of me. We were on Facetime.

"I know. So sad that we aren't attending to same university" She expresses with an adorable pout, to which I laugh.

"It's not my fault, you chose to attend a university three countries away from me."

"Neither is it mine!"

I laugh. "You're terrible." I sit up, my legs curled up and I ask. "How's the first week for you?"

"Pretty good! I met this Alberto guy, a hottie by the way, who showed me around the school. I took his digits, like the baddie I am. Oh yeah! He also invited me to a welcoming party at his house. I have a lot of scheduled parties to attend this weekend and I'm not gonna miss it for the world, Except for you of course." She spiels, winking at the end. "You?"

"Er.. Everything is okay I guess, except for the fact that I have a baddie like you for a roommate."

"Uhhh! You already found a replacement." She teases.

"Tsk! No! You know I would never replace you for anything." I say, earning a gingerly grin from her.

"So do you have any scheduled parties?" She asks, glancing over at her side, before switching back to me.

"Actually.....I trail

"Luckily for us, Gideon, one of the members has a brother, who's also a fresher. So he's throwing a party over this Friday to welcome all freshmen." I recall.

"....yes, But I'm not going," I say. I had my reasons and I'm sure she being my best friend and a witness to all of the drama in my life, will understand better.

"What?! Why not. I hear Welcoming parties are like the best parties, except yours have a chauffeur above 20."

"No no no, it's in the woods."

Her jaw drops "Oh my god! I would kill to go to a party like that, why aren't you going?"

She waits for an answer and when I give her one, she finally susses and shoots me a pointed look. "You're not going to do this. You're not gonna let him ruin your life."

I gasp at her words. "Who said anything about him ruining my life? My life is perfectly fine, I'm fine!" Lies! If I keep telling them to myself, maybe I'll finally believe them'

"Oh please, your 'I'm fine' story doesn't fool me and you know that. That jerk left like you were nothing to him" Besides my mind reminding me of the awful memories, Ava also has a hand in it too, in a good way. She has been my shoulder to cry during most of my sleepless nights and on those nights she never fails to badmouth him just to keep me from feeling worse, It doesn't help, because even though he hurts me deeply, I still can't tolerate any bad word spoken against him, but I wasn't to tell her that obviously.

"Come on, Let it be. I'm not going and that's it!" I rub my forehead feigning a headache, just to get her to drop the subject, but knowing Ava very well, she wouldn't stop at anything.

"You're gonna to that party and you're gonna have the best time of your life because you deserve that at least. How long are you gonna partake in this silly emotional rollercoaster? You deserve better things, better people, and someone that can help you take your mind off that asshole forever. " She spiels.

"You know, it's hard. I'm scared of running into him and then my heart would start... you know."

"Screw that! You're gonna go and if you run into him by any chance, show him you're not the same girl you used to me."

That's a lie! But hey, who am I to judge?

"Hey, I have to go, My parents want to FaceTime and talk about things, I'll tell you all about it when I'm done, but most importantly, go to that party. I love you. Goodbye."

"I love you." The call disconnects, and I let my thoughts take over. She's right. I should go have fun and not think about him.

It's easier said than done!

There's that. She's not the one in this crazy dilemma of mine. Whether or not I go, I'll eventually run into him another day. So why not test out my improvements tomorrow?

I'm gonna go.

_________________

Kim sits on her bed, her legs folded. She holds onto a small mirror with one hand and the other grasps a face brush as she applies makeup to her face.

After I had ended the call and concluded that I was gonna go, Kim strutted in shortly after. I told her my decision and she was so excited and went on to check out the outfit I'd wear for the party.

"I don't feel comfortable wearing this!" I complain to a busy Kim. Her eyes shoot to me and soon followed her smile.

"Oh my Gosh Beth, you look sexy. It fits you more than it fits me."

I roll my eyes as she ignored my complaint. When she notices my full-blown dislike, she hops out of bed.

"What's the problem?"

"I'm almost naked that's the problem." I a, wearing one of Kim's 'favorite' slutty dresses and I ain't liking it one bit. It's a black sleeveless hollow out with bra mini dress that had openings at the front and side. My boobs are particularly open and I don't want that.

"But you look hot."

"Kim, it's a welcome party. I agreed to go but I'm not looking like a slut. I don't want my first impression to be a f**k girl! I don't want anyone to notice me tonight and this right here! This is already giving me off!" I let out in one go.

"Fine! You could wear whatever you want, but you'd need it in the near future."

I strongly doubt that!

I wasn't hesitant in removing that awful dress and sliding on a more comfortable one, one where my boobs aren't on full display for perverts lurking around. I wrap my body with a red sleeveless crop top, a pair of jeans, and a denim jacket. I slide on a pair of Converse, did a little touch of makeup, brushed my hair, and made sure I looked presentable.

Presentable for him.

No! For myself. This is all for me and I'm not gonna let him ruin the night.

Not in the slightly way possible.