chapter 4

Kiara's POV

Abbie reminded me of me two years ago. A naive black girl in UCLA and based on my experience, I really wanted to help her fit in. I was hoping this party and me introducing her to a few friends would ease the tension she had built up.

"Madam president." Allan smiles at me and I roll my eyes at him.

"You're gonna scare my guest." I follow him to the couch where the rest of the crew sat.

"She finally shows up." Allan announces, does he have to be such a dork? I liked him anyway, i liked every member of my circle, I was sure they had my back no matter what. I smile and stand aside to reveal Abbie, she didn't have the best clothes for a party but, who cares, I found her stressed at a coffee shop.

"Everyone, this is Abbie." I announce and I can tell they are curious. I turn to Abbie and hope she isn't uncomfortable. "Abbie, this is everyone." I chuckle at my choice of words and I see Berlin shift to leave her space. I throw him a warning glare even if i know too well he's too scared to make a move on any girl he is not sure of. A guy throws up in a basin on a table right next to where we sat.

" A party full of shit. Who wants a  drink?" Allan looks at Abbie and she's struggling to find her words.

"I... I uum..."

"Just took coffee, she is okay really," I got the reaction that she had never tasted alcohol and I'd so much hate for her to start singing or punching people or even getting undressed on her first party. She looks at me with appreciation and turns back to continue a weird chat they were having with Berlin.

Beer pong was the most common game on liquor and I enjoyed playing it to prove my accuracy mostly.

Abbie's POV

Berlin is friendly atleast, he keeps telling me stories about how embarrassing it was when he first got to class late and missed a step only to find his shoe flying to the lecturer's mouth, who knew it could aim that well.

That earned him a one week suspension from the class.

Kiara seems to enjoy some game they are playing with white balls throwing into small cups that I assume were full of liquor and a girl in the group jumps and hugs Allan after she manages to aim right into a cup. They kissed for two seconds before I peeled my eyes away from them.

"The bathroom?" I ask Berlin.

"That way." He points to a staircase leading up. "To your right." He adds as I walk away.

It was not that hard finding the washrooms. People were all over kissing and getting into each other's pants and I walk past them clenching my teeth at the idea of making out publicly.

This is how relationships work Abbie not how you try to run them.

I remind myself.

There are so many rooms upstairs and I want to open each but I decide against it. When I walk down the stairs there is a fight that no one seemed bothered about. Who lives here and where are his/her parents? Berlin pulls me out of that thought by waving at me. I'm sure I looked lost but cups all over and the beautiful red and black with prints of white carpet that smelled like liquor made me want to call for security on behalf of the poor parents. I walk over to them and they give me a weird look that was filled mostly with pity. I wonder what Kiara had said to them but I give them a fake smile as I leave them to their games which I had no intention whatsoever to join in. Berlin excused himself and walked over to sit next to me.

Prudy is not back yet when I return and I can't help but wonder if she was one of those girls that make out with guys in parties. Is this what 'cool' in University means? I laugh at my ideas and pick a book the 'After' series by Anna Todd. I turned to it a few months ago after my ex _the only boyfriend I've had_ said I was a child and he could only consider me his younger sister. Haha , crazy right? I know. It was 3:oo am and Prudy was not back yet. I really was mad about the fight we had earlier but I didn't want her staying out all night for that reason even if she didn't strike me as the type to do that. I call her cellphone and it goes straight to voicemail.

Just before I could switch off my bedside lamp she enters the room, the Asian boy from earlier behind her giggling. My mouth falls slightly but i recover as they make out right at the door before she says goodnight to him and enters the room.

She staggers when she sees me.

She walks towards me and pulls the seat turning it and sitting over it.

"I'm sorry, your accent is cool." She smiles at me and I can't help but smile back as she rubs her eyes.

"I said things too, most of them true but  haha, I didn't mean to let them out that way. And I understand your boyfriend needs to pick you up, I'd expect the same."

She widens her eyes then narrows them almost immediately.

"That thing you saw there? The kissing with Kayc?" She chuckles.

"Ah, you mean thingie." I scoff.

"I don't date."

"What?" I ask confused at the sight and surprised at the words of 'Hardin' repeated to me this time by a girl. She sees my reaction and gets up from the chair. I bite my lip. I had just offended her. I was trying my best not to look judgmental.

"Dating makes you weak."

" You made out with a guy just now."

"I said I don't date. Not I don't get laid or don't have a good time. I just don't commit." She walks over to her side of the bed and undresses. She seemed so comfortable in her body, I can't even undress in front of a mirror when I'm all by myself. She has a perfect body. Petite and just a glimpse of tan, a 6 feet height, small boobs and a not so large ass... The Barbie body. Why am I even looking at her undress? I just needed to compare her perfect body to mine.  I wondered what I'd be like if I had her body.

"Come with me to my practice tomorrow?" Why would she ask me to come with her to a band practice that had the annoying British guy that I just called cute?

" Uuuh,"

"Good, be ready at 6:00 pm." She says getting into bed?

What? I didn't say yes and oh my, shopping!!.

"I'm going shopping tomorrow, I don't have enough clothes."

"I was going to lend you my clothes but, yea sure you could use shopping, I will come with you."

No,no,no. I cannot let her see what I'm purchasing, what if I have to get underwear what do I do? I'm sure she won't approve of anything I choose, her style is so different from mine.

"No, I can manage." I say before she can insist further and I can hear her sigh from her bed.

"It's okay, we can just go some other day. I don't do so well with female friends. Goodnight." She switches off her bedside table lamp and the room is quiet.