Oh man, my head is killing me. I throw my hand out from under the blanket and swat at my alarm until the incessant beeping finally ceases. I sit up then quickly flop back down as my head starts spinning. Apparently four cups of coffee and two hours of sleep are not a good combination. At least the dreaded midterm is done. I contemplate running to class to drop it off then coming back home to snuggle up under the covers, but I know that once I'm actually out of bed returning would be pointless.
After I'm showered and dressed for the day, I grab the final printout and shove it into a folder, then into my bag. I'm just in time to catch Kelsey in the hallway.
"Morning sunshine!" She beams at me as she grabs her jacket from the back of the couch and snags her keys from the bowl on the table by the door.
"How are you this chipper when you were out bar hopping with my brother last night?" I grumpily inquire as she locks the apartment door behind us.
"Impending shopping trips can cheer me up from the worst of conditions," she reminds me, stepping into the elevator.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. I'll meet you at De Neve for lunch then we can leave from there."
"Sounds like a plan," Kelsey says as the doors open to let us off.
We ride to the campus parking lot mostly in silence, the radio playing low in the background. Once we arrive, Kelsey and I part ways. She heads off to the language center and I turn right into the psychology building.
Passing a few classrooms on the way, I make it to my lecture hall with fifteen minutes to spare before class starts. I pull out a notebook, open to a clean page and begin sketching in the margin while I wait for the seats around me to fill in. It's Friday so I'm banking on the professor collecting the midterms and wrapping class up fairly quickly.
I'm not disappointed. We turn in our papers and talk about some of the more difficult questions, then Dr. Riche tells us to get lost and have a nice weekend about twenty minutes earlier than she normally would have.
I close my notebook and shove it into my backpack when I sense someone standing next to me. I look up to see a blonde girl looking down at me. In southern California that isn't exactly uncommon, however this particular girl, Amber Fallon, is the quintessential snotty sorority bitch that you see in the movies. She also gets a kick out of making me feel like less of a female because I'd rather throw a punch than a party.
"Hey Jessie, I hear we'll be seeing you at the Sigma party tomorrow night. Gonna wear your boxing gloves as a costume?" she sneers.
I didn't notice her two minions standing behind her. Now I understand the reason for the impromptu conversation. She needs a pick me up and I'm not about to give her the satisfaction of succumbing to her taunts.
Instead, I simply reply, "I'm still thinking about it. I guess we'll both be surprised tomorrow night."
With that, I sling my bag over my shoulder and walk out of the classroom. ********************************************************************************************
"Why do I let you talk me into these things?" I whine from the cramped dressing room of the costume store.
"Because deep down you realize that I know what's best for you and your pent up inner sex goddess," Kelsey quips from the other side of the door with no discretion. "Now get your ass out here so I can assess!"
I tug and shove everything into place to the best of my ability. Sadly, the amount of material making up this atrocity is less than what I wear to bed at night. In my bedroom. Alone. I know based on that fact alone, Kelsey will insist it is the perfect outfit for the party.
"Jess you look HOT! Omigod, this is so definitely the one!"
Kelsey Morris everyone. Never one to let you down.
"Kels, I look like a big, fat, slut," I moan, turning sideways to see how much of my bare ass is flashing the world in this getup.
"Don't be ridiculous. You're not fat," Kelsey laughs and hands me the finishing touch, a halo headband.
"Really though Kelsey, an angel? And a trampy one at that? Talk about a walking contradiction. Can't I just throw a sheet over my head and be a ghost?" I plead.
"No, Charlie Brown, you absolutely can not. Besides, your sexy angel costume is the perfect complement for the one I chose!" Kelsey holds up a plastic bag by the handle showing me her choice for the party: a sexy devil.
"How cliché. The slutty angel and her sexy devil sidekick," I turn back to glare at the mirror.
My costume consists of a white corset which lifts my chest to gravity defying heights, with a tiny tulle tutu poking out of the bottom, barely covering my butt. Luckily I wore a pair of boy shorts over my underwear, and I'm guessing I'll be doing the same at the party. As if all that isn't enough to bring the male population to their knees, the sheer white stockings attached to white garters will be icing on the cake. Let's not forget the angel wings and halo! The only indicators that I'm wearing a costume and not just prancing around in my underwear. Who am I kidding? This thing makes my usual underwear look like something doled out on day one at the convent.
"Jessica Maddox, I am your best friend! I have given up countless evenings to stand in a smelly gym, squirting water at your sweaty ass, the least you could do is attend a party with me and feign happiness for one night!" Kelsey cues the guilt trip, and it works like a charm.
"I get it Kelsey! I'm buying the skanky lingerie, and I'll be wearing it by your side tomorrow night while you torment the hell out of Paul. Only for you would I do this, I hope you realize that," I concede.
Kelsey smiles and shoves me back into the dressing room, "Great! Now strip, we've got hair and nail appointments in twenty minutes."