58
One long ring and it was over.
My school days were now officially over, even if I couldn't really realize it yet. In the hallway, many happily ran past me in the direction of the exit, but I walked extra slowly and took a very close look around one last time. I just wanted to keep it all in good memory and, looking at my locker, took one last deep breath before I followed the others out into the parking lot.
I walked purposefully between cheering students directly to the bus stop and while waiting for the bus I thoughtfully imagined how my life would probably go on now. I imagined finding a good job so that I could finally buy my own car, which was one of my biggest dreams. I would love to have one like Melina's. A nice black convertible...
Speaking of the devil!
Melina suddenly stood with her convertible right in front of me on the bus stop strip and gave me a frantic hand signal, which was probably meant to tell me to get on immediately.
Blushing from the looks of my classmates, I rushed to the car and quickly opened the door, then flopped into the passenger seat. I immediately felt the pleasant warmth of the leather seats on my back and as soon as I was buckled up, Melina put on our favorite CD and then put on her sunglasses to drive towards the city center.
I relaxed and let the warm air blow over my face, shutting off my thoughts and taking in the sun beating down on us completely. The wind blew a few strands out of my bun, tickling my face slightly and making me giggle softly. It was just a total feeling of freedom to drive such a car and soon I would hopefully be able to do the same.
Relaxing, I let my eyes droop with this future prospect in mind, while listening to the soft music and the monotonous noise of the tires, I almost fell asleep, until Melina excitedly jerked me out of my half-sleep.
"Alicia!?"
"Yes?"
"I think we have a tiny little problem."
I had a hard time opening my eyes again. The sun was so blinding that I had to put my hand on my forehead to protect myself from anything. Curious, I followed Melina's worried look and knew immediately what our alleged problem was.
In front of the best clothes shop in our city, it felt like half of all female students were gathered. They all stood in line at the entrance looking rather nervous as they wobbled around. But Melina's sudden deep inhalation immediately drew my attention back to her.
"I don't understand it! Do they all get the idea of buying a dress the day before the ball?" she hissed, annoyed, while gripping the steering wheel a little tighter and snorting loudly.
"So you mean, just like us?" I grinned at her sideways, amused, and then looked past her again at the line of girls. I couldn't understand all this madness at all. I would have been fine with showing up at the ball in sweatpants and a hoodie. Who cares? In addition, one should get to know one's partner the way he was and not so artificially.
"The best comes at the end. Besides, I hardly believe that they are all 18 and since under 18s are not allowed to go to the ball anyway, they are probably just placeholders!" Melina growled to herself and left the car cursing.
"Typical for her," I shook my head with a laugh and then took my cell phone out of my backpack to let my father know that I was still in town with Melina.
"Alicia, komm!"
Melina suddenly came running frantically and I couldn't react so quickly when she grabbed her handbag and knocked on the hood several times. Had she started to lose her mind too?
After I got out, completely perplexed by her behavior, she locked the car and then happily linked my arm.
"Lucky I have more friends than you little nerd. I know the blonde up front. We'll just stand by her."
Excitedly she pulled me behind her and who would have thought it, after less than five minutes of queuing we were both able to enter the big store.
Of course, Melina was immediately in her element. She unhooked herself and ran from dress to dress like a startled chicken. I just stood there and didn't know what to do first.
Shopping wasn't my thing. Especially not choosing clothes for a ball and the store was so full of people that it made me uncomfortable even to exist.
Since there seemed to be less hustle and bustle on the right side of the store, I took a deep breath and decided to try my luck there first. There was so much choice of clothes hanging from the rails in all sorts of colors and creations that I was even more overwhelmed than I already was.
Luckily there was one dress that I liked right away with the blue color and the velvety fabric and since the line to the changing room was full anyway, I just bought it without even trying it on.
When I was waiting for Melina, I suddenly got an uneasy feeling, which made my stomach contract uncomfortably. All week I'd only been thinking about the end of school, not that stupid ball at all. Strangely enough, the certainty that as a half-breed I'd never really be able to bond made me sad all of a sudden.
Of course, for some it was really stupid if their mate was an asshole or they had to move far away, and the fact that they partly belonged to the other wasn't exactly exciting either. But the feeling of meeting your soulmate just had to be incredible. I often imagined what it would be like and what it would feel like, but I would probably never know. There were very few mixed breeds that could create a mate connection and someone like me, who was not noticed by anyone anyway, would certainly not happen.
Lost in my thoughts, I only casually noticed that Melina was finally standing at the cash register. She had apparently bought more than just a dress. Beaming with joy about her prey, she came towards me and threw a curious look into my bag.
"Not bad," she winked at me and not a minute later we were back in her car. Relieved to have found a dress that fit, I relaxed gazing at the blue sky above me and took in the sun again. My skin was a little on fire in places, but I liked the feel of the heat, so I closed my eyes again and only opened them when Melina nudged me gently.
"If I'm with you at 6 p.m. tomorrow, we can get ready and walk from you. At least then I can get drunk if I don't get a man," she joked, grinning into my eyes.
"Is two hours enough for you to get ready?" A hearty laugh came from her.
"Alicia! I'm a bloody exceptional talent."
"See you tomorrow," I shook my head, laughing at her arrogance, and got out of the car with my bag and backpack.
"Until tomorrow."
She put it in first gear and drove away waving while I ran to the front door and watched her for a moment.
