27 - The chapter with the discussion

Rose

" So, are you and Harry together for real now? " I asked Sky as we were picking out our costumes for Halloween.

" Yes, we're officially a couple, which is great, because he's a nice guy and he treats me well," she assured me, looking through all the available costumes.

I took a pink glitter-covered costume off the rack, placing it in front of my body before looking at myself in a mirror that stood some distance away.

" I want something with wings, shall we go fairy? " I proposed.

" I didn't know we were going to match costumes," she grimaced.

" I thought it would be cool, we'd be like twin sisters," I smiled.

" Sure, after all, we are so much alike," she returned in an ironic tone.

Okay, my idea was rejected. I put the costume back on the rack, going back to looking at the options.

" And were you able to solve the issues that were bothering you before? " I resumed the previous subject.

I thought that the two of them wouldn't last after that fateful party two weeks ago, Harry had been very upset that Skyller had left with only Liam and she had been very angry with everything that had happened to me, but after a long talk, the two of them seemed to have come to an agreement.

" Yes, I was clear with him. He promised not to offer me any more drinks, and I promised not to give Liam so much rope," she explained, taking a Greek tunic and putting it over her body. “What do you think?”

" A perfect nymph. And I'll be... dressed as an angel." A pair of wings caught my attention, and I took the costume, placing it in front of my body, making Skyller's eyes widen.

" You're going dressed like that? " she blinked, stunned.

" Sure I will.. And I know Harry will love your costume," I warned.

" I could make a list of those who would love your costume, but it would include just about every guy on campus. And lots of girls too," she returned, making me laugh.

Actually, I was just imagining the reaction I would cause Christian, not least because the party we were going to was in Rochester, and there was definitely no one I was interested in in that city. Since the night Christian had spent in my room, we had both been enjoying every second alone, and I had discovered a new side of him, a side capable of bringing me to a state of pure ecstasy within minutes.

I was loving the situation, Christian and I had fun, maintained our friendship, and still went out with other people and no one knew.

It was the perfect arrangement!

" Will you tell me whom you want to impress with this costume? " Sky probed me.

" And why do you think I want to impress anyone?”

" Rose, the last time we went out you tried on almost every outfit in your closet, not a few, and we only went to the pizza place together," she returned.

" That means I was PMS and feeling terrible about all the options," I lied.

Fine, I was getting ready for him. But what was wrong with wanting the guy I had been fucking to think I was pretty?

We paid for the costumes and left the store, heading towards Brigette, who was parked a few meters away, but before we reached our destination, a group of girls interrupted us.

" Rose, hello! I didn't expect to see you here " Audrey intercepted us.

Sky and I exchanged a brief glance before I forced a smile to answer her.

" Hello, girls. We've come to pick up our costumes for tomorrow," I held up the store bag.

" Audrey, didn't you tell Liam? " Allie caught the attention of her friend, who looked at us pityingly.

" I did, but I don't think he got the message.”

Sky and I exchanged another look, since the festival it was more than clear that there was a veiled rivalry between us and the sorority girls, and the main reason was Liam. Audrey felt like she owned him and tried to keep us apart at every second, and Allie, who was still not over the situation with Christian, was helping her.

" What message?”

" Well, when I called you to the party I warned him that this is the most exclusive party on campus, and since Skyller is now dating that guy, she's kind of dropped her status as one of his darlings, so she loses her free pass to wherever she wants," Audrey let out with a cynical smile on her face. “But I'm sure you and the guys will be welcome.”

" Ohh, I'm still welcome then? " I widened my smile.

" Of course, and we heard about your bad experience with one of the Alpha guy, but don't worry because Liam and Wayne have worked it out and he's been invited to leave the fraternity," she continued as if Skyller wasn't there, "and I hear that Wayne is interested in you.”

Now that surprised me. I watched Allie, who didn't seem too bothered by this insinuation, even though until last week she was Wayne's perfect girlfriend.

" But isn't Wayne with Alicia? " Skyller voiced my doubt.

Our former friend opened her mouth to answer, but Audrey was quicker.

" The two of them discovered that they had different objectives.”

" It would be difficult to reconcile a relationship with two busy people in a hospital routine," the girl added.

" Well, if it didn't work out for the two of them because they want different things in their relationship, it won't work out for me either, after all, I don't want a relationship," I was emphatic.

Audrey forced a smile at my answer. I intended to get rid of her as soon as possible, but her next question showed us her real intention in all this interaction.

" Do you know what Liam's costume will be? We always match costumes and he still hasn't told me what he's going to wear.”

" Ohhh, you're not going to match this time," I explained with a half smile.

The shock on Audrey's face was indescribable, but she soon recovered.

" What are you talking about? This is our thing, there's no way for a newbie like you to know.”

" I know that if you were going to match, he would have already told you what costume he would wear, and I know he's not coming to your party.”

It was Allie's turn to intervene in her friend's defense.

" Of course he is, my cousin wouldn't miss a party like this, none of the guys would!”

" It's just that he prefers to go where his darlings go, and we've already arranged to go to another party.” Sky finally spoke up, declaring with a satisfied smile on her face.

" We have to go, girls. It was a pleasure meeting you," I added, holding out my arm to Skyller and walking back towards the car.

I stopped Skyller from walking too fast, controlling the pace of our steps and feeling great about the situation in general.

Only when we both got into the car did I allow her to express the nervousness she felt.

" Oh my God, I can't believe I talked to them like that!”

" I loved it!”

I started the car, ready to take us back to the campus. Still smiling with our little victory.

" I didn't buy the whole break up with Alicia thing, do you think she'll want to come after Christian? " Sky rambled.

If she even dreams of doing that, she's lost!

" I don't know, but I hope he's smart and stays away " was my answer instead of my thought.

" She seems to want to get you out of the way," Skyller commented.

" She must deduce something from our history, we hated each other, and now…”

" Now..." my friend encouraged me to finish my sentence.

" We still hate each other, but we're friends," I completed with an innocent smile on my face.

" What the hell does that mean? " she laughed.

" It means that I will torture him in every way I can, but if that spoiled brat project thinks she cans play with him, she is very wrong," I shrugged.

She shook her head in the negative amidst a smile, seeming to find my conception of friendship amusing.

" And you're sure you don't want to try your luck with Wayne? " she quipped.

" Are you serious? I would never be his trophy girlfriend, and even if I was, I bet he couldn't take even a scratch," I laughed.

" Why would you scratch him?”

That question made me a little uneasy, Sky always seemed to be such a prude that I felt more comfortable talking about sex with any of the guys than with her.

" It's not so easy to control them when I... you know," I held up my open hand, showing off my long gold-painted fingernails, watching my friend blush a little as she understood what I meant before changing the subject, "I think I should paint them white to make them look a little more angelic.”

" Rose, there is not the slightest chance of you looking angelic in that costume. No matter how hard you try," she scoffed.

" Have you already made arrangements with the guys? " I looked around for confirmation.

" Let's meet them in the common area tomorrow morning, are you sure it's okay that Harry's coming?

" No problem at all, it'll be great," I assured her.

An old friend who still lived in Rochester always offered the best and most exclusive Halloween parties. When she invited me, I asked if I could bring some friends from college and she didn't hesitate to allow it. So Saturday morning we would go to Rochester and spend the weekend at my parents' house.

And I particularly couldn't wait to see them both again.