8. Nerissa
CHAPTER EIGHT
Nerissa
“ H ow are you getting home?” Hayley asks, eyeing me up and down. “There is no way you are driving yourself.” She says.
“Don’t be silly. I got an Uber here. I will Uber home.” I laugh, pulling her towards me to hug her goodbye.
Tonight was magical. It was almost perfect.
Friends surrounded me, and they really made it special for me. I can’t believe how amazing they all were.
The only thing that dragged me down was the fact that Riley just didn’t show up. I don’t understand why he couldn’t message me or tell me what was going on. But whatever special thing he wanted to tell me - he chickened out. For a while now I have suspected that he likes Tabatha, the prettiest girl in the class. I mean, I don’t stand a chance against someone as beautiful as her. Any man would choose her over me. I wouldn’t blame them.
Hayley dodges my attempt to hug her goodbye and pouts out her bottom lip.
“Can’t you stay just a little longer. I’m having so much fun.” She grumbles.
“Hayley, you are so bad. Most of the people have left. It’s really late. Don’t you have work in the morning?” I ask, trying to reason with her. Hayley has a side job in the coffee shop near her apartment. She works most weekends because that is when people tip the most.
“Nope, I took the day off especially so I could party with you all night loooooong. ” She says with a grin.
“Ok, but it’s almost three in the morning. We did party all night.” I’m tired.
“One more drink. Just you and me. Not all the other people. Just me and my best friend on her birthday and then you can go home and get into your cozy bed and go to sleep.” She is so drunk, and trying hard so I cave to the peer pressure. “Fine, one, that’s it.”
Hayley waves a waitress over to the VIP table and orders us each a glass of champagne. My head is already spinning less because I stopped drinking about an hour and a half ago. I don’t like hangovers. They are a waste of time, and I don’t see the point in ever getting that drunk. But this extra glass of champagne won’t affect me too much. I’ll still wake up fresh tomorrow if I get enough sleep. Sleep, and hydration — that’s the secret.
Hayley leans into me, tipsy and loving. “You really are my best friend. I don’t know where I would be without you.”
“I’d be on my way home to bed.” I laugh.
She punches me in the arm. “Hey, no jokes. I mean it, Nerissa. You are so inspiring. After everything you went through. You still push so hard to be the best person you can be. You are so beautiful, inside, and outside. I just want you to know that you mean the world to me.”
I wrap my arms around my drunk, emotional best friend and hug her tight.
“You are just as special to me, Hayley. This is a two-way street. You are the reason I found my feet and my confidence again. You are basically my sister.”
She grins. “If I’m your sister, you can never get rid of me.”
I laugh, agreeing with her.
We sit together and finish our last drink, reminiscing over the amusing things that happened during college and how our lives are really about to begin now that we are in the big wide world and getting proper office jobs and all those adult type things.
“I’m sorry Riley flaked on you.” Hayley says, pulling her mouth tight. “I’ll slap him next time I see him. He doesn’t deserve you. Douchecanoe.”
I shrug my shoulders, brushing off the pain of his rejection. “It’s ok. It just wasn’t meant to be.”
“We will find you a proper prince charming.” She teases.
“I don’t think I want a prince charming. I think I just want to work and focus on my future. boys are stupid.”
“That’s my girl.” Hayley says. “Men suck.”
“Come on.” I pull her to her feet. “I am going to get you an Uber.”
She sighs and follows me downstairs. The club is getting a lot emptier. It’s definitely home time now.
Once Hayley is inside the Uber, I booked for her and on her way home I book one for myself and wait. It doesn’t take long at all because this is a popular part of the city. I’m certain they park around the corner and wait.
I am exhausted and looking forward to a quick shower and a warm bed. I’m not used to wearing these heels, my feet ache, but wow they make my legs look amazing.
I smile as I watch the city lights flash past the window all the way home.
I had an epic night.
I have awesome friends and a bright future ahead of me. This is the life I imagined for myself - I’m living it.
I think of my mom, and how proud she would have been when I graduated. And that I did so well. Maybe tonight, instead of partying, I would have gone to a fancy dinner with her. Something special that we could have treated ourselves to. Celebrating the graduation and my birthday at the same time.
I sigh, looking down at my hands. I miss her so much. Not a day goes by when I don’t wish she was still with me.
But I’m doing really well mom. Things are going so well for me. Not with boys, but hey, I was never that good with boys so there isn’t anything new there. I chuckle to myself, and the Uber driver eyes me in the rearview mirror.
He pulls up outside my apartment.
Home sweet home.
“Thank you.” I say, climbing out and waving goodbye.
He waits until I am inside the building, before he drives away which I think is sweet of him.
I thought I meant something to Riley. Him ditching me tonight stings, even if I am trying not to let it get to me. Who ghosts a girl on her birthday? What the fucking fuck?
I roll my eyes and slip my feet out of my heels to climb the two flights of stairs to my apartment. The elevator has been broken for a while and there is no way my poor feet can handle any more time in these gorgeous shoes.
I just don’t get it. I really have shit luck with boys. In fact, he is the third one who just disappeared on me. Ghosted me. I guess I’m just not worth that much to them.
I hate how much it hurts me.
No one likes rejection, But just for once I want to be on the other side of that, to be wanted. To be chosen, wholeheartedly and enthusiastically. I want them to be afraid of losing me, not waiting to be ditched.
Some people go their whole lives wanting to know what that’s like. Maybe I am doomed to be one of those lost souls who never knows.
I’ll have to get six cats, a weird hobby that requires wool, and a pink fluffy gown so I sit around in my apartment all day.
I laugh, almost at my front door.
“What an awesome night.” I say to myself as I slip the key into the door and push it open.
It’s so dark, I should have left a light on.
Running my hand along the wall I flick the switch, and bright light floods the small space. It’s too much light, after being in the dimly lit club, and because I am so tired, it’s just too much. I walk over to my bed, flick on the fairy lights and turn off the big light by the door again.
That’s much better. The soft twinkling glitter of the fairy lights is pretty, and it makes my home cozy and special.
Standing in front of my closet and the long mirror on it, I smile.
I don’t recognize the woman in the mirror. I don’t see myself in that reflection.
The girl standing there, with the glittering short body tight black dress on - she looks beautiful. She might even be sexy. I stand up on my tiptoes, picturing the heels I refuse to put back on and I spin a little to see my dress from different angles.
This dress might just be the start of a new me.
But - if Riley didn’t come tonight - then he can’t be the one who bought it for me.
I run my hands over the luxurious fabric.
Who in the world got me this dress - and why has no one said anything?
How can I say thank you if I don’t even know where it came from?
I’m still dazzled by my reflection.
When I see the shadow of a movement behind, I freeze. There’s someone in here. Maybe it’s the neighbors cat? Shit. I can’t move — I can’t breathe.
A tall man steps out from the dark corner behind the armor next to my bed. Was he there this whole time? How the hell didn’t I notice? There was a person in my house and I didn’t see him, I’m never drinking again.
I still can’t move. My heart is beating so fast I’m going to puke, cry and scream at the same time. But none of those things are happening.
I need to scream or run or hide or find a weapon. But I can’t move.
He takes another step towards me, my instincts are broken, why am I not doing anything to survive? To live. To get away — to — why — why does he look so familiar?