Never Take Friendship Personal

Any event or person has cons going against them and pros going for them. So does that mean all things are neither all bad nor all good? Depends.

You have to love the expression, “Thank got it’s Friday!” for two reasons. A: It’s Friday, the end of the working week and B: This year my twenty-first birthday falls on a Friday. Now let me guess, the first thing that popped into your head was drinking. To be honest I never really liked drinking. Mostly I hated the way people’s attitudes change so much when they consume alcohol. The appeal to become one of those people is just not there for me. Since I’m going to school in New York City, my friends are took me out. The place must be good because all of them are kept such a worrisome secret from me.

            “Hey Clair, can you help me pick out an outfit since I don’t have any clue to where we’re going tonight?” I yelled across the apartment.

            Clair and I lived together because housing in the city is so horrendous, well unless you’re fifthly rich and can afford anything you want. The college placed us two together because technically this building is the school’s dorms. So the students pay for the dorms during the school year and when schools out you pay the university like it was your apartment. Thank god it’s only for two months. The rent is a thousand dollar per month. Clair and I split it. In the end the transition was not all that bad because Clair and I became great friends. To clue you in, the only way I was able to go to New York University is because of scholarships. I’m not exactly poor but not wealthy either. Actually I’m probably doing better in the financial area since I moved here because there are more jobs than back home.

            “You know what Abigail you’ll have fun tonight and if you don’t well then I’ll just lock you up in a room with Tom,” Clair threatened.

            That wasn’t such a bad idea. Sure he could be a little touchy and forward at times but that could definitely be straightened out with a few back hands to the face.

            “So what room and for how long?”

            “Abigail! Seriously will you just get rid of this preconceived notion that you’re going to have to sneak away because you’re having a horrible time? Now put this on,” Clair said after placing the dress, which she picked out, on my bed.

            “Where the hell is the rest of it?!” Was she crazy? I wore more clothes when I went to bed.

            “Stop being so hard to work with and besides you have a great body and you’re going to show it off,” Clair demanded and walked out so she could get ready.

            You’re probably wondered why I’m so persistent about not going. Well, I’ve never really been into parties not even if it was mine. I never even went to parties in high school. There are just too many people to socialize with. I find it too overwhelming, plain and simple.

            So after we both got dressed and put on our makeup we headed down the elevator to get a taxi.

            “Taxi!” Clair and I shouted together.

We both were giggling when we stepped into the taxi.

            “Abby, put this on.”

            “Clair don’t you think making me put on a blindfold is taking this too far?”

            “Nope.” Clair said while popping the “p.”

            “Hmph.”

Tonight hasn’t started so great and she just had to whisper the direction to the cabby.

Damn surprises.

Clair noticed me sulking and said, “Abby you will enjoy yourself tonight, I promise. You’ll be thanking me every chance you’ll get by the time this party is over.”

            “Yeah I really doubt that,” I mumbled.

Clair just glared at me.

The rest of the ride was quiet, but as soon as the car stopped I was yanked out and tugged through doors.

            “Come on guys when can I take this stupid blindfold off?”

            “Now,” Clair whispered.

            “Happy Birthday!” People shouted from every direction.

            I was very stunned as to how many people Clair got to come. I hadn’t realized that I had so many friends. I went from one conversation to another and loved every minute of it. Clair was right; I did thank her every time I had seen her. I don’t really know what had changed. It isn’t like my party was any different from any of the ones that I had gone to. Maybe it was because I was older and enjoyed the company of friends more.

            The party zoomed right by and before I knew it people were leaving because the alcohol had ran out. Typical. People are just too lazy to run to the store so they decided to go another club that was still open at two in the morning. Now of course I am the last to leave making sure everything is as clean as I can make it. Why leave a place dirty and not be allowed to come back?

Oh, in all of the excitement I forgot to tell you where Clair ended up taking. In the city there are places where you can rent out for the night, to have a party because most apartments in the city are too small to have a larger crowd of friends. Well anyway, the building had three different clubs, on three different floors. When you first walked in there is only one hall that leads straight to the back to where the elevator are to get to the other levels. Now all down the hall there were doors on the left and when you walked through them there was this huge open space (dancing floor). There also were black leather couches, one on each wall. Several high tables and high stools for them, all the furniture being black, of course. The DJ had a platform for his equipment on the far wall. The place is unusually dark but with the rainbow colored lights it made up for it. Where I am now was in a back room where there were three fridges with no freezers. (I mean who wants frozen beers anyway). I hated the fact that my mother drilled into me the idea of always cleaning up after yourself. I mean if I didn’t feel the need to have to clean this place at two in the morning, when everyone else went clubbing, I wouldn’t have been scared shitless when someone said, “hey,” and made me jump five feet into the air.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to tell you a happy birthday.”

“Oh thanks, Ian. Besides you didn’t scare me,” I said giggling. He saw right through it.

“Yeah, it was that other girl that was about to hit me with a beer bottle,” Ian said smiling.

“Oops, I guess I hadn’t realized that I’d picked the bottle up.”

“No worries.” I’m so glad Ian wasn’t drunk. Who needed a drunk person to take care of?

“So why did you stay I thought everyone else left to go to that club?” I asked. Now that seemed like a silly question to me.

“I know you know I’m not a clubbing type and I hadn’t gotten a chance to talk to you tonight. You were swarmed by people the minute you walked through the door. It seems kind of wrong that they’re making you clean up the place when it was your party.”

“Well I’m flattered that you care,” really was, “but I don’t mind. I wouldn’t have gone to the club anyway. One party is good enough for me. I’m just glad no one threw up in here, now that I wouldn’t have cleaned up.” I mean that’s just nuts if they thought I would have.

“I wouldn’t have stayed.” Ian smiled.

“Oh thanks. You’re such a nice person,” I said completely kidding but in a funny way.

“Here let me help you,” Ian said while reaching for a bottle.

“Thanks,” I said a little puzzled. I mean who in their right minds would want to clean up beer and such at two in the morning.

Okay maybe I should explain Ian to you guys. I first moved to the city when I was 18 and Ian was 20. Clair had already been here for a year so she pretty much welcomed me into her group of friends which included Ian. Though Ian was considered everyone’s friend most of them wouldn’t confide in him. The friends that I had are people that struggle with money. My first instinct isn’t to befriend with rich, up-tight snobs and I’m completely fine with that. You can call me prejudice but I didn’t care. It’s just how I felt about them. Well, anyway Ian got most of his money from his father’s business so therefore most of his and my friends consider him a rich baby boy so to speak even though Ian did work and believe it or not he doesn’t work for his father. In the beginning I used to think that and quite frankly I’m sorry that I did. Ian is a great friend. He is kind of like a guy you can see yourself best-friends with years from now. I think he was completely dependable and not a rich baby boy in anyway (but I do have to say he looks pretty damn good in designer jeans but I wouldn’t admit that out loud. I’m not that crazy, my friends would think I’m nuts. Never mind I would admit it, but not to his face I wouldn’t).

“So how did you like your party? You seemed a little scared at first,” Ian asked as we gathered up all of the plastic cups.

I hadn’t realized I looked scared. Well, maybe a little at first. I mean come on now fifty people storm at you from all different directions saying totally different things that would frighten you too. In the end it turned out pretty damn good.

“I didn’t know I look all that scared. Parties aren’t usually my thing. Give me a great book and music and that’s sufficient for a night.” I know classic line right, but hey it was the truth.

“Interesting that you listen to music while you read.” Ian raised an eyebrow.

“Hey, music is my life, man!” I didn’t know why but I just started laughing really loud. “Okay I know that sounded really eighties hippyish.”

Ian just chuckled. He had such an adorable smile with dimples. Mmhm. Abigail! Stop, focus.

“So�".”

“You don’t spend your evenings with anyone special.” I couldn’t tell if that was a question or just a statement so I just smiled.

“No to be honest I’m kind of afraid to find someone new. I haven’t had the best track record.” Why was I telling him this?

“Yeah I know what you mean. Women are malicious,” Ian said staring off into space.

“Oh, thanks what am I now chop liver? So you’re gay now?” I asked smiling. “I’ve never had a gay best friend before.” I couldn’t control my laughter by the end.

“N-o.” It’s funny how Ian managed to make that word into two syllables. “No I’m not gay, but I’m glad you consider me a best friend.”

“Why wouldn’t I? I don’t understand why people are so distant from you. I’m ecstatic that we are friends. There isn’t that over-dramatic s**t with you. That’s a change I’ll take any day.”

            “Others may seem to debate that,” he said as we walked over to a couch.

            “I don’t care what the hell others may think about you. If they got to know you the way I have then things might be different. I don’t get it. Some people once they get a superstition in their heads they don’t want to believe anything else and I know I was like that in the beginning. Hell, I’ll be the first to admit it, but I know about what you brother did and that doesn’t change anything. Our friendship is between you and me and that’s all.” Wow that was a mouthful.

            The issue with Ian’s brother was that he was caught laundering money to some off shore account from the family business. Ian’s brother had his “hands dirty in mob money” are the exact words I heard. And the rich keep getting richer.

            “Abby, you are definitely different than your average twenty-one year old and I find that quite interesting.

            “Why thank you,” I said while standing up and taking a bow.

            I don’t know why but I found it very easy to be myself around Ian and Clair too, probably because some of my other friends would find my personality only showing so I could impress people. Wow, I just realized how shallow most of my friends are. Well, that isn’t good. Anyway I’m glad Ian didn’t expect really anything from me.

            “Okay, now I think we have cleaned this place better than I clean my own apartment. I’m beat.” Even though I am tired I can’t decide on whether to go home alone or invite Ian over. I had let him decide.

            “Well, I guess I’ll see you in class on Monday.” I don’t know if I was disappointed or happy that I’m going home alone.

            “Ew. I don’t want to think about that essay that’s due and the one that I haven’t even started yet.” My stomach agreed. It did somersaults.

            “Bye, Abby.” Did you catch that? It kind of seemed like he wanted to say something else. That was totally over thought.

            “Bye, Ian,” I said while walking out the door to yell for a cab.

Well, at least I know a bed is waiting for me.

Author's Note

Any feedback would be great! : )

Reviews

[SilentSKY]

:) Great job! There was a few awkward dialogue and sentences, but overall it was really good! :)
Could you please review some of my works? Thanks! :)