Page 5 of The Sky Between Us

“Listen,” Sarah threw her long blond hair over her shoulders and looked at me. “We never go out with others. Why not mingle a little?”

“I don’t like them.”

My eyes roamed over our tiny dorm room with two beds, two desks and two wardrobes. We lived in this space since freshman year and while Sarah’s side was full of Vogue pictures, sketches, and other fashion images full of vibrant colors, my walls were bare and sad. Just like my life.

“You don’t like anyone. Just me. I mean, I’m flattered, but we need to have more fun, Haze,” she explained to me while motioning with her hands. “Please? For me? For my YouTube?”

Sarah was a fashion vlogger. She didn’t have a colorful social life but was studying fashion and having her huge YouTube channel helped her success take off. The perfect example of the fact that we didn’t need others to succeed. “Hazeeeel.”

I despised it when people used annoying high-pitched voices to get my attention. It was cute when Sky did it, but he was five. Sarah, on the other hand, was way older.

I looked at her with a blank, emotionless face.

“Pretty please.”

I sighed and stood. “Okay, fine. Let’s go.”

“Hazel,” she said my name slowly and I knew she wanted something else. I took a deep breath to not snap at her. “You need to change.”

“My jeans are fine,” I objected, looking at my black skinny jeans. The way Aiden was ogling me, they were more than fine, but guys were brainless and as long as they saw skinny legs and a butt, they got excited, so, to me, it wasn’t really an accomplishment.

“Yeah, but that sweater is no-go girl. You need a cute top.” Sarah jumped off my bed and opened her closet. She kept searching in it for a while, until she pulled out a burgundy crop top and happily threw it towards me. “And red lipstick.”

“You are not dropping this until I change, right?” I asked without any hope.

“Nope.” She shook her head with a triumphant smile. “I’m changing too.”

I looked up at the ceiling, but I knew there was no way I would escape that party or the outfit I was required to wear because Sarah’s persistence was insurmountable.

Thirty minutes later I parked in front of the soccer team's brick sorority house. Four of them lived together and they were throwing the most insane parties. I was wearing my outfit chosen by Sarah, while she was wearing a short black dress that hung around her body loosely and swung with every move she made. She was lucky, blessed with curves in the right places with nice boobs and an ass that looked good in everything. She had blonde hair, almost to her waist that gave off Rapunzel vibes.

“I’m excited.” Sarah squeezed my hand as we were heading inside.

I flashed a forced smile and walked into the house through the wide double doors. The music was blasting, and I almost forgot how crazy these parties were. People were crammed in the hallway leading to the living room and we could barely push past them. They were everywhere: crowded inside the living room, which was used as a dance floor, scattered around the foyer and on the big wooden staircase, leaning close to each other. My stomach clenched and I was already ready to leave.

This wasn’t my scene. Not anymore.

“I need a drink,” Sarah shouted in my ear. “Want one?”

“No, I’m driving us back. Go ahead,” I said through clenched teeth.

As she left, I could see her grimace, but I learnt my lesson and I promised myself I won’t ever drink again. So far, I was keeping that promise, even if, occasionally, I drank one or two drinks. Never more, and I never got drunk. Not since that one night that changed everything. It started off similarly. Party, loud music and red cups with drinks.

“Hello there, Ice Queen.”

A familiar voice came from behind me, making me jump, but at the same time stopping me from going down memory lane.

The one and only, Aiden Hitchings.

“Hello asshole.” I turned to face him and gave him my cold, emotionless smile.

“I’m glad my charms worked and you couldn’t stay away.”

I couldn’t resist rolling my eyes. Again. It was the first week of the semester and I was already exhausted from all the eye rolling I did.

“No, but if it helps your ego, yes. I really don’t care what you think.”

Aiden shook his head and took a long sip from his beer. His ocean blue eyes didn’t leave me and he gulped the drink. “I don’t get you.”

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