Page 2 of Fragmented Illusions
Grace is dressed as a sailor. She has on black combat boots, short black shorts and a blue and white striped crop top that ties in the middle with a big red bow which rests perfectly between her boobs. She’s wearing a white sailor cap with a blue anchor embroidered into it, which contrasts perfectly with her short black hair.
They are all so flawlessly perfect, it’s painful to admit sometimes. They look like this so effortlessly, and without a care in the world. They know they’re hot and they aren’t afraid to flaunt it.
They know without a doubt when they walk out of our apartment door tonight, they are going to turn heads.
And me? I’m sure I will too. I’m not blind. I can admit I look good, but deep down, I know it’s all part of the façade. It’s not real.
Just one big fucking lie I force everyone, including myself, to believe.
“You all seriously look so hot.” I smile at them, and they return it easily. I never thought I would ever have friends, especially not friends like this. The popular “cool” girls at the university. I never fit in with that crowd. I always wanted to, but that’s not who I was. But I guess who I was doesn’t matter anymore because now I am whoever I want to be.
And they like this version of me.
Everyone likes this version of me.
“Says you, bitch! You can really pull off the leather. You look like a dominatrix.” Sarah wiggles her brows at me suggestively, and I mock gasp at her as I put my hand to my gaping mouth.
“Never!” I laugh, pretending to be offended.
“Ohhhh, so you’re submissive in bed then, huh?” she asks, and continues to wiggle her brows at me. She’s always invasive past the point of comfortability, but she comes by it honestly. It’s just who she is as a person and I’ve become used to it by now, so I can easily brush her comments off.
“You’ll never know.” I wink at her and now she’s the one to mock gasp.
“How dare you! You know I’d fuck you in a heartbeat.”
“Knock it off, Sarah. You’re gonna make Fal feel uncomfortable again.” Grace laughs as we all grab our purses to leave.
“She knows she loves it,” Sarah adds before we all step out of the apartment. Nat turns around to lock the door before dropping the keys into her small, black purse.
“You better not lose that when you get shitfaced tonight.” Sarah eyes Nat’s purse as we all make our way down the hallway to the elevator.
“You know for a fact I have never gotten drunk at one of these parties before, so you only say that to annoy me,” Natalie says as she presses the down button.
“Yep,” Sarah replies, popping the p.
The elevator dings as the doors begin to open and we all step into the empty metal box. My heart rate kicks up for a moment before I force myself to relax.
I’m not trapped.
“So,” Grace begins, and we all turn our heads to look at her. “Okay, it’s weird how all four of you looked at me at the exact same time. Anyway, I’m planning on getting laid by some hot, douchey frat guy tonight, so don’t wait up for me.”
“Same.” Sarah nods as she fixes a smudge in her black lipstick in the reflective walls of the elevator. Sophie ignores the conversation as she texts away on her phone, probably telling her boyfriend of two years we are on our way.
He’s part of the fraternity hosting the party we’re going to tonight, so he always makes sure we have our own spot to hang out that’s not jam packed full of other people. We all know it’s only because of Soph, but we couldn’t care less.
The elevator dings once again and we all step out into the main lobby of the building. All of our heels clack against the black and white checkered tile floor. It looks beyond tacky, and Sarah makes a comment about it almost every single time she walks across it, but none of us care. The apartment is decently priced with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open kitchen and living room concept. It’s also near campus which is the main thing we all love about it. All in all, we have a pretty nice place, so if we have to look at ugly flooring every day when we come and go, then so be it.
Nat and Grace push open the glass double doors and we all step outside into the night. The air has a nice bite to it, but I welcome it as we begin our trek toward Ian’s frat house. We are all side by side, taking up the entire expanse of the large sidewalk, as we walk down the main road, heading east.
The girls all start chatting, but I find their voices growing distant and muffled as I zone out on the sidewalk below. It’s not until the deafening noise of the party suddenly floods my ears I realize we have arrived.
“Fallon.”
“Yes?” I ask as I turn my head to Nat, whose brows are drawn together as she stares at me.
“You good?” she asks. Her voice is quiet, but full of concern, and I feel my eyes burn at the unexpected inquiry. If only she knew how good I’m reallynot.
“Oh, yeah.” I plaster on a smile I hope looks real. “I’m great.” I laugh off her concern as I trudge through the grass. Soph is already long gone—probably off to find Ian—and Grace and Sarah are already chatting up a group of guys on the porch, drinks in hand.
