Days as a Freshman: 34
Current Mood: Anxious

“Grace!”

Naima grabbed me and screamed into my ear, doing her best shout over the booming speakers. Crystal and I had found a corner to stand in off to the side of the student center, a small alcove to watch hundreds of sweaty people gyrate and generally make fools of themselves in the name of Friday night.

“It’s packed tonight! Dances usually aren’t!” Crystal reached into her pocket and pulled out a small metal flask. “It’s because it’s the first one, I bet!” Unscrewing the top, Crystal passed her flask to me.

“What’s in this?” I held it slightly behind my back, nervous about who might see.

“Just straight vodka.” Crystal squinted into the crowd, holding a hand over the ear closest to the giant speakers. “It tastes horrible, but whatever. Does the trick!”

Naima reached behind my back and took the flask, smiling and putting it to her lips. “Bottoms up!” She shouted, taking a huge gulp.

I waited for the inevitable grimace, but nothing came. Naima just continued to smile and put the flask covertly back in my hand.

Normally, I wouldn’t have done something like drink a flask of hard alcohol in the middle of a crowded room, but I was surrounded by people who didn’t seem to care about anything. I wanted that. Just for a little while. Feeling awkward and stressed out was basically my new way of life, and I just wanted a break. I wanted to be in the place that everyone else was, the place where you were confident and free and better than yourself. Alcohol could do that.

So I took the biggest swallow I could muster and gritted my teeth as the hot liquid slid down my throat and exploded into my stomach.

“There you go!” Naima grabbed my arm and laughed.

“You look good tonight, by the way.” Crystal took the flask and put it back in her pocket, leaning in so she didn’t have to yell. “Hopefully we’ll see what’s his name!”

“Oh, the soccer player?” Naima pulled her skirt up a little, no doubt taking her cue from most of the barely-clothed girls around us.

“How do you know he plays soccer!” I glared at Crystal, knowing full well she was the reason.

“I’m sorry! I had to tell her!” Crystal grabbed my face and smiled into it, her breath giving away her blurry state of mind. “It’s fine though! She won’t say anything!”

Both girls laughed and Naima grabbed for the flask again, stumbling into me in the process. I realized how far behind I was in the drinking department.

“Grace?”

A familiar voice made me whirl around, and before I even saw his face, Naima and Crystal squealed with delight.

Sasha separated himself from the group of guys he was traveling with and waved. My mouth immediately went dry and my heart started to pound. I was totally unprepared to deal with him—and I had two drunk friends poised and ready to ruin our casual friendship.

“Hey, soccer player!” Naima grabbed Sasha around the neck, and dragged him toward me. “This girl has something to say to you!”