"I think the white nova top will go well with the denim skirt, Zina. What do you think?"
"Yes, Oprah, they go perfectly together. Now I just need to fix your hair and mascara."
Zina was pretty good at these things. She pulled my hair back and placed a pearl-beaded pin at the side. She wore black shorts and a red tube top that showcased her navel piercing.
"I think we should both wear gold jewelry, right, Oprah?" Zina asked.
"Yeah, that would be perfect."
We turned our heads toward the sound of the door opening, and James walked in with a smile.
"Hey, ladies," he said.
"Seriously, James? Where are your manners?" Zina snapped.
"Yeah, weren't you taught to knock before entering a girl's room?" I added.
"Take a breath, girls. I thought you would be dressed by now, and you are. But what are you wearing?" James said, eyeing both Zina and me.
"Is something wrong with what we're wearing? You said it was a party," I replied.
"Yes, I did attend, but it wasn't a strip party."
Zina interrupted before I could respond.
"Are you implying slut shaming..."
"No, not at all! You both look great, and I'm sure there will be some more daring outfits since many guys are eager to check out the freshmen."
He was aware that Zina and I were ready to challenge him if he made any inappropriate remarks about our attire.
"Speaking of guys, the objective is to attract some college guys tonight, right Anne?"
" "I don't think Mr. Berkeley would want to hear that, right, Anne?" I simply ignored both of them.
"Just shut it and help me with my necklace," Zina interrupted.
"NO."
"C'mon, James, be a gentleman," Oprah said from the phone that was resting on the dressing shelf.
"Hey, my favorite of Anne's friends," James beamed, while Zina rolled her eyes.
"Hello, James," Oprah replied with her light-toned voice.
"Anne told me about your competition. I don't need to ask how it's going because I know you're killing it already; you're missing out on a lot."
He approached Zina and picked up the necklace to help her put it on.
"Nah, Zina would have been forcing me to wear an outfit I don't like, filling my ears with how great I would look in it," Oprah teased.
"Yeah, she'll basically turn you into her doll," James said and Zina stomped on his foot after he made that remark, causing Oprah and me to laugh.
"Ouch! Zina, please don't tell me you're wearing those boots. You're going to regret it later and end up asking me to give you a piggyback ride to your dorm," I teased.
"Don't delude yourself, Jamesie," Zina snarled in response.
"And where's my thank you for helping you put on your necklace?" he added, prompting Zina to give him the middle finger, which made me step in.
"Alright, that's enough. Oprah, we need to go now. We'll catch up with you later."
"Okay, don't forget to hit me up with all the juicy gossip!" she replied.
"Of course! Love you, babes," I said and we said our goodbyes to her before I ended the call.
" Can we go now?" James asked.
"Wait, I need to fix my mascara again," Zina said as she clumsily picked up her mascara.
"Just take it with you," I replied. "You fix it every second!"
"Ooh, great idea, Anne!" Zina exclaimed. I sprayed a little more body mist before we stepped out of my room.
"Where is this party, anyway?" I asked.
"It's at a pub, a few blocks from Jen's Diner," Zina replied.
"Okay," I said.
Fortunately, Jen's Diner was just a short stroll from the dorm, but I made a mental note to ask Dad for a car as soon as I snagged my driver's license. We had almost reached the Diner when James suddenly caught sight of his brother emerging from the entrance.
"Hey, Anne, that has to be Nic, right?" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, I think so." Nic still wore the same outfit from this morning, but his shirt hung loose and untucked, and his hair was in disarray. He looked like a total mess—a hot mess, to be exact.
"Hey, grumpy! You look like you could use a nap. What's that you've got there?" James asked, reaching for the takeout in Nic's hand. But Nic quickly pulled it away, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
"You know, you could just walk in and grab yours, right? So, where are you heading off to?" Nic's gaze flickered between me and Zina, a mix of curiosity and skepticism playing on his face. I couldn't quite tell if he was judging our outfits or simply surprised by how we looked. "We've got to look absolutely breathtaking for the college guys" I recalled Zina's words, but now, in these clothes, I felt anything but confident. Just as I started to doubt myself, Zina playfully pinched my side, pulling me from my thoughts. I met Nic's intense stare, but a chill zipped through me, drawing my attention downward to my bare thighs, forcing me to look away.
"Freshman party, it's today," James chimed in, breaking the tension.
"That…" Nic offered a slow nod, a hint of reluctance in his demeanor.
"Clearly, you've decided to skip out on the fun. I've heard a ton of veterans are showing up, I don't see your car anywhere"
"I'm tied up at the faculty with some research I need to wrap up. Enjoy your party," he replied, making a half-hearted attempt to walk away before halting briefly.
"And keep an eye on your friends," he added with a touch of concern before stepping outside.
"Wow, James, I've seen your brother a few times but never actually heard him speak! Why does he sound like a dad?" Zina interjected, her irritation bubbling to the surface. James chuckled at her comment.
"Well, at least we can agree on that!" he said, his laughter lightening the mood.
"You know you have a knack for nicknames, grumpy... feisty..." Zina said teasingly, glancing at me. I shot her a glare, and James laughed annoying me further.
"Great, you two become best friends when it comes to teasing me, right?"
"C'mon, Anne, just ignore it," Zina replied, wrapping her arms around mine before she whispered, "Anne, he's definitely not your type. I get that he's hot, but he has a lot of negative energy, and I don't think he's interested in you either. You saw the way he stared."
I couldn't help but sigh. "But do I look good in this?" I asked, hoping for a sincere response.
"Of course, girl! You look amazing. Don't let him get to you." you. Now you see why this party is necessary let's find you a better man " she said as we approached the pub.
"Guys let's take a quick selfie for Ngram!" Zina said as she took the photo.
The pub had a cozy brown theme. It featured wooden tables and chairs, brown leather sofas, and antique windows. The warm yellow lighting created a welcoming atmosphere, and some walls were made of exposed bricks. Lamps were elegantly suspended over the bar on both ends, enhancing the atmosphere. The pub was busy and filled with the smell of alcohol and sweat. As we moved through the crowd, some guys recognized James.
"Hey, Walter!"
"We've been waiting for you to come around. Are you down for some games tonight?"
"Not tonight," James answered.
"Are you scared I'm going to beat you in front of your girlfriend over there?" the guy said with a creepy look. Eww.
"You're just bluffing," James laughed.
"Why don't we find out, Walter?" He challenged. James glanced at us, as if asking for our approval to leave. I nodded to signal that we were okay with it, and he was pulled towards a table away from where we had been standing.
"Come on, Anne, I found a good spot," Zina said as she pulled me toward one of the leather sofas. She cleared the empty cans of beer off the table as we sat down.
"Why don't I get us both drinks? Would you like something to drink?" she asked.
"A cocktail," I replied.
"Really?"
"I haven't really eaten, so I don't want anything too strong."
"Okay, I'll be back."