Distorted Love

“Kailin, what the fuck is the professor saying?” a feminine high pitched voice interrupts my focus pattern, typically this would get on my nerves immensely, however I am too in my zone to scold her. I turn my head to face the owner of this pitchy voice, my closest friend Paris. Her attention is drawn to her phone, where she spends 95% of her time in this class, socialising with her mindless friend group.

“Maybe if you got off your phone and paid attention, you wouldn’t have to ask me a million questions” I snap back to her, annoyed at how she has no consideration for me, and how unlike her, I need to pass this class. It is a fundamental course within my degree, however for her, it’s merely an elective that she chose to spend time with me. In her mind, I was going to be the one to sit in the back and muck around, being that one college kid that rocks up late to every class and puts zero effort into the content studied in the class. Contrary to popular opinion, I am punctual to each class and pay attention to every subject, I plan to ace this degree and get out of here as soon as possible.

“Someone is in a bitchy mood today” She mutters under her breath, this earns an eye roll from me. I forget that I am conversing with someone that is immature and not on the same level as me intellectually. Best friend or not, intellect is something that I expect from someone who I am interacting with. “Plus I am so busy organising arrangements for the party tonight, with Brittany, Monique, Gabi. You know, the girls” She states in such a serious tone, I fight back the urge to laugh as I pretend to focus on the class. I don’t enjoy the type of parties where you just consume copious amounts of alcohol, only to black out and wake up in the bed of some stranger the next morning, not remembering anything. That’s the type of party that Paris and her friends seem to go to every Friday night.

“No need to explain. I am aware of the party that you are talking about” I say, shutting her potential rambling about the party down. Personally, I love partying more than the average person, but the event that Paris attends every Friday night doesn’t strike me as a party, it gives me orgy vibes. That is something that I’d rather pass on engaging in, Paris can go and participate in as many orgies as she desires.

“You should totally come with me” Her face lights up at the light bulb moment that she appears to have within seconds, I look at her, eyes wide open shocked at her reaction. Paris has been attending these parties with her girlfriends for months now, never has she invited me or even wanted me to come. Now, all of a sudden she wants me to come with her, my jaw almost hits the floor. “Don’t give me that look, you are coming with me. I am not taking no for an answer this time. Plus Christian will be there” She adds, wrapping her fingers around my arm squeezing it tight as she smiles. I flinch and snatch my arm away from her fingers, she has seem to forgotten that I have a class to attend and pay attention to. Her useless attempt to bait me into coming by mentioning the attendance of a man that I have never met in my entire life, is pathetic and raises more questions than answers, especially regarding her behaviour.

“Hold up, who is Christian? And why do I give a shit if he is going to your massive orgy?” I whisper in her ear as people in front of us start to turn their heads, presenting us with a myriad of filthy looks. This is all Paris’s fault, she has to be the distraction in every class that she attends. Suddenly this 6’1 dark-haired olive-skinned stallion runs into the lecture hall, late as ever. I look him up and down, he is quite hot. His muscles are visible through his shirt, which makes me bite my lip down. His eyes are glued to mine, he winks at me and walks towards the row where Paris and I are sitting. I turn around to see Paris’s face, only to find that she has disappeared.

“Hi I’m Christian, are you paying attention to what this guy is saying?” His British accent is prominent even when his voice is almost in a dull whisper, I look over to see that his eyes are not on the professor lecturing, they are on me, considering how late he is, I recommend his focus be on the class. I glance quickly at him before returning my gaze on the professor, soaking in every word that leaves his mouth as they most likely will show up in the end of year exam.

“Kailin and yeah, I guess. Let me guess, you are not understanding a word he is saying? Since you just showed up minutes ago” I answer without looking at him, I am juggling listening to the professor and taking notes on my laptop and understanding what Christian is saying. He adjusts his posture and sits properly in the chair, turning around to look behind him, before relaxing back in the chair.

“Never took you for a nerd” He comments in response to my answer, this annoys me enough to get me to revert my gaze from the lecture material and onto Christian, who looks quite satisfied with what he has done. I give him a dirty look while waiting for him to apologise to me, apparently, I have made a mistake in thinking that he was attractive because this immaturity is anything but attractive. He runs his hands through his dark curls and sighs while I sit and wait for some miracle to occur.

“Never took you for a dickhead” I respond back while returning my attention to something worth my time; the class that I am in right now. I hear Paris’s voice come closer from behind my chair, she almost runs over to her spot when she halts, completely silent and shocked. I glance towards her to see all the colour drains from her face to leave pale and ghostly remanent.

“Why is he here?” Paris asks me, conflicted between a myriad of emotions. Her eyes are glaring into my soul as if I was in control of this, I haven’t been in control of any interactions that I have had today. Her utter disregard to acknowledge Christian’s presence in the seat next to me accentuates a clear tension between the two humans, I turn to face Christian who seems to be not phased by her sudden appearance, he remains to be the person that he was when she was gone. Paris was never one to fake her true feelings about anyone, no matter how hard she had tried it never seemed to work.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t have a clue why he is here. He just came to me when you left.” I answer her honestly, however this does not help ease her mood. Her hands are gripping her phone, until her hands turn into a ghostly shade of white, matching her face. After a few seconds, my care factor turns to zero, I turn my gaze back to the professor as he wraps up the class. Despite it coming to a close, I have only heard fragments of the lecture thanks to Paris and now Christian.

“You got a problem with me being here Paris?” Christian asks, almost challenging Paris’s question. I just sit there and attempt to shut the potential conflict out from my train of focus. Paris glares at him, rolling her eyes and sitting down next to me, as if she is marking her territory or something. Christian just chuckles as she admits defeat and sits with us. “That’s what I thought” He mumbles under his breath, loud enough for Paris to hear it, she snaps her head to face him. Great, the last thing that I need is for my best friend and a random guy to fight, all I want to do is pay attention to this class and I haven’t been given that luxury.

“Can the both of you just shut up for 10 minutes? Or take this outside so I can focus on what is left of this class? Unlike you, I need to do well in this class, so please shut up” I snap back at both as they are constantly at each other’s throats. My tolerance for Paris and Christian right now is extremely slim, almost non-existent, I really cannot keep listening to them going back and forth. They fall silent and remain that way for the rest of the class.

“Kailin, can I talk to you alone for a moment?” Paris asks me, placing specific emphasis on the alone part of the sentence. I turn to look at Christian who is just chuckling to himself as he hears Paris’s voice. She is taking this seriously while he is having a good time, this is the weirdest dynamic I have seen between two people, and my parents were both sociopaths stacked with emotional and mental problems, it takes a lot to get me to say that.

“This is ridiculous, whatever is happening between the two of you, just grow up and get over it. Especially if you want me to come to your stupid party” I raise my voice slightly, this was an accumulation of Paris annoying me for the entirety of the class. I love this girl but sometimes I want to duct tape her mouth shut and lock her in a dark room where no one can hear her. The look on her face is shocked, like I had betrayed her by not agreeing to encourage this insane behaviour.

“Damn Paris, rejected by your best friend, that’s got to sting” Christian commented before giggling at how I had snapped at Paris. I expect Paris to storm off out of the lecture theatre, however she surpasses my expectations and remains still, waiting for me. Once I am finally ready, I walk out leaving the 2 idiots to run and catch up to me.

“Please Kailin, just come with me to the party. I am begging you” Paris begs, placing her hands together as if she is about to pray to God for a brain, like the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. If only God could grant such big miracles, however this is bigger than parting the Red Sea, I doubt it will happen. I roll my eyes while navigating my way through the masses of people that crowd the cafeteria, considering it’s 7pm, everyone is probably finished their classes for the week.

“Usually I wouldn’t like to admit this, but I am going to the same party that Paris is attending. You should come” Christian once again intervenes, removing my opportunity to respond to anyone’s questions or pleas, I walk faster to get away from the two of them. But they are right behind me, waiting for response from me. Today has been the weirdest day in my life, why is Paris and Christian begging me to attend this party? One can only find that immensely suspicious, considering how both of them haven’t asked me to come before. Within seconds, I realise what day it is, October 31st. Halloween. Of course there is a Halloween Party being thrown tonight, no doubt I will see too many body parts for comfort.

“Fine, if you both back the fuck off. I will attend this stupid party. Lemme guess it’s Halloween themed?” I finally give in to the endless amounts of nagging, pleading and torture. Paris squeals and wraps her arms around me, hugging me tight as if she was a cobra and I was a possum. Within moments, I struggle to catch my breath, before Christian rips her away from me. I will never admit it to him but I am thankful that he was there to get her off me, as usually I would have to hurt her to loosen her grip on me.

“What did you expect from drunk, horny and stoned college kids?” Christian mutters in my ear, quiet enough so Paris couldn’t hear what he was saying. I can’t help but giggle at his sarcastic comment. This drives Paris crazy, her eyes widened, if she was in a cartoon there would be steam coming out of her ears right now.

“Your not wrong, originality would be the last thing to come out of them” I comment back in his ear, loud enough for him to hear but Paris once again is left out of the loop. This is something that she loathes, and she cannot stand. It enrages her every time that it happens. Unlike her surpassing my expectations in the lecture hall, she immediately storms off away from Christian and I, annoyed that we are joking without including her. Part of me feels bad for leaving her out, however it doesn’t take much for her to storm off. Christian and I continue to slowly walk to the dorms, taking our time. The time that we spend slowly walking to the dorms, is filled with talking. Consensus thus far indicates that Christian might not be a complete dickhead after all.

“So, what are you going to wear?” He asks, every word that comes out of his mouth sounds immensely intelligent and charming, due to the British accent. Words that sound mundane in the American accent, sound so elegant and classy with the inclusion and use of the British tongue. Just as I was about to answer, I notice how we have reached my dorm door, I should face Paris and make amends, especially considering if she is going to be the one transporting me to and from the party tonight.

“That is for me to know, and you to find out tonight” I conclude before unlocking my door, under the gaze of Christian who laughs at my cheeky comment. I would never give away what I would wear to any occasion, that is how you get copied and suddenly you are not the only one wearing a unique dress. Learned that the hard way. As soon as I open the door, I am faced with 4 slutty looking bunnies, the only animalistic thing about these costumes is the inclusion of a headband adorned with bunny ears and a tail. Paris has already made arrangements to wear a group costume with her group of skanks; Brittany, Monique and Gabi. They are all going as Playboy Bunnies, how degrading. I haven’t seen anything to do with Playboy since I was 10 years old, when I was raped in the Playboy Mansion as a result of my mother pimping me out to Hugh Hefner, avoiding sex herself. This triggers me however I bury it deep down.

“Look who finally decided to get ready for the party; you better not make us late” Brittany’s whiny voice snaps at me, while I grab the closest bottle of alcohol that I could find and drinking half of it. This is the only possible way that I am going to tolerate her whiny voice all night without killing her. Paris just checks herself out in the mirror, her shorts are so short that they end halfway up her ass, almost like underwear. All she is wearing is skimpy lingerie with bunny ears and a tail.

“Paris, why did you let a rat in the room?” I make fun of Brittany’s Playboy Bunny costume, which makes her face go a rosy shade of red. This is my favourite game, teasing Brittany without Paris noticing. I walk to my closet, pulling out a costume that I could wear, a black dress with a large slit in the right leg, ending just before the bikini line. This sparks an idea in my mind; Mrs Smith. Simple concept but it’s undefeated.

“Is that what you are wearing? How plain and simple” Monique stumbles over to my side of the room, this irritates me beyond belief. I turn to glare at her as she gets scared, exactly like a bunny and hops to the other side of the room. Where she belongs. I drink another 4 mouthfuls of vodka before getting ready. After 30 minutes, I am transformed into the Mrs Smith that Angelina Jolie was. Once I see myself in the mirror, I am shocked at how similar I look to her.

“What the fuck Ki? You look fucking amazing! He will love that” Paris screams at the top of her lungs, in response to seeing what I have come up with. This causes the room to go silent, Brittany, Monique and Gabi turn around and their jaws hit the floor as their eyes land on me. However, they realise what they were doing and quickly correct their reactions to be disgusted or disappointed.

“Who will love that?” I ask, curious as to who she is referring to. I know that she isn’t talking about Christian as she would have mentioned him by name. Brittany smirks and whispers something in Paris’s ear before she circles me as if I was being interrogated by the police. I extend my leg out, stretching it just as Brittany is about to take a step, she immediately trips over my leg and falls flat on her face. I piss myself laughing.

“Umm no one, your Uber is here” Paris says, trying to get me out of the room as soon as possible. I watch as she helps Brittany up, her makeup ruined by the collision with the wooden floor. She looks at me as if she wants to plunge a knife through my body, I get that look a lot. I smirk and grab my purse, checking one last time in the mirror to make any corrections in my costume. Everything is perfect. “I’ll meet you there” Paris guides me out of the room and hands me another full bottle of vodka for the trip there, I watch in confusion as she shuts the door on me. Instead of worrying about what they might be doing, I open the bottle of vodka and start to drink it.