by Jessica Loft
As she sat down in the seat they had saved for her, her friends looked around, confused.
“I thought your roommate was going to join us?” Jamal asked pointing to the empty seat next to her.
Queenie lifted a bare shoulder and gracefully dropped it down in a shrug. “Another time. She’s working on an essay right now.”
Her friends nodded their heads in understanding and started back in on their conversation. They were discussing the party at BKE Frat house the coming weekend. Bronson was obviously bringing Lydia, Jamal wanted to go stag, and Kyeisha was going to ask a guy named Richie from her Spanish class.
“What about you Queenie?” Bronson asked, taking a bite out of his hamburger. “Are you going to be bringing a hot new chick to the party?”
“Actually, I was thinking about bringing Amanda. If I can pry her away from the computer, I mean. She’s really awesome, but really quiet you know? I think that if I actually got her to a party she would have some fun.”
Kyeisha raised a curious eyebrow at her glamorous friend.
“I thought you said Amanda had a boyfriend?”
“She does,” Queenie agreed. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t go out as just friends.”
Kyeisha rolled her eyes and put down her fork. “Honey don’t do this, okay? You could have any girl out there that was a gay, bi, pan or trans, but don’t go after a straight. Remember what happened in eleventh grade?”
Now it was Queenie’s turn to roll her eyes. In the eleventh grade, when she was much younger, she misread the signals from a girl that was ‘apparently’ straight, and she had kissed her. The girl had freaked, and tried to get Queenie in trouble.
“It’s not like that,” Queenie assured them, taking a bite out of her Caesar salad.
After dinner, Queenie grabbed a wrapped veggie burger from one of the hot lamps and stuffed it along with an apple into her bag. She hadn’t forgotten about Amanda’s request to bring her back something, and she knew that her friend was a vegetarian, just like she was.
As a group Queenie and her friends left the cafeteria and began walking towards the center of campus. Though it was the end of September, the weather was still warm and comfortable. As they made their way back to the dorm buildings, Queenie saw the familiar flash of a white and rainbow striped hoodie. She looked closer, surprised to see a few yards away from them was Amanda, holding hands with a very scrawny looking punk guy with side bangs. To Queenie, Amanda looked really uncomfortable with the situation, and the boy appeared oblivious.
Hurt swept through Queenie when she saw her. She had been too busy to go to dinner with her like she promised, but not too busy to walk around with this guy? Without saying a word, Queenie parted from her friends and strode over to the awkward couple. Amanda turned and seeing how was coming towards them. A look of recognition crossed her eyes, and they went wide, as if she knew she was caught.
“Queenie, hi!” Amanda exclaimed, still fighting to get her hand out of the boy’s tight grip.
“Hey,” Queenie said icily, looking the guy up and down. “I thought you said you were busy?”
“What’s it to you?” The guy shot back, his thin lips drawn into a snarl. Amanda gasped, and finally yanked her hand out of his death grip.
“Pierce! This is my roommate Queenie. She invited me to dinner and I told her I couldn’t go because of my paper.”
“Yeah, and I see now that it was clearly more important than me,” Queenie said sarcastically. Out of her bag she fished out the apple and the veggie burger and slapped them in Amanda’s open hands.
“Here’s your dinner,” she said icily, before walking away. Turning her back to them, Queenie felt the hurt of Amanda’s lie rise up in her chest. She wasn’t sure why she was feeling so upset, but she didn’t care. Amanda was supposed to be her friend, and friends didn’t blow one another off.
Amanda pushed at Pierce’s chest, infuriated.
“Why were you so mean like that?” She hissed, her soft voice rising. “She’s my friend!”
Ignoring her, Pierce knocked the veggie burger out of her hand and grabbed her wrist.
“You need to stop eating that fru fru shit and eat some real meat. Maybe then you’ll grow a spine.”
Anger welled up in Amanda as she reached her limit. Pierce had once been a nice guy, her best friend. But ever since he’d started hanging out with the punk and grunge crowd his attitude towards her and just about everything had changed. He was mean, and rough, and downright disrespectful to anyone who dared even look at him.
Forcefully Amanda pulled her wrist out of Pierce’s grasp, the force making her stumble back a few feet back. Picking the veggie burger off of the ground, she dusted off the wrapper and pushed it into her hoodie pocket.
“You’re right Pierce, I do need to grow a spine.” She said standing straight with her shoulders squared. “We’re done, Pierce,” she said forcefully, raising her chin.
Pierce’s eyes opened wide with shock, anger coloring his cheeks. He took a step towards her to grab her arm back, but Amanda backed away instead. Making him snarl again and raise an eyebrow.
“The fuck you mean we’re done?” He asked, not believing that Amanda was brave enough to actually dump him.
“I mean I don’t want to see you anymore. Ever.” Amanda responded, trembling with fear. She took her last bit of defiance and used it to turn on her heel and walk away. From behind her, she heard Pierce yell a string of curses, but she didn’t turn around. Instead, she kept heading back towards her dorm. She had an apology to give to Queenie.
CHAPTER 2
Queenie looked sideways at her door when it opened and Amanda walked in. She looked super cute, as always. She always looked adorable in her usual hoodie and Chuck Taylor’s, but today she was wearing super tiny shorts and that showed off the amazing shape of her long legs. After their interaction outside the dining hall a few days before, Amanda had apologized to her. She knew she was overreacting, but Queenie couldn’t help but feel hurt after seeing her with such a rude person that Amanda had chosen over her.
Still, it did make her feel a little better to know that Amanda had broken up with the jerk, and that she now seemed happier than ever. Perhaps, Queenie thought as she watched Amanda sit quietly down at her desk to do her work, perhaps it was time to get over herself and start talking to Amanda again. Stretching, Queenie pulled out her ear buds and smiled over at her roommate.
“How’s the rest of your week been?” She asked, sitting up on her bed.
Looking surprised, Amanda turned her head to Queenie and smiled at her friend widely.
“It’s been good. I finished with my paper and handed it in early. All I have to do now is get this reading done and I’m homework free for the weekend!” Amanda answered, happy that the silent treatment was over. It was Friday, and they hadn’t talked since Tuesday. Although it was only four days, it had seemed like forever to the both of them, especially since they had both gotten used to talking to one another every day.
“How was your week?” Amanda asked, fishing her books out of her bag. As the girls talked, Amanda sat up her studying apparatus. She was incredibly neat about her desk, and never let it get cluttered. When she had to read something, Queenie noticed that she shut off her phone, closed her laptop and put it in her bag, and took out a pen, always blue, and a notepad.
“So how much reading do you have to do?” Queenie asked, pointing to the book.
Suddenly feeling overheated; Amanda shrugged her shoulders and began to unzip her hoodie. Beneath it, she wore a tight, simple black tank top that pushed up her perky C-Cup breasts. Queenie did her best not to stare at the tantalizing swell of cleavage, and forced herself to listen Amanda’s response.
“Not much, just twenty-five pages. If I start now I could be done my eight.”
“Can I make a suggestion?” Queenie asked, feeling bold.
“Sure?”
“After you’re done with your reading, why don’t you come with me to a par
ty tonight?” Queenie asked.
Amanda laughed, and quickly shook her head.
“No, I don’t think so. I don’t do well at parties. I always end up embarrassing myself of get stuck by myself in a corner.”
Queenie climbed off of her bed and came over to lean her hip against Amanda’s desk.
“It won’t be like that,” she promised, picking up Amanda’s hand and holding it between her own.
“Seriously, if you go with me I promise you we’ll have a good time. It’s very low key, laid back, and I won’t leave your side for a second if you don’t want me to.”
When Amanda still wasn’t sure, Queenie sighed, and looked down into her roommate’s big blue eyes.
“Look, I know was a little oversensitive about the whole dining hall thing. I’d like to make it up to you by taking you to an awesome party and showing you a good time. Will you please let me?” Queenie practically begged.
Excitement, nervousness, and queasiness all jumbled in Amanda’s stomach as she thought about actually going to a frat party again. The first time or so was not at all fun, and she had vowed to never go back. Still, she had never been to a party with Queenie before, and if anyone could be the reason she actually had fun, it would be her.
“Okay,” Amanda said, giving Queenie a soft smile.
“I’ll go, but you have to let me focus on this reading for now okay?”
“Deal,” Queenie answered excitedly.
“And you have to help me pick out something to wear.”
“Deal!” Queenie said again, smiling widely.
Wanting to give Amanda her study space, Queenie went to go have dinner with her friends. Afterwards she would go to Kyeisha’s dorm, who was petite like Amanda, and pick something out for her to wear. She wanted this to be a fun night for her, and she was not going to let her down.
~
“Queenie, are you sure about this dress?” Amanda asked, looking skeptically back at the mirror. It was black and skin tight, leaving little to the imagination. The halter style top pushed her breasts up high, and the thick banding material squeezed her stomach in tightly. The hem, which fell several inches above her knee, exposed her backside if she so much as bent down to touch her knee. She had never owned anything so…unique, as this dress.
“Are you kidding?” Queenie asked as she looked away from curling her hair.
“You look like a stone cold fox in it. Now all I have to do is lend you a pair of my shoes and put a little make up on you and we’re all set to go!”
Queenie was lying. Amanda looked like so much more than a fox. She was hot, she was sizzling in that dress, and she was having hard time focusing on her own hair and makeup because of it. If Amanda could just understand how beautiful she was, Queenie was sure that she would stop being so introverted and actually start making friends.
Wanting to get started on Amanda, Queenie quickly finished with her curls and sprayed them with hairspray. Amanda was lucky; she had flawless skin and great pores. She didn’t need foundation at all, or even blush. Which was good because Queenie’s skin tone was so much darker than hers. Deciding to keep it simple, she gave Amanda delicate eyeliner wings, a brush of mascara, and just a bit of high shine pink lip-gloss. She still looked very much like her beautiful self, just a little more volumized.
“You look absolutely stunning,” Queenie gushed, twirling Amanda around. For the final touch, she dug into her closet and pulled out a pair of black strappy heels. To both of their surprise, Amanda was able to conquer them quite well, and was soon making easy circles around their small, shared dorm room.
Going with her usual style, Queenie picked out something vibrant and fabulous. Her over the shoulder top bled many colors into one another, setting brilliantly against her cocoa powder skin. Because it was still warm, she had settled on black bootie shorts and wrap around black strappy heels that came all the way up to her knees in a gladiator fashion. She looked fierce in her beauty, and she knew it too.
“Ready to go?” Queenie asked, spraying them both with a spritz of perfume.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Amanda said nervously.
As soon as they stepped outside of their building they were catcalled. Guys on campus weren’t shy about letting their feelings for a pretty girl be known, and most were even obnoxious about it.
“Ignore them,” Queenie told her as soon as she saw her friend try to draw in on herself. Reaching down, she grabbed ahold of Amanda’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze.
“Remember baby girl, we dress like this for us, not for them. If they like it that’s fine. But our beauty, our class, is for us and us alone.”
Her words seemed to relax Amanda a little more, and together they walked towards the party. It was a little after eleven, so most parties on frat row were just now getting into swing. Along the way to the BKE house, many people stopped to say hi to Queenie, and she introduced every single person to Amanda. Not once did their hands separate as they walked to the party, and Amanda started feeling more comfortable. So far, Queenie was keeping her word.
At the house, a cheer went up in the front room as Queenie and Amanda walked in. Many of her friends, circled around Queenie to give her hugs. As the sea of people verged towards them, Amanda tried to pry her hand from Queenie’s, but she wouldn’t allow it.
“Everyone,” Queen announced as she pulled Amanda closer to her. “This is my friend Amanda.”
Several people rushed up to Amanda to say hello and introduce themselves. To her, it was a big blur of faces and names, and she couldn’t keep them straight. Her anxiety began to build up, and was worried that she was about to have a breakdown. To her surprise, Queenie knew exactly when to tell everyone to back off, and together they walked into the bathroom for some privacy.
As soon as they were behind closed doors Amanda took in a big inhale and leaned heavily over the sink, not caring if Queenie saw her thong or not. As she dragged in another breath, she felt Queenie’s reassuring hand on her back, moving in small circles.
“How are you doing, boo boo?” Queenie asked, her voice low and calm.
Amanda shook her head, finally feeling her heartbeat return to its normal pace.
“I think I’m going to be okay. I’m sorry.”
Queenie shook her head, and lifted Amanda’s chin up so she could look her friend in the eye.
“There’s no need to be sorry, honey. I had a feeling that this was going to happen at first, and it’s okay.”
“But I embarrassed you in front of your friends,” Amanda argued.
Queenie laughed and fluttered her hand.
“Honey no you didn’t, I’m fine and so are they. You hear that music bumpin’ out there? That’s what they came here for, to dance to good music and to get drunk. They don’t care if I just went into the bathroom with my hot friend, okay?”
Amanda laughed and nodded her head. After running a hand through her hair she slipped her fingers in between Queenie’s and allowed her to lead her back to the party.
Just like she had promised, everyone was too busy dancing, drinking, or laughing in the house to be worried about who came out of the bathroom. Queen got them their drinks, and then led Amanda into the living room where a bump and grind soundtrack seemed to be playing on repeat.
“Do you dance?” Queenie asked, shouting above the music.
Amanda shook her head. “I don’t know how,” she replied.
Queenie laughed and smiled, and after taking a long sip of her drink, sat her cup down and led Amanda into the throng of rhythmically moving people. Moving her hands to Amanda’s hips, she slowly began to move her into the rhythm of the music. At first, Amanda seemed stiff and uncomfortable. But, as Queenie held her blue gaze, she began to relax and move her hips freely to the music. It was much easier than Amanda had imagined, and soon she had her arms wrapped around Queenie’s neck and they were grinding seductively against one another.
Their dance was drawing attention from the men, but no matter what Queeni
e wouldn’t let any of them join in. Whether she had to tell them to go away or even push them away, she wouldn’t let them come between her and Amanda. This was her night, and she wasn’t about to let it be ruined by horny, lonely dudes that thought they could just butt in and take what they wanted.
After a while, Amanda asked if they could go outside for some air. The living room held most of the people, and it was becoming hot and humid. Queenie quickly agreed, and after grabbing them fresh drinks, she led Amanda out to the back yard of the house.
“Well, what do you think?” Queenie asked as soon as they were alone.
Giggling, Amanda took a long sip of her drink and nodded her head. “I’m actually having a really fun time. Thank you for bringing me out.”
As they took in the cool night air, Queenie took a moment to look Amanda up and down. She was really a beautiful woman, one that could go from adorably sweet to breathtakingly sexy in a simple wardrobe change.
“So you and that guy, you’re really over?”
Amanda nodded her head, sobering up a bit as she looked down into her cup.
“Pierce was a nice guy once, but he just got into the wrong crowd. He’s always angry about everything. I don’t think he even liked me that much anymore if I’m being honest. I think he was just too afraid that he wouldn’t get another girl.”
Queenie laughed and rolled her eyes. He was definitely that guy. The kind that knew he had something great, but just didn’t know what to do with it. To her, they were eternal fuckups, too dumb to see what they had in front of them.
“Have you ever thought about girls?” Queenie asked, admittedly a bit too suddenly. She winced at her own bravado, and hoped it didn’t go awry. To her relief, Amanda simply laughed and nodded her head.
