You Can't Fight Fate

10/23 7:37pm
From: Stevvie
You, me, my apartment. ASAP.

I reread the text message from Stevvie, growing more and more concerned as the minutes went by. She never texted me such short messages unless she was upset. We were about halfway though the second twilight movie when I had received the message and we were beginning the third one now. I texted her back immediately, but she didn’t answer, making me even more worried. I finally got up from my seat between Eric and Jackie and went to Stevvie’s room to call her. She was supposed to be at dinner with her father but something must have happened.

After a few moments of pacing, I pressed the number four button on my speed dial. I impatiently waited four rings until it switched to voicemail. Slightly disappointed, I left a quick voice mail telling her I was already at her place and to call me and hung up my blackberry.
Prince, Stevvie’s lanky black and white Great Dane strolled into her extravagant bedroom. Her room consisted of blue/teal colored walls, deep chocolate furniture, and a pillow style oyster colored headboard. She had black, white, and teal accent pieces scattered across the room along with some zebra striped chairs. Above her bed was a white, beautiful chandelier.

I spent a lot of time in her room, mainly studying or just talking. The feel of her room was very relaxing because of the incense and candles she had lined on her dresser, vanity mirror and nightstand. The lighting was low, soft jazz or alternative music was always playing and big fluffy pillows were everywhere. Every time I went there, I couldn’t help but be put in a romantic mood.

“I don’t know where she is either buddy,” I told the confused dog.

I checked my phone once again for any messages from Stevvie, with no luck. I sighed and lied back on her bed. Eventually, I drifted off into a deep sleep, dreaming of being at a picnic with Stevvie.

A light slam of the door awoke me from my slumber. I uneasily set up and watched a blurred Stevvie head over to her window seat. I rubbed my eyes and leaned against the wall next to her, waiting for her to speak. I saw her blue eyes scan the landscape outside the window; I could tell she was crying earlier from the streaks of makeup streaming down her face and the puffiness of her face.

Without looking, she shrugged off her flats and pulled her knees to her chest. I noticed her pink, brightly painted toenails and that her toes were almost blue. I shook my head; I had told her it was too cold not to wear socks.

I sat down opposite of her on the window seat and gently pulled her small feet into my lap. Her feet were cold to the touch so I quickly rubbed them to warm them up.

“So…I’m not going to ask if you’re okay because obviously you’re not…”I began, “can I ask what’s wrong?” Stevvie wriggled her toes between my fingers before sighing.

“My dad…he just ditched me on my birthday for his job…it’s…it’s stupid…” she muttered. I nodded my head, insisting her to continue.

“I mean, I understand. His job is important to him, and I love that he loves his job, but am I being selfish for being upset with him?”

“Well, has he done this before?” I asked, truly interested in what she had to say.

She nodded her head slowly, not making eye contact with me.

“Three times before.”

I bunched my eyebrows together and tried to think of an answer to give her.

“It’s selfish, I’ll just drop it…”she began to say.

“No,” I interjected, “my dad always told us from the beginning that family comes first. No matter what.”

Stevvie wriggled her toes some more. “It’s much easier said than done Nicholas.”

“No it’s not Stevvie… I don’t know what your dad does, but I’m pretty sure I’m gone more than him, school has probably been the longest I’ve stayed in one place since I was thirteen,” I reminded her, “…and if I really miss you…correction, when I really miss you and you’re halfway across the country, I am going to do anything to get to you.”

She looked up at me for the first time, her blue eyes sparkled despite the puffy bags around them and dark makeup stains. She placed a warm hand on my cheek and smiled a little.

“You have so much passion for anything you do…I pray to god you never lose it,” she whispered.

I placed my hand over hers and gave it a squeeze, mentally assuring her that I wouldn’t. I couldn’t help but smile too.

Stevvie finally broke our gaze and wiped her cheeks of with her sleeve.

“I’m sorry you had to see me like this…I’m not in the best condition right now,” she chuckled as she fixed herself in the mirror.

“Please…you look amazing any condition you’re in,” I guaranteed her.

Stevvie giggled and ran over to her dresser, unveiling a pair of socks and slipped them on.

“No more negative vibes!” she decided, “come on, we can still catch the last bit of Eclipse!”

I slowly got up from my seat and found my hand interlaced with hers as she pulled me from the room.

“Slow down…” I whispered jokingly.

We made it to the living room the find our three best friends passed out amongst each other. With our hands still interlaced, we tried to quiet each other from our laughter.
Moments later, Stevvie stood on her tippy toes to whisper in my ear if I wanted to go to Perry’s, a diner down the street from her apartment we went often late at night.

“Did somebody say Perry’s?” Storm asked immediately as he popped up.

One by one, all of them woke up, and eventually Stevvie dropped my hand.

“Alright everyone pile in the car…” Stevvie decided as she grabbed her keys.

<->
“Guys, guys, guys!” Storm shouted over our chatter.

They all stopped our conversations (along with a few people at Perry’s) and directed their attention toward Storm.

“Let’s play…Truth or dare!” he suggested.

Each of the friends glanced at each other and shrugged their shoulders in agreement. They always played games like truth or dare, word association and I Spy. Being such close friends meant nothing was off limits when playing truth or dare…nothing. This fact pretty much brought them closer together, what they find out during a game of Truth or Dare, says in a game of truth or dare.

“I’ll go first!” Jackie volunteered, “Hmmmm, Eric!”

Everyone’s eyes landed on Eric, who was admiring himself in his coffee spoon.

“I suppose,” he stated as he put the spoon down, “dare.”

Jackie stroked her chin before her eyes lit up with an idea. “Ah ha! I dare you to stand up and sing…a Lady Gaga song at the top of your lungs.”

Eric pursed his lips and did and z-snap. “Girl, I asked for a dare, not an excuse for these people to here my beautiful voice.”

Stevvie, Nick, Jackie, and Storm burst out laughing as there melodramatic friend stood on his chair and cleared his throat. Nick cleared the table so he could drum to Eric singing. Jackie hopped up and called the fifteen or so people that were still in the diner to enjoy a wonderful performance from her friend.

Soon, Eric’s melodic voice rang trough the air as he began to sing Bad Romance. After a few seconds, Storm began to beat box. Stevvie and Jackie giggled the whole time as Eric began to move his hips and shake as he got into the song. Pleased costumers (most of them regulars) of Perry’s began to clap along and nod there heads. After the song ended, Eric bowed, thanked his audience and went back to admiring himself in his spoon.

“Alright…my turn,” Storm decided, “Someone lay a dare on me.”

Everyone looked around the table, waiting for someone to speak up. Storm would do anything you dared him to. Some costumers and workers lightly gathered around the table to see what the young group of adults was going to do next.

"Hmmm, we all know you would eat or lick anything we dared you to,” Nick reminded the table and Storm.

A guilty smile formed on Storm’s face as he recalled previous dares he accomplished such as licking a toilet seat or eating a worm. He had a stomach of steel and no gag reflex his friends all decided long ago. Everyone was stunted, unable to think of a good dare for their fearless friend.

“How about he kisses one of you young gals?” Betty, their favorite waitress suggested...