‘You're a lousy drinking partner, Tiff.’

My friend Beck, who'd just downed another shot, lifted a perfectly manicured finger my way, daring me to say otherwise. I felt inclined to, but changed my mind when I followed the accusing gesture to my glass of untouched wine. I couldn't even remember why I'd ordered it in the first place. I was usually more of a straight spirit kind of gal.

     ‘You know, you were really right, he's such a prick. You told me numerous times and I still insisted he was different. But they're all the same, aren't they? All of them. Pricks.’ Beck huffed, slouching further down the booth, placing her chin in the palm of her hand. ‘Better luck next time.’

     It didn't matter she reeked of alcohol and had her pale, blue eyes glazed over with a tipsy bliss, she was beautiful. Effortlessly gorgeous with that Californian tan permanently kissing her skin and lazy waves of beach—blond hair adorning her delicate head. I'd been at least a little bit intimidated when she'd joined my team during introduction week. Couldn't imagine why someone like her would bother with someone who tried her very best not to stand out. She'd been very determined, though. I guess a part of me'd sensed that Beck was a little lost too. Like calls to like, they say.

     We'd been friends all through our freshman year and shared an apartment since the beginning of our second. Then she'd met Todd along the way: a dashing, flamboyant freshman who'd spent two years traveling abroad. He wouldn't shut up about his groundbreaking life—changing experiences overseas — and trust me, I'd tried plenty, for everyone's sake.

     If there was one thing you should know about me, it would probably be that I could read people. Not exactly mindreading — but the air around them, if you will. I'd been born with the ability to tell friend from foe, and from the moment I'd laid eyes on Todd, I'd known he was bad news. My subtle warnings had unfortunately failed to open the eyes of my Californian companion until it had been too late. This was her idea of overcoming tragedy.

     ‘What happened to your latest conquest anyway?’

I'd zoned out far enough to be taken aback by the sudden focus Beck had managed to put on me. It was a bit unnerving how she sometimes did that.

     ‘I'm sorry. It was a really long day.’

Beck gave me a knowing look. I took double the classes she did and worked my butt off at the local drinking den. I'd told her I needed to stay busy and that had only been part untrue. She probably just assumed I wanted to make my folks happy and had to pay for tuition myself. She wasn't entirely mistaken at that.

     ‘Mister sneaking out at 6 in the damn morning, Tiff. He nearly gave me a heart attack, got me thinking there was a burglar stomping through our apartment.’

     I couldn't bite back the laughter as the imagine formed in my head. Beck took a less amused sip from her straw, eyeing me expectantly. I liked to keep to my business and Beck loved to snoop around. I was only able to entertain her enough to not dig into my personals by giving her the occasional scraps of my life. Most of it was just for show, but the guys involved . . . I couldn't say I didn't enjoy them.

     ‘He started something at the bar and, well, he came to the apartment to finish it.’

It wasn't romantic at all if you put it that way. I wasn't looking for something more. I had my needs and it happened to take an edge off.

     ‘Jeez, girl, you even make sex sound like a business transaction. Do remind sober me to take you to a real party.’

I promised her I would, and then we went back to chatting and laughing like two students would, and I let myself be dragged into that blissful ignorance as I downed the glass of red wine in a single gulp.

     It was nice to have a friend.