"..but a friend with weed is better..."

"I just dont get it... why me?" wined Riley, as we muched on the chicken burger while sitting in the rehersel room. Usualy Canteen's the hang out place but there were just too many people there I didnt want to see today. I looked up at Riley, she looked like a sick puppy, and I dont mean that in a cute way atall. She really did look bad. Her hair had gone all frizzy and dry, her eyes had sunken in and she was wearing no make up except for lip gloss, which instead of making her lips look glossy, made them look sticky. Her pale skin was only paler, and her nose was red. So she looked a bit funny with pale skin and a red nose, like it'd been painted. Poor girl... I wonder if it would help if I told her to get over it already... Maybe not...

[Riley is a 2nd year. She joined last year, so technically, I'm a senior and she is junior to me. She's studying Media, which is how we met because she needed some help and I'm doing 3rd year Media and I suggested she'd join the Radio show for some good experiance and fun, from where she met Andre, Rose, Maria, Conner and all the rest. As for right now, she's depressed. She's been reading some book about how all men are jerks and it just happens that she likes a guy, which doesnt go well together. She's a bit paranoid and no offence and all I mean, nice girl but god she gets on my nerves at times. Its all about her. She always needs to be in on everything going on. I guess you could call her a more annoying version of Rose.]

"All men are the same... they all just want one thing... thats disgusting." She said, stairing into space. I'd personaly rather eat this burger and listen to some music. but I'm stuck here till Maria comes, she's late again... as usual. I picked dust off my jeans as Riley talked more about the book. I was listning, but I had no idea what she was saying... you know what I mean? "Why can't they just make their mind up about things?" She continued just as Maria walked through the door in her denim skirt and black FCUK t-shirt. I almost let out a sigh but stopped myself. I wanted to run over and say thankyou! but I dont think I wanted to make Riley cry. "Whats wrong?" Was the 1st thing Maria asked, observing Riley. Who wouldnt, the girl was a compleat mess. "Oh nothing, I was just reading this book... and it talked about this character in the book, a guy who was a compleat dick, and I came to realise all men were like that." Maria looked over at me with a questionmark, like I'd done this to Riley! Which I clearly hadnt.

It wasnt my fault she was paranoid. All I wanted to do was eat my burger in peace. "You shouldnt be readint that..." Maria tried to explain Riley as she put down her bag next to me. She looked like she was just about to tell a child that Santa wasnt real. Sort of interesting. "See it's a book. Their like that. Read love story... or another book. Maybe thriller? That guy is just a character." She continued, speaking very slow. Shockingly, Riley seemed to get the point. I should try that next time, speak reaaaalllllyyyy slllllllllllllooooooooowwwwwwww... I would, if I had the time of the day. Just then Rose walked in, she was wearing the skirt I got her for her birthday last year. It was short and red with black polka dots. With a matching black singlet. She sure looked like summer had started! She also looked excited, I could tell by that big smile she had and the little light in her eyes. Finally, that meant some good news.
"Hey!" I said, sitting up to make some space for her on the edge of the empty stage. Clearly, she noticed Riley and her condition too as she sat down.
"Uh hey..." She shrugged, suddenly looking a bit more worried as well as excited. "So, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!" I claimed, before Riley said something. I wasnt trying to be mean, I just didnt want her to go through the entire thing again. "Riley is just a bit upset today... We're trying to cheer her up." I turned towards Riley and gave her a big, warm smile. So did Maria. You could clearly see the sad look in Riley's eyes. I had a feeling she was about to burst into tears any moment now. Which would really, really suck.
"Well, I have just the new's to cheer you up Riley, along with you two." Rose said, getting back into her excited mood. I wonder what it was if it would interest us too. Usualy Rose has the coolest idea's, so this probably was one of them. "I've been waiting all night and all today to tell you guys... I couldnt even concentrate on my lectures." She continued, making us just as excited. More curious really, to know what it was. As Rose digged into her bag looking for something, it only made me want to know what this was about more. Friday after noon, so far entire week has been shit as... so I'm hoping this will be nice. Rose took out a card, a light blue plastic card with writting over it. It looked like a credit card, but it wasnt. She had a big smile on her face as we all looked at her cluelessly... till she turned the card around.
"Your kidding?" Maria asked, in all seriousness. Ofcourse she was kidding. There's no way that card was her's... It was the special JP Designer label card. The one only very few people have in this world. It gives you the right to go into any of his stores and pick out a dress designed just by him, most of which are over $5,000! How awesome is that? Rose has that card!
"Your so lucky..." Riley said, under her breath. "Not me... we are so lucky!" She added. "JP gave me this card, and it isnt just for one person.... I can get you guys a dress too... any you want!"

Was she for real? Own a JP Dress? I personally think he was being too generous! This was way too big... More like too good to be true. How often do girls in public Uni's get to even wear a dress designed by such a big name? Having your own would be so out of this world. People start saving up from now to maybe get it made for their wedding... and we do absalutly nothing and get one for free!
"Rose, why is he doing this though?" I asked finally. I realised no one else would botther because all they care about was the dress. Not that I dont, but I'm curious too.
"Okay this might be a bit... unrealistic to you guys but... you know Molly Cooper?" She asked, looking at each one of us. Know her? Everybody knows her. People down in Japan know who Molly Cooper is, and she's hot! Molly is getting married to that really hot guy... their engaged... Adam Broody!! She's probably in the top 10 hottest models!
"She's always wanted to get married down here... she loves this place" Rose said and pasued. We all had a what the look on our face. From any where in the world, here? So weird. "Her Wedding is in about 2 weeks time... and next weekend she's having a party with all the girls... like a before wedding thing I guess... and... well, JP wants us to go there!!"
"He wants US to go to Molly Cooper's wedding??" Riley repeated to make sure she heard the right thing. From sunken in, her eyes were suddeny wide out and big! Looked even freaker then before... but I couldnt care less right now. Rose had just made my month! Think about all the people that would be there... the famous people...
"Why?!" Riley asked, when no one else seemed to be speaking. Oh my god, who cares why? Does it matter? I dont think so!
"Just like that... dont you guys want to go shopping for a dress? and go to the party next weekend with all the hottest models, not that we're lesbian... and then go to the dream wedding every girl wishes they could see?" She asked in her very very tempting way. If we had any kind of look of doubt, she would get into it so much and give every little detail that you just wouldnt be able to say no!
"Course we do... this is unbelievable." Maria said, taking the card in her hand and reading the back of it. I wanted to go right now, but I dont think that would be possible.
"When do we go?" I asked, taking the card from Maria. Hmm.. It had all this code stuff on it. So cool!
"Lets go tomorrow... but Nat we'll have to take your car." Rose said making a sad face. Her car's been giving her shit, and more importantly, she doesnt really have much petrol either. The girl spends too much money if you ask me... but like I was about to say no to her with this card in my hand...
"Sure," I said and smilled. "My car it is then, at Noon."

--- --- --- --- --- ---

"SCORE!" Andre screamed, loud enough to almost break a glass. You know those movies where they show this big fat lady scream and all the windows break, Andre would probably fit right in! He gets a bit too attatched to our weekly game of Pool. We come here, to the Juke Box every friday night... All of us, so that way each friday no one makes any plans because it has to be just us... unless ofcourse your Jake, and your in shit for vandelising Uni property which you never even touched and their making you stay back on a Friday night and clean up... but, shockingly, he is here today! Not in shit for anything, luckily.
"Dude, we are soo going to beat you this round," Jake said and slammed $20 on the pool table.

[I know I'd already said a bit about Jake... but you still dont fully know him... and I dont think any words would describe him well at all. You've just got to be around him to know what he is like. Till date, I still cant say what he really is like... so unpridictable.. Although if there's one thing you can say about him, its the simple fact that he will always... always be there for his friends, and he will never... never manage to get out of trouble! Jake finishes the same time as us, he's doing an Arts degree, his future plans are to go to Africa, and volunteer for kids there for about 6-12 months, and then come and look for a job. He says he loves it here, but would rather be somewhere in a place like Mexico, I always tell him its because of the girls there, and he doesnt really deny it! But without Jake, our group would never be the same. He's always the 1st to solve arguments and fights, he will put himself at risk for you, and he loves to drive - which is always a good thing because you dont have to take your car. He's a sweetheart... and he's Andre's room mate. As I said, these 4 guys are like 4 brothers, and I couldnt ever imagine one without the other!]

We'd just finished the boys v's girls round, we won.. The boys lost.. how? I really dont know, I'm shocked. Just our luck! Now its Jake, Conner, Jan and Me v's Andre, Nat, Riley and Maria. Michael isnt here... he's out with his 'maths friends' preparing for a quiz. So today there is an odd number of guys and an even number of girls. Only better for us. Riley seemed a bit better after the shopping news this afternoon, Maria as always, laughing... but for some reason Nat didnt seem alright... I walked to the other side of the Pool table, where Nat was.
"What is it?" I asked, leaning on a table behind us. She very well knew she couldnt hide it from me... Nat took a deep breath and looked past me at the balcony outside. Aww, I cant believe I didnt notice earlier she needed to talk.
"Conner... can you please play for me for a little while?" I asked leaning over close so every body wouldnt have to know what it was about. Not that I knew either.
"Mmmm I dont know Jaan.." He replied, with an unsure smile. "I mean... What do I get out of it?" He was in such a cheeky flirty mood tonight. He did the same thing earlier tonight when I asked him to drive the car... and when I told him about the wedding... I wasnt sure wether to stay with him right now, or go over to Nat. She needed me... but... I needed him!
"Sweetheart.. please... I need to talk to Nat, she's upset..." I whispered as he took me in his arms. "I'll be back soon.. I promise.." I leaned forward and kissed him softly, hoping he'd understand, and he did.
"Be back soon!!" Aww.. Conner could be so cute... I felt like I was taking away a lollipop from a little child.. he had the cutest sad look right now, I just couldnt help but kiss him again. But I didnt want to leave talking to Nat till later if it was important..

[Nat... Her full name is Natalie. She would probably be the 1st person I became friends with in such a less amount of time.. She is so amazingly sweet and caring. From 1st year, till now, there's never been a time when Nat has let me down or not been there when I've needed her. She's an ideal elder sister that every girl wishes she had! She will drop everything if you say you need to talk... and she'll try her best to help you with things.. and, the best part is, she is totally out spoken. If she doesnt like something, she'll say it to your face. I think thats good... so when ever I need an honest openion, I go to her. Nat is doing Media, 2nd last year too, and I met her in CRC... she had a really bad 1st impression... but as I got to know her, I realised she's not that bad at all... and now that she needs me, I wasnt about to just leave her there!]

"I'm sorry..." I said to Nat just as we came outside to the balcony. It was windy, not the warm windy but the chill windy. I dont know why the weather is so weird these days.. Its meant to be summer. Me wearing my cargo khaki pants with a Black spegetti top didnt help... I should have baught a jumper, but oh well. Maybe next time if Conner didnt stay in my room the entire time I tried to change and get ready and clean the floor, I might remember to take a jumper. With him around, I compleatly forget everything. I didnt even get a chance to find my bank card, I'd decieded I'd clean the room today and look for it... but I couldnt... after it all you'd think I wish he hadnt come over... but I'm still so glad he did. I love it when he just..doesnt want to leave! It's nice... just to know that your boyfriend would rather be with you in your room, he'd rather kiss you on your bed and talk about the most nonsense things such as the new cheap food cans in the store, then be outside with the other people... aww...

argh.. wait.. Nat.. What am I doing? she's upset.. I'm meant to be talking to her!!

"So tell me.. whats wrong?" I took two chairs and placed them down infront of the railing next to each other and sat on one.
"You remember Matt...?" She asked, looking at me. Matt... uhh.. god that rang a bell... she said something... Matt... M-a-tt... Oh!
"Yeah yeah... your boss..." I nodded, asking her to continue...

[but before she did, I'll let you in on what's going on... other wise it just wouldnt be fare, would it? So Matt is Nat's Boss.. and she is absalutly crazy about him. Nat's never been the type to stick with a guy for too long... she's always changing boyfriends and doesnt like a long thing and has always been with a guy once she's liked him... even if he's married... now thats a long story! Anyway, Matt's the 1st guy she's liked for this long... the Magazine she's the editor for, he's her boss there. How perfect, both are into Media. Anyway, he's got a younger brother too... cute as, he's in a boading school and comes home every holiday and lives with Matt... I dont know what happened to his parents... I've never met him... but how do I know so much about Matt? Nat told me... and I dont really know how she knows!

My god, I never realised how much their name rhymes!]

"Matt and I talked earlier this week... after work, when I was leaving... He asked me if i needed a lift and I said no thanks I've got a car and then he came to the car park with me... and took my number..." She said and pasued. "Asked if I wanted to meet sometime... for maybe a coffee..."
"Oh my god.. and you said?"
"Obviously, I said yes.." Nat still looked upset. Why was she upset? He asked her on like a date! She's been wanting this for as long as I can remember...
"But?" I asked, hoping there was more to it...
"But he hasnt called me or anything at all since... and ... we havnt worked at the same time either yet... I saw him yesterday when I went in for 10 minutes but he was in his office in a meeting and he saw me but didnt even aknowledge me..." Her voice got more tensed and high as she talked about it. "I left a msg with his assistance... a note saying Havnt seen you for a while..hope your fine! and got nothing in return... I mean he's got my number... he could have said something..." Hmm... thats interesting... why would a guy do that? Why would any guy do that? 1st of all, why take her number if he has no intentions of calling her... why ask her out if he isnt going to talk about it further... and god, why turn Nat down? She's so absalutly gorgeous! "Maybe he'll call soon... he might have just been busy..." I shrugged... I've always been bad at comforting... the only thing I can do is give advice!
"He took my number on Tuesday... I left him a note on Thursday... Today is Friday, almost Saturday... What time??? How much time does he need?"
"Relax..." I said, cutting her before she said more... wow... i havnt seen Nat like this over a guy! Or anything... As much as I'm happy for her... I don't think it's good right now... not unless that guy calls her back!
"Maybe you should --" Nat's phone rang. I had such a strong feeling its one of the boys inside... asking us to "hurry up"... She looked up at me, at the number and then up at me again.
"Who is it?" I asked, figuring it wasnt one of the boys.
"Dont know... Private number.." She said and picked it up. "Hello?" I'd only just noticed how different her Hello is when she doesnt know who is on the other line... its alot more unsure, unfriendly and curious... not as relaxed and friendly as the other hello... obviously, because she doesnt know who is on the line!
"Uh.. Matt! Umm... hey yeah it's me.. Natalie.." She said, with a broad smile. Nat's happy and shocked smile. It's so cute. She looked over at me with excitement and then squeezed my hand. I smilled back. I was so happy... because she deserved to be happy!! and I guess I had absalutly no idea what I was going to do to make her feel better... so, I must say, perfect timing Matt!
"Uh huh..yeah defenatelly... No, it's fine I understand" She went on with her unwipable smile. "Coffee?" She repeated the word and looked over at me confused. I nodded quickly. As if that was even a question... we'd been out here in the cold because she wanted to meet him... and now he'd asked! "Yeah... I'm free..." she said on the phone... I like seeing Nat happy! I just wish he'd called earlier...

So now that he has, tomorrow when we go shopping nothing will be on her mind.. I cant wait... I'm so glad I can finally do something for my friends! And ... you know what... Conner would look so.. so hot at the wedding.. I hope he doesnt say he wont come.. that would really suck if he says that he doesnt want to go or dress up formally.. hmm, I'm sure I can convince him... somehow! The cute look with a please hasnt worked for awhile, neither has the smile... so it's time for something new! Maybe I should leave her in privacy to talk to him, obviously things are going fine if their still talking on the phone... I smilled and opened the door to go inside.
"Thanks..." She whispered and shut the door. Thanks? what for? God, the amount of credit I get sometimes for doing absalutly nothing!