Part 1 * The Party Goers *
Shelly, with her right hand holding the phone to her ear, raised herself up with her left hand. "Ugh. I'm getting old. A simple movement like getting up from lying down is a task," she said.
Laughter came from the other end of the phone. "Yeah, you are ancient! To hear you tell it, you are in need of a hip replacement. You are only twenty years old ya know. You are in great shape! Your problem is we have been on the phone for two hours. Seeing as I have not heard you move or shift in that time, I would imagine your muscles are stiff. Stretch it out girlie!" a male voice said.
Shelly started flexing her toes and rolling her head to either side of her shoulders. "You are right doctor. I need to move around," she said.
Shelly did not think twice about John's ability to know exactly what she had been doing or knowing what she needed. Their relationship was like that. The two had met their freshman year of college and had become best friends. Now Juniors, they had stood by one another through the ups and downs of college life. Shelly depended on John to be her ground force in the torrential winds life sometimes cast her way.
Standing, Shelly looked at her view from her bedroom window. She lived in a dorm tower, on floor seventeen. She loved having a view of the campus and the town.
"Wow, it is so beautiful out today. The trees are mostly bare now and the leaves are everywhere. I love fall, John," she said.
"Yeah, it is nice out. Cool enough for a jacket, yet still warm enough to enjoy being outside. I must admit I'm loving it too. I like fall because it means Halloween is near!"
Shelly laughed and said, "Typical. Candy in sight and you have tunnel vision." "So, are you coming to my floor party? You haven't given me a definite answer yet and I need to let the RA know," she asked.
"Yeah, I want to come. I might be a little late though because I am on duty till six o'clock tomorrow. Think you can make it without me for that long?" he asked.
Shelly smiled, "Yeah, I'll manage thirty minutes without you by my side. Besides, Trey is coming so I'll have someone to talk to," she replied.
"I didn't know talking was what Trey was into," John said.
Shelly stopped smiling, "The jokes about him are getting old, John. We have been dating for over six months now; you need to accept the fact that we are a couple," she said.
"Hey, I get the picture Shel. I just happen to think that you could do better. Whatever floats your boat. He is not the nicest person when it comes to you. That bothers me, but this is a moot point. You don't want to hear this and we have talked about this to the point I don't want to hear it either. So, onto other subjects we will go." Shelly was quiet. She could not argue with John. Trey was not Mr. Manners nor Mr. Congeniality when it came to their relationship, yet she cared deeply for him. Sighing, Shelly said, "Hey, go to your window, I want to see you."
John groaned and Shelly could hear his bedsprings squeak as he rose from the bed. "You seriously need a new mattress. You must wake the entire floor of your dorm."
John opened his curtains and squinted at the light now entering his room. "Yeah, I could wake people if there were any action going on in the bed." John laughed and said, "When this bed creaks it is due to my body weight alone. Okay, so here I am. Can you see me yet?"
Shelly looked out across the small pond that separated their dorms, and could see John waving, his body half hidden by his curtains. Shelly could only see him from the waist up. His black hair was standing on end and his squinting eyes gave him the look of a baby possum. A very built baby possum nonetheless. John worked out a few days a week and it had really paid off. His tight maroon t-shirt hugged his biceps and Shelly knew his killer abs were peeking through the thin fabric. John was the desire of many women at their school, but he only occasionally dated. He repeatedly said he didn't have a lot of free time for women. He always teased Shelly that between working out, his job, school, and her, where could he squeeze another person into his life? She was thrilled that he was her best friend and was so sensitive to her needs. He was always there when she needed him, but she also wanted him to be happy and find love with someone. She had Trey after all, and John needed someone too.
"Yeah, I see you now. Do you see me?" John opened his eyes wider and saw Shelly waving and sticking her tongue out. "Yeah, I see you Miss Froggy. Better watch out or a fly will think you have one nice landing strip."
Shelly retracted her tongue and raised her fist in the air, "See this? This has your name on it buddy. A nice knuckle sandwich."
"Hey, what are you going to the Halloween party dressed as?"
"It is a who not a what. I'm going as the beautiful 'Jeannie' of the infamous 'I Dream of Jeannie' television show."
"And Trey? Is he going as 'Major Nelson'?"
"I don't know. I have told him what I'm going as. He hasn't told me who he is going as. I would think he would want to match me. I'm excited to see him in a little astronaut outfit."
"Hmmm. They really made it tough for people to think up costumes for this party. Everyone has to come in a costume that one way or the other hides who they are. I'm guessing the costume rental stores are going to do great. Our fellow classmates are not so clever. Most need a full head and body covering that comes pre-made. I like your idea. I bet you are gonna look great."
"Thank you. I loved that show as a child and just thought it would be fun to go as the obedient and totally-in-love with her 'master,' 'Jeannie'."
John laughed, "Well I have no idea what I am going as, I better head out to the rental store myself."
Shelly sighed, "You better think of something good! Give me a call when you decide okay?"
John gave a final wave and said, "I gotta run Shel, I'll either give you a call or just come on over to the party, okay? Work beckons."
Shelly waved good-bye to her best friend across the way and turned back into her room. "Okay, but try to call me, otherwise I won't know who you are at the party! Have fun at work, and give your hair a little comb treatment. Bye!"
