Bipartisan Solutions Ch 05

I closed the diary breathlessly. What I read defied credulity. This Candace individual was a mother's worst nightmare. She smoked. She drank. She was wildly promiscuous. And she was clearly negatively influencing my daughter.

I was terrified of the influence of Frank and his lowlife son Jimmy in all of this. Somehow, this hideous man had the power to make my beautiful Abigail change who she was inside and out to attract him. If things progressed any further I would have no choice but to involve myself.

All her life Abigail had marched to her own drummer. She didn't care that she was the only one studying or practicing her cello when other kids were at the mall or partying. And as far as looks were concerned, she never followed any fashion fads. Hers was a timeless beauty that transcended ephemeral trends.

Now she was "twinning" with this airhead- dressing like a slut, dying her hair and even getting a belly button ring! My heart raced and my face flushed reading about her transformation. As her mother, I desperately wanted to protect her. But as a reader and a woman, I needed to know what happened next...

Entry 5

Oct 29, 2023

Dear Diary,

After my two decidedly different shopping excursions with Ashley and Candace, I feared I was developing a split personality. I continued to attend school and extracurriculars as per usual. I didn't dare to wear any of the new more provocative outfits that Candace bought me. A few people outside of my usual social circle complimented me on my highlights, but most people didn't notice since I wore it back in my usual ponytail.

Ashley, of course, knew immediately that something was different.

"Woahh new highlights, wow!!" she exclaimed when she saw me on Monday.

"Yeah, I thought I'd try something a little different this time. Do you like it?" I asked her.

"Of course!!" She looked at me more intently.. "It brings out a different side of you, I think" she said thoughtfully, before quickly adding, "Of course, you know that you would look beautiful in any style."

I demurred. "Actually, lately I'm not sure. Maybe it's the stress of applications, but I've been feeling more insecure than usual- about grades, college, my appearance- everything."

"Ok- let's get something perfectly clear. There is no one in the whole country more qualified for these schools than you are. You are the most brilliant, thoughtful, kindhearted person I've ever known. And as far as looks are concerned, you could be a runway model if your academic career ever stalled. If you weren't with William, every guy- or girl- in the world would be pursuing you."

Not every guy, I thought to myself.

"I wish I could see myself the way you and William do. I just doubt myself sometimes," I sighed.

"And that's perfectly normal. I doubt myself all the time. And who is it that talks me out of it?"

I smiled. "That would be me."

"Exactly! Physician heal thyself." We shared a laugh. I was so grateful that I had a friend I could be vulnerable with. That said, there was no way I could tell her about smoking at the party or the 'makeover' with Candace.

I caught a glance of Candace from time to time in between classes. She was invariably outside smoking and laughing with her friends. It was unclear to me if she ever went to class. I felt guilty ignoring her, but I selfishly worried about my reputation.

When the end of the week finally arrived, I was ready to unwind. Friday night, William took me to an exquisite chamber music recital. I wore my most cherished blue dress that used to be my mother's. When I was little, I used to see it hanging in her closet and fantasize about wearing it myself one day when I met the love of my life.

As usual my heart was captivated by the passion of the music. It had an instantaneous effect on my mind and body. When the music grew agitated, I felt my heart race. When it was more tranquil, I could finally relax. When it was romantic, my heart soared. I cuddled up next to William. It was the ultimate aphrodisiac.

We left arm in arm- me transferring the cornucopia of feelings the music elicited in me to William. Walking back to his car, we enjoyed a slow and tender kiss. This man was such an irresistible romantic- the kind of man I'd been dreaming of since I was a little girl.

After the concert, we had our double date with Ashley and Henry. They are truly an adorable couple! We all went out for pizza together. It was strange being in a pizza place dressed like we were going to a ball. I received many compliments on my gorgeous dress. Henry, awkward as ever, said I looked "amazing", and William said I was "Venusian" in my beauty. Ashley said that I looked like a "goddess".

I loved my friends so much. They made me feel so beautiful. In that moment, I felt like a princess.

When I finished eating, I made my way to the restroom. When I was passing the bar, I felt a cold liquid splash abruptly against me. It smelled like cold beer from one of the bar patrons. When I looked up, I was looking directly into Frank's ugly sneering face.

"What the hell??" I screamed.

He proceeded to pour the rest of his drink on me. I watched helplessly in horror as I felt the beer soak through my beloved dress.

Tears formed in my eyes, and I couldn't help but cry.

"What is wrong with you? Why did you do this to me? What did I ever do to you?"

"You look hideous in that outfit," he belched.

"What??" I looked back at him, bewildered through my tears.

"You look like a filthy piece of garbage. I can't even stand to look at you," he said, grimacing with disgust.

"That's rich coming from you'" I stared back at him defiantly through my tear soaked eyes.

He slapped me hard across the face. It hurt so intensely, that my tears were now flowing freely.

"Candy said she took you shopping and that I'd be impressed," he said, his voice rife with disappointment.

"I-I can't wear those to a classical concert," I tried to reason.

He slapped me again, harder this time.

"You can do whatever the hell you want. But just so you know, your window with me is closing. If you don't start dressing like the whore you are, I ain't never gonna give you the time of day again."

I exploded at him, "I. DON'T. CARE!! I'm not attracted to you!! You disgust me!! I fucking HATE you!! I only tolerate you so I can date your son, who I'm madly in love with by the way."

"Just think about what I said," he said calmly as I stormed off, my face a pathetic combination of tears and mascara and my precious dress irrevocably ruined.

When William saw me approach the table, he stood up immediately.

"Abigail- what happened to you? What's wrong?"

I couldn't tell them what really happened. It was too humiliating.

"I- I bumped into a- a- man in the bar, and and I spilled beer all over my dress. And now it's ruined" I said, still crying uncontrollably.

He just held me tightly in his arms and let me cry. Eventually Ashley came over. "It's okay, honey. I've spilled on my outfits plenty of times. The stain can be removed,"

By this point, I was hysterical. "No it can't!! I can never wear that dress again!!" William brought me a tissue and just held me as I sobbed.

Despite everyone's words of encouragement, I still felt awful. When William dropped me off at home, I tore off my precious dress, ripped it into pieces, and cried myself to sleep.

The next day I slept in until after noon. I tried to get some homework and applications done but I just couldn't concentrate. I couldn't shake the feeling. Who did he think he was calling ME hideous when HE was an obese stinky troll? And why would I care that my window to attract him was closing? I was already head over heels in love with his son!!

This was the day of my Safe Rides shift. A part of me wanted to get the call, just so I could get my mind off of everything. At 8, the text came through. As usual, it was Trevor's house.

I figured if ever there was a time to wear my new clothes, this was it. I applied my new makeup the way Becky showed me at the salon. I put on the red tube top, the jean skirt and the sexy heels. I looked in the mirror. That hot chick from the salon was staring back at me. There was no way I was being called hideous tonight.

When I arrived at Trevor's, I rang the doorbell as per usual. Trevor answered with his patented frat boy grin.

"Can I help you?" he asked, eyeing me lewdly.

"It's me," I said.

He looked confused. He clearly had no idea who I was.

"Abigail from Safe Rides," I clarified.

I mentally counted to 10. Then the epiphany struck.

"Holy Shit.. Abigail!! Is that really you?" he said, in shock.

"I told you I was a liberal in the truest sense," I said with a twinkle in my eye.

"You're the hottest libtard I've ever seen" he grinned.

"Now remember the boundary we talked about last time. We can be friends, but I have a boyfriend," I reminded him.

"Hmm.. sounds like you're a conservative," he said, provokingly.

"I am not!!" I protested.

"Sounds like you could be part of the Christian Coalition," he teased.

"That is not true! I am a hard core feminist who.."

"Blah, blah, blah" he mocked, putting his arm around me and leading me in. I shivered, feeling his confident hands on my exposed shoulders.

He led me into the kitchen.

"Drink?" he offered.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I can't drink, I'm the designated driver!!"

"Lame," he said. I rolled my eyes.

"Nice piercing" he commented, lowering his arm to my back.

"Oh, thank you," I said, a little self-conscious. He lowered his hand, so it was now groping my ass. My body tingled all over in reaction to his touch. "Uh, I should probably find the person who needs the ride" I said, removing his wayward hand.

"I'll be right here," he said.

I headed towards the living room. It didn't take me long to run into Jimmy and Candace, who were sitting on the couch drinking and smoking.

When Candace saw me, she started jumping up and down and squealing. I couldn't help but smile back.

She ran over and hugged me, thrusting her tits in my face in the process.

"OMG you look so freakin' hot" she exclaimed.

"Well, if that's true I have you to thank" I said.

"Awww. You're such a sweetheart! Come join us!"

I followed her to the couch where Jimmy was sitting. He reeked of booze and smoke.

"Who the hell is this?" he barked, blowing smoke in my face. I shivered.

"It's Abby, silly. Remember I told you about the make over. We're twinners now!" she said, putting her arm around me. I smiled awkwardly.

"God damn- nice work, Candy," he beamed, rewarding her with a slap on the butt. "Last time, Dad told me he saw you wearing some ugly ass dress," he continued. I shuddered to think of that traumatic memory.

"Well that was at an event with entirely different cultural norms.." I tried to explain.

"Aw shut the fuck up. Do you want me to tell dad you're running your mouth again with them big words?" Inexplicably, I stopped talking.

"Now, now Jimmy," Candace interrupted. "Abby is doing just fine. She's learned from her mistakes, and she's come to this party looking sick af." I wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but I ascertained it was a compliment.

"Uh, thank you Candace." I took a seat on the couch next to them.

"So are you the ones who called for the ride?" I asked.

"Yeah," replied Jimmy. "Let me finish off this smoke and we can go."

I watched longingly as they both smoked, blowing the smoke in my face. As at the salon, I felt my body relax somewhat. Maybe because of the stress of the past few days, though, I was still tense. I found myself wanting more.

Oblivious to my burgeoning craving, they continued filling the room with smoke. I wanted- no needed- to join them but I was too timid to ask.

I tried looking pleadingly at them and giving non-verbal hints, but to no avail.

"Alright, let's go," Jimmy announced. Inside, I was panicking.

"Wait!" I cried, my desperation palpable.

"What is it? Don't you need to get home to study?" he sneered mockingly.

"Uh, would you mind if I had one too?" I asked, without making eye contact.

"Yayyy!!" Candace squealed. "I told you she'd be smoking in no time."

"Well, well, well.. Little Miss Perfect is begging for a cigarette. What would Mommy and Daddy think?" Jimmy taunted.

I cringed to think of what my two University professor parents would think of their precious daughter begging for cigarettes from a lowlife like Jimmy.

"Please, Jimmy. It's been a really stressful week and I just need to relax my nerves a little," I said, looking at him with doe-eyed innocence.

He paused to think, "I'll think about it.. but you'd need to do something for me in return."

"If you're thinking about doing something untoward with me, I can assure you that is NOT going to happen." I said assertively.

"Don't flatter yourself, bitch. Why would I want you when I've got me a whole bowl of 'Candy' to enjoy?" he said patting Candace creepily on the butt.

Candy responded, "Awww," as if his misogyny were somehow cute.

"Then what do you want from me?" I pleaded.

"I want you to have a drink," he grinned.

"You know I can't do that. I'm the designated driver!" I reminded him for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Well what if I told you I could get someone else to pick us up and drive us back," he offered.

I shuddered to think of who that might be. But with no options, I acquiesced.

"Fine. But just one drink," I said.

"Not so fast.. one drink per cigarette," he insisted.

"I'm not planning on more than one anyway. I'm not an addict. I just need to release tension," I assured him.

"Tell yourself whatever you want. Do we have a deal?" he asked.

"I agree to your terms," I said, and we shook. Candace handed me a cigarette from her pack and Johnny lit it for me. I surprised myself by how easy it was for me to inhale.

Finally, my mind and body began to relax. I think I had been in denial about how much I needed that. I hope that didn't mean...

Johnny handed me a drink. "Drink up," he grunted.

"What's in it?" I asked.

"Can you stop with the fucking questions? This is exactly what's such a boner kill for dad." Johnny barked at me.

"Sorry," I said reflexively, although it seemed like quite a reasonable thing to be asking.

The drink tasted sweet and minty, but with an undeniable kick. I appreciated how the mintiness of the drink complemented the minty flavors of the cigarette.

"What do you think, Ab?" Candace asked, taking a seat next to me.

"It's okay," I said shyly.

"We just need to loosen you up!" She said enthusiastically.

"I don't know if.."

"So I heard about your fight with Frank," she said.

"It wasn't a fight. He threw beer on me for no reason, insulted me, and slapped me in the face! He's a horrible human being!" I said, my face wrinkling in disgust.

"Aww Abby. It just goes to show that we can't control who we're attracted to. You know, people go their whole lives trying to change other people, and end up making themselves miserable. The secret is to love and accept people for who they are."

Love?? What the hell was she talking about? I could never love a man like that. I took a few more puffs on my cigarette and a big gulp of my mysterious drink.

"But he's literally trying to change who I am!"

"Is he? Who really are you, Abby? Are you the snobby know it all bitch from school or the fun chick from the mall the other day,"

"Sometimes, I feel like I don't really know," I said honestly, puffing away. My cigarette was almost out.

"Do you really not know or do you lie to yourself?" she said with a seriousness I had not seen from her before.

This was way too uncomfortable. I finished my drink, and held the small remaining end of the cigarette in my hand.

"Johnny, get her another," she called out.

"I really don't think I should. I've never had anything to drink before and I'm already starting to.." I put out my cigarette in the ashtray.

"Abby remember what I said about lying to yourself. You've been thinking about smoking all week. It was torture watching you at the mall," Candace reminded me.

She wasn't wrong. All week I'd been unconsciously drawn to any smokers I could find.

"Fine. But just one more. I don't want to get addicted," I said, although I feared that ship was sailing.

Johnny brought me the drink, and I took a few more sips. It was delicious, and I noticed my mood improving as Candace lit another cigarette for me.

We laughed and talked about lighter topics. I learned about the latest celebrity gossip, her live of reality TV, and tge latest trends on Instagram and Tiktok. Eventually two drinks/smokes became three, and three became four. There was no denying that Candace was tons of fun. There was no way I'd ever be able to hang out with Ashley like this.

At this point, our shoes were off and we were sitting on the couch facing each other, our knees and our matching toenails lightly touching. Our feet teased each other playfully as we drank, smoked, laughed and chatted. Johnny just sat there smoking and eyeing us with a lewd expression on his face.

"So who would you do at school?" she asked.

"Candace!!" I said feigning shock. "Well, IF I didn't have a boyfriend I would say Trevor. He's a total prick, but there's something undeniably attractive about him."

"Hee hee- you've clearly got a type. You guys should totally hook up," she giggled.

"I could never do that to William." I said sincerely. I shifted uncomfortably before whispering, "Besides, wouldn't he be jealous and mad?"

We both knew who 'he' was.

"Abby- for someone as smart as you, you don't listen. He doesn't want to be with someone who's innocent and virginal. It's hot if they start that way, but if you want an actual relationship with him, you need to be a total skank like me," she giggled. Did I want an actual relationship with him?

"I'm not sure one could ever aspire to that level of skankiness," I teased, nestling up closer to her, our feet now holding each other and our toes curling playfully in response.

"You bitch," she chided playfully, rubbing her leg against mine. I barely noticed her refilling my drink and lighting another cigarette up for me.

At this point, Trevor walked in. He raised an eyebrow, observing me smoking and drinking while cuddling with Candace.

"Hey Trevor.." she flirted. "We were just talking about you." Blushing even in my inebriated state, I drunkenly hit her. "Stop Candy, don't tell him anything," I said, slurring my words.

"My ears must have been burning," he said. Candace untangled herself from my legs, stood up and announced, "Sorry Abby, I've been neglecting poor Johnny. I need to show him some attention. I'll see you in a bit." She led Johnny coquettishly to another room leaving me and Trevor alone.

Trevor took her spot on the couch next to me, smoothly putting his arm around me. "So what did you say about me?" he asked.

"That you're a total prick whose ignorance is matched only by your arrogance," I said candidly, albeit drunkenly. My legs and feet, forgetting that Candace had left, were brushing up against his pant legs as they had been previously with her.

"How so?" He inquired, lightly caressing my exposed back and shoulders.

"You're scared that the perch of unearned privilege you've enjoyed as a white man for centuries is crumbling, so you demonize groups that have been marginalized for just as long while they attempt to rise," I lectured, while simultaneously leaning into his touch.

"So I take it you never got around to listening to any of the stuff I asked you to," he said, now confidently massaging my arms and back. "Although I must say your style of dress is much more to my liking."

"That is beside the point." I said, my breathing becoming more erratic. "And for your information, I did listen to your recommendations." I said, snuggling closer.