“I need a drink, you want anything?” AI asked, finally needing a break.

“I’ll come with you,” replied Dana

“No thanks, I think I’m going to head outside for some air,” I said.

Before anything else could be said I felt a pair of hands slide around my waist, “Hey babe,” Eric drawled into my ear.

“Hey,” I said while forcibly removing his hand from my waist. Ignoring Eric, I turned back to Al & Dana “On second thought, could you grab me a water, please?”

“Sure thing,” Al said as they went off in search of drinks. Turning towards the door, I headed outside, feeling that Eric was following me.

“Hey, what was that?” he yelled jogging after me

“What was what?

“Why won’t you let me touch you anymore?”  he enquired

“Because I don’t want you to, it’s simple really”

“You seeing someone else?” he demanded, he was getting angry

“No, I’m not! I just don’t want to be with you!” I yelled back, losing my patience

“Don’t be stupid, I told my parents that I was going to marry you after college!” he yelled back

I couldn’t help it, I burst out laughing at the mere thought of marriage to Eric. “Me marry you, are you insane?”

“What’s wrong with that?” he asked

“Well for starters, the last thing I plan on doing after college is coming back to this dump. And secondly, even if I did get stuck in this town, I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on earth!”

I knew that I was being harsh, but I had had enough, everyone assumed that my life was going to be a carbon copy of my mom and sister, but I honestly couldn’t think of anything worse, and subconsciously I knew that if I made this argument with Eric loud enough and public enough it would soon filter back to my family.

Just then Alice, Dana and their dates stepped out to witness the showdown between us.

“Hey, guys, what’s going on? Dana asked

“She’s insane, that’s what!” Eric exclaimed

“I’m dumping him,” I replied, feeling lighter than I had in weeks

“Oh,” said Dana

“Finally!” Cheered Alice, with a giant smile across her face “About damn time TK!”