Day 174

While Toni and I had a good day...we had a terrible night.

I got a good sleep in. I was woken up a few times this morning, but honestly...that's expected now. Luckily I was able to keep falling back to sleep until about 11. I woke up and lazed around in bed for a bit. Eventually I showered, got dressed, and went downstairs for some cereal. I returned to my room, bowl in hand, and ate while checking e-mails and such. I received a text from Toni at around 12, and we decided she'd pick me up to go shopping at 1.

I got my makeup on, and was ready when she knocked on the door. The two of us drove into Chelmsford and bought Rebecca's birthday presents. We also got a Starbucks, and had a very interesting conversation with a lady as we were walking into Boots. I'll have to tell you more about that later.

When we were done getting everything we needed, Toni drove me back here and we came up to my very messy room to decide what I was going to wear tonight, and to wrap the gifts and find something on my laptop. I had forgotten I brought a certain dress with me, so as soon as we came across it, it was decided that that is what I was wearing. The only issue now, was finding the right shoes. We finished wrapping the present, and as we were about to leave my room, there was a knock on my door. It was Josh and Nathaniel. Apparently Nathaniel had to interview someone for his homework, and I was the person he'd chosen...but then he decided he wasn't interviewing me anymore, and he had already switched his mind from Josh, so I guess he was just going back downstairs to think about who he wanted to talk to. He apologized for bothering me, and closed the door. Hahaha what a cutie. Josh told me later that he had told Nathaniel not to bug me. Poor little guy haha. Toni left and I grabbed some fruit.

I came back upstairs to get ready, and asked a guy friend what shoes he thought would suit a short dress best. He told me to wear tall boots, not my sandaled heels. The second I put my boots on, I knew they were perfect for my outfit. I threw on some jewellery, and was ready with more time to spare than I expected. I put on a coat of nail polish, and had slipped on my runners so that it would be easier to drive. I got directions to Rebecca's, and headed out. - Not before my 20 questions from Nathaniel and Zach though haha - I still managed to get lost on the way to Rebecca's. The internet directions had given me street names, and if you've ever been to this area before...you know it's hard to find street signs anywhere. After a phone call to her, and a couple of maneuvers to turn myself around, plus a small run in my stocking from my ring...I finally made it. Toni and Hannah arrived shortly after. By then, Rebecca had already opened her gifts from Toni and I and really liked them. I think the things she was most excited about was her birthday badge, and her balloon. - A balloon I would want to pop as the night dragged on -

We first drove to Prezzo in Chelmsford, where we were having dinner. A wrong turn off the roundabout had us getting there a little later than we were supposed to arrive, but the directions weren't exactly flowing out of my passenger's mouth :p Luckily, nobody really minded. Dinner was good. The food was enjoyable, and we had some laughs. It was what was to come that brought our night down.

I'm not sure I'll ever offer to be designated driver again. While it makes sense for me to be it, because I don't drink, it's not the best when you want to leave so bad but can't. We started off at a bar that always has me confused. There's no dance floor, so you get your drinks, and then just stand there sort of dancing...I always feel really out of place there...it just doesn't flow properly. Then we headed to another bar...it was horrible. To explain just how bad it was...the thought "If I don't drink tonight, it's a certainty that I will never drink in my lifetime" crossed my mind, and at one point, I went to stand in the smoking area with Toni, just to get away from it all. Yes, I chose to take in second hand smoke, rather than stand in that bar a minute longer. Toni was having a horrible time as well. As wrong as this sounds, I was glad she felt the same way, because up until that point, I had felt like Debbie Downer. I couldn't smile if my life depended on it. Never have I been pushed around so much in my life. Not to mention the fact that you couldn't dance because broken pieces of glass were sticking to the bottom of your shoes and it was hurting too much. Anyway, eventually, I don't know if Rebecca and Hannah noticed Toni and I weren't smiling - not even when people were purposely hitting us in the faces with Rebecca's birthday balloon - or what, but they finally asked if we wanted to leave. I don't think either of us have ever been so relieved. We headed for the door, and when we got outside, Rebecca removed her shoes. Toni and I legged it to the car where I changed back into my sneakers, and put on our sweatshirts. We heated it up and waited for the other two to make their way over.

I dropped Hannah at home, and then Toni and Rebecca, and drove home. When I got back Heloise was up helping Nathaniel switch beds, and asked if I had a nice time. She looked like she was half asleep, so I kept it short and just told her it was crap. Now I've written this, my eyes are sleepy, and my feet are sore, so I'm going to go to sleep. Good Night xx