He sticks out a hand with a small smile. “Have we ever met before?” I look between them before shaking my head. He sticks his hands in his pockets, and his actions seem almost shy. “I’m sorry, probably confusing you with someone else.”
I nod at that and Vanessa squeals again, then Chase turns around to announce the tour is about to begin. She links her arm with mine and I’m proud that I’ve already found someone on this huge campus. They take the scenic route, and I act like I haven’t memorized the map. After a couple hours, we stop at the dining hall, and I pile the “good” food on my plate. I scan around for any open tables when Vanessa and Chase wave me over to theirs.
I look over my shoulder, but they laugh before they point at me and wave me over once again. I rush to them, thankful I won’t be sitting alone. The cold plastic sticks to the bottom of my thighs and I hiss under my breath, but I mask it with a smile.
“So, how you liking MC?” Chase dips his fries in ketchup as Vanessa smiles over at me for a bit before turning around in her seat to talk to somebody else behind her.
“It’s really nice, fancier than I thought.” I look down, drizzling the Caesar dressing on my salad, and he chuckles.
“Glad to hear it. So, I know it’s been asked all day, but what major are you?”
“Animal science with a minor in astronomy.” His eyebrows shoot up and I roll my eyes slightly. “Were you expecting something else?”
He chuckles softly again, giving me a look with his blue eyes. “See, this is me not falling for that, but you’re the first person I’ve met with that major.”
“What about you?” I counter, and he sighs deeply, running a hand through his blond strands.
“Aerospace engineering.”
I nod. Engineering is definitely one of the harder majors out there. “How’s that going?”
“I have two years left, and one of my professors is screwing us with the latest homework, but I guess I can’t complain.” I go back to eating when Vanessa turns around with a smirk.
“So, roomie, are you wanting to go to the little party tonight?” she asks, and I take a quick glance at Chase, seeing him regarding her with cool detachment. I look back at Vanessa’s excited face and grimace at the question. I’ve never been to a party, much less a college one. “It’ll be fun, that’s where all the hot guys on campus are.” Her smile is wide and Chase rolls his eyes.
“Well, I was planning to find out about some astronomy clubs. Plus, I don’t really—”
She waves me off. “C’mon, you’re in college now. Besides, there’s this guy that I hooked up with a couple years ago who’ll be there for sure. So, come on, be my wingwoman?”
Chase exhales sharply through his nose as the other girls she was talking to turn around and smile at me, all of them waiting for a response.
The peer pressure begins.
“It’s a freshmen get-together at a frat, you should be okay,” Chase speaks up. Vanessa looks back at me and I nod somewhat reluctantly. He stands. “Alright, guys, let’s start to head out.” We pack up our things and form a circle as we return to the tour. Leaving the dininghall, the parents walk in, and I quickly wave to Mom before seeing Josh surrounded by a bunch of stuffy-looking dads. Of course, he’s already found the other social elites.
Building after building, I can feel it. This is where I’m meant to be. This has been my dream school for as long as I can remember. Liam and Iboth loved it, him for this place having his idol as a professor, and me for it having the largest planetarium in the whole state. There’s some sort of parade going on, and we sit in the quad, watching it go by. I look around, picturing myself sitting under one of the oak trees doing my homework. Maybe even coming out at night and doing some stargazing.
“Okay, you have everything, right?”
Looking back at Mom, I say, “Yes, I’m all good, I promise.”
She nods at that and looks toward the other kids checking into their overnight rooms, a wistful look on her face. “Alright, I guess this is it.”
I hug her tightly, even though I’ll be seeing her tomorrow afternoon, given that this is orientation and not me starting the fall semester yet.
“I’ll behave, and I lov—” Josh’s phone’s ring cuts me off, and he answers with his lawyer tone. He nods curtly at me as he drags Mom away, and I wave at her. Shaking my head, I swing my duffel bag onto my shoulder, walking into the room and finding Vanessa smiling brightly.
“Hey! Welcome to my dorm room. That whole side over there is yours.” I look around, trying to control my facial expressions at the pink splattered everywhere. Everything is either fluffy or bedazzled, and I get a good look at the Hello Kitty poster I’ll be staring at tonight. Putting my bag on the small bed, I turn right when two dresses are thrust into my face.
“Red or silver?” She switches both of them so fast, I can’t even tell which one will look good. Blindly pointing toward the red one,she holds it up a bit more and nods. She returns to the closet and comes back with a bunch of dresses that she throws on my bed.
“Don’t think I forgot about you coming with me.” I look up, ready to protest, but she holds up a hand. “You already said you would.” I look at the options, knowing half of these are going to ride up, considering she’s way shorter than I am. She then starts to hold some options in front of me with a pensive expression on her face, and I look at her in confusion. She’s obviously popular or whatever it’s called in college. She seems really nice, yet the way Chase was looking at her made me feel a bit uneasy. I mean, I just met both of them, and I believe in forming your own opinion.
She shrieks, taking me out of my thoughts, as she settles on a short navy dress with little sequins along the sweetheart neckline. A small groan comes out of me, but I shut up as she goes back into her closet. She comes back out with shoes that are surprisingly my size.
“I’m short, but have big feet. Hated them till now.” I look at her in exasperation because she’s too nice, and skepticism flows through me. Looking over at the clock, the party doesn’t start for hours, but I already feel the need to throw up or have a panic attack. She smiles as I put the outfit together, and as much as I wanted to hate it ...
I look nice. I look beautiful.
