I’m feeling pretty good as I file out of the room, at least until I remember I have to see Alessandro again.My phone is in my backpack, and I reach inside out of habit, prepared to text him that I’m ready to go, but there’s still almost half an hour until class wasofficiallysupposed to end.This could be a chance to look around, maybe grab coffee at one of the stands in the courtyard between this building and the one next to it, and hang out for a little while.I want to feel like I’m part of things, not a visitor who pops in and out a few times a week.
The only problem is that all the tables in the courtyard are occupied by the time I make it outside.My heart sinks a little, but I walk up to the stand anyway and order an iced latte, then reach into my bag for my wallet.
“Oh, I’m sorry!”a girl almost squeals when she knocks me against the counter from behind.Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her flipping off the two guys who walked behind her, and who must have shoved her into me.They barely glance over their shoulders, scowling, before they continue walking away.
She turns to me, frowning.“I’m sorry again.Hope I didn’t make you spill anything on yourself.”
“Nope, I didn’t get my drink yet.No worries.”
Her smile carries relief, and her pale blue eyes twinkle as she holds out a hand.“Brynn.Nice to meet you.First day?”
“Is it obvious?”I ask, laughing as I shake her hand.“Giulia.It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are you here with people, Giulia?”she asks, looking around.Her long blonde ponytail swings when she turns her head.She has a fresh-faced, California-girl vibe going on, but then I’m only going off of what I’ve seen on television.I don’t have much real-world experience to fall back on.
Somehow, it’s not embarrassing to shake my head and admit I’m alone.“Just getting some coffee before heading home.”
“Here on campus?”
I have to shake my head again, this time with a heavy heart.“No, I’m commuting from Long Island three times a week.How about you?”
Only now do I remember we’re standing in line.I step aside so Brynn can order an iced matcha latte, then we move away to wait for our drinks.“I’m living in the dorms, my roommate and the girls who live next door are over there,” she explains while pointing to one of the full tables, where a trio of girls chat while scrolling on their phones and tablets.
God, I wish I were one of them.I wish I didn’t have to go home or sit in a car with somebody I hate, but could hang out with friends instead.I wish I could be young.
When we get our drinks, she nods her head toward her friends.“Come meet the girls.”She makes it so easy, leading me over to them and introducing me to Serena, Maddie, and Olivia.
“Didn’t I just see you in class?”Serena asks.“I remember thinking how pretty your hair is.”
“Oh, thank you.So is yours,” I tell her, admiring her red waves.“I think that’s going to be a really fun class.”
“And I think I’m in your Sociology class,” Olivia tells me.“Professor Miller?”
Hope blooms in my chest.Maybe I don’t have to go through this alone.“That’s right.”
“I’ll save you a seat next to me on Wednesday, if you want,” she offers, toying with the straw in her cup so her freshly polished nails gleam in the sunshine.“We have that project coming up for our midterms… maybe we could be partners.”
“That would be great,” I agree.Better than great.I don’t want them to think I’m a total loser or whatever, but I could cry right now.I hoped and wished everybody would be this kind, but I didn’t actually think I would get this lucky.
“Are you sure you really have to go home right after class?”Maddie asks with a sympathetic look.“Could you maybe come back on Friday night?They’re having a party, sort of a way for everybody to meet each other.”
“You could stay with us!”Olivia offers, while Brynn nods excitedly.
“You can’t miss out on everything,” Serena insists.
It’s a tempting idea.I mull it over as we get up from the table, texting Alessandro that I’m ready to go.I’m worried he will try to find me otherwise, and I don’t need to get a reputation for psychos following me around campus.We reach the sidewalk close to where he dropped me off, and I look up and down the block, expecting him to pull up the way he did this morning.
“Who is that?”Brynn whispers before grabbing my arm and squeezing hard.“No, don’t look,” she whispers.“He’s staring at you.Don’t make it obvious.”
“He is so hot,” Olivia sighs, peeking around me to get a look.“Gorgeous.Is he a student here?”
“He looks too old,” Maddie decides.“Like thirty, at least.”She wrinkles her nose.
Serena blows out a low whistle.“Age is just a number.I would take any class he was in.”
This is ridiculous.I try my best to be casual, throwing a glance over my shoulder, then groaning when I confirm my suspicions.“Don’t bother,” I tell them.
“You know him?”There’s an almost manic light in Serena’s dark eyes when they lock onto mine.“Who is he?”
