Chapter Three
Ella
My head hits the pillow close to midnight. As soon as I close my eyes, my phone vibrates on the small stool serving as an end table next to me.
Crap. What does Vienna need now?
I grab my phone, but it’s not the stepmonster. It’s my secret pen pal.
SoloSurfer: How was your night?
BBUGirl: Long
BBUGirl: How was yours?
SoloSurfer: same
BBUGirl: You’re up late
SoloSurfer: I could say the same for you
I first met SoloSurfer in an online community for Bristol Bay University students and then in an offshoot group for hockey fans over the summer.
I was nervous, okay, extremely nervous about entering my freshman year of college without knowing many people.
Someone at my work suggested that I join a group at my college.
I think they meant a club or an organization, and not an online discussion board.
But hey, this way was a lot less intimidating.
We also bonded over everything hockey, including the Bristol Bay Harbor Seals. The players are more fierce than their mascot. You’ll have to trust me on that one.
I find myself chatting with SoloSurfer more each day. We started messaging on the app here and there, which then moved to daily, and then exchanging numbers, to where we are now—texting first thing in the morning and the last thing at night.
I’m not complaining.
Is it weird that we haven’t exchanged actual names yet?
In my head, he’s SoloSurfer. A loner with shaggy blond hair who would rather surf in suboptimal temps than pay attention in biology class.
That’s only in my imagination, though. The only actual information we’ve exchanged is our usernames and phone numbers.
He did ask to meet up. Once. Right before school started, a little over a month ago now. I didn’t say no per se, but I also didn’t say yes either. I just never gave an exact answer, and he never brought it up again, but maybe…maybe I should.
BBUGirl: Do you think we’ve met on campus?
SoloSurfer: Our college has over 5,000 students
SoloSurfer: But it’s possible
SoloSurfer: I’ve been so busy that I haven’t gotten out much this semester
BBUGirl: Same
I agree easily, but I don’t tell him that I’m a huge loser who only goes to class, work, and home to serve the stepmonster.
Maybe someday I’ll get out more and maybe meet my SoloSurfer.