Chapter 2
Evie
When I finally make it to my room, after avoiding the obstacle course in the hallway, I stare at my bed for just a moment before I get to work. I’ve just finished with the last of my unpacking when my roommate returns from wherever it was she disappeared to. “It looks much better in here.”
I look around the room, feeling much better about it than I did when I first started. “Yeah.”
“You don’t waste any time, do you?” she asks, plopping down on her bed. She must notice my blank look. “Mr. Hottie that was in here earlier?”
“Oh, I just ran into him on the way in here.”
“Suuure.”
Her knowing smile makes me frown. “No, I literally ran into him on the way with my box. He was just being nice.”
“Uh huh.” She doesn’t sound too convinced, but it’s not my job to convince her. She’ll move on from it soon enough. I literally don’t even know the guy’s name.
I finish making my bed and step back to admire my handiwork. Just seeing my bedding on the bed makes it feel more like I belong. I snag my wallet and phone. Sam doesn’t look up from her phone when she asks, “Where are you going?”
I grab my packet I picked up when I registered. “I’m going to walk the campus and figure out where everything is at.”
Her eyes leave her phone at that and meet mine. “Why?”
I shrug. “I just want to know where everything is, so I know where to go my first day of classes.” I don’t wait to see her response; it doesn’t matter.
This is what I’m doing. I don’t know where anything is, and I’m not going to get lost on my first day and end up missing my classes.
“See you later.” I head out into the hallway and let the door close behind me, but it doesn’t close all the way because my roommate grabs it. I look at her in question.
She just shrugs. “I’ve got nothing else to do right now.”
“Okay.”
We start down the hall, and several girls call out greetings to her.
I take in a deep breath when we step outside.
It’s hot and sticky, but at least it’s outside.
I've always loved being outside, and right now, I need the feel of the sun on my face. I slide my sunglasses onto my face and consult my map of the campus. Sam snatches it from my hand. “You don’t need that, not when you’re with me.
” I fight back the urge to grab it back; I really wanted the map, but I know I can get another one later.
“Where do you want to go first?” she asks.
"I was going to walk to where each of my classes are held.”
She glances over at me, but I can’t see her eyes behind her dark shades. “Where’s your first class?”
I look at my list of classes. “The first one is in Atherton Hall.” She nods and takes off. We walk all over campus, and I take notes on my phone.
“Okay, that’s literally everything you need to know for now.” I make a mental note to wear comfortable shoes every day. I knew the campus was large, but it’s a lot more walking than I realized, not that I’m complaining. I enjoy walking. “Can we eat now? I’m starving!”
I glance over at Sam. “Oh sure. We’re not far from the dining hall, right?”
“What? Ew, no. I’m not eating there.”
I turn to her, a little surprised. “Where are you going to eat?”
“I don’t know yet; I haven’t decided. Probably Panera, or maybe Taco Shack.”
“Oh. How many restaurants do they have here?”
“Girl, they have like thirty restaurants.”
I knew there were several, but I knew I wouldn’t be eating at them often because of that little thing called money. Speaking of money, I needed to check online to see if there are any leads on the jobs I applied for. “I think I’ll check out one of the dining halls.”
“No, no you won’t,” she says, sticking her arm through mine.
“I’m saving you from yourself and the stomach pain you will have later on.
” She guides me inside what looks like a mall.
Surprisingly, the inside is pretty similar to a mall.
There are several restaurants, and it’s set up like a food court at the mall.
Seeing the familiar signs of so many places I recognize helps ease the nervousness inside me, especially when I see a particular one. “Where are you going to eat?” Sam asks.
I nod across the way. “Panda Express.”
“I’m going to grab tacos. Meet me in the middle.
” With that, she disappears into the crowd.
I head towards Panda and breathe deeply when I get close.
Panda Express is literally my favorite place; I could eat orange chicken every day and never get tired of it.
I don’t allow myself to regret my purchase as I head to a table in the center of the building.
I can’t do this often, but I figure a little splurge on my first day is okay.
I find Sam at a table and head her way, taking in the back of some guy’s head as I go.
He’s sitting next to Sam, and I can’t figure out if he has food and is eating with us or just stopped by for a moment to chat.
When I get close, I realize with a start that it’s the guy I ran into.
Sam sees me coming and kicks out the chair across from her. “Jace decided to join us.”
Jace. I lock in his name as I sit down, so I don’t forget. When I look at him, his eyes are already on me. “Hey,” I manage to say.
“Hey, Evie,” he says with a smirk, that I’m beginning to see is his norm. “How was the campus tour?”
I don’t look Sam’s way. “It was good.” The first bite of orange chicken hits my tongue, and flavor bursts across my tongue. I resist the urge to moan out loud, mostly because that would be humiliating, but it’s good enough that I could.
“You like it, I take it,” Jace says.
I swallow my bite. “Panda Express is my favorite.”
“Good to know.”
I glance over at Sam, but she’s engrossed on her phone. It’s quiet a moment, and I rack my brain for what to say. “What year are you, Jace?”
“Junior,” he responds easily. “I’d ask you, but I already know.”
I grimace. “Am I that easy to figure out?”
“Most freshman are, but don’t worry. You'll get the hang of things around here pretty fast.”
“I hope so.” I take a few more bites and wonder if he’s just going to sit here and watch me eat. “Are you not going to eat?” I finally ask.
“I ate earlier; I’m good.”
I finish my meal and put the lid back on my bowl. I notice Sam’s all done too, so I reach out and take her trash as well. “Thanks,” she says without looking up from her phone.
Jace walks with us back to our dorm and surprises me by following us up to our room.
Sam grabs a shirt and disappears into the bathroom.
Thankfully, I still have some organizing to do, so I get to that.
When Sam comes out, she grabs her keys and wallet.
“I’m off to the coffee shop.” That peaks my attention, and Jace notices.
“She works at one of the coffee shops on campus.”
“That’s awesome.”
Sam shrugs. “It’s a job.”
“I’ll definitely have to check it out; I love coffee shops.”
“Do you actually drink coffee or do you just like coffee shops?” she asks.
“Oh, I’m a coffee addict through and through.”
“You planning on working during the school year?” she asks.
“I am.”
She studies me a moment. “Go online and fill out an application for The Roastery. I’ll get you in.”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind if we work together and room together?”
She shrugs. “So far I don’t hate you.” I’m not really sure how to take that. “And besides, with our schedules, the chances of us working the same shift are pretty slim.”
“Well, thank you. I’ll work on the application.”
“Make sure it’s the right coffee shop.”
I type it into my phone, so I don’t forget. “Got it. Thanks so much.”
“Sure. Catch you later.”
She leaves, and silence falls. I’m wondering how I’m going to get rid of my male guest, but he walks over to the door. “I’m going to head out. Let me know when you’re going to go check out The Roastery; I’ll go with you.”
“I don’t have your number.”
He gives me that sexy smirk and stalks over to me. “Let me see your phone.” I give it to him, and he does something. My phone dings a moment later, and he hands it to me. “Now you do. See you around.”
I open the text and see his words. Hey, Gorgeous. I close out my text messages. I barely get a chance to enjoy the peace and quiet before a knock comes on my door. It takes me a moment to realize it’s not coming from the main door. “Come in.”
The door to the bathroom slowly opens, and a head peeks in. “Is the coast clear?”
I lift my eyebrows, trying to figure out what’s going on. “Uh, I’m not sure what you mean.”
The door opens all the way, revealing two girls. “Stop scaring her, Tessa,” the girl in the back says as she strides past the other girl. “Hi, I’m Stephanie, and that’s Tessa. We’re your suitemates. We share the same bathroom,” she says, pointing over her shoulder.
“It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Evie.”
“I love your name; that’s so cute,” Tessa says.
“Thanks.” I take both of them in. Stephanie is tall with shoulder-length black hair, and Tessa is closer to my height with long blond hair. “Why were you asking if the coast was clear?”
“Oh, we didn't want to come over when Sam was here,” Stephanie explains.
“Why not?” I ask.
They both blink and look at me like my head’s not on straight. They give each other a look, and I feel like I’m missing something. “She’s kind of...” Tessa falters a moment.
“Mean,” Stephanie supplies. “She’s mean.”
“What she said,” Tessa says.
“She’s been nothing but nice to me.” I know I haven’t known Sam for very long, but I feel like I need to stand up for her. She really has been nice to me.
Stephanie shrugs. “Well, I’m glad she’s nice to you. Where are you from, Evie?”
“Loveland, Colorado.”
“Oh wow, it’s so pretty there,” Tessa adds to the conversation.
“Have you been there?” I can’t help but ask.
“A few times. I love the weather there. No humidity,” she says with a sigh.
I can’t help but agree, especially if this is how it’s going to be every day here. “Where are you both from?”
“I’m from a small town in New Hampshire that nobody’s ever heard of,” Tessa says.
“And I’m from South Carolina, outside of Charleston,” Stephanie adds.
“Yeah, so she’s used to this heat and humidity.” Tessa fans herself as she says the words. “Thank goodness for air conditioning.”
“Seriously. What year are both of you?”
It’s Tessa that answers. “We’re both freshmen.”
“Really? I am too.”
“We should do some things together,” Tessa offers.
“That would be really great.” Relief floods me at the idea of having a few friends to be able to navigate college life with. I know I just met them both, but I feel like we’re going to be good friends.
“Are you going to the big game?” Tessa asks.
“What game?”
Her eyes widen. “The football game.” She says the words distinctly, like I should know this.
“Not everybody is into football like you are, Tess,” Stephanie says with a shake of her head. “This girl lives, eats, and breathes sports.”
“I do not; well, okay. I do. Anyway, the big game is in two weeks; but we need to get tickets now if we want to go. We should reserve tickets together. It’s going to be a great game. It’s the first game of the season!”
I shrug. “Sure.”
Tessa raises her hands in victory. “You’re going to love it!”
____________
I find myself at the football game two weeks later, squeezed between Tessa and Stephanie and thousands of other screaming fans. “This is insane,” I yell to Tessa.
“I know! Isn’t it great?” she yells back, her eyes alight with delight. “Can you believe we got seats this close to the field?”
“Yeah. It’s awesome.” I turn to face her. “Can you explain to me how the game works exactly?” I ask her.
She turns to me. “Okay. See that end of the field?”
I laugh. “I’m just kidding.” She rolls her eyes at me and then elbows me and grins. I eye the stadium with nearly a hundred thousand screaming fans. It really is insane.