Nia's Resolve | 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘚𝘺𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦

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August sun beat down on the picnic table while she ate with a group from the dorms. They'd stumbled upon a cute café at the edge of campus, and had agreed to rest before walking downtown. It was a perfect weekend to explore her new city, homework and presumptuous playboys tucked away as unwanted memories.

Nia nibbled on her plain bagel and soaked up the balm of sunshine, running her toes through the grass. This excursion hadn't been too bad, and from bits and pieces of their conversation, she got to learn more about her neighbors. 

But for the most part, she let herself fade into the background. Various chit-chat about the Greek organizations and which guys were hottest held no interest for her, and it slipped in one ear and out the other. Some of the topics were so predictable Nia wondered if they were in a television show. 

Except, she didn't have the script.

It was hard to gauge whether the other girls were pretending to be shallow, or if they enjoyed their life filled with gossip.

Fictional characters were so much less complicated. They came with less risk and she could read into their thoughts without putting herself on the line. Even the villains usually earned her sympathy in some way or another.

Her gaze wandered to a freshly-mowed hill and on it she crafted a typical, yet sweet plot line that would be a part of any blissful summer romance.

A simple, plain girl sat in the dappled shade, enjoying a picnic with her boyfriend. Complete with a red checkered blanket and a basket full of fruits and sandwiches, they basked in the pleasure of each other's company. The girl giggled at the words of man across from her, smiling together in the midday sun...

"What an enchanting sight. Do you ladies happen to be new to campus?" a familiar voice chimed from the sidewalk.

Closing her eyes, Nia prayed it wasn't the one person she had hoped to avoid. Daydream ruined, she turned. As the devilishly handsome face smiled back, knew her request hadn't been granted.

The other girls swooned as Caspian came over to sit down with them, laying on the charm. Despite her initial surge of annoyance, seeing him in the daylight had a different effect on her. A traitorous blush crept over her cheeks as she cursed his sharp jaw line and those oh-so kissable lips.

Serena was the first to engage in conversation, her personality as bedazzling as the glittery eyeliner that matched the bright pink of her crop-top. "Yeah, how did you know? We're all freshmen. Are you a student too?"

"Mn, yes I am, but I could gladly teach you a few things if you wanted me to," Caspian replied with a flash of his straight, white teeth.

Nia groaned, somehow this was much worse than their previous conversation. Why did he have to show up twice in one week? Once was more than enough for him to get stuck in the creases of her brain like gum on a shoe.

Nia crossed her legs and drifted again to the green hill. Instead of entertaining Caspian, she returned the cute fictitious couple, ramping things up with a more... intense scenario. Sighing, Nia imagined the ecstasy of wandering hands and curious tongues.

The picnicking duo leaned in closer, touching lips as their arms wrapped around each other. They fell backwards onto the soft grass, dancing on the line of too much public affection. The girl found her hands pinned above her, gentle whispers of sweet nothings caressing her neck. Lost in the totality of their love, the two forgot the mundane world around them...

As her mind was put at ease, another voice cut in, "Nia, earth to Nia... You've been out of it the whole time." Serena's glossed lips poked in a pout as she stabbed Nia's shoulder with one slender, manicured fingernail.