A Touch of Sunshine (gxg)

Part 10

I had now fallen into a rhythm with school. It wasn't as lousy as my first month. People on campus were starting to treat me a bit more normally. I spent a lot of time with Ellie, Leisha, Anna, and Helena- and I completely avoided Valerie.

Headley acted like she was the big shot on campus. Now everyone knew, of course, that she was courting my brother. And that she would be a Duchess right after graduation- and one day a Queen.

To me, she was more like a pain in the ass. But I digress.

It had been a few weeks since Jillian and I had hung out at the bar. I was dying to spend more time with her. We talked on campus and shared flirty glances and smiles- but I wanted more.

One Thursday in October, I found her on campus at the end of the day.

"Lucy, hey." She gave me a smile when I started walking beside her.

"Are you doing anything tomorrow or anytime this weekend?" I asked Jillian. Might as well be blunt about what I wanted.

Jillian looked at me. "I'd love to spend time with you this weekend. Are you doing anything tomorrow night?"

"I'm not. But there is a music festival tomorrow night in the village, right? I would think a lot of the girls from our school would go." I said.

"You're correct." Jillian nodded, "My whole soccer team is going, but if you'd like...we can go together."

Will it look like we are on a date?

Fuck it.

"That would be wonderful." I nodded.

"Then...only if you want...would you like to stay overnight in my dorm room?" Jillian asked with hesitancy.

"Yes. I would very much like that. I'll tell my mother that I'm staying with a friend of mine. I can't say I am staying with my cousin; she is going home this weekend."

"Ellie, right?" Jillian asked me.

"Yes." I nodded.

"She seems like a firecracker from what I've seen on campus." Jillian said, "In a good way."

"That describes her well. We've become closer though since I started school here."

"That's lovely." Jillian said, "Look, I have to go to soccer practice. Totally not trying to cut our conversation short. But I'm really looking forward to tomorrow."

"Me too." I smiled at Jillian, "I'll see you tomorrow night."

"Meet me at the front of campus at 7." Jillian said, and then she was off.

The next day at lunch the girls at the table I sat at were talking about the music festival.

"It's really lovely." Helena said, "My favorite is the woman who plays the harp."

"Yeah, if you want to fall asleep." Ellie said, "I'm kind of upset I'm not going though."

"You're going home this weekend to see your family, right?" Leisha asked Ellie.

"Yes." Ellie nodded, "It should be very nice. I haven't spent a full weekend with them since school started."

"Lucy, would you like to go to the music festival with us?" Helena looked at me.

I felt my face get hot.

I can't lie. What if they see me there?

"I am actually going already." I said, "With Jillian Breyer. But I would love to meet up if I see you there."