THE PACT <3

Chapter 3 (Natalie)

Chapter 3

Natalie

My first thought is HOLY SHIT. I'm in a queen sized bed. Who did I fuck?

My head pounds, the usual. I've still got my jeans and tank top on, and i'm not sore. Thank god. But now I'm confused. Surprisingly, I'm able to stand up pretty easily. I'm searching for a clock and find one on a mantle. Almost two hours until techniques starts. Might as well look around. I look out of a tall curtained window and I can see Sal's. I know exactly where I am. Kind of. I'm in some random apartment, I have No idea who the owner is. It's pretty much the weirdest thing ever. What I didn't know is my life was about to change forever. While I was snooping around, I found a Polaroid of two guys, definitely twins. Definitely hot

.Did these guys save me last night? And then I found a note. And a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch. I resisted the urge to call this guy right the spot. what if he was crazy? But if he was crazy, I would've woke up naked. Maybe he was just the nicest guy on the planet. Just in case, I sniff the milk. I'll never refuse food. And if it really cures hangovers, I gotta have some.

After a few bites, I actually start to believe that this shit is working. My headache leaves without the aid of alcohol. After I'm done, I wash the dishes and stick them on the counter. I make Devon's bed, too. And thank god I didn't throw up in it. And then I start to wonder what I should do. Should I leave Devon a note? He's at work. Where does he work? I bet it's a law firm or something. Do I even want to talk to him? Does he want to talk to me? Who knows what the hell I said or did? Oh god.

I settle on giving it a minute. I have to thank him. But I gotta come up with the right words and make sure I'm sober enough to look presentable, try to convince him that whoever he saw last night is not really me. I took Devon's note with me, and walked down Gibbs street to eastman.

I get to my dorm and notice that the bed I don't use is unmade. Oh shit. I sit on my bed and my mind goes in a million directions. Who is this girl? I can't go through her stuff and find out, I've done enough prying for the day. Who is this guy? I'm not sitting for two seconds before the door opens and a blonde girl steps inside, answering my first question.

"Hi, you're Natalie, right? I'm cassie, your new roommate. How's it going?"

She walks closer and I sit up taller. I'd better make a great first impression, because I know that most impressions she'll have of me probably won't be the greatest.

"Hey. Sorry I was MIA last night." I could say that I crashed at some random dude's apartment blackout drunk, but I know better.

"I had something I had to take care of. It's nice to meet you. What's your major?"

"Opera. You?"

Sick. A singer. And it looks like I haven't screwed up yet. Plus, I know the answer to her question.

"Cello."

. "No way. I've been playing cello since I was five."

I stop thinking. Words start flying out of my mouth a little too enthusiastically.

"Sweet! Are you gonna play here?"

"Yeah, I'm doing that minor program thing," she says. I wonder if she'll be in my cello classes.

"Do you have techniques next?"

She pulls out the little paper you carry for your first week as a freshman that has your schedule on it, and smiles.

"Yeah!"

"Same. We should walk down there together."

Wow. I'm being social.

"Do you wanna eat something first?"

"Nah, I actually just got up, had some cinnamon toast crunch." I almost laugh, and I see that she looks a little disappointed. So I think fast.

"But I'll come with you to the cafeteria."

Apparently cassie is a vegetarian, and a sophomore, a transfer. I figured I should probably try to get to know her better, considering we were gonna live together. Plus, I asked her to go to javas, SOO could get some coffee out of the deal. I almost burst out laughing when she asked me for directions to javas, the local coffee shop that everybody within a mile radius frequents. Most go daily. I answer without exaggeration.

"You walk outside the kilbourn hall doors, take five steps and its on your left. I'll meet you there after orchestra."

"Sounds great."

Cassie should be majoring in cello. She is absolutely fantastic and knows all of the techniques we're being taught. I don't want to say I'm an awesome cello player, but I know my way around. And she showed me up. I asked her in orchestra why she didn't major in cello and she says its just not the path for her because she didn't want to tell me she thinks she'd never find a job. We got to java's before I knew it. I don't think idea reverb there so early before. They were open til midnight every night. Sometimes I went before going to sals or (shocker, I know.) instead. I don't know If I wished I'd gone around this time before, so I would've recognized him in the picture. I kind of like that our relationship started with the biggest surprise of my life. It's quite fitting, looking back.