No Ordinary Fate

Chapter 6

A/N : this is a longer chapter and when I finally edit I will probably make this two chapters - but here it is!

The next day was a haze that somehow dragged. Emory was full of nervous energy that she even tied her tennis shoes poorly that morning and managed to mangle the right shoelace in a knot so drastic it nearly made her late to class. Once she got to her class she was oblivious to every word around her. It was a required freshman class, discussion based on art and culture, that met three times a week. Today they were working in groups for an upcoming presentation. She remained quiet as the rest of her group gave progress updates.

Fortunately, her group also seemed disinterested in working, as it was the first real Friday of their college career and everyone was itching for the day to be done. With their work out and open each student appeared to be working, but in reality, three of the five were discussing the big party that night, which amped up the butterflies in Emory's stomach.

"That party is going to be lame, overrun by freshman. Everyone knows Donovan's Pub is the best place to be on a Friday night," interrupted a boy Emory thought was named Jeremy.

"First off, you're a freshman too. And second, everyone knows the bouncer for Donovan's is like ex-military and can tell any fake ID. Good luck going there tonight," a girl whose name was lost in Emory's hazy mind.

"Are you going tonight?" the same girl asked. It took several moments for Emory to realize the question was directed to her.

"Oh, yeah, I am," she said and smiled what she hoped was a polite smile.

"Cool. If you want, we could totally meet up, that way you know someone?" She continued to ask and Emory felt bad for not even remembering the girls name. She was kind enough to see that Emory was shy and invited her along.

"That's really nice of you, I actually kind of have a date for it, but if I didn't I would definitely want to meet up. I'm not so good at starting conversations with new people."

"Ooh, who's your date?" Now the other two girls had turned their interest to Emory as well, and Jeremy was focused only on his computer.

"Um, he's a sophomore, Theo James?"

"Ohmygod, he TA's my Sociology class, that man is gorgeous!" Another girl said. Jenna? Jenine? Emory needed to make a cheat sheet for names ASAP.

"You are seriously so lucky. How'd you manage to snag him?"

"We just clicked, I guess. It's nothing serious, just a friendly date." The word friendly tasted sour in her mouth. Her mind rejected the idea of tonight being a completely platonic date. And while she had only had one kiss in her life and it had been little more than a peck, she felt sure this was more. But she also wasn't ready to dive into those feelings with the four strangers next to her.

Fortunately the teacher was calling the attention back to the front. "I hope you all managed to get in some work. Remember, the more work you do here, the less time you will have to make outside of class time to work on it."

Emory gathered her things and stuffed them carelessly in the tote she had thought would be cuter than a backpack. She regretted that decision only a week in; her laptop and books were much heavier on one shoulder than both. Quickly she left the room and followed a group down a cement path that led to her dorms. She was still full from the late breakfast she had this morning and wasn't ready for another meal. So she made a mental plan to get a late lunch, early dinner before the party that way she wouldn't be hungry then but also wouldn't feel bloated before the party. And it meant she could take a small nap now so she'd be well-rested before the party too.