The Freshman

Chapter Seven - Rush Week

Emily's POV

Two weeks after the sorority party, Kaitlyn and I were getting coffee at the campus cafe. "Hey, look, it's that barista guy Zack won't shut up about!" Kaitlyn exclaimed.

"Not so loud, Kaitlyn!" I exclaimed.

Brandon looked up from grinding espresso beans and walked over to our table. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you two come in," Brandon said.

"Don't worry about it. We're used to being ignored," Kaitlyn said.

"Why do you say that?"

"Our roommate Chris pulled a total disappearing act..." I said.

"He's been spending way more time with his football buddies and these girls from Kappa house," Kaitlyn said.

"I know how that feels. My ex left me for a guy on the water polo team..." Brandon said. "Now his whole Facebook wall is nothing but pics with him and gym bros at frat parties. Tell you what. When you're ready to order, I'll throw in two cookies, free of charge. You look like you could use them."

"Thanks, Brandon," I said.

As Brandon walked back behind the counter, Kaitlyn patted my hand sympathetically. "You know, maybe it's good you have some space from Chris, Emily..." Kaitlyn said.

The door creaked open and a raucous crowd of football players and Kappa girls streamed in. "Barista. Iced coffee. Now," Becca said.

"You'd better not get anywhere near me with that thing," I said.

"Emily, what a coincidence! I was just asking Chris about you."

"Oh! Hi, Emily. I didn't know that you were, uh - I mean... do you want to sit with us?" Chris asked.

"I think that sounds like fun!" I exclaimed. "I'd love to hang out with your new friends."

"Oh... great! Yeah. Come sit with us."

Over the next half hour, we got to know Chris's new friends. "... they said I was the first one who'd actually been able to eat the whole thing!" Logan exclaimed.

"Wait... so are you saying they gave you thirty scoops of ice cream for free?" Madison asked.

"Well, sort of. I paid for it later..."

******

"Yeah... the ankle will heal in a couple of months. Just in time for the season to be over," Darren said.

"Aw! I broke a leg my sophomore year of high school. At least I got out of gym for a while..." Kaitlyn said.

I leaned over and whispered to Kaitlyn. "This is actually going pretty well so far!" I exclaimed.

"So far..."

******

"I never thought I'd be the kind of girl to get a tattoo... but then, you know, spring break," Becca said.

"So let's see it," Logan said.

"Not in public! But maybe Chris'll get to see it later, if he's lucky."

"Uh..." Chris said.

"I think I'd better go," I said. Kaitlyn and I headed out of the coffee shop. "You don't think Chris is actually with Becca, do you?"

"Nah. I think she's more like his... football groupie?" Kaitlyn asked. "A lot of the guys on the team hook up with the Kappa girls. It's kind of a tradition."