Rachel Wells has always liked Arjun Kumar since sophomore year of high school, but always kept it to herself as he was dating another girl. Ethan Lin, one of Arjun's best friends, notices her feelings towards Arjun and befriends her, hoping to comfo...
"Ethan, love, you have your ID card on you right?" Mom asks me for the millionth time. "Yes mom I do and I have had it every time you've asked me that question till now" I state, exasperated.
"I'm just making sure, nothing else" mom snaps and I chuckle at her restlessness. "Mom, I'm moving to college that's like a 6 hour drive from home. You're acting like I'm traveling across the world." I lightly joke but reassure her that I had everything I needed. Today was move-in day. Arjun, Mason and I had agreed to room together and I was currently the first one to move in. I had texted them, letting them know I'd arrived.
Just then a notification sounds from my phone, alerting me of a call from the two.
"Dude, how's the move-in going? Have you seen the room yet?" Arjun asks curiously with a hint of excitement. "Give us a room tour man" Mason chips in.
"Guys I'm still outside the building. It's kinda crowded. Wasn't really expecting a lot of people to move in early" I answer with a bored expression. "I'll send you guys photos once I'm in. I gotta go now. See you guys tomorrow" I say before hanging up.
Soon I was able to get into the building and enter my room. It was better than I expected for a triple. My parents help me unpack and organize my clothes and belongings. After an hour, we were pretty much done and I saw my parents off who had to leave early for a meeting. They owned a law firm and so they were often busy but still tried their best to make time for me, which I really appreciated.
Considering that I had the rest of the day to myself, I decided to check out the buildings and the student gym. Having been a basketball player in high school, I've wanted to continue that in college as well and so hitting the gym had become more of a routine. I heard the gym facilities were well provided for students which further piqued my curiosity. I change into a baggy shirt and shorts before leaving for the gym.
Few hours later
I checked my watch and realized I had spent 2 hours working out. Feeling my muscles grow sore with sweat dripping down my back and my face, I decided to return to my dorm and take a relaxing shower. As I was walking up to my room, a couple of guys walk past me and one of them addresses me, offering a hand.
"Hey man, I'm Kyle Winters. I'm in the room next to yours. Saw you move in this afternoon" he introduces himself, with a small smirk. To be polite, I extend my hand and shake his hand firmly.
"Ethan Lin. That's cool" I answer curtly. I wasn't really a sociable person. I mostly kept to Mason and Arjun because we had been friends since elementary and I didn't see the need to entertain anyone else grow.
"Back from the gym? You happen to be trying out for the basketball team?" He asks, his smirk widening. Fighting the urge to roll my eyes I answer "Yeah". He claps a hand on my back and swings an arm around my shoulder. "So am I man. Guess I'll be seeing you on Friday for tryouts. Or tonight actually. The team's throwing a party across the street. See you there" he states before walking away with his friends. I clench my fists in annoyance at his attitude. I was aware of the party but I had no intention of attending. Unlike Mason and Arjun, I avoided parties even though we were all on the high school basketball team.
Ignoring his words, I enter my room and hit the showers. With a towel wrapped around my waist, I come out and check my phone for any new notifications. I see an email from the basketball team, announcing details of the party. Reading over it, I debate whether or not I should go. I guess I could just keep to myself and have a few drinks. It might also help with tryouts I thought. Finally deciding to attend the party, I change into a loose white t-shirt and khaki pants and leave my room.
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As I near the building, I see a couple of guys and girls stumbling out, drunk as hell and tripping over themselves. I try to keep my calm and go in despite feeling disgusted. I'm immediately met with piercing loud music and the smell of sweat and alcohol engulfs. Needing a drink to make sure I stay level-headed, I make my way to the kitchen where they had the beer cans. As I was about to grab a can, I feel a small figure bump into my chest. I look down to see a girl with dark brown wavy hair who was currently rubbing the spot on her head that she had bumped. I felt myself grow more annoyed and irritated with the fact that I had to deal with a girl now.
However, when she turns around to see who she had bumped into, my eyes soften in recognition, forgetting my rising irritation. Her eyes widen and she realizes who I am.
"Rachel?" I let out smoothly, quickly masking my surprise. My eyes observe her honey brown eyes, small nose and cherry red lips. I take a quick look at her outfit which happened to be a navy blue dress that ended right above her knees, highlighting her legs. She looks beautiful I thought. She's always been beautiful since high school. I've always liked her since the first time I saw her in one of my classes during sophomore year. But I stayed away from her when I came to know that she had a crush on Arjun. It was hard not to catch on with the occasional staring and nervousness. I never brought it up not wanting to make her uncomfortable, and I never will until she decides to tell me, that is if she wishes to.
"E-Ethan? Hi. It's nice to see you again" she replies in a quiet, angelic voice that only I could hear. Unconsciously, her eyes wander down my body to take in my figure and they pause briefly at my slightly exposed chest. Good thing I kept the top two buttons undone I silently thought. A faint smirk forms on my lips but I let it go.
"Fancy seeing you here. Not to assume but you don't seem like the type to go to parties" I state, curious as to why she was here. I knew she was more reserved and didn't like to socialize much, like me. My words shakes her out of her thoughts and her cheeks redden, realizing that she had been blatantly staring at me. Not that I minded.
"Yeah parties aren't really my scene. Liz dragged me here because a girl invited her and she didn't want to go alone. But hey I could say the same about you. I don't remember you liking them either" she mentions, adding in a small eye roll when talking about Liz. She remembers I don't like parties I thought, smiling internally.
"You remember correct. I'm just here because the team sent out announcements. Figured it'd help me with tryouts" my words bring a bright smile onto her face.
"Oh right!! I don't know why I forgot you, Arjun and Mason play basketball. I hope you get into the team" she exclaims in excitement and I chuckle at her words. Unknowingly, I take a few seconds to admire her and her genuine words, causing me to fall silent. Clearing my throat, I answer her previous question. "Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes." I say, whipping my phone out and handing it towards her. Her eyebrows cutely scrunch in confusion and I answer her unasked question with a small smirk.
"Your number, love. So that I can let you know how tryouts go". A faint blush rises to her cheeks when she hears my nickname for her but thankfully she doesn't question it. Her mouth forms an "o" before nodding in understanding. She takes my phone, her fingers softly grazing mine and taps in her number before handing it back to me.
"So where's your dorm?" I ask, hoping that I don't sound like a creep.
With an excited smile she replies "I'm staying in Miller Hall with Liz. How about you?"
