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...
"Girl wake up and turn your alarm off! My ears are fucking bleeding!" Liz yells out, still half-asleep. I wake up groggily and check my phone. It's 9am!?? Shit I have 30 minutes to get ready I think as I begin to panic. Jumping out of bed, I take the quickest shower I've taken in my life. I change into a cute crop top and a skirt, while also applying light makeup. "I'm leaving" I shout out to Liz even though she's asleep. I should've picked a later class I internally complain, jealous that Liz could sleep in.
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I was able to reach my class just in time as I see people slowly entering the classroom. I join them and slowly wait to enter the classroom. Just then I feel a light tap on my head, surprising me and I turn around to see Ethan. I give him a bright smile and lightly shove him. "Hey you're early. Surprisingly" I comment sarcastically. "You were always the last person to show up in math" I say, remembering our high school classes.
"Get used to it, love. I might be the first person to show up to our classes" he plays along. We both laugh as we go in and find an empty seat. We settle down and get our laptops out while we wait for our professor. Ethan then knocks softly on my side, catching my attention as I nod at him in question.
"I told Arjun and Mason about you and Liz housing in Miller. They suggested that we should hangout" he tells me, with an unreadable expression. Liz would be screaming in excitement I think before answering. "We should!! I told Liz about you three staying in the same building too and she said the same thing" I say, slightly elated.
"Let me know when you guys are free. I know you have tryouts on Friday" I add on, and Ethan nods and replies. "I'll talk to them and text you". Just then I see our professor arrive and class starts. The hour goes by quickly with us just discussing the syllabus and introducing the first chapter. Ethan and I grab brunch in the dining hall nearby and we leave for our next classes.
My next class turned out to be a dreadful session. I've decided that I hate my major. Why did I choose such a complicated major? I groan, painfully waiting for the hour to end. I wanna kill myself and it's only the first day I think.
"Same" a voice whispers to the left of me. I turn to see a girl looking at me with a relatable smile. "I'm dying of boredom" she shares with me. I nod, grateful that someone understands my pain.
"What's your name?" she asks me. "Rachel Wells. Nice to meet you" I say. "Andrea Smith" she replies and after class we exchange numbers and walk out together.
"I'm so happy I made a friend in one of my classes so far. I thought I was going to suffer alone" I tell her, exaggerating a bit but she answers with the same dramatic expression. "I know right? Let's suffer together" she tells me and we both laugh in agreement. We part ways and I return to my room, not having anymore classes for the day.
The rest of the week goes by in a similar fashion. Ethan texts me on Thursday that they were free this weekend if Liz and I were okay with hanging out then. "Liz! Ethan just texted me to ask if we're free to hang over the weekend. Are we good?" I call Liz who was in the living area while I was in my room.
"Yeah that's fine! What day and what time?" Liz yells back in return. "I don't know yet. I'll ask him" I reply. I text Ethan, asking for the day and time and he replies back in a few minutes. "Liz! He said Saturday at 5" I yell once again, and Liz comes into my room with an ice cream tub in her hand. "Sounds good" she says with a sing-song voice.
Shaking my head at her mood, I chuckle and text Ethan an okay and also wish him good luck for his tryouts tomorrow. He replies with a wink emoji, drawing a giggle out of me. Throwing my phone onto my bed, I look at Liz who was leaning against my room door with a knowing look.
"What?" I ask her innocently. "You and Ethan" she states in a weird tone. "Me and Ethan?" I ask again. "You two are...hmm I don't know now but I will soon" she tells me ominously and leaves. I scoff at her insinuation.
The next day, I finish all my classes early since I only had one class on Fridays and it ended at 3pm. I decide to visit the library to explore and also get some work done. I find a cozy study spot and place and belongings down. Aiming to be productive, I make a list of all the assignments I had to do. Why are we starting a group project within the first week already? I think, once again hating my major.
I sit down and spend the next hour and a half completing my assignments and I ended up finishing some of my homework ahead of time. It was a habit of mine. At least I didn't have to worry about homework for the next few days. Stretching out my arms and cracking my neck, I decide to take a break and look around the library. Just then I get a text from Ethan.
From: Ethan
Where are you?
5.24PM
Smiling at his text, I type in a reply.
To: Ethan
In the library. Why?
5.24PM
When I don't get an answer within the next few minutes, I forget about it and proceed to look around the library. I make my way towards the thriller and mystery section and hoping to find a good book to read, pulling them out to read over the synopses. I pick out a book that seemed interesting and head over to the young adult section just to check out the books. I had previously preferred young adult but I was growing more towards thriller and mystery recently.
I pull out a book which had an interesting book cover, hoping the synopsis was interesting as well. However, the book I had pulled out had been supporting a few other books which had been slanted. Pulling it out suddenly caused the other books to topple over and fall as well.
Bracing for falling books, I shield myself using my arms but I am suddenly pulled into a hard chest. As I hear the books hit the ground, I look up to see Ethan looking down at me with concern and worry. He removes his arms from around me and rests them on my shoulder while he looks over at me "Rachel you okay?".
"Ethan. Hey yeah I'm fine. I was just looking at a book" I say, looking down to that one book that had caused this issue while also trying to ignore the stares we were getting. I bend down to pick it up along with the other fallen books. Ethan joins me and helps me place them back on the shelves.
"So what brings you here?" I ask, changing the topic from before. He looks with an unreadable emotion. "I got in" he says calmly. My eyes widen in surprise and happiness. "The tryouts?! You got in!??" I whisper shout at him to confirm. He nods with amusement in his eyes.
Without thinking, I throw myself onto him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. Not expecting the force of my hug, he stumbles back a little before returning the hug. He must have showered before coming here because he smells like rain and wood. Realizing that I might have hugged him without his permission, I immediately take a step back. "Sorry about that haha. I um- Congratulations!" I say, as my cheeks begin to color.
"Thank you and no worries love. It's good to know my good news makes you happy too" he says, assuring me with his cute smile. Woah cute? No no no. Sure he's good looking but I don't find him cute I shake those thoughts off and bring my attention back to him. "Sorry what?" I ask, definitely knowing I missed something he said. He shakes his head, slightly chuckling at my flustered state. "I said you should be more careful when you're alone" he tells me, before we both head to my study spot.
"Come on. If you're done, I'll walk with you to the dorm" he says, patiently waiting for me to pack up.
