𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂.

test tensions.

Monday morning dawned bright and promising, but Melanie felt the familiar twinge of anxiety as she sat up in bed. The weekend had flown by, and now it was time for classes. Stretching, she noticed her phone buzzing with notifications. Among them, a reminder of the test she and Khia had completely forgotten to study for.

"Oh great," she muttered, running a hand through her hair. After a quick shower, she slipped into a plain white crop top, Ed Hardy jeans that hugged her figure just right, and her trusty Asics. She felt casual yet cute, ready to tackle the day.

As she entered the common area, she spotted Khia, already up and scrolling through her phone. "Did you study for the test?" Melanie asked, trying to gauge the situation.

Khia looked up, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes. "What test?"

"The one for our intro class!" Melanie exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and concern. "It's today!"

Khia groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Seriously? I thought it was next week."

Melanie couldn't help but chuckle. "Guess we both messed up. But maybe it won't be that bad?"

Khia shot her a sideways glance. "Easy for you to say. You always seem to ace everything."

"Let's just focus," Melanie replied, her voice more serious now. "We can do this if we just stay calm."

They made their way to class, the atmosphere buzzing with students chatting about the upcoming test. As they entered the lecture hall, Melanie caught sight of the professor, a stern woman with an intimidating presence. Her heart raced a little faster.

"Okay, everyone, settle down!" the professor called, and the room quieted. "You all know what today is—a test on chapters three and four. Please take a seat and grab your materials."

Melanie glanced at Khia, who looked equally frazzled. They took seats next to each other, the tension palpable. As the professor handed out the tests, Melanie took a deep breath and focused.

The first question flashed on the screen: What are the main themes discussed in chapter three? Melanie felt a rush of relief. This was straightforward. She scribbled down her thoughts, surprised at how much she remembered despite not studying.

Khia, on the other hand, looked like she was struggling. Melanie leaned over, whispering, "Just write what you remember. You got this."

Khia shot her a grateful glance, then returned to her test, writing furiously. Melanie finished the first section and glanced around the room. Other students were frowning, deep in concentration, and she couldn't help but feel a little smug about her confidence.

As the test continued, Melanie found herself enjoying the challenge. The questions were tricky but manageable. Just when she felt she was on a roll, she heard a commotion at the back of the room. A student had knocked over a stack of books, causing a chain reaction of clattering and chaos.

The professor snapped, "Quiet! This is a test, not a circus!"

Khia's eyes widened in surprise. Melanie bit back a laugh, trying to keep the mood light. "See? At least we're not that loud," she whispered.

Khia shot her a playful glare, but there was a hint of a smile forming at the corners of her mouth.

As the test wrapped up, Melanie felt a rush of adrenaline. She turned in her paper, feeling optimistic. Khia followed suit, her brow furrowed in thought.

"Do you think we passed?" Khia asked as they walked out of the lecture hall, the tension of the test lifting.

"Honestly? I think we did pretty well," Melanie replied, beaming. "I mean, I don't know about you, but I felt good about the questions."

Khia rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of relief in her expression. "You're such a nerd."

"And proud of it!" Melanie shot back, laughing. "Now, how about some celebratory Chick-fil-A?"

"Only if we can sit outside," Khia suggested, her attitude softening. "I need some fresh air after that."

The two girls headed to the café, where they snagged a table on the patio. As they waited for their food, Melanie felt the camaraderie growing between them.

"You know, I thought I'd bomb that test," Khia admitted, taking a sip of her drink. "But it wasn't as bad as I expected."

"Told you! You just need to trust yourself more," Melanie encouraged, feeling a sense of pride in her progress.

As they enjoyed their meal, the conversation flowed more easily. Khia shared some of her favorite spots around LA, and Melanie reciprocated with tales from Seattle, making Khia laugh at her exaggerated stories about the rain.

After finishing their food, they decided to take a walk around campus. As they strolled, Melanie pointed out interesting spots like the hidden garden and the art installations scattered around.

"Why don't we come here more often?" Khia mused, admiring the vibrant flowers.

"Maybe because you're too busy bringing random girls to the dorm?" Melanie teased, raising an eyebrow.

Khia chuckled, shaking her head. "Fair point. I should probably tone it down a bit."

"Just a little," Melanie replied, nudging her playfully. "You might scare off good friends that way."

As they continued walking, the afternoon sun bathed them in warmth, and Melanie felt an undeniable shift in their dynamic. The ease of their banter felt more natural, more like friends than roommates.

After a couple of hours, they made their way back to the dorm, feeling accomplished. As they reached their door, Melanie turned to Khia. "Same time tomorrow?"

"Definitely," Khia said, a genuine smile breaking through. "But next time, I'll actually study."

They both laughed, and as they settled back into their rooms, Melanie couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. It felt good to be building this friendship, even if it had started rocky.

That evening, as they prepared for bed, Melanie reflected on the day. She had a lot to look forward to, especially with Khia by her side.