Changing the Stars

Chapter 2: 2 For The Price Of 1

I woke up a little after 5 a.m. because of a nightmare. I pictured my brother at the funeral and I slept-cry. I quickly dried my eyes and went back to sleep so I could act normal when Care got up.

    A couple hours later, Care was jumping on my bed and yelling, "GET UP OR THEY'LL STOP SERVING BREAKFAST!" I was starving so I jumped up and we ran out in our pajamas laughing louder than we should have been. 

We may have run into some people, but they were all grumpy anyways from being up earlier than they wanted. When we got there, I piled as much food on my plate as I could because I hadn't eaten since my flight last night. I payed with my card  - a prepaid card from my parents that was regularly reloaded - and we weaved around the tables to find a spot. 

Eventually we found a great spot near the windows overlooking the pretty fountain out front. Someone bumped into the back of my chair and held their hands over my eyes. Growing up in a household where if you feel threatened, you fight, I jabbed my elbow back. 

Care was so shocked she ran over to help her brother to a chair. After recovering from my blow he said, "Sorry, I didn't know you didn't like surprises."

"It's fine, I'm sorry to. My family taught me self defense, and I'm not used to American people and their surprises."

Care jumped in after a few seconds, "So, what is Dri short for?"

"Alexandria. It's my grandmothers name. In my family we like to pass down names from other generations."

"Wow that is really cool. My family sometimes calls my brother Jimmy just to piss him off."

We both laugh when he yells, "Hey! Don't tell her all my secrets. I like being mysterious." - and winks again. Care and I both roll our eyes when he steals some bacon from my plate as "payment".    

After cleaning up, Care has to go to her first class, so she insists I stay with James and get a tour from him since I didn't come in time for the official one. I give him my phone number in case I get "lost", and we start talking about our pasts, which I very much dislike. 

First he asks, "Where are you from?"

"Well, I told you I'm from France, can't you tell with my accent?"

"I meant which part. I went there once for an abroad trip with my family."

"I was born in Lille, but I grew up a few miles south."

"Wow, we stopped there and it was beautiful, just like you."

I felt my neck get warm, but held my ground and said, "No, you didn't. You're just saying that to pique my interest in you."

"You're right, I haven't. But I'm sure it is as beautiful as you."

We walked along in silence for a couple minutes and I looked at him. I wanted to say this clearly so he could comprehend it:

"I am looking for a boyfriend, but one, you are my new best friend's brother, and two, you seem like a player."

After that I walked away back to where I though the dorms were. I ended up in a little square that had shops. I needed some more books and supplies so I decided to stop. I had enough money for new ones, but I wanted to get used books so I could save up my money and send a souvenir back for my parents. 

After I got my bags, I regretted it. I should have stayed with James or made sure I didn't buy to much. I went to walk out of the door, but I ended up standing in front of the wrong door. So, with my luck, I got hit with the door by someone coming inside the store and dropped everything, including myself. 

The person went to grab my hand, but I couldn't see them with all my bags piled on me. I took their hand and stood up. 

The stranger that hit me with the door was a guy. A guy that was actually my type. Not tall, dark, and handsome, but just tall and handsome. 

He introduced himself as Daniel and offered to help me carry my bags back to where I was going. Usually, I would turn this offer down, but I really needed some help with these bags, and some eye candy did not hurt. 

He didn't look disappointed or mad when I told him that I accepted his help, and that made me feel a certain way. This way the kind of boy I wanted to find here. We ended up chatting  I told him he could call me Dri because he seemed like a guy I could get along with.

I took my first real look at him, and wow he became even handsomer with each look. He had dark brown hair that verged on the color of black that was ruffled. Sort of in a I-just-woke-up way, but it was sexy. His eyes were green like mine, but in a much better way. Mine were dull, whereas his had small flakes of what looked like blue.

 After what felt like seconds, we were at my dorm room. I would have invited him inside, but I forgot we didn't have any food or coffee yet. I gave him my number and told him to call me. 

I didn't expect to give my number to two guys in one day, let alone one. I just hope one of them turns out to be the prince charming I'm looking for. 

I went in my room and found that Care was looking at me with the sliest look, while James looked angry. She congratulated me on ditching her brother, which he deserved, and then while he wasn't listening, she congratulated me on my new mystery boy. 

After telling her the details would have to wait until her brother left, we started to come up with ideas for our first party-all-night-party.