At the Kappa Phi Sigma sorority ball, I walk over to Kaitlyn and lean against the banister next to her.
"Hey, Kaitlyn... you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine..."
"Weird night, huh? You would not believe the drama I'm dealing with right now. James and I kind of had a moment out there, and Chris saw it and wanted to talk alone, and now--"
I notice Kaitlyn studiously not making eye contact with me, her gaze drifting across the throng of partygoers.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Kaitlyn turns to look at me, a tiny crease between her eyebrows.
"Sorry, Nicki. I just... I don't know if I can hear about this right now."
"What... what do you mean?"
"I... never mind. It's too hard to explain. So... what happened with Chris?"
Well, we talked, and... I think part of him wants to be with him. It's almost like... like he's punishing himself by dating Becca."
"No one deserves that much punishment. I almost feel bad for him. So... moving on. How are you feeling about the guy you actually came here with?"
"There was definitely a moment with James tonight. I just... I don't know what to think anymore."
"Yeah. I know how that feels."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh my god, do you like Darren?"
"No, I... forget it."
Just then, Darren returns from the kitchen with an old-fashioned in one hand and a lemon drop in the other. He hands Kaitlyn the lemon drop, and she takes a grateful sip.
"Hey, Nicki. I would've gotten you something if I knew you were hanging with us. And if I had a third hand."
"Oh, don't worry about, I--"
Kaitlyn suddenly grabs Darren's sleeve with her free hand, cutting me off before I can finish speaking.
"Darren, do you want to go for a walk? I bet the stars look great tonight."
"Sure, let's do it. See you around, Nicki."
"Right... see you around."
More confused than ever, I wonder across the dance floor to where James waits talking to Abbie.
"Hey, Nicki... you okay? You look a little..." -James
"Befuddled. Bothered. Bewildered." -Abbie
"Yeah, something like that."
"Maybe a dance will cheer you up?"
"It's certainly worth a shot..."
YOU ARE READING
THE FRESHMAN (CLOSED - TEMPORARILY)
RomantiekThe Freshman tells the story of a college freshman who finds herself caught between three different potential love interests, a rival Alpha Bitch, a demanding literature professor, and a score of kind and quirky friends and roommates. Who will she p...
