The Profile

Chapter 6

"Hahaha oh my god that's hysterical!"

Lindy peals off the lid of her strawberry yogurt, unable to contain her loud laughter in the middle of the student union.

The student union is the main place of the college where students can pick up a hot lunch from the mini kitchen or grab snacks and sodas from the vending machine. It's the lounge we sit at every afternoon and as busy and noisy you'd think it'd be, it's actually very quiet and everyone turns to Lindy as she continues to snort away at my horrific scene this morning.

"It's not funny! I felt like I humiliated myself in front of him and now I can never show my face in front of him again. It's over, I'm over, my life is over!" I huff, spinning my bottle of raspberry tea, unable to make eye contact with anyone ever since 10:03am.

"Calm down queen of over-exaggeration. All you did was bump into him, he doesn't think you're a freak that just came back from living in a cave for twelve years." She licks the pink yogurt off her spoon just as Mark walks into the lounge and sits in between Lin and I at our usual high top table.

"What are you two ladies laughing about?" He flips up his laptop filled with Vine and meme references.

"I wasn't laughing at all, but apparently Lindy enjoys laughing at my misery." I fold my arms on the table and let my head fall forward. I just want to go home and read my books, go into a different world and out of this devastating reality. 

"What happened?" Mark looks at me with concerned eyes. He grabs my arm and lightly squeezes it, knowing that's what usually calms me down and makes me feel better. Mark's always been protective of me, ever since what happened to me two years ago. He can sense when I feel uneasy and even though he's skinny and hasn't lifted a weight in three years, he's willing to stick up and fight for me if need be. I lift my head back up and smile at his small gesture.

"It was nothing, I ran into Leo this morning and spilled some of my smoothie on me." I stretch the front of my shirt to reveal the small, dried red stains over the letters "Walk the Moon". It's not like it's one of my favorite t-shirts that I got from their concert last year.   

"I think Pay needs a little bit of cheering up, Mark. How about going to a super awesome, totally exciting and free living party of the century!" She cheers, attracting more eyes, including Mark and I's confused gazes. Lindy's smile drops and tosses her long brown hair off her shoulder.

"Alright, clearly you haven't asked him yet. Mark, Dillan Cride is having a party this Friday and I'm inviting you and Payton. You in or are you in?" Mark rolls his eyes, types his password into his laptop and turns back to Lindy.

"You mean that baseball jock that somehow still sucks up to all his professors into giving him A's so he can keep his baseball scholarship?" Apparently Dillan Cride goes to Barwood University, which is an hour away from here, which I just found out today while looking through his social media. 

"And thank you, for that." Lindy scoffs, before continuing, "look, I think you both would have a lot of fun and you need to get out of this town for a night. This college can be so suffocating sometimes that a new college might be just what we need. And how do you know about Dillan?"

"I have my secrets." Mark smirks, typing away at his laptop at what looks like a research paper.

"Alright then. Pay, you in? Please say yes, other than Dillan I only know you guys, and well, Leo." Again, the puppy eyes. 

"Ughh fine! I will go, but Mark is coming with, no questions asked." I take a swig of my tea and wait for Mark's response. Lindy and I stare at him until he zones back in from his laptop.

"So you two want to go to a party that's an hour away at some sort of frat party that is filled with a bunch of drunk guys and half dressed girls, and drink until the sun comes up?"

"Jeez Mark, no need to get so excited." Lindy says and I laugh, feeling a little better about the situation. Maybe a party with my two closest friends will be good for me. I just need to keep away from Leo so I don't embarrass myself again. Maybe he won't even be there, which would be a plus. I feel a sudden excitement about going to this party and grab my phone, already swiping through Pintrest on cute outfits to wear.

Mark looks unimpressed at Lin's comment and I punch him lightly on the arm.

"Come on Mark! Let's go for a little bit, we don't have to stay all night." I imitate Lindy and give him puppy eyes, to which he automatically gives in.

"Alright! But I'm driving, I don't need to know what happens when you get drunk at a frat party."

Lin and I squeal and get out of our chairs to hug Mark. He laughs and tries to squirm away from our grasp, but gives in and hugs us back.