Double Trouble

Chapter One

"Remember your essays are due next class, at exactly 12." I packed up my things and walked out of the classroom with the rest of the students, eager to finish the most boring history class at Southern California University. I was grateful; the hour-and-a-half-long class could easily bore the most stubborn of historians, so my suffering was immense.

It was the middle of the semester, and I felt senioritis like many other students. It was my last semester of undergrad, and I was desperate to get away. I would miss school, of course, but I was looking toward bigger and better things. My current internship offered me a full-time position once I graduated, and I was getting a better apartment off campus and away from the young, eager college students. Unlike many students, I knew exactly where my life was headed and was looking forward to it.

Yet my immediate future held a night of nothing productive. "Christa, wait up!" I turn around at the sound of my name and see my best friend, Jalissa, heading towards me. I stop and let her catch up, and she says, "How was the torture lesson today?"

"Just as horrendous as ever, yet I continue to live another day." She giggled and said, "So, what's on the agenda tonight, going out or movie time?" I said, "Definitely going out; I need liquor in my system asap. Besides, I haven't been cute in a while; I should stop walking around like this," as I gestured towards the oversized t-shirt and short shorts paired off with the typical flip flops.

"You don't need to be trying to get attention anyway; I don't like sharing." I rolled my eyes and laughed at her constant references to our fake homosexual relationship. One day someone was going to think I was gay for real, which I was vehemently against, not because of being gay, but because I had enough men chasing me as is, and for some reason, men love the challenge of a gay girl. The men on this campus proved it constantly.

"I do wonder what is with you and these big t-shirts, though; one would think you weren't over him," Jalissa smirked at me as she raised her eyebrows. I rolled my eyes and said, "Clothes are clothes, they are mine, and I'll wear them; they have nothing to do with the idiot." She laughs at me and says, "Sure, they don't." I ignored her last statement and continued walking. I open the doors and head onto campus on a sweltering day. It's March in California, which means it's not expected to be cold, but definitely not this hot, with the temperature almost reaching 100 degrees. Jalissa pulls on her shirt, which is just a crop top, and tries to fan herself. "I love and hate California. This heat is ridiculous," and she shakes her head. I nod and say, "I hope it cools down before we go out tonight."

As we head towards the parking lot, a few people call out or wave to me. By no means am I popular; the campus was too big for that, but I was a known face depending on the crowd you hung out with. Having circled in the artist, dance, and black crowds, you tend to know a few people. Finally making it to the parking lot, Jalissa turns to me and says, "I parked at the far end today; I didn't wake up early enough," her face shows her displeasure with the walk ahead of her. I point to the left, a little farther down, and point out my car.

She stuck her tongue out and said, "Not everyone is up at the ass crack of dawn to make it up here." I rolled my eyes and said, "Hey, what can I say? I like being up with the sun. It inspires me." She says, "Anyway, woman, what time would you like to meet up for the pregame?" I think for a moment and say, "How about 9?" She says, "Are you going to be ready?" I shrug and walk off. She says, "How can you like to be up early but not be ready on time for anything?" I turn to her and smirk. Then I waved goodbye and headed over to my black Impala.

I quickly rolled down the windows and drove the ten minutes to my apartment. I walked inside and saw my sister sitting in the living room. I was surprised to see her there; usually, she would be somewhere on campus studying. I said, "Hey Clara, what are you doing at home?" She shrugged and said, "I didn't have much to do today, so I figured I'd come to relax a little bit." I pretended to be shocked, and she rolled her eyes at me.