The Freshman

Chapter 9

Kath's POV

   Me and Chris head outside, where we can speak in private.

"So ... what's going on ? It seems like you had something to say." Chris

"I just.... I didn't like seeing you with those girls."

"Madison and Becca ? You should give them a chance ! They're actually pretty cool once you get to know them." Chris

"Somehow I really doubt that."

"Well .... They've been nothing but nice to me." Chris

"They don't even know you ! All they see is a guy in a football uniform !"

"Oh .... So you're assuming there's no other reason someone might like me ?" Chris

"That's not what I said. I'm just saying ... Becca is so aggressive. "

"Becca knows what she wants,and she takes it." Chris

"Yeah,by force. It must be nice to be so ... certain. Do you know what you want ?"

"I don't know. Maybe that's why I admire Becca ... because I'm so all over the place right now." Chris

"So what can I do to help you get some clarity ?"

"Kath .... I ..." Chris

"I really do care about you."

"So what do we do now ?" Chris

"Honestly. .. I don't know"

"I think I do know. I'm falling for you. Hard. Kath, I ---" Chris

Suddenly, a look of panic crosses his face.

"I ... I can't believe it. I'm doing the exact thing I promised to myself , I wouldn't do. Didn't I say it the first day I met you .... I'm not ready for this. I'm not ready for something real." Chris

"Yo,Chris ! Where you at ?" Logan

"Chris ? Chris ? Are you out here ?" Becca

"It ... It sounds like I'd better head back in. Goodbye for now, Kath." Chris

"Chris, Wait ..."

He walks back into the sorority house.

A few minutes later, I'm walking around the campus, trying to process what just happened. ..

"Hey ! There you are ! We looked everywhere for you. What happened? " Tyler

"I ... don't want to talk about it. The last thing I saw was Chris walking inside to go see Becca."

"And now he's not here walking home with us. Do you think maybe he ---" Tyler

"Let's not even talk about it." Kaitlyn

"Maybe it's better just to get some sleep and forget tonight ever happened." Abbie

"Actually ... I have to write about 'Football Life' for Vasquez. I'll write about the game itself."

"Sounds a little dry .... but maybe that's what Vasquez wants." Kaitlyn

I spend all night at my laptop,writing my heart out ...

The next Day

"There you are. As expected, your assignment completely failed to meet the Professor's expectations. But don't take it too personally, He hates everyone. And everything. I thought your writing was totally adequate though slightly dry. It bordered on .... good." James

"Wow. Easy with the compliments. I'll try not to let all of this praise go to my head."

I catch James's grin just as Professor Vasquez clears his throat.

"The touchdown was good, followed by yet another extra point ! If I'd wanted a banal recounting of the facts, I would have picked up a copy of the school newspaper! I recruited you to get me a true insight into student life. This .... this is surface level. This essay is worse than bad. It's boring." Professor Vasquez

"I ... I'm really sorry, okay ? I just had a really hard night. My friend Chris apparently fell in love with this evil sorority gjrl ... And we got stuck at this awful party with a bunch of horrible people."

"Awful party ? Evil Sorority girl ? Those are the details I want to hear about. In fact .... I think I just figured out your next assignment ! You are going to join the Kappa Phi Sigma sorority !" Professor Vasquez

"....."