pull me back | a drag me down spin off

【thirty】

There is no better feeling than realizing your college career is over. This has been building up for four years, and now it's all coming to an end. As I rise to my feet, I look around my history classroom.

Some students are still finishing up their finals, but I'm done. Even though I've been in a rut lately, I studied the material that I needed to pass.

In the end, I'll be heading off to San Diego in three months. That hasn't fully sunk in yet. I could drive an hour and a half to campus, or I could get an apartment near the law school. With the way my life has been falling apart, my own place doesn't sound half bad.

I hand in the final to my professor, flash him a weak grin, then walk out the door. I just took my last final and won't be back on the UCLA campus until graduation. Just like that, college is over. This is way more fulfilling than high school. I can finally start my adult life now.

As I exit the building, the gorgeous sunshine hits my skin. I squint my eyes and move my hand to shield them from the sun. I keep my head down and try to walk toward the parking lot.

My body instantly collides into another one and I tumble over. A textbook falls to the ground with a loud thud.

"Shit, my bad." A deep voice says.

When my eyes adjust to who is in front of me, I blink a few times. "Beck."

My lab partner from last semester sends me a friendly smile. His olive skin is glowing in the sunlight, and his short black hair is spiked up.

Beck Hall is a tall, skinny boy who has a laid back personality. I had many laughs with him in biology.

"Grace, hey. Long time no see. How have you been?" He gives me a quick hug to say hello.

"I've been okay." I gulp, trying to push back the last few weeks. I wouldn't tell him that my entire life is falling apart. We aren't on that level. "How are you?"

"I'm great, thanks for asking." He picks the textbook up from the ground and tucks it under his arm.

"Sorry about that." I motion toward it.

"All good, I have to return it and then get the hell out of dodge." He chuckles.

"Are you graduating next week?" I rub my lips together.

"Yeah, thank god. I'm excited to never pick up a textbook ever again."

"I wish I could relate, I'm headed off to law school in the fall." A smile toys with my lips. That sentence still seems surreal.

"Wow, congratulations. You're a smart girl, I know you'll excel."

"Thanks. If you ever need a lawyer in the future, you know who to call." I can't help but giggle.

"Knowing me, I probably will." We both share a laugh. "Well I should get this inside, but it was great to see you.

"Yeah, you too." I bite down on my lower lip. "Do you have any plans this weekend?"

He thinks for a moment, then shakes his head. "I don't think so. Do you have anything in mind?"

"It's my birthday, Riker Sinclair is throwing me a party at his beach house in West Hollywood. You should come." I explain with a small grin. I still don't know how to feel about all of this.

"Oh, cool. I'll try to make it, I just need the address." He nods.

"Yeah, I'll tell Riker to send it. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."

"Happy to see me? Why's that?" He laughs again, tilting his head to the side.

"Well, cause you guys are friends. Didn't you tell him about me?" I begin to grow confused.