Wild Love ✓

01| Party Freak

 "There will be free booze." I hear Jessica from behind me tell her friend while walking out of the lecture hall after submitting my last exam of the semester.

Hefting my tote bag further up my shoulder, I slow down my step so I can eavesdrop where this free booze will be. I think I have a hunch, but I want to be sure.

"Yes." The other girl exclaims. "And I'm betting there will be lots of hot guys as well."

I hear them both snicker, and I can't help but smile as well. College parties sometimes go beyond wild. And Miami people love to party so the wildness is double here at the University of Miami.

And 99 percent of the time, I'm at one of those parties. Mostly those that are at the frat house. And yes, because all the athletes go there and they're hot. But also because my brother lives in the biggest house and he's the football team's captain. Ben is two years older than me and he's currently a senior. Last year, when I was still a freshman, he had already become very popular, and he introduced me to his friends and showed me around the college campus. But in typical older brother fashion, he declared me off-limits. According to him, guys only want to get in my pants and he can't have that happen to his little sister. His words, not mine. But that was fine by me since I also wanted the same thing from them.

So me being stubborn and insubordinate, I didn't listen to him and hooked up with some of his athlete friends. I tried my best not to sleep with anyone from the football team, just to avoid any awkwardness since I spend a lot of time with my brother and, subsequently, with his teammates.

"He's so hot." Jessica sighs, pulling my attention back to the conversation happening behind me. "But every time I try to approach him, he already has a girl on his lap."

"Or a few." The other girl says.

"He's the football team's captain, so I get it." She sighs again.

That confirms it. The party they're talking about—where the free booze is—is taking place at my brother's frat house.

My normal routine for tonight would be to go to that party. But I'm thinking of skipping it this time. Since the start of college, I haven't had a break. Every day there's something happening. If not a deadline, essays I need to write or just general school work. And I often have plans with my mom, who lives about an hour away. Or I go shopping with my best friend and roommate, Sara.

My mom taught me to not take things seriously and just have fun whenever I can. Especially in college. So that's exactly what I've been doing since I started. Some may call me a 'party freak' and I guess that's true. But, I'm a responsible party freak, if I say so myself. I never drink too much to the point of getting black out drunk that I can't remember shit the next morning. I always call an Uber to drive me back home. And most importantly, I always fill my own drinks.

I quicken my pace and veer right as I mentally sift through which movie I'm in the mood for tonight.

My mind immediately goes to the gutter, and I think of a porno movie. No, Isabella, not that kind of movie.

I grin to myself as I enter the key in its slot. Sara and I are renting a little apartment at an off-campus dormitory. Its location is quite close to college, only a seven-minute walk—yes, I timed it once. There are two bedrooms and the best part is that each room has its own bathroom. Even though I wouldn't have minded sharing a bathroom with my roommate, I have to admit; it is nice to have my own. It is more expensive than living in a sorority or dorms on campus, but I'm willing to pay extra so I can choose my own room and have a clean bathroom. Our little apartment is on the ground level, so when I'm back from a party and slightly drunk, I don't have to worry about falling down the stairs when wearing heels.