Finding Amity

Chapter 16

I could barely focus on my Cognitive Functions pop quiz knowing at the same time Cooper was on a plane headed to Eugene Airport. I hadn't been homesick for California or the weather or even my room back home, but I had missed Cooper tremendously. Mostly when I was watching movies.

Cooper and I had a movie night every Friday. We made a giant bowl of popcorn and snuggled up on the lounge to watch either a horror movie or a chick flick (FYI, I was the horror fan). Watching The Shining was less fun without Cooper hugging me close as he trembles with fear.

I stumbled out of my chair and rushed out towards the dorm parking lot the second our teacher dismissed us. I reached the lot just as Pippa's white car pulled into an empty park. I barely let Cooper get out of the car before I leaped onto him, wrapping my legs around his waist and hugging him.

"Woah, there." He laughed. "Excited to see me."

"I have missed you SO MUCH!" I enthused. I think I'd downplayed how weird it felt to not have him by my side.

I held him tight and placed my head over his shoulder.

Across the lawn, glaring directly into Cooper's back, was Isaac. I cocked my head confused. Isaac wasn't exactly the "hang around school grounds" type. He was more the "fuck I gotta get out of here the second I can" type.

I turned my attention back to Cooper and hopped down from him. I smiled goofily at his tan skin and dark nose freckles. I suddenly missed the beach, even if I only ever sat on the sand reading while Cooper swam and surfed and enjoyed the water.

"Pippa told me you had really come out of your shell. I didn't believe her."

"Shut up." I slapped his arm playfully. "Lets go to my room, my friends from class are coming over to meet you."

I grabbed a duffle bag from him, being a good host, and he followed me into the dorm building, up to the room he dropped me off at on my first day. It seemed like months ago, but in reality it had only been a couple weeks.

"So, Pippa is still... interesting." He noted. I laughed at the under-exaggeration.

"You don't get girls like her down in Avondale." I added.

Pippa was a little strange, but she was also very kind and generous. She offered to stay at Marley's while Cooper's here so he can take her bed. I chucked his duffle bag onto her bedside table. Luckily, I had time to clean up her space before class this morning.

"Are your class friends..." He trailed, taking a seat on my bed.

"Like Pippa?" I finished his question. "No, not really. Birdie is a little weird, but in a hippie kind of way. She is a paleo vegan and an environmental activist! Cool, right? And Hadiya is a genuine genius. Like insanely smart. But also down to earth. I would not be getting the grades I am without her help."

I joined Cooper on the bed and crossed my legs.

"I'm glad you're making friends." He beamed. "I was a little worried you might fall into the wrong crowd. Pippa didn't exactly make an amazing impression."

"I think our years in Avondale has made us a little bit judgemental." I corrected, in slight defence of my new best friend.

"I guess."

Whatever tension that resided dissipated as a knock came from the door. I jumped up to let Birdie and Hadiya tumble into the room. When I showed them a picture of Cooper, they had both drooled over him, so they were a bit eager to meet him.

"Hi!" They greeted cheerfully.

"I'm Birdie, this is Hadiya." It did not go unnoticed by me that Hadiya was wearing a LA Dodgers hoodie and Birdie had tied a rope of cowrie shells around her neck.

His charming demeanour faulted for a second, before he responded. "Nice to meet you, I'm Cooper." He smiled.

"We know!" Hadiya grinned.

"Amity showed us your picture." Birdie explained.

They really didn't have much experience with people they found attractive. Both were the kind of girl who focused on grades and college essays instead of crushes and parties during their high school years.

Pippa walked into the room, a little shocked at the number of people inside. She picked up her phone from the desk and turned to us, a wide smile on her face.

"What?" I asked hesitantly. It was the kind of smile that lead sailors to rocky shores against their better judgement.

"I was just wondering if you guys, all of you, wanted to go to a party tonight."

I mumbled, "Pippa, I don't know..." as Hadiya and Birdie shouted "YES!". They had been begging me to get them an invite, anywhere, but I didn't even know how to do that. I wasn't technically invited to any of these parties anyway, I was always Pippa's plus one.

"Amity, please!!" Hadiya begged. She turned to Cooper. "Make her go!"

"He can't make me." I reasoned.

"I can try." He said. "I wanna see what an Oregon party is like."

The girls cheered, only turning to me for my final answer. I guess this was Cooper's trip. "Fine." I sighed, earning a squeal from Birdie.

"Sweet." Pippa noted. "I'll pick you up in two hours."

With that she left the room and the high-living girls in it. I knew their excitement will die the second they get hit on by some sticky, drunk guy with a 2.0 GPA.

"We have to go get ready!" Hadiya shouted as she and Birdie hurried out, leaving Cooper and I by ourselves again.

I reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure you want to go to this thing?" I asked. "Pippa's cool and she has some fun friends, but some of her social group are asses." Isaac, for example.

"No, It sounds like fun!" He smiled cluelessly.