My stomach sinks. Why is she asking?
“No,” I lie. I don’t know why I lie but something just feels off and I feel the need to protect myself.
“Darn, I was going to ask you if I could read it to get some ideas. Obviously, I wouldn’t copy. I just don’t know where to start.” She rolls her eyes playfully and then looks at her manicured nails.
“No, totally. I need to get started on it. I haven’t had a chance,” I say and I want to get as far away from Bonnie as possible. She is beginning to remind me of some of the girls from my high school who would be nice to me and then ask me for my notes to study for a test, or get close to me to get to Ryse.
She nods and smiles.
I stand up from my bed and walk over to my closet. What do I wear for a girls’ night?
My cell buzzes in the back pocket of my jeans. I pull it out to see who it is.
Ryse: If you’re walking over to Holland’s tonight make sure to take some pepper spray.
I wonder if Ryse put Holland up to inviting me over because I haven’t really made friends on campus. I thought university would be easier in the friends department, but it’s proven to be just as challenging as high school. I’m not into the party scene. I have a roommate who is only interested in me because she clearly needs something from me. Although, I have to admit I truly thought Bonnie was a nice person at first. She was so helpful but maybe now that I look back on it, she was too helpful. Maybe it was her way of befriending me so she could get something out of me.
I also can’t believe I told her that I kissed Declan. Although she hasn’t asked me anything since so I guess she either doesn’t care or has forgotten.
Me: Did you tell Holland to invite me over tonight?
Bubbles roll on my screen.
Ryse: No, but I saw her on campus and she mentioned bumping into you.
I don’t know why but his answer relieves me.
Me: Okay. Don’t worry. I’m fine.
Ryse: I know you’re fine.
Me: Love you too, big bruh
Ryse:
Bonnie has made me feel uncomfortable, even though she is working at her desk now and minding her own business. I just need to get out of here. We haven’t been running into each other often and I want to keep it that way.
I slip on a Westfall U hoodie and head out. I really need to go to the mall this weekend and buy myself some new clothes with the money I’ve made from the few shifts I’ve picked up at the Coffee Bean.
“See you later,” I say to Bonnie, figuring I don’t owe her an explanation. She never gives me one when she goes out.
“Oh, you’re going out?” she asks.
“Just heading over to a friend’s. Have a good night,” I say and I grab my mini backpack, which also subs as my purse, and leave out the door. As I lock the door I think of where I left my journal but when I put my keys into my backpack, I see that I have my journal with me and feel relieved.
It only takes me about fifteen minutes to walk across campus and head over to Holland’s house. It’s dark outside already but there were still students walking around campus so I wasn’t completely alone. Even though Holland lives off campus the area she lives in is all student housing, so there were also students out and about here too.
I knock on the door and feel a little nervous, not knowing what to expect from the evening. I’m not the best at making friends and these girls are all older than me.
Holland comes to the door with a smile. Her hair is in a messy bun on her head and she’s wearing a worn in sweatshirt and jogging pants.
“Good. I was worried I may be underdressed,” I say and feel awkward.
“Are you kidding me? I have a baby. I never get dressed up these days. There’s never any time.” She grins and she waves me in.
Her friends are all sitting on a long sectional couch. “This is Rebel, Paris, and Blossom,” Holland introduces, pointing to each of them. “And this is Poppy. She’s Ryse’s sister.”
They all say hi and nice to meet you in different ways.
“Have a seat. The girls just got here and CC is sound asleep,” Holland says.
Each of the girls have a glass of wine in their hand.
“Would you like a glass of wine?” Holland asks.
“Um, sure, thanks,” I say.
“What kind would you like?” She waves her hand across the three bottles sitting along the coffee table. I don’t have a clue about wine.
“I’ll go for the rosé.” I mean pink is pretty.
“Good choice.” Rebel winks and lifts her glass up.
Holland pours me a generous glass and passes it to me.
“So how is your year going?” Holland asks, but before I can answer she says, “Poppy is working for The Gazette and she’s a journalism major. She’s writing the Spotlight story on Dec this year.”
“Nice,” Rebel says. “My boyfriend, Wolfe, went to Westfall too. He plays in the NHL. We live in New York City. I used to go to Westfall but I transferred to school there.”
“Cool,” I answer. “Although, I’m not getting far on my Spotlight story. I actually read the previous year’s story, which highlighted Cole, and I also read Wolfe’s story. They were really good.”
“Honestly, I remember when Caroline was interviewing Cole,” Holland says. “She was frustrated because he wasn’t exactly forthcoming about anything.”
“Really?” I say. “I saw she wrote about you.”
“She did,” Holland agrees. “But don’t forget. She was assigned his story almost from the start of the year. We kept my pregnancy under wraps and we were only friends at that point. Now that I see how hard it is for you, I kind of feel bad for giving Caroline a run for her money.”
“Caroline is still at The Gazette. I don’t know her personally because she’s a junior, but the editor is giving her the meaty stories. They never give the Spotlight to a freshman so I’m feeling the pressure.”
“You were here with Declan?” Blossom asks.
“Uh, yeah,” I mutter. “It was another way for him to evade one of my interviews.”
Rebel laughs. “Sounds like typical Declan. He’s super nice and friendly. Would do anything for his friends but he also doesn’t let anyone in either. It’s like we know him but we don’t.”
Rebel’s words hurt my heart as I think of the life Declan has had and all the hardships he’s had to face.
“He’s a good guy, though,” Holland says.
“Hopefully, my story will write itself,” I joke and take a large gulp of wine. It goes down my throat smooth and I like the taste. “This is really good.”
“Tell me about it,” Blossom says.
They each tell me about school and what they are taking. I tell them about my degree too and then the conversation moves to Paris.
“Who is staying with Max tonight?” Rebel asks.
“He’s upstairs,” Paris says.
They talk a little more and I realize that Paris is a single mom. I’m pretty sure Ryse mentioned being friends with her too.
“So how’s it going on the dating front?” Blossom asks Paris.
“Shit,” Paris curses. “For a while I wasn’t ready to date anyone.” She then looks at me. “My boyfriend Tobias, who is Max’s father, left us when we first got back to Westfall. He just took off on me and Max and we haven’t heard from him.”