Chapter 3: meeting the campus playboy
"Are you blind?" she snapped, brushing past me.
I felt a bit taken aback by her reaction. "Sorry," I said, trying to apologize, but she was already walking away.
I watched her go, feeling a bit confused. I hadn't expected my first interaction on campus to be like that. I took a deep breath and shook my head, deciding to focus on finding my class.
As I walked towards the building, I couldn't help but wonder what her problem was. I shrugged it off and continued on my way, trying to get my bearings on campus.
As I stood there, still feeling a bit shaken from the collision, I noticed a group of students nearby, chatting and laughing. They seemed friendly, and one of them caught my eye. A girl with a bright smile turned to me and said, "Hey, you look like you could use some company. I'm Sarah, and these are my friends, Alex and Emily. We're all freshmen here."
I smiled back, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thanks for talking to me," I said. "I'm Bella."
We started chatting, exchanging stories about our summer breaks and what we were looking forward to in college. Sarah asked, "What made you choose Maplewood?" I shared my reasons, and they listened attentively.
The conversation flowed easily, and before I knew it, we'd been talking for a while. Sarah asked, "Want to grab coffee with us?" I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should commit. But something about their warm smiles put me at ease. "Sure," I said, smiling back. "I'd love to.
As we sipped our coffee, Sarah leaned in and whispered, "You know, there's a group of students who think they own the place." She nodded discreetly towards a table across the room. "That's Ethan and his crew. They're notorious for being trouble."
Alex chimed in, "Yeah, they're like a clique. Ethan's the leader, and everyone knows not to mess with him."
Emily added, "And then there's Rachel, she's part of their group. She's always been a bit...prickly."
I followed their gazes and saw Ethan and his friends laughing and joking with each other. Rachel was indeed part of their group, and she caught my eye, smirking. I felt a shiver run down my spine.
Sarah continued, "They're not exactly the type of people you want to get mixed up with. They're known for causing drama and stirring up trouble."
I nodded, taking mental notes. I wasn't sure if I wanted to get to know them better, but I was definitely going to steer clear of any drama. As I listened to my friends' warnings about Ethan and his group, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. I had already had a run-in with Rachel, and the thought of encountering her again made me anxious.
Just then, Rachel spotted me and began making her way over to our table, Ethan and his friends in tow. I felt my heart sink as they approached, their confident strides and loud laughter making me feel even more out of place.
"Well, well, well, look who we have here," Rachel said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It's the clumsy new girl."
I felt my face heat up as Ethan and his friends chuckled, their eyes fixed on me. I tried to play it cool, but I could feel my anxiety spiking.
Sarah jumped in, trying to diffuse the tension. "Hey, Rachel, what's up?"
But Rachel's gaze didn't waver from mine. "Just saying hello to our new friend here," she said, her tone laced with condescension.
Ethan, however, seemed more interested in chatting with my friends than in tormenting me. "Hey, guys, what's up?" he asked, pulling up a chair.
As the conversation continued, I found myself feeling more and more like an outsider. Rachel's jabs and snide comments made me feel like I was under a microscope, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't belong.
When there was a lull in the conversation, I excused myself to grab a refill on my drink, needing a moment to recharge. As I stood in line, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Being an introvert, I knew I needed to pace myself in social situations.
As I waited for my drink, I couldn't help but wonder what other surprises college had in store for me. Would I be able to navigate the complex social dynamics, or would I find myself getting lost in the crowd? Only time would tell.
As the afternoon wore on, our group chat continued, and we exchanged numbers. Sarah, Alex, and Emily were cool, and I was stoked to have met them. We parted ways after finishing our coffee, promising to catch up soon.
I headed to the bus stop, feeling a bit more optimistic about college life. The bus ride home was uneventful, and I spent the time lost in thought, replaying my interactions with my new friends.
As I walked into my apartment, I was greeted by the familiar sight of my brother Andrew's stuff scattered around the living room. I dropped my bag and headed to the kitchen to grab a snack.
Just as I was about to take a bite, I heard Andrew's voice behind me. "Hey, sis! I'm home."
I turned around, and my heart sank. Andrew was standing with a girl, holding her hand.