have yo

as I walk into the apartment. She’s sitting on the couch, hair

mon

re you spent

ng on the coffee table and

s delivered

an Adidas shoe box. Finally,

e to do is gi

she asks, eyes narrowin

der my arm and head

lse until I’m at my door.

und the door handl

about

around

Eli to show hi

I not i

t to be

...” I trail off, ge

ch me dead looking shabby in front of the hottest guy I’ve se

I sh

im on his IG,” she supplie

my hea

my bedroom. Placing the shoe box on my bed, I take out my

their dorm’s balcony. His blue eyes are star

myself

s s

geo

t’s not

ndle. It’s the

ile and he was following one less person. A few seconds later, I discovered that

ia has never bothered me. But hi

nt for a year. That was the first thi

low list. Over the years, he has followed approximately twe

d 100k followers. He no

n good to hi

rises in my che

ever left

otifies me of a new m

Heyyy... how a

does he mean?

h

as it da

h terrible cramps. He has been around many times to h

I’m good :) i

ly? I was going to

I think of it, my st

you can come with? I’m taking Jude o

1 pm: O

Jo. Tori is coming too.

through my face and neck.

t make it, we can come by

ude to know where I live. I don’t know why I ca

No! I’ll co

pm: Great!

ed face first an

ck did I ju

*

better this w

we’ll meet eventually when I g

hatever uncertainties I have. I’ll know whether he wants to acknowledge knowing me or not. Whe

the sports complex. When we got to campus a few minutes ago

e thudding of my heart is betraying my anxiety

shorts and a crop top, her midriff bare. Thanks to the rollers she had on earlier, he

y side. Eli notices us and waves. I co

and I can feel it. I

erself at Eli

l apart, Eli

ches forward and grabs my hand. Pulling me to his s

hide away from the blue e

hes and sticks her hand

asting any

rn her wide smile. Instead, I notice a

go, his eyes land on m

d, right?” He i

N

es

m Tori while the

from my roommate

fter I ran off this morning, I guess w

ull together. “Ar

me and lift

ogether,

dn’t te

ht Eli t

e-eyed look. “I th

Eli. “Did yo

ea

you not w

or

ong.” She turns around a

led look. “What’s

ad we didn’

. But we haven’t even talked about that. And why is she thr

tertwines our ha

i, with Eli bet

nship. She majors in kinesiology an

teresting. Why d

talking to me directly. Eli nudges

sports,”

o?” he

nows

he f

kidding

football fan I know

w into his si

What team do

tending that we don

ling my wrist. A red and white b

y time, but she’s stil

sh

tle question is laden with sar

being sarca

e, I don’t shy away. He has an issue