Nicole turned up the volume on the iPod speakers in the
living room and the girls began to dance silly around the
apartment. They were getting ready to go out for their first
Thursday back at school.

“Where are you guys going?” Spencer asked
“I think we are going to go to Sigma Nu for a little bit
for Thompson’s birthday and then maybe Theta Chi? Who
knows, do you have to go to that birthday party tonight?”
“Yeah, I feel bad she always invites me to things and I
never go… but I’ll go to Sigma Nu for a little and then
I’ll head over to the birthday party”
“Okay Sweet”

            After about a half an hour, the girls gathered in the
kitchen to do some routine pre-game shots before they went
out.

“Okay, Okay this one is for a new semester!” one of the
girls yelled as they all clinked their glasses together and
threw back the shots

            The faces of the girls was proof enough that they hadn’t
taken shots in a while.

“One more” one of the girls spoke up, and filled all
their glasses with another shot

            When they were ready to go they threw back the shots and
most of them gagged a little. They got their stuff together
and made their way to the other apartments.

Spencer felt her phone vibrate

Trish:Hey are you comin ova?
Spencer: Yeah, I’m gonna walk over now, come outside!

        She quickly said goodbye to everyone and started walking
across the lawn to Trish’s apartment, Trish was outside
smoking a cig when she got there.

“Hi babygirl! How’s the party?” Spencer asked
“Total shit show” she responded as she took a drag
“You want a cig?” she offered
“No I’m good”
“Your loss” she joked “Alright” she said as she
smashed the cig butt “Inside”

            They got upstairs and Spencer didn’t recognize anyone,
they were all girls on the rugby and softball team, only a
handful of guys but whatever everyone seemed to be having
fun. Lil Wayne was on in the background and Trish brought
her into the kitchen and poured her a glass of jungle juice.

“Trish, I don’t know anyone here” she said
“Here come with me, I’ll introduce you”

    Trish grabbed her arm and led her back into the living room over to the couch where a few girls were sitting

“Guys, this is my friend Spencer, entertain her” she
stated and walked away
She blushed “Hi, I’m Spencer” she said sweetly
holding out her hand

            Each of the girls introduced themselves and perhaps they
felt bad for her, she looked out of her element so they
chatted with her and pointed people out. Spencer was looking
around the room, they had 2 tables set up, one for beer pong
and one for flip cup. Some of the girls were dancing at the
opposite corner by the music, there were a lot of people in
the apartment, it was starting to get a little warm so
Spencer took off her north face and put it in Trish’s room
and closed the door. She made her way back to the couch and
sat on the arm rest, she began to scan the room again to
observe the people, she took out her phone and began to text
people, she felt really uncomfortable, she didn’t know
anyone there and no one seemed to be interested in talking
to her. She was contemplating leaving.

Let’s see what my friends are doing.

        She glanced up for a split second to see the brunette girl
from class her standing there, behind the flip cup table.

No way.

She watched her for a little as she played flip cup.

Stop staring, she’s going to look over at you and
you’re going to be embarrassed…too late. God why am I so
dumb.

            Ashley caught her eyes for a split second and but it was
then her turn to drink, Spencer watched as she took down the
drink like a champ and get the flip on the first try. She
then wiped her mouth with the top of her index finger slowly
and looked back over at Spencer who was still looking. She
shyly tucked her hair behind one of her ears, then she
stood up from the chair she was at and practically tripped
down the stairs and pushed open the door, she inhaled deeply
like she was breaking through the surface of a pool after
being under for 5 minutes. She clutched her chest.

What the hell is the matter with me.

        She glanced around for anyone outside smoking, she spotted
her friend so she walked over to him, she convinced him to
let her have one of his cigarettes.

        She inhaled deeply and let out of sigh, “Thank you so
much” she said as she wondered around trying to get
herself together. She never smoked, she’d only smoked
maybe one or two other times. Once when she was in high
school and she thought she’d try it and the second time
she was severely drunk, she doesn’t remember it but
there’s a picture to prove it. Now she was smoking for a
third time and she had no idea why.

        Spencer turned around and started walking back towards
Trish’s apartment. All of a sudden the music from her
apartment got louder, someone opened the door, she saw
Ashley kind of jog out of the doorway and look toward the
middle of the lawn, she looked out of breath and
disappointed. Before retreating back into Trish’s
apartment she glanced over to where Spencer was walking. A
look of relief came over her face, it made Spencer question
why she had come out her.

“Oh hi, I didn’t see you there” she said somewhat
startled
“Where you looking for me?” Spencer blurted out without
thinking
“What? No, I uh, I just needed some fresh air” she
replied unsure of herself
“Oh okay” Spencer said as she took another drag
practically choking and took a step closer.
“I’m Spencer” she responded tilting her head and held
out her hand
“I know who you are” she replied back and she took a
deep breath

Yeah, I’m the creep who keeps staring at you.

“You’re the girl who believes in a forbidden love”
she laughed almost sarcastically, rolling her eyes

        Spencer could feel her body becoming numb from the cold,
she’d left in such a hurry that she didn’t bother
grabbing a jacket, she looked over at Ashley and realized
that she had done the same thing.

“Oh yeah, that’s me” she replied somewhat relieved
that was her answer
“I’m Ashl…Whoa you smoke?” she asked somewhat upset
“What? No, only when I’m nervous” Shit.
“You’re nervous?” Ashley smirked, intrigued

        Spencer could hear her heart beating through her chest, she
hoped the brunette couldn’t hear it

“No” she responded quickly
“But you just said…”

        Ashley must have heard the waves that Spencer was
telepathically sending to her to drop it, that or Ashley
realized why she was nervous. “At any rate, you
shouldn’t smoke, it’s bad for you” she said

“Yeah…you’re right” Spencer said hanging her head
she dropped the cigarette on the ground and squashed it with
her shoe. “Sorry” she replied

        Ashley smiled at her, this time it was a full smile that
flashed her impossibly white teeth. It sent a jolt of
electricity up Spencer’s spine which instantly warmed her
up.

“Were you leaving?” Ashley asked curiously
“No, I’m going back in…I was nervous because I
didn’t know anyone in there, and Trish left me” she
confessed
“Well now you know me” she said playfully
“Yeah… I do”

            Ashley opened the door to the apartment and signaled for
her to go ahead of her, Spencer did as she was told and the
two girls walked up the stairs of the apartment back into
the chaos.