Ch. 8: Getting the "Full College Experience"

Chapter Eight: Getting the Full College Experience

So I have officially been a college girl for a month now. People say it's so much harder than high school, but honestly, I love it. The freedom, the people, and the fact that you rarely have homework! Which means that you have plenty of time to hang out with your friends. Or party... But I hadn't really been to a party yet (I hadn't been invited...). Avery, Lydia, Jack and I spend almost every night together hanging out. 

Sometimes it's just me and Jack. But I don't really mind. We goof off and he practices his sketches - he's an art major - by sketching me. Although sometimes he asks to sketch me and then thinks it's funny to draw something really stupid. We have fun though. I'm really starting to like him, but I don't have time to tell that whole story right now. 

The only thing that sucks about college are my boring lecture classes... Like the one I'm in right now. To the outside it looks like I'm being a good student and taking notes, but I'm not. Obviously.

I'm writing in my journal. It helps the time pass. I know, I know. I should be paying attention, I'm paying lots of money for this class, blah blah blah. Honestly, this is the only class I don't pay attention in. It's a freshman seminar class, it's all about transitioning to college, and it's boring as hell! At least I don't fall asleep like Avery... And I definitely think that kid is picking his nose. Yuck.

"Ms. Gray?" Shit. 

The class packs up their backpacks and leaves the lecture hall.

"I'll see you back at the dorms" Avery says before she leaves too. 

I slowly head to the front of the classroom to see what Professor King wants. I really hope she didn't catch on that I'm not paying attention in class. She's also my writing professor and she's a great teacher so I really don't want to disappoint her. 

"Hi there." I say awkwardly.

"Do you have a few minutes to talk?" I nod my head and she continues. "Great! Well, I was reading a bit about your background in writing and read the piece you submitted in high school. It was fantastic, but I think there is a lot of room for improvement. I know at the beginning of the semester you expressed interest in someday publishing your work." 

It wasn't a question but I nodded my head again as my heart began to race.

"I would love to work with you to develop this piece and see if we can get it published. You're a talented writer, Adeline. I'd love to see you go somewhere with your work. So, you can take the weekend to think about it if you'd like. Just shoot me an email and let me know what you think." She smiles and starts to put away her teaching materials.

"Oh I don't need the weekend to think about it!" I squeak out. "I'd be absolutely honored to work with you! Thank you so much for this opportunity!" I have to refrain from throwing my arms around her and giving her a huge hug. 

"Well that's great to hear. I'll send you and email tonight with the details. In the meantime, keep developing your story, and we'll talk later."

I smile and run-walk out of the building back to my dorm. Once I close the door behind me I let out an obnoxious squeal. 

Lydia, who had been watching TV gives me a weird look. "Someone's in a good mood. What happened to you?"

In between excited breaths I manage to get out, "Professor... Offered... Help... With story... I may... Get... PUBLISHED!!!!" 

Lydia jumps up and hugs me. "Oh my gosh Addie! That's fantastic!" 

She joins in with my squealing and we discuss the what if's of me getting published. After a while she leaves for class and I sit down at my laptop to read over the details from Professor King's email. I then get to work on my story. 

------

After getting the offer to work with Professor King, my social life sorta went out the window. I no longer had time for anything but the story about my mom. I was working on it when I woke up.

In between classes at the library or outside.

And before bed. 

Basically any free time I had was devoted to writing. I know it annoyed my friends but at the same time they understood. At least I thought they did. 

"Alright Miss All-I-Do-Is-Write-My-Story. Shut off your computer and sit on the couch! It's time for an intervention." Lydia says with a sense of authority.

She and Avery are both standing behind me, hands on hips, tapping their feet. 

"But, I - " I start to protest but Avery cuts me off.

"Adeline Margaret Gray. This is not optional. Sit!" She points to the couch and I try to suppress a laugh as I close my laptop and sit on the couch. My friends sit on either side of me. 

"Okay. You know we love you." Lydia starts out.

"And we know how important this story is to you." Avery adds.

"But you seriously need to just take a break and spend some time with us."

"Yeah, it's not good to just keep yourself cooped up inside all day. You need fresh air Addie!"

Lydia nods her head with mock seriousness and says, "And that is why you are going to come with Avery, Jack, and me to a party."

"Guys, I'm sorry I've been so distant lately but I really can't go to a party."

"Addie, you need to get the full college experience! And you can't do that if you never go to a party!" Avery looks at me with puppy dog eyes. "Pretty please?"

Just then my phone vibrates. I pull it out of my pocket and see that there's a text from Jack.

I miss you! I better see you tonight :)

My heart flutters. He misses me! "Alright. I'll go." My friends squeal with excitement and I smile and think about how in just a few hours I'll be seeing Jack. 

------

What Avery and Lydia failed to tell me, was that this party was at the biggest frat house on campus. The house was filled with bodies of drunk college kids. There was no dancing, not like you'd expect anyway. There was a group of people surrounding the keg doing keg stands, some where playing beer pong, and others were all over each other on couches or in the corners. 

The music was loud, almost too loud. The air was hot and smelled of sweat and alcohol. It really wasn't my scene, until I started drinking. Slowly, everything that started out as annoying and overwhelming became familiar and fun. 

My whole body feels warm and for some reason everything seems right with the world. "Guysss. I really love you." I throw my arms around Avery and Lydia's shoulders and notice how my words slur together. I laugh.

Avery giggles and kisses my cheek. "ADDIE. I Love you too!" She says. Probably a bit too loud but no one seems to notice. 

"Addie! That hot guy over there has been checking you out since we got here." Lydia shoves me in the stranger's direction and yells, "Get it girl!" 

I trip and spill some beer on the floor. "Hahaha ohmygosh. I spilled my drink!" 

The hot stranger lightly grabs my arm and hold me steady. "Hey, that's alright. You okay?" 

For some reason I can't stop laughing so I just nod my head. 

"Good. You want another beer?" He asks slipping his arm around my waist. If I had been able to think clearly I probably would have pushed his arm away, but in my stupid state I just shake my head and continue to laugh. 

"My friends think you're hot!" I say louder than I need too. 

He smiles and his expression shows that he already knows this. His lips brush my ear as he leans in to whisper, "Hey, you wanna go somewhere a bit quieter?" His breath tickles my neck.

"Okay." I nod, excited and nervous. Just then someone grabs my hand. "JACK! OHMYGOSH I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU!" 

Jack gives me a small smile and then gives the hot stranger a look I can't comprehend. "Hey, Addie. What'dya say we get you home?" 

"But I was going to go somewhere quiet with mister hottypants!" I turn to smile at the stranger but he's already talking to some other girl. I frown and turn to Jack. "He doesn't like me."

Jack puts his arm around my waist and unlike the stranger's arm, it feels right. He leads me upstairs away from the noise and the crowd. "No, he just didn't like me. Come on Addie, let's get out of here." 

Jack walks me back to my dorm room. When we're inside he tells me to get my pajamas on while he gets some water for me. It's much more of a struggle to dress myself than it should be, but I finally accomplish it. I sit down on the bed, tired from the struggle. Jack knocks on the door and asks if he can come in. 

"YEP! I DID IT! I GOT MY PAJAMAS ON." I yell. The word pajamas comes out sound more like puhjamsuh on. 

Jack rushes over to me laughing. "Shh, Addie. That's great! But you have to be quiet. Lots of people are trying to sleep."

"Ohhh!" I stage whisper and give him the okay sign with my hand. 

"Okay, I'm going to get you in bed. You just gotta sleep this off. I'm not going to lie, you're probably going to feel like shit in the morning. Just drink lots of water okay?" 

He gets me into bed and smiles at me.

"Thank you, Jack. You're such a good friend." 

"No problem, Addie. I'd do anything for you. Now get some sleep." He looks at me for a second and then kisses my forehead. I'm thankful that for the first time all night I don't blurt something stupid out. He turns off my bedside light and then leaves the dorm, quietly closing the door behind him.

Good Lord, I think I love that boy. Those are my last thoughts before I drift off into a deep, dreamless sleep.