I feel the blood rush back to my face, this time swimming to my ears. I stand motionless, and lost in his eyes once again.

I want to live in those eyes.

I feel dozens of eyes burning into my back and all around me. I turn around embarrassed, and the entire room is gawking at Avery and myself.

Kat's performance long over. I grasp that Avery and I have been dancing after the music had stopped.
"Alright Avery!" a voice shouts excitedly. The room now jammed with people, word had spread downstairs that Avery was in a romantic interaction with a girl. A rare occasion I presume.
I peer at Kat, a huge smile plastered across her round face.

Its silent. Eerily silent.
Is this seriously happening right now? I think.

Kat starts a slow clap that spreads like wildfire, breaking the silence. Cat calls, muffled comments, and joyous laughter brings me out of my panic.

Avery comically takes my hand and gives me a charming bow, with his opposite hand tucked appropriately behind his back. I play along and grab the hem of my dress, and curtsy.

Loud laughter bellows from my gut with pure amusement. I scan the faces for Kat, and my eyes fall on a girl in the midst. Long Carmel hair, mocha skin. Her eyes on the floor, in the mob of happiness she doesn't fit in. Like a single tile off center on the floor. She meets my gaze, and leaves suddenly. Her eyes glassy and wet.

***

I awake to a gentle shaking of my arm.
"Come on" Kat yawns.

"Wake up. We gotta go get our books, and I'm not doing anything without a double shot espresso."

My eyes tremble open, I sit up in my new bed and give a wide arms stretch.

"What time is it?" I ask.
"7:00 am." Kat yawns again.
"Jesus Christ! How are you not still passed out?" I exclaim.

Kat walks over to her desk, now made into a vanity. She examines herself in the mirror, applying lip gloss.
"I've been going this a long time."
She says while giving her lips a pucker into the mirror, followed by a little pop.

I shrug on a pair of Jeans, and a tee shirt.
"Its getting colder you might want to bring a jacket." Kat says behind me.
I dig into my small wardrobe and retrieve a thin black jacket.
Zen had left it at my house once, and I failed to return it. I honestly didn't want to, his scent that resonated off the fabric helped me sleep.

I'm starting to really miss Zen, four whole years we have been connected at the hip; my favorite person in the world. I cant get like this now its too soon, its been one day. I decide then that its time to call him before leaving the dorm.

"You can go ahead if you want, I need to make a call before I leave." I say to Kat.
"Ill meet you there in fifteen."
"Okay, cool. See you there." Kat smiles, leaving the dorm room.

Zen answers on the first ring. I stand at the window between the two beds. Repeatedly scrubbing my fingers across each knot on my bracelet.

"Clo! I was worried you weren't going to call, what's up?" Zen yelps answering the phone.

"Hey, of course I was going to call. You should see this place, its insane, Z." I say, pulling my shoes on.
"Are you still coming to visit next month?" I ask.

I can hear the faint and familiar sound of clanking dishes, and chatter in the background. I almost forgot that he Had caved, and decided to work at the cafe.
Marv -N- Jo's Southern Style Cafe; specializing in fried chicken, and the best pie in the world, Carmel Apple served piping hot with vanilla ice cream. Thinking about the cafe makes my stomach growl, I hadn't ate anything. I guess with all the excitement I didn't think about food.
"Yep, you better believe it. But I'll have to call you back later, its getting busy here."

We say goodbye and I head out the door. Poor Zen, I cant imagine watching everyone leave and have to stay home to work at a greasy cafe.

Pushing through the heavy doors, Kat was right it was cold. The air felt crisp and clean. I've never liked Summer time, the humidity like a blanket of smothering fog.
I pull my hood up; okay it might be Zens jacket but he will have to settle for joint custody, as I've grown quite fond of it.
The city is alive with increasing volume as New Yorkers file into sidewalk traffic. I make a mental note to see this city, as much of it as I can.

I find Kat right away sitting on the Victorian couch we sat on the night before. The Carmel haired girl from the party sits perched on the edge with superb posture. I have a seat beside Kat.

"Thanks for saving my seat." I say, plopping down on the couch.
"No problem. Ava, this is Chloe my new roomie." She States blowing into her coffee before sipping; pinky out.
"Do you know people are calling you Cinderella, after last night? You're like the talk of campus." Kat laughs.

Its then that I notice the stares all over again. I glance at Ava. Her posture shifted now to a slight slouch.
"What? Oh God that's so embarrassing. I don't even know the guy, and he asked me to dance. I thought you said he was gay!" I laugh
"Apparently not." She laughs again. "I've never seen Avery Duncan with a girl. Ever."
I look at Ava, "Its nice to meet you, Ava." I say reaching my hand out to her.
"She's a hand-shaker." Kat says to Ava amused.
Ava takes my hand and shakes.

"You too, listen I'm sorry to meet and leave but I have plans in an hour." She says.
"Its okay, I understand." I say to her. Kat and I wave goodbye as she leaves again.

A mysterious guy walks over to Kat, "You got it?" He asks. Looking over his shoulders to make sure nobody is watching. Kat reaches into her backpack and pulls out a group of printed papers, and hands them over. To which he slips a wad of cash into her hand with a sly sneakiness. Then he is gone, his new papers tucked into his back pocket.
"What was that?" I ask.
"I sell essays, and term papers." She explains. "That guy is applying for a scholarship so I wrote the essay for him. You can make a lot of extra cash selling papers, he paid $500 bucks. Sometimes I can get more depending on when its due." She says with a shrug.

I don't blame her for selling term papers. College isn't cheap, and judging by Kats taste in beauty and fashion she needs all the money she can get.

Photo:Brenda Song inspiration for Kat.