Caroline:

I've enrolled in five classes for one semester. It's the requirement. Lab and reading assignments. mock lab work. It's what I was here for. I handled high school with a 3.9 GPA. I could handle university. I'm preparing myself for the first week. It would impress the professors. I had my flash cards, note app, daily planner, extra journals, pens and pencils, my books and laptop. My parents bought me a compact printer. I got this. At least we have our dorms and the mental health center. I reopened the Google Excel chart and entered the due dates and deadlines from the syllabus. My phone vibrated in my pocket. Reaching in, a notification of a text from both mom and dad saying do your best and love you. I smiled and replied 'love you too.'

I missed home though. My comfy bed and mom's cooking. I even missed my older brother Evan and his annoying habits when he leaves the empty jugs of juice in the fridge. He's on his graduate program in Iowa for his masters in Chemistry.

"Read chapters three and four for a quiz next friday," I read off the syllabus for the lab out loud, and entered it in the grid. It's the last thing to enter. Done. I'm all set for next week. I set my alarm for an early wake up call. I let out a relieved sigh and laid on my back and stared at the ceiling, my hands were placed on my stomach to count my breathing and breathed in deeply. "Hey!" My roommate Michelle announced when she came in through the door.

"Hey," I replied, unmoving from my position with my eyes on the ceiling.

She snorted, "what are you doing?"

"Corpse pose," I answered.

"Corpse what?" she asked.

"Corpse pose. It's a yoga pose. I looked it up online, it benefits sleep and lowers blood pressure."

"Are you supposed to lie still like that?"

"I think that's the idea. It involves a lot of deep breathing to clear your head." According to my doctor, my pulse was too high for an 18 year old and I had to look for outlets to relax. I'm trying yoga since meditation is too quiet. Maybe I should move around. They should have prescribed me with something. I looked at the doorway. Michelle was dressed up in ankle zip up boots, a purple dress and black handbag over her shoulder and black hair down to her shoulders. "You look nice, going out?" I asked.

"Thanks. And I am." She grinned, her cheeks were flushed.

"What's his name?"

"Daniel."

"Daniel. Ooo. Is he cute?"

"The cutest!" She squealed. "He's an English major and he plays Soccer. He told me there's a party at his frat house." Her grin stretched and it made her cheeks blush again.

"A party? Was that an invitation?"
"It was, he's picking me up."

"Aww, well, have fun." I lifted myself up, giving my arms a stretch above my head.

"What are your plans for tonight?" She asked.

"Um, I was gonna go to bed."

"At eight pm? On a friday?"

"I had a long day from the tour, I spent like three hours setting my schedule for the semester." I rubbed my eyelids and slumped my shoulders to express how tired I am.

"Classes start on Monday," she said in a deadpan voice.

"I'm getting a head start. Early to bed, early to rise."

"You need to have some fun for yourself. Did you have dinner yet?" She rested her hand on her hip with a raised eyebrow.

"No," I frowned, remembering I only had a banana, water, and gummy bears for lunch. My stomach was empty as it gave out a low rumble. "You know what, I am pretty hungry."

"I'm going to the campus buffet before the party. Wanna come?" She suggested. I was comfortable. I had my pajamas and bonnet on. I was in no mood to put on makeup. I was hungry, though.

"Yeah." I switched my legs over the bed before I got up.

"Then we can go to the party after," she suggested. "Daniel's picking me up."

"Eh, I don't think so," I shook my head. "I don't want to be a third wheel."

"I can ask him to hook you up. There should be plenty of hot guys at the frat house."

This made me straighten my spine. I didn't have the best history on dates. Or relationships. I didn't like being set up.  My last boyfriend broke up with me, claiming I was boring. From a guy that talked about Geology. "I don't want to be a bother."

"It's no bother. You need to loosen up."

"He's a frat boy. He's not a fuck boy, is he?" I frowned.

"Not that I know of. Technically." She pulled out her phone and began texting.

"Technically," I repeated.

"Mmhmm." She looked up and smiled again.

I threw my head back, "Michelle, I don't-"

"Come on, it's college, we're meeting new people. Expanding our horizons."

"What if I don't want to meet new people?"

"I'm new, you met me."

"I like you and I like to have a very small circle of friends." I wasn't popular, nor a loner but I had selected friends that I kept in touch with. Most of my high school friends went to other universities.

"I just met Daniel. I want our first date to be great," she pleaded.

"I don't think you need me, though."

"I do. I want to be sure he likes me and make sure he's not a walking red flag." Her phone dinged from a notification, she read the screen and grinned, "I told him you were coming and he said the more the merrier."

I gave her an 'are you serious' stare. That was quick. Or it could be a sign that he's nuts. "I don't know. I have a lot to do. I need to wake up early."

"You need a break, classes are next Monday. Come on, please?" She pouted out her bottom lip.

I sighed and stood up off the bed.

"Yay! I'll meet you out in the hallway." So far, Michelle has been sweet. We met at the campus tour on Friday and luckily we were assigned as roommates. We both shared our love of food and The Vampire Diaries. We're both Team Stefan. We found out we had Sociology class on Tuesdays with Professor Coyne. I changed out of my fuzzy pajama bottoms and tshirt, and settled on a black dress with leggings, and black boots. I grabbed my purse and pulled out the scrunchie from my tight ponytail to let my braids fall on my back. I brushed mascara on my lashes, primer and foundation and wore nude lipgloss. Was it cold tonight? I took my blue jacket just in case.

"Ready," I announced. She turned to me and smiled.

"You look cute," she complimented.

"Thanks." I gave myself my spin. "Let's go."

"All right. Daniel and his friend will pick us up after we eat." She squealed.

"Friend? Someone else is coming?" She nodded. I almost stopped in my tracks, it made me stumble. I pressed the heel of my foot when it almost slipped out of my shoe.

"Ok. But if I don't like the party or I start yawning. I'm going home." I warned her. "No questions asked."

"One hour, if you don't like the party, we go home together. No questions asked. Deal?" She stuck out her hand.

"Deal." I shook her hand and we headed out the building.

***

After me and Michelle ate, she texted Daniel for him to pick us up. I wanted dessert, I had enough for pie but Michelle wanted to go to the party. Michelle excitedly pulled me by my elbow that he's outside. The gray car was right in front of the restaurant entrance, it was clean, and looked new. He probably got it for a graduation present. "Hi!" She ducked down as he rolled down the window. He smiled. "Hey. Had a good dinner?" He began to get out of the car, lifting her up in a hug. She giggled and kissed his cheek. They're adorable.

"We did. This is Caroline."

He swiped his shaggy black hair away from his forehead, lifting his hand and waved.. "Nice to meet you."

"You too," I smiled, waving back. Daniel was cute, Michelle had great taste. He had a fit body, from his athletic background. He was tall, taller than her and me. I gave Michelle a thumbs up of appreciation. His friend in question was in the passenger seat, texting away. I bent my knees for a better look. Mmm, he had great hair from what I could tell: manageable and short length. The type to grab and run your fingers through. I fluffed my hair, shaking it slightly off my shoulders. I needed a good look at his face.

"Oh, Caroline, this is Cameron. Dude." Daniel said, knocking on the door. He jumped at the sound of the hard knock. I held my breath when he stood and got out of the car. Face reveal: green eyes, long lashes, sharp jawline, pink lips, lush hair. My smile dropped. You have got to be kidding me. It was him. Cameron! Cameron Davis. I should have known. Why? Why him? It's bad enough we've had the same classes since middle school. I blinked three times to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Nope, it was him.

"Caroline." His voice was rough when he said my name. Squaring his shoulders, he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Cameron, what an unpleasant surprise." I nodded with a weak smile.

"Ditto." He shook his head when I crossed my arms over my chest as well. Now I don't feel well.

"You two know each other?" Michelle asked.

"I wished we didn't," I muttered. I gritted the back of my teeth, it made my jaw hurt. I placed my hands on my hips and rolled my eyes. "I thought you were going to Harvard."

"I'm too good for Harvard. I decided to come here. Make dad proud and continue the legacy, Eastern has a great computer science program."

"Oh yeah, you have to make daddy happy," I grinned. He gave me a blank stare.

"Is there a problem?" Daniel asked.

"Excuse us," Michelle tittered, holding up one finger as she pulled me away. I gritted my teeth again, taking in slow breaths when we were at a far distance from them "What's the problem?"

"I can't be around him," I emphasized. I groaned, running my hand over my face.

"Who? Cameron? What's wrong with him?"

"He's-" how could I say this without sounding rude? "He's an ass." I tried.

"What?" She scoffed, crossing her arms over her shoulders. "He's hot."

"Objectively." I scoffed and raised an eyebrow. Cameron's anal and uptight, and tries to control every situation. He would give any opportunity to tell people about his photographic memory and bragged to the whole school that he got into an ivy league. Sure, he's good to look at, but his ego was too big for his head. I'm surprised it didn't explode.

"Maybe you two got off on the wrong foot. Just give him a chance. Plus his dad is well known at school. Mr. Cameron Davis Sr."

"I know." If I had a memory machine, I would use it to erase the fact that I know him. His face was everywhere on billboards, names on shops and malls. His advertising business funded almost everything in this town. His dad was a frat boy when he went here. He talked about it all the time when he was on the news. Like father, like son: they love to brag. He had to make daddy proud. I rubbed my temples and took a deep breath.

"One hour, please," she repeated and smiled. I couldn't do an hour with him, with the food sitting in my stomach, I was ready to lie down and freeze time.

"15 minutes," I said.

"That's not even enough time to dance."

"20."

"One hour." She pouted her bottom lip, lacing her fingers together in a pleading stance.

I shook my head. "Fine, one hour. No alcohol. I'm going back to the dorms."

"I'll even go with you."

"No, I don't want to ruin your fun."

"We're roommates and new friends. We stick together."

"We stick together." She linked her elbow with mine and we walked back over to them. I breathed again. We met the boys at the car, they were chatting on their own as well and stopped when we came over.

"Everything good?" Daniel asked.

"All good." I nodded. Cameron had a scowl, I gave him a bright grin.

"You smell like shrimp." His tone was dull and bored before he got back in the car.

"It was all you can eat!" I opened the unlocked door and got in the back seat with Michelle, being careful not to slam Daniel's car door from anger. I released my tightened fists and stretched out my fingers. I didn't regret the four shrimp egg rolls. I was hungry. She whispered "be nice" before Daniel drove off.

I heaved a sigh, "I'll try." One hour. I had to hack this for one hour.

The first chapter! So this will be a mess, all first drafts are messes. Edits will begin after, I just want to write it down. Weekly updates are going to be posted every Sunday. Hope you like it so far, what do you think of Cameron and Caroline's interaction?