Page 6 of Hailey Goes to College

Kelsey who’s been watching the interaction between Cindy and I introduces herself and soon we are all talking like old friends so much so that I’ve found my second wind.

The person they have DJ’ing the corner of the room plays a mix of popular songs, and before long, Kelsey drags me onto the makeshift dance floor. We dance and laugh, caught up in the rhythm of the music and the energy of the party. The living room is a swirl of lights and movement, and for a while, I forget about everything except the fun we are having.

After a particularly energetic song, we take a break and head back to the kitchen for some water. As we are catching our breath, Kelsey nudges me.

“This is amazing!” she says, her eyes shining. “I’m so glad we came.”

“Me too,” I admit, feeling a rush of happiness.

As the night wears on, the party grows louder and wilder. People are getting more drunk, and the energy is shifting from fun to chaotic. Kelsey and I are dancing again when a guy who has clearly had too much to drink stumbles over to us.

“Hey there, pretty ladies,” he slurs, leaning uncomfortably close. “Wanna dance?”

“We’re good, thanks,” I say politely, trying to steer him away. But he persists, grabbing Kelsey’s arm. “Come on, just one dance.”

“Hey, let go of her,” I say, stepping between them.

“Back off, dude,” a deep voice says from behind me. I turned to see one of the guys I had met earlier at soccer, Tyler, stepping in. “They said no.”

The drunk guy scowls but eventually backs off, muttering under his breath. I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Thanks, Tyler,” I say, grateful for his help.

“No problem. You two okay?”

“Yeah, we’re fine,” Kelsey says, rubbing her arm. “Maybe it’s time we head out, though.”

“I can walk you guys back to the dorms,” Tyler suggests.

“That’s sweet of you. I’d like that.” Kelsey tells him, flashing him her sweetest smile.

We make a beeline for the front door. As we step out into the cool night air, I feel a sense of relief and contentment. The party had been an adventure, but I was glad to be heading back to the safety of our room. The walk isn’t far and it doesn’t take us long to get there.

“Thanks for walking us back, Tyler,” Kelsey says as we reach our building.

“Anytime,” he says. “You two take care, alright?”

“We will,” Kelsey says, giving him a hug. “Thanks again.”

We watch from the entrance of Hamilton Hall, as he heads back toward the direction of the party, then we make our way inside. As we climb the stairs to our room, Kelsey looks at me with a tired but happy smile.

“That was quite a night,” she says.

“It sure was,” I agree, feeling the exhaustion starting to set in.

“Tyler’s cute,” she says.

Before I can even reply we’re both giggling and laughing until my cheeks hurt. And as I go to bed, I still have a smile on my face.

The days following the party are a whirlwind of new experiences and responsibilities. Classes get into full swing, and Kelsey and I are busy adjusting to our schedules and trying to find a balance between academics and social life. Every morning is a rush of grabbing breakfast, hurrying to lectures, and trying to memorize the layout of the campus.

Our dorm room has quickly become our sanctuary—a place to unwind and share stories about our day. Kelsey’s enthusiasm for the theater group that she joined is invigorating, as she regales me with tales of auditions and rehearsals. Meanwhile, I find myself drawn more and more to the campus newspaper, where I joined up to meet people who share my passion for writing.

One afternoon, as we sat in our room with textbooks spread out before us studying, I lean back in my chair, stretching my arms. “This week has been such a slog. Who would have known freshman year would be so intense? I feel like we’ve hardly had time to breathe.”

“Don’t remind me,” Kelsey groans. “It’ll be fine, though. You’ve met a cute boy, I’ve seen many cute boys—I think we’re doing great.”

“I breathe out a laugh. “I suppose.” I look at the clock and groan. “Okay, I have a class.” I gather my books. “See you later?”

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