Page 19 of Afterglow
“I’m fine. What are we doing for girls’ day?”
Thursdays none of us have classes so we always spend time together as once the session is fully underway; we barely see each other. Especially this year.
I have this research project that will consume most of my time, while Sofia has numerous work placements with different fashion companies over the next couple months. Athena, unlike me and Sofia, has a boyfriend so she spends a lot of time with him. She is also writing a book while attending university, so Athena is a busy woman.
Sofia’s shrills bounce throughout the room.
“Shopping!”
My head falls back and a defeated sigh leaves my throat. How do I get myself into these situations?
“There is a party tomorrow night and what better way to start the semester than a grand entrance with stylish outfits?”
This is going to be a long day.
***
I stare at my reflection for the hundredth time today.
Sofia Wells takes ‘shop till you drop’ to an extreme level. My feet ache and my stomach has been growlingnon-stop. Since this spontaneous shopping trip began, I’ve been petitioning for the food court to be our next stop.
It was no use.
My roommates drag me from boutique to boutique for an outfit for tomorrow night’s party. The first Friday of the semester is party central as if everyone hasn’t just returned from a break filled with the same thing.
The Hockey House is hosting this time as they are situated far away from Lakewood’s main campus buildings. In the past years, there have been some instances that warranted security being involved. Although this could be attributed to who organised and hosted the party, some fraternities tended to be uncontrollable.
“Maybe someone on the hockey team will fuck you,”
“What?”
Athena’s dirty comment brings me back.
“Holy shit, this is a proud mum moment. Virgin Athena is no more,” Sofia beams.
A rosy hue covers Athena’s cheeks. Her and Austin’s relationship developed from friends with benefits to falling completely in love. Sofia and I always laugh at the two of them. Long gone is the innocent and unknowing woman we met in freshman year.
“That isn’t happening,” I say, replying to her earlier comment.
My brother will kill any of his teammates if they even try to flirt with me. I attempted it freshman year. It endedwith me receiving a lecture and Sam Morris—the Hawk’s left winger—with a bruised cheek.
Plus, an extremely awkward run in with my brother the next morning. This was my first and only one night stand. I have nothing against those who like casual sex, but it isn’t for me.
“I still don’t understand why you won’t consider Theo,” Athena states.
“Please, I’m trying to eat here. The last thing I want nor need is Theodore Knight’s slimy hands touching me.”
Sofia rolls her eyes at my exaggeration. “I’m with Thena. He ticks all the boxes,”
I tilt my head down, sneering at her. “And pray tell, what boxes does he fit into? It better be double his size, otherwise his ego won’t fit.”
The girls chuckle. “Theo is hot, only does ‘no strings attached’ and will get you off.”
“You seem pretty confident. Don’t tell me you believe the ‘sex god’ rumours. Guarantee it is bullshit, and he started them himself.”
Since freshman year I’ve seen him with multiple girls, the most notable one being Kierra O’Brien. Athena heard from Austin they had a friends with benefits type situation but over the past couple of months I haven’t seen them together. Not that I watched Theodore closely but from a distance she seemed pretty attached so he probably broke it off.
“I’ll give it to you, Jaz, you can hold a grudge.”
