Zephyr was finally out of sight, and I silently hoped I wouldn't run into him again tonight. Judging by the sea of people inside the house, that seemed likely—thankfully. My pulse still thudded in my chest from seeing him earlier, and I could feel my hands clammy from the nerves that had settled like a lead weight in my stomach. I followed Cassie and Nic into the throng of party-goers, weaving between clusters of laughing students, careful not to spill my drink—or anyone else's.
Red cups were thrust into my hands faster than I could decline. One almost slipped from my fingers before I remembered to place it carefully on a nearby table. The smell of alcohol mixed with perfume and the faint scent of fried snacks made my head spin slightly. The music thumped through the floorboards, vibrating through my shoes as if the house itself had a heartbeat. I concentrated on steadying my breathing and focusing on Cassie, who seemed completely in her element, laughing and chatting without a care in the world.
We soon arrived at a group I assumed were Cassie's friends. They lounged on a long row of mismatched couches, music blaring faintly from a nearby speaker. Most of them had tattoos, just like her, and they wore confidence like armor. Laughter and animated conversations floated over the din of the crowd. Of course, there was Zephyr, leaning casually on the arm of a couch, eyes scanning the room, sharp and unyielding. I made a deliberate effort not to meet his gaze. I couldn't risk sparking any interaction with him, not here, not now.
Cassie waved her hand toward me. "This is Aria, my roommate. She just arrived yesterday, so I thought I'd show her a good time for her first weekend at WSU."
One by one, they nodded or offered smiles. Their warmth was a relief—except for Zephyr, whose glare seemed to slice through the crowd. I shivered slightly, glad to have Cassie's back against me.
A boy with caramel-toned skin and an easy smile reached toward me. "I'm Bryan. What's your major?" His handshake was firm but polite, his touch a little cold, though his grin felt genuine and unthreatening.
"English," I said, a small flare of pride rising in my chest. Zephyr snorted somewhere behind me, but I refused to let it reach my ears.
"Great. I haven't quite decided yet," Bryan admitted, shrugging. I raised an eyebrow. How could someone not know? I'd been certain about English for as long as I could remember.
"Want a drink?" he asked.
"No thanks. I don't drink," I replied. His polite smile twitched slightly, almost like he was trying to hide amusement at my answer.
"Leave it to Cassie to bring a little miss priss to a frat party," a petite girl with red-tipped hair muttered under her breath.
I clenched my jaw. Prissy? I'd worked too hard, come too far, and now I wasn't about to let some snide remark ruin my night. I forced myself to ignore it, pretending I hadn't heard her.
"I'm going to get some air. Excuse me," I said, moving toward the door.
"You want me to come?" Cassie asked, tilting her head like she genuinely cared.
I shook my head. No. I needed space, a moment to breathe away from the chaos. How had I agreed to come in the first place? Right now, I'd much rather be curled up in my pajamas at home, Skyping Jenna, laughing at nothing and feeling safe. Instead, I was outside this overwhelming party, surrounded by strangers I barely knew. My bag vibrated with a notification, and I longed to text her, but what if she called? She'd flip knowing I was here, and I couldn't handle that kind of panic right now.
A group of tipsy girls stumbled past, giggling, their perfume pungent and sweet. They bumped into each other, spilling laughter and some sticky liquid onto the floor. How obnoxious, I thought, frowning. Please, let this not be how everyone in college behaves.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the noise. "Shit! Sorry!" A male voice, panicked, and then a splash of cold liquid hit me square in the chest. My stomach sank, and I froze for a second, drenched and shocked. I jumped back, pressing a hand against the front of my dress as the guy stumbled away, mumbling another half-hearted apology before collapsing into a nearby chair.
I cursed under my breath. My dress—my only dress suitable for tonight—was soaked with God knows what. I had nothing to change into, no backup plan. Fuming, I dug my phone out of my bag and started hunting for a bathroom. Pushing through the crowded hall, I tried door after door. Locked. Locked. Locked. My imagination ran wild at what might be happening behind some of them—drunken chaos, people making out, someone throwing up.
Finally, I made it upstairs. One door budged—but it wasn't a bathroom. It was worse. Zephyr. On a bed. And straddling him, laughing, was the red-haired girl from earlier. My stomach lurched, and I pressed my hand to my face.
"Oh my God…" I whispered, trying not to breathe too loudly. "Could this night possibly get any worse?"
The thump of bass from below made the moment feel heavier, louder, and I swallowed hard. I wanted to disappear into the floor, to vanish from the chaos of this party entirely. My nerves were fraying, my patience stretched thin, and my first night at college was already turning into something I never could have predicted.