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“This campus is so beautiful I could stay outside all day long,” Alex sighed, basking in the beauty of perfect weather, beautiful architecture, and gorgeous landscaping.
“I know,” Sidra nodded in agreement. “But then you’d never get to class.”
”We could have jogged over, you know?” Alex put in, taking a sip from her water bottle.
“Yes, but I like this walk, this path has the prettiest flowers.” Sidra shifted the gym bag on her shoulder as she gazed at the rows of blue hydrangea.
Alex looked at her with amusement. “Girl, why do you carry a gym bag? All you have is a towel and a water bottle in there.”
Sidra smiled. She and Alex had begun to go to the fitness center every day or so. It gave Sidra a chance to work off some excess frustration. Since rooming with Chasity, she’d become especially fond of the punching bag. Even five minutes of imaginary sparring did wonders.
“I honestly don’t know. I guess I just have to have my things in a bag.” Sidra shrugged, then paused. “You hear that?”
“Yeah. Somebody sounds pretty mad,” Alex said, pausing on the walkway as the sounds of an argument drowned out the birds’ chatter.
“And one of those somebody’s sounds real familiar. I bet you my evil roommate is involved. She must have found somebody on campus to pick a fight with,” Sidra declared.
Alex shot her a sympathetic glance. “You two still not getting along?”
“No. Every time I try talking to her, she jumps down my throat,” Sidra replied dramatically.
“You feel like being nosey?” Alex asked, grinning.
“Sure do,” Sidra said. “Let’s find out who the latest victim is.”
They walked along the path in search of their quarry. They rounded a corner. Sure enough, there was Chasity, fists clenched and arguing with another girl. Alex and Sidra were silent as they sized up both Chasity, and the girl. Both were around the same height, but their complexions were a contrast. She was several shades darker than Chasity, and although her figure was slim like Chasity’s, she wasn’t nearly as toned.
“Look bitch, I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but I will stomp your ass if you keep on talking that shit!” the girl warned and took a step closer to Chasity.
“Yeah? I highly doubt that,” Chasity shot back, full of confidence.
“Ain’t nobody scared of you!”
“You should be.” Chasity was no stranger to fights; she’d been in plenty of them growing up. Win, lose, or draw – she was not one to back down.
“Keep talking!” the girl shouted. “I already told you what I’m gonna do.”
“You’ve got five seconds to get out of my damn face,” Chasity warned, staring the girl down.
“What are ya gonna do, huh?” the girl taunted.
“Stay here for four more seconds, and I’ll show you,” Chasity threatened.
“I think Chasity really will hit that girl,” Alex whispered on the sidelines.
“Oh, I’m sure she will,” Sidra replied.
“This isn’t good. She can get in trouble.”
“Alex, the five seconds are almost up.” Sidra nudged Alex. Alex hopped over the hedge and grabbed Chasity’s arm.
“What the hell are you doing?” Chasity shouted, whipping around.
“Stopping you from making a big mistake,” Alex responded.
“Please, that bitch better be glad for the interruption,” the girl taunted. “She don’t want none of this.”
Chasity made a lunge toward her, but Alex held her back. “You’d better leave,” Alex advised.
“Until next time, bitch,” the girl promised, locking eyes with Chasity before flipping her long braids over her shoulder, and leisurely walking away.
“Are you crazy?” Chasity broke free of Alex and shoved her away. “What the hell were you doing?”
“Like I said, I was keeping you from making a big mistake,” Alex replied, setting her bag down as she put her hands up cautiously. “If you fight on campus, you’ll get kicked out.”
“Why should you care? I don’t even know who the hell you are,” Chasity hissed.
“Sure you do. I’m Alex; I met you at the orientation a few days ago. I hang out with your roommate,” Alex reminded.
“And I would know that how exactly?”
“Look, I was just trying to help the situation,” Alex explained, voice laced with frustration. Geez, this girl is so mean, Alex thought.
“Nobody asked you for your damn help,” Chasity shot back. “You and your little friend Sidra, who I see playing watcher over there, can just leave me the hell alone.” The girl stomped off without another word, fortunately in the opposite direction of her opponent.
“That went well,” Sidra commented, walking over after Chasity stormed off. “You just had to come to the rescue huh?”
“Hardly. I just wanted to stop her from doing something stupid,” Alex protested, picking her bag up from the ground.
“You aren’t fooling anybody,” Sidra began, regarding Alex skeptically. “You see her as a project. You think you can reach her, don’t you?”
“Honestly?” Alex thought for a moment. “Yeah, I do. There’s nobody I can’t reach.”
“Well, good luck. You’re certainly going to need it,” Sidra concluded. “Clearly that one doesn’t do friendship.”
“We’ll see.” Alex picked up her gym bag. “Come on, let’s go before all the good machines are taken”
“You can have the machines; I need to hit that bag.”
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The beautifully landscaped grounds, bright sun, and gentle breeze did little to calm Chasity down after her encounter. She wasn’t just upset at the fact that she had the argument with that random girl in the first place, but also at the fact that Alex had the nerve to butt in her business.
Who the hell does that nosey bitch think she is? she thought. If there was one thing Chasity couldn’t stand, it was a nosey person.
She reached her dorm within minutes but knowing that her temper was still high, Chasity decided to keep walking in hopes that she could calm down.
Her walk took her to the large football field near the gym. As she slowed her pace to check out the grounds, she happened to see the football team practicing some plays a few feet away from her. She watched them for all of one minute when she noticed that one of the players had spotted her and began staring.
Why the hell is he staring at me like he’s never seen a damn girl before? She rolled her eyes as he smiled and managed a slight wave to her. She had no intention of returning his smile or his wave. Instead, she tilted her head slightly, taking in his light-brown complexion, muscular body, and handsome face. He’s cute, she mused before continuing on her way.
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The upperclassmen arrived on campus over the weekend. What began as a trickle turned into a flood, much to Malajia’s delight. Intent on checking out the new arrivals before class, she managed to make breakfast in the cafeteria for the first time. Sidra was already there with Emily and Alex, sprinkling granola on her fruit and yogurt parfait.
“Eww, you eating that nasty mess?” Malajia sneered. “Not surprised. You wear those prissy ass clothes. Hell, why wouldn’t you eat prissy food?”
“Well, I wouldn’t judge your food by your clothing Malajia,” Sidra ground out. “If I did, you’d be eating nothing,”
Craning her neck every which way, afraid she might miss a choice male specimen, Malajia let the comment slide.
Suddenly, Sidra half rose in her seat and waved. Josh was queued up in the cafeteria line with two of his friends. Sidra had been friends with all three guys since childhood. She’d always been amazed at their closeness; even though they were so different in personality. Josh, the sweet introvert; Mark, the popular jokester; and David, the reserved brainiac.
“Hey, Sidra,” Josh greeted, pulling up a chair and setting down his tray. “Mark and David will be over in a sec. You going to Intro to Psych?”
“Uh huh,” she smiled. “This is Emily. She’s in that class too. Did you already meet Alex?”
“I don’t think so,” Josh admitted, opening his carton of milk.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I could have sworn I introduced you two at that party.” Sidra placed her spoon back into her bowl. “Alex, this is Josh Hampton.” Josh and Alex smiled and waved at one another.
Emily mumbled a hello, then reached for a packet of sugar to avoid having to make conversation. That was one of the reasons she’d camped out in her room all weekend, even though the weather had been so beautiful.
“Damn, I can’t escape nobody from Delaware huh?” drawled Malajia. As if four years of middle school and two years in high school weren’t enough, now she had to deal with Josh and his friends in college too.
Josh was okay, she guessed, if you liked them tall, brown-skinned and timid. Mark, on the other hand, was a total write-off in her opinion. She couldn’t stand the loud-mouthed jerk with his stupid jokes and dumb pranks, even if he was six-foot-three, dark skinned, and handsome. David, with his silver-framed glasses, she considered a nerd and avoided in the past. His brown complexion, height and athletic build made him attractive and all, but what do you say to a guy who gets straight A’s?
“What’s up baby girl?” Mark inquired with the volume on high.
“Do you always have to be so damn loud?” complained Josh. “I’m sure they heard you across campus.”
“Yes, he does, always,” David quipped, spreading butter on his toast.
“Boys, this isn’t high school. You’d better behave yourself,” Sidra warned, laughing. “Josh, where did you go after the party the other day?”
“Back to my room,” Josh said. “Because Mark and David left me.”
“Tell her why though,” Mark ordered, a glint in his eyes.
Josh frowned slightly. “What?”
“Tell her why we left you,” Mark repeated.
“Whatever, man,” Josh mumbled defensively. “You could’ve waited five more minutes.”
“What’s with all of the secrecy? What were you doing, Josh?” Sidra prompted, intrigued.
“He was looking for you,” David interjected.
Alex, enjoying the play by play, became a quiet spectator. Then she saw the embarrassment flash across Josh’s face, the quick swallow. So, she thought, he has a crush on Sidra, and she doesn’t have a clue.
“Sidra, introduce me.” Alex decided it was time to short-circuit the awkwardness and intervened.
“Oh, where are my manners? Sorry, Alex. These guys are my other old friends from high school, Mark Johnson and David Summers.”
“So, who do you room with?” David asked after pleasantries were exchanged.
“Emily, and this one over here.” Alex pointed to Malajia before taking a bite of her cream cheese covered bagel.
“And I’m the best roommate ever. She’s so lucky to have me.” Malajia chimed in. “Hey David. Hey Josh.”
“What’s up Malajia? Long time no see. How have you been?” Josh asked, picking up his cup to take a sip of his orange juice.
“Great. Since I left Delaware, that is,” Malajia corrected, then groaned as she caught Mark making weird faces at her. “Oh God.”
“Damn it! You’re still alive?” he shouted. The dislike Malajia felt was mutual. Mark thought she was a loud, ditzy, attention-seeking whore.
“You shut the hell up. I’m surprised that you even got into college. Or know how to spell it,” Malajia shot back. She was racking her brains for another insult when Mark let out a loud, phony laugh. Heads turned, and Malajia felt as if everyone in the cafeteria was staring at them. Not all attention, Malajia discovered, was welcome.
“Do you have to do stupid shit like that?” she spat out.
“I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t,” he replied coolly, picking up his book bag, and pointedly turning his attention to Emily. “You going to class?” Mark asked, “I’ll walk you over. You’re cute, how about you give me your number?”
Flustered, Emily stared down at the oatmeal congealing in the bowl in front of her. Sidra grabbed the back of Mark’s shirt. “Back off, boy. We can all go together.”
“Don’t nobody feel like sitting through no damn psychology class,” Malajia complained, tugging up her strapless top. “It’s too nice outside.”
“Girl, just hush,” Alex shot back. She then stood from her seat. “Time to get a move on. First day of class, we don’t want to be late.”
On the way to return their trays, Mark waved a piece of paper in front of Alex. Slamming her tray on the used stack, she grabbed the sheet. Crude stick figures kissed above an inscription in equally crude printing: “This could be you and me.” Alex crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it at Mark.
“Come on now,” he laughed. “You have to admit that was original.”
“Yeah, originally stupid,” Alex returned. Suddenly Mark let out another of his piercing phony laughs right near her face. “Oh my god! My ears,” she groaned.
“Can somebody just shoot him, please?” Malajia pleaded.
