My campus life

chapter 2 The party

The first week at Westbridge University had flown by faster than Olivia could have imagined. Between figuring out where her classes were, meeting new people, and trying desperately not to get lost in the endless maze of campus buildings, she barely had a moment to breathe. Every day seemed to bring a new surprise — some exciting, some terrifying. But nothing prepared her for Friday evening, when a small, folded note slid silently under her dorm room door.

Curious, she bent down and picked it up. The paper felt smooth between her fingers, the handwriting neat but playful. She unfolded it carefully:

“Hey Freshie, there’s a welcome party at The Rooftop tonight. Everyone’s going — even the Dean’s son 😉.”

Her heart skipped a beat. The Dean’s son?

She had heard all the whispers — Ethan Gray, a final-year student, famous for his charm, his expensive car, and his habit of stirring up trouble wherever he went. Rumors about him were everywhere on campus. Everyone said he was untouchable. Olivia felt a mix of excitement and terror swirl in her chest.

Just then, her roommate Tasha barged into the room, holding up a glittery dress that sparkled under the soft dorm lighting. “Please tell me you’re coming,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “It’s your first week. You can’t spend it hiding in your room like some old lady!”

Olivia laughed nervously, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt. “I don’t even know what to wear…” she admitted, feeling a wave of awkwardness wash over her.

Nia, already rifling through a wardrobe, rolled her eyes playfully. “Girl, that’s what roommates are for! I’ll help you pick something cute. You can’t show up looking like a freshman disaster.”

An hour later, Olivia stood in front of her mirror wearing a simple, elegant black dress. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she had managed a subtle touch of makeup. Her heart thumped loudly, not just from nerves but from the strange, fluttering anticipation she couldn’t quite name. Maybe it was the excitement of finally feeling like she belonged. Or maybe, part of her admitted shyly, it was because she secretly wanted to see Ethan Gray in person.

As the sun dipped behind the campus buildings, the lights came alive. Strings of fairy lights twinkled along the rooftop edges, and music drifted through the air in rhythmic pulses. Olivia followed Mia up the winding stairwell, their sneakers squeaking on the concrete steps. By the time they reached the top, the cityscape stretched around them, glittering against the night sky. Laughter, clinking glasses, and the savory aroma of pizza filled the rooftop, mingling with the faint scent of fresh-cut grass from below.

Olivia’s eyes darted around, taking in the scene. Students danced without care, some swaying gently, others wildly flinging themselves into the music. Drinks spilled over tables and onto the floor, but no one seemed to notice — it was pure chaos, but fun chaos. She felt both overwhelmed and exhilarated, like she had stepped into a different world.

She met two new people almost immediately. Layla, who was obsessed with t****k dances, grabbed Olivia’s hand mid-step, pulling her into a small group performing a trending routine. Olivia stumbled at first but laughed at herself, feeling the warmth of instant camaraderie. Then Marcus introduced himself — a self-proclaimed campus prankster, his grin wide and mischievous. He told a story about a water balloon incident in the dorm courtyard, and Olivia couldn’t help but chuckle at his antics.

And then she saw him.

Ethan Gray. He stood tall and confident at the far railing, hands casually tucked into the pockets of his designer jeans. His dark eyes scanned the crowd, then locked onto hers for a brief, electric second. For a moment, the pounding music, the laughing students, and the flashing lights all seemed to fade.

“Welcome to Westbridge,” he said, his voice calm but carrying a subtle intensity. His half-smile made her stomach flip, and for a second, she couldn’t think of anything to say.

The rest of the night was a blur of excitement and awkward moments. Olivia danced clumsily, laughed too loudly, and somehow managed to spill a drink near a group of seniors, who laughed and teased her good-naturedly. By the end of the party, she had made three new friends, survived Tasha’s relentless antics, and — without even realizing it — accidentally started a little rumor about herself.

As she walked back to her dorm with her new friends in tow, Olivia couldn’t help but think how unpredictable her life at Westbridge was already becoming. One week in, and she already knew this was a place where secrets ran deep, reputations could be made or broken in an instant, and even a simple party could change everything.

Her campus life was only just beginning. And she had a feeling it was about to get a whole lot more complicated.