Under The Stars

Chapter 5

Zia’s POV

It had been a month since I joined Yale and everything was going great. Liam and I had become close friends and we spent most of our time in the library if we were not in class.

It was a Monday morning and I had been in the library completing an essay that was due the next day. Liam had called me and said he wouldn’t make it to school that day. Apparently, he was down with a cold and that meant I had to hang by myself the whole day; suffice to say I had a pretty chilled social life. Apart from Liam and my roommate Lisa, who was never even really around, I had no other friends.

I looked at my watch and realized I only had five minutes to get to the anatomy class, which was a stretch away from the library. I quickly picked up my books and left the library.

I was rushing up the stairs, clutching my books on my chest when I bumped into a hard ‘wall’ and my books went sprawling on the floor. I immediately went down and started picking them up.

“What is the rush girl? Watch where you are going. You can’t be bumping into people with those hideous books!” I heard a deep voice say.

I looked up from where I was picking my books and met a perfect face looking down at me. The wall was actually a human being. He was about six inch tall or taller. His face looked intimidating yet calm and perfectly shaped. His blonde hair was a neatly combed and styled perfectly.

His eyes were sparkly and were now looking directly at me. I couldn’t help but admire them; they had to be the most beautiful hazel eyes I had ever seen.

“Wait, where have I seen these eyes before” I thought to myself. I was sure I had seen that face before, particularly those eyes.

‘Oh my goodness! The banner’. I had seen that face on the banner that had the best basketball player of the year. I couldn’t believe that I had just bumped into Keith Johnson.

“Ummh, I am so sorry” I managed to stutter as I got up and tried to walk off.

“I hope you are not hurt?” he asked blocking my way.

“No am not” I answered and I could feel my face flush as I walked around him and headed to class.

**

It was 9pm and I was lying in bed reading my favorite novel, Chasing Red. I had read it three times in a row and had never gotten tired or bored of the story. Each time I read was like the first time.

At that particular time though, I couldn’t seem to enjoy the story. My mind predominantly seemed to be distracted. It had actually been since morning, after I had bumped into Keith.

His picture perfect face was still stuck in my head and I kept replaying the moment when he had blocked my way. I could still smell his scent, and I felt my stomach clench as I thought of it.

“Are you okay?” Lisa asked reviving me from my thoughts.

“Yes Iam. Why?”

“Well you seem to be really deep in thought since you came in.” She said.

“Iam just having a hard time completing my class essay.” I lied.

“Really? Then I know what will cheer you up” she said winking at me.

“What?” I asked sitting up.

“You are coming with me to a party with me” she whispered smiling broadly.

“What! Party! No, thank you.” I quickly declined.

I had never thought of myself as a party person. I preferred staying in and reading a novel or binge watching a TV show. Lisa had tried to get me to go with her to several parties but I always declined.

From all the stories I had read I was not sure that I wanted to experience what happens at parties. Also, who goes to a party on a Monday?

“Oh, come on Zia. It will be great I promise you.” Lisa insisted.

“I don’t think I can. I wouldn’t know what to do.” I said.

“Don’t worry about that. I will be with you the whole night and you don’t have to do anything. This is just to clear off your head. Plus we won’t stay for long.”

“But….” I tried to entreat.

“But nothing.” Lisa cut me off walking towards her closet. She pulled out a black dress and handed it to me. “Wear this.”

I took the dress reluctantly. I was not sure if I wanted to go but a part of me wanted to try something new. Anyway there wasn’t anything important I was doing that night and maybe the party would help me get my thoughts off Keith.

“You have to promise we will be back early. I cannot skip classes tomorrow.” I said to her looking serious.

“I promise. Now dress up quickly, Jay is coming over in a few to pick us up.” She said smiling in triumph as she had managed to convince me to go.

“I thought he wasn’t your boyfriend, why is he coming?” I implored.

“He still isn’t. I just like hanging out with him that’s all.” Lisa said rolling her eyes; I could see her cheeks blush.

“Oh okay.” I laughed as I slid into Lisa’s black dress.

“You look so pretty” She acknowledged as I walked to the mirror.

True to her word I looked good. The dress fit perfectly.

Let me do your makeup, you will look even prettier.” Lisa said excitedly.

“No I think am good. I am just about to attend my first party Lisa, which is enough for one night.”

“Okay, you win.” She said raising her hands up dramatically in surrender before Jay walked in without even knocking.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked looking at Lisa admirably.

“Yes and Zia is coming with us”

Jay who had not even noticed I was in the room looked at me in awe. I couldn’t tell if he was surprised that Lisa wanted to bring me along or if he was surprised that I had actually agreed to go.

“You look good.” he said before taking Lisa’s hand and leading the way out.

“Thank you” I smiled in reply as I locked the door and followed them into the car.