My Surprise Mate

Chapter Five

- Start of School -

My car is packed up, on time for once, and my parents and sister are waiting for me on the front porch. I take one last look around my room, trying to remember if I’ve forgotten something, and just taking in the look of my mostly empty childhood bedroom, and head outside to say my goodbyes to my family. I hug them all tightly and prepare myself for the journey I’m about to take. My first year at university.

My phone rings and I check the caller ID to see it’s Theo video calling me. After the Hudson incident at the beachhouse, things have been slightly tense. We fought that night. And the night after. But worked it out before the end of the week, and we enjoyed a solid two and a half days of no fighting. Not exactly the final vacation I’d been hoping for, but enjoyable nonetheless. And since Hudson had left the beach, I had erased him from my mind. I honestly probably couldn’t even tell you what he looks like, he’s so far out of my mind.

“Hey Theo! Are you leaving now too?” I answer the phone.

“No I’m sorry Ava, I’m going to be a day late. My dad needs my help with a project before I leave. But I promise I’ll be there tomorrow. I love you.” He smiles at me and pans the camera over to his dad who is waving apologetically. I tell him it’s okay, and that I’ll see him tomorrow, but am secretly disappointed. The only thing that had been keeping my nerves in check was the thought that I’d have Theo by my side. I quickly shake this off though, and remind myself to be brave. I give my family one last hug goodbye, and hop in the car to set out for University of Washinton.

Three hours later, most of which were spent on the phone with Theo, Gabi, or Mickey (and at times, all three of them), I arrived. I park my car, grab my two suitcases and my purse, and head towards Maple Hall, where I’ll be staying for the next 9 months.

At the front desk I check in, grab my keys, and another student leads me to my room. My two roommates are already in there, sitting together on one loft bed and scrolling through social media.

“You must be Avalon! Welcome, to our humble abode,” one girl says, the taller of the two. She’s black, and her long hair is put into jumbo twists which fall over one shoulder gracefully. As she jumps down, I realize that she is tall, probably 5’10. She’s wearing a pair of loose fitting denim overalls with one strap left unclasped, and a white tank top underneath. She gestures to the room and curtsies, which makes both me and our other roommate giggle. “I’m Nova. I moved in yesterday.” She says to me, and sits down on the desk underneath the bed.

“I’m Hadley!” calls the other girl, waving at me while barely looking up from her phone. Now that Nova is off the bed, she stretches out and positions herself on her side. Hadley is blonde, with her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She’s wearing simple olive green sweatpants and an earthy brown tank top. Her midriff is showing and I notice that, like Gabi, she has a belly button piercing.

Both girls are gorgeous, and although I know I’m pretty as well, I suddenly feel very overdressed. My long red hair is loose, waves cascading down my back. I’m wearing a pair of high waisted blue jeans and a yellow wrap top with long sleeves, desperately trying to hold on to summer through my outfit choice. I know that soon it will be fall, and then winter. I chose some gold jewellery that made me feel connected to my friends back home, long dangling earrings made from polymer clay (a la Mickey) and a gold necklace with a simple heart locket from Theo. They are so naturally pretty, and I feel like I have to try just to be on their level.

I smile at them and try to make small talk while I unpack. There’s only one bed, desk, and wardrobe left, making my job super easy; I don’t have to decide anything!

Quickly, we warm up to eachother and are all laughing and gossiping. I find out that Nova is really interested in law and wants to become a lawyer, while Hadley is studying architecture like me! I’m glad to know that I’ll have a friend to share some classes with, although most of the architecture specific classes don’t start until second year. I also find out that Nova and Hadley knew eachother in high school.

“So. Party tonight are you guys in?” Nova says, looking at a text on her phone.

“Where at?” Hadley asks, letting her hair down and starting to braid some strands.

“Alpha Delta Phi,” Nova replies, and Hadley lights up. She instantly moves to her wardrobe and starts picking out her oufit for the night. “Well I guess Hadley’s in. How about you, Avalon?” She looks at me.

“A frat party on day one? How’d you swing that?” I ask her, incredulous, but not saying no.

“Some of the guys we knew in high school are there. They’re a couple years ahead of us, but we all got along well. They invited Hadley and I.” She explains.

“And I’ll be tagging along.” I clarify.

“Trust me Ava, they will love you. You’re hawt girl! No way they’ll turn you away!” Hadley says from the hallway.

“Okay, okay. I’m in.” I brush my hands through my hair and shake my head. I’m honestly kind of glad Theo’s not here. I’m not sure I would’ve bonded so well with my new roommates in such a short time if he had been. I’ve been able to spend the entire day with Nova and Hadley without worrying about making my boyfriend feel left out. If he were here I’d be spending so much time with him, doing the things that he likes that I would have no time to meet new people and do the things that I like!

We spend the next hour or so getting ready together. Nova is wearing a white satin tank top, ripped straight legged jeans, and red ankle boots. Her jewelery is gold with red gems to accent the boots, and she also has on red lipstick to match. Hadley has on a black mini skirt that clings to her curves, black tights, black pumps, and a red corset top to match Nova’s boots. Both their hair is down while I chose to keep mine up in a sleek ponytail, my bangs left out to frame my face. I’m wearing a black corduroy skirt with buttons along the front. It’s short and high waisted, accentuating my ‘assets’. I paired it with a white bandeau top, throwing on a matching white sweater. The sweater is knit in a way that makes it almost mesh-like, so it still shows off my body despite being long sleeved. I do a quick french tuck and throw on some white platform boots that come up to my knees. I admire myself in the mirror, and especially admire the height that the platform boots bring me.

The three of us take some pictures together before we leave, and I post one on my story. Immediately I get a text from Theo asking where I’m going. I respond “Frat party! Love you, see you tomorrow.” and hope he doesn’t try to start anything tonight. I just want to have a bit of fun.

The weather is warm enough that we can walk to Alpha Delta, and so we do. I don’t have to slow my steps at all with the girls, not the way I have to when I walk with Mickey and Gabi, and even Theo. I’m slightly faster than them still, but not uncomfortably so. The music and smell of beer wafts through the air telling us we’re close to the party.

When we finally enter, I’m almost overwhelmed by the amount of people in the house. Everyone is drinking, singing, cheering, yelling. The noises are intense. I feel like I can hear every single person’s conversations. Nova and Hadley don’t seem phased in the slightest. There’s one voice I can hear clearer than all the others, even over the music. Someone is attempting to sing along to the music, and doing so very badly.

The girls and I head to the living room, hoping to find a drink somewhere. We do, and I also find the source of the incessant singing. A man is dancing on the table in the dining room, just through the archway in the living room. He’s wearing dark wash jeans and a white button up that I can tell, even from behind, is unbuttoned. I have to admit to myself, his butt is nice, and he’s a good dancer. He’s got a beer bottle in his hand that he’s using as a microphone. He reaches his hand down to a girl dancing nearby and pulls her up onto the table with him, grabbing both hands now and spinning her into him. As they dance, they spin around and I make eye contact with him.

Oh my God. That’s Hudson.