I get the poster hung up, then turn on the main light and appraise it. My roommate moans and pulls the covers over her head.
It looks fantastic. It’s the ocean right out in front of my house, there’s a big wave coming in to shore, and way out in the distance are Brooklyn and me, both up on our boards.
I sit on my bed and stare at it. Feel homesick. Decide to make my bed. I have my poster hung, my bed made, and am about to start unpacking clothes, and possibly call Brooklyn.
My phone vibrates.
I have a text message from someone called The love of my life <3.
The love of my life <3: Where are you?
Me: Who is this?
The love of my life <3: Dallas, duh:)
Me: That’s not what it says in my phone.
The love of my life <3: Come meet me outside your dorm.
Me: I was gonna unpack.
The love of my life <3: You can do that after curfew, come on.
Me: You talked me into it :)
So I go.
I figure it’s both the boys and maybe we’ll go kick around a soccer ball or something, but when I get out there I see it’s just Dallas.
He gives me a naughty grin.
“Why do you look like we’re about to do something that could get us both in trouble?”
He’s a cutie and really does remind me of a younger Brooklyn.
He opens his hand and shows me a neatly rolled joint. Like I said . . .
“Wanna join me?”
“Oh my gosh, yes. But where? I don’t want to get in trouble my first day.”
“I already got the scoop on where to go. Come on.” He grabs my hand, which feels surprisingly natural. We walk behind my dorm and into some woods I hadn’t noticed yet. There’s a skinny but well-worn path that we follow and, pretty soon, we’re in a well-hidden clearing. I smell the unmistakable scent of weed and know it’s not just me and Dallas who are gonna get a little baked.
There’s a group of guys sitting in the clearing on a bunch of downed tree logs, as are Peyton and the gorgeous brunette. Dallas told me earlier that her name is Whitney.
At first I’m a bit nervous, because Peyton is my group leader, and I’m pretty sure that Whitney is the Queen Bee here. And I know a thing or two about diva personalities. They don’t like competition and use their power to squash it quickly. I half expect Whitney to walk up to me and tell me to get off her turf.
But, as is typical with Queens, they get other people to do their dirty work.
Just after Dallas and I sit down off to the edge of their circle, a tall brown-haired guy with really massive arm muscles and kind of a beaky nose walks over towards us.
Dallas stands up. “Hey, Ace.”
“You aren’t supposed to be back here—seniors only.”
I smile at Ace, who looks me up and down very predatorily. Specifically my long, tan legs.
Dallas is super smooth, though, and I’m impressed. I hand him back the joint. He takes a big hit and blows the smoke out toward Ace’s face.
“Chill, dude. We won’t bother you. Just needed a place to smoke.”
But Ace is probably the asshole in the group and clearly hasn’t smoked yet. He is way too uptight. Dallas hands me back the joint, so I hold it out to Ace, toss my hair a little and then smile at him. “Here, we’ll even share.”
Ace appraises me, takes a hit, mellows a bit, and then hands me back the joint. “What the fuck, with legs like that you can come here anytime.”
He goes and sits back down with his friends, who don’t say boo to us. I’m pretty sure that’s not a good thing. I also notice that Peyton, who was super nice to me today, hasn’t even acknowledged my presence. For sure Whitney is the Queen, and Peyton is her minion.
Well, actually, I’m pretty sure that Peyton is just like me. The old me.
Dallas and I puff and pass.
Pretty soon we’re giggling about Riley and all the corny things he said trying to impress me.
Then I remember the Hottie god.
I tell Dallas, “So first he’s telling me how he’s this sensitive guy, and then he said I look like his next girlfriend. And I can’t help it, it’s not just the weed. I mean him telling me that was, like, classic. Something fit for the movies. How not to impress a girl.”
I’m leaning against Dallas and having a bit of a giggle fit when he pokes my side.
I look up.
Standing in front of me, not giggling, is the God of all Hotties himself.
Oh, shit. Busted.
I don’t know what to say. I go with, “Uh, hey. Aiden, right?”
He nods and walks away.
Dallas and I giggle some more.
And, somehow, when our heads are together, laughing, Dallas starts kissing me. And he’s a really nice kisser.
Friday, August 26th
A perfect four-leaf clover.
7:30am
Up early and ready for a full day, even though my body is saying, Keatyn, it’s four-thirty at home; please go back to bed.
But I can’t. I’m too excited.
I know, I shouldn’t be excited, but if I’m stuck here for a while, I might as well make the best of it.