The bass is loud enough to rattle the windows.
You stand near the edge of the fraternity house living room with a half-finished drink in one hand, watching a dozen overlapping conversations compete with the music.
>You - Inner thoughts: I could leave right now and lose absolutely nothing.
Someone laughs too loudly behind you. A beer pong ball bounces across the floor. Near the kitchen, two people are arguing about something neither of them will remember tomorrow.
Then you notice her.
She is standing alone near a bookshelf in the corner, holding a red plastic cup with both hands.
She looks completely out of place.
Short, messy hot-pink hair frames a soft, freckled face. Large black-rimmed glasses sit over pale blue eyes that keep flicking toward the nearest exit. An oversized hoodie does its best to hide her voluptuous, plump figure, though it cannot entirely disguise her curves.
She takes a tiny sip from her cup.
Then she checks the doorway again.
>You - Inner thoughts: Yeah. She wants to be here about as much as I do.
You are considering whether to go introduce yourself when three fraternity guys reach her first.
They arrive together, already drunk enough that personal space has apparently become an abstract concept.
One plants himself beside her.
"Hey, pink hair."
She gives him a nervous glance.
"Hi."
Another steps closer.
"You here alone?"
"No."
Her answer is immediate.
"My roommate is here somewhere."
"Then she ditched you."
The third guy laughs.
"Come hang with us."
"No, thanks."
They do not move.
Naomi shifts backward until the bookshelf leaves nowhere else to go.
"I'm okay."
"Come on. We're just being friendly."
"I said I'm not interested."
The first guy leans closer anyway.
You set your drink down.
>You - Inner thoughts: That's enough.
You cross the room before you have time to second-guess yourself.
"There you are."
The girl looks at you, startled.
You step beside her with practiced confidence, close enough to change the entire shape of the group.
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
Her eyes widen behind her glasses.
One of the guys frowns.
"You know her?"
You barely look at him.
"Yeah."
You turn toward the girl instead, giving her a look you hope says play along.
"Sorry, babe. Got trapped talking to somebody in the kitchen."
For half a second, she freezes.
Then understanding flashes across her face.
She moves closer to you.
"There you are."
Her voice is still nervous, but now there is purpose behind it.
"I thought you abandoned me."
You smile.
"Never."
One of the guys looks between you.
"Wait, she's your girlfriend?"
The girl hooks one hand lightly around your arm.
"Obviously."
There is just enough offended disbelief in her tone that you almost laugh.
The three guys exchange glances.
"Whatever."
One shrugs.
"Have fun."
Within seconds, they disappear back into the crowd.
The girl waits until they are several yards away before releasing your arm.
She exhales so hard her shoulders drop.
"Oh my God."
She adjusts her glasses with one finger.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
"No, seriously."
She glances toward where the guys vanished.
"I told them no like four times."
"Apparently counting isn't their strongest skill."
She snorts.
The sound seems to surprise her.
Her cheeks turn pink.
"Sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I don't know. Reflex?"
You smile.
She looks down into her drink.
Without three strangers surrounding her, she somehow looks even more awkward.
"You don't seem like you're enjoying the party."
She gives you a flat look.
"Was hiding in the corner not subtle enough?"
"Very subtle."
"I considered climbing behind the bookshelf."
"That might've worked."
"It's still an option."
You laugh.
This time she smiles too.
"So what brought you here?"
"My roommate."
She sighs.
"She said I needed to get out of the apartment."
"Was that a suggestion?"
"More of an intervention."
She makes a vague gesture toward the party.
"Apparently spending Friday night gaming in pajamas while eating cinnamon rolls is concerning behavior."
"Sounds efficient to me."
She looks at you a little more directly.
"Thank you."
"For validating your lifestyle?"
"Exactly."
Someone near the kitchen suddenly shouts. A chorus of drunken cheering follows.
The girl flinches.
You glance toward the front door.
"I'm not really into this either."
"Really?"
"Really."
You nod toward the exit.
"There's an all-night diner a few blocks away."
She blinks.
"Okay?"
"I'm thinking coffee, pancakes, and a complete absence of shouting."
Her mouth twitches.
"Strong sales pitch."
"You want to walk over with me?"
She goes quiet.
For a moment, uncertainty returns to her expression.
>Naomi - Inner thoughts: This is probably where I say something weird and ruin it.
She looks toward the crowded room.
Then back at you.
"Yeah."
Her answer is soft, but certain.
"I'd like that."
You start toward the door together.
After two steps, she stops.
"Wait."
You turn.
She pushes her glasses up again and gives you a small, embarrassed smile.
"I'm Naomi."
"Naomi Wynn."
She offers you her hand.
You take it.
Her grip is warm and hesitant.
"Probably should've introduced myself before pretending to be your girlfriend."
You smile.
"Probably."
Naomi's cheeks turn pink again.
"Come on."
She gestures toward the door.
"You promised me pancakes."
Comments 0
See All