by Leela Ash
Somewhere outside a bird began singing. The sun had yet to rise, but the dawn chorus started up across the quad, making her feel better. She was a college girl now and she had all the freedom she could ever want. She needed to embrace it, not fear it.
Freya had always been a timid girl and kept to herself. Growing up, she had a select, loyal set of friends and feared that leaving her hometown security and being away from her family would be difficult. She had now been at college a week and found herself settling in. She had made acquaintances, and even though they weren’t the sort of people she would generally choose to hang out with, they seemed nice and had been fun for a few nights out. She just knew there wasn’t going to be a lasting friendship there. Everything was so new and exciting, and she had to keep her feet on the ground as to not get swept up in it all. She didn’t want to be one of those people who completely changed the second they went off to college and ended up screwing up their future with a lack of commitment to the real reason they were there in the first place. She was going to ace all of her classes and exams, and she was going to go places. No matter what happened or who she met, she would always put her education first.
The sound of the trash men filtered up from the street and Freya walked over to the window. The sun was beginning to rise and she decided to open it and let in a cool blast of air. It helped her feel more awake, and as she stretched her arms over her head, she knew it was the right time to stop pacing her dorm room and finally get showered, dressed and out there, ready to start the day.
“I’m so glad I didn’t have to share,” she smiled to herself as she looked around at the double room she had all to herself. “Imagine having to work around someone else all full of nerves!”
The idea of sharing a room with a complete stranger had never appealed to her. Freya knew that no matter how strange and alien a place was, she would always prefer to have her own space, somewhere she could unwind and have some privacy. Though this had also meant she was at a disadvantage. She saw roomies who had bonded quickly, and Freya felt slightly out on a limb, as if she was going to be denied a close girlfriend that she so really wanted.
She pulled her towel from the back of the door, and as she made her way into the corridor, she was very aware that not one other person was stirring.
Maybe I’m going to have to lighten up, she thought. I should probably party more and worry less.
She giggled to herself as she pushed open the door to the communal girls’ showers and turned on the light. To her complete surprise, there was another girl in there, wrapped in a towel and about to go into one of the cubicles. They stood staring at each other for a moment before Freya smiled and shrugged.
“I guess you couldn’t sleep, either?” she asked.
“Nope,” the girl replied, seeming nervous too.
“I’m Freya,” she held out her hand and the girl shook it.
“I’m Julie,” the girl nodded. “It’s good to know I’m not the only one who wasn’t out partying all night.”
“Yeah,” Freya laughed. “I want to make a good impression, you know?”
“Sure,” she said, flicking her long black hair over her shoulder. “I would have hated to be hungover on my first day in classes… For some reason, I just feel like it would set me on the course to fail!” she laughed.
“I felt exactly the same,” Freya grinned. “I don’t think I’m cut out for the binge drinking, hard partying side college has to offer.”
“I know what you mean,” Julie said as she took another step inside the shower before turning back and smiling again. “I’m in room 5C, we should hang out sometime… if you want…?”
“I’d like that,” Freya smiled, trying not to sound too enthusiastic.
The girl nodded and waved before she ducked into the shower and closed the door. She was the first person Freya had met who seemed like the type of person she would have been friends with back home. She could see herself striking up a friendship with Julie. After Freya showered and left the bathroom, she called “Bye!” over the sound of the water jets.
“Catch you later, Freya!” Julie called back.
Freya smiled. She had officially made her first real college friend.
Chapter 2
At the end of a long day of navigating her way around campus, meeting her new teachers and trying to keep on top of all of her work and ever-expanding reading list, Freya staggered back to her dorm room, opened the door and collapsed on the bed.
It was only 4:00 pm, but she felt like it was the middle of the night. She reached over and pulled her cell phone out of her bag. The only message was from her mother, asking her how her first day had gone. She smiled and texted a quick reply.
She was already overwhelmed with the amount of work, but she wasn’t going to let it deter her. She knew she could handle it. She opened up her diary and looked at the scrawled reading list. There were at least thirty books on it, and even though she knew she would never be able to read all of them, she would have to try to read at least half.
She was about to crawl under her duvet and try to sleep when there was a light knock at the door. She silently debated ignoring it, but when the tap came again, she slid from the bed and dragged her feet across to the door. She opened it and was instantly glad that she had.
“Hey,” Julie smiled with a wave. “I thought I’d come and see how you did today.”
“Oh, hi,” Freya smiled, stepping back so the door hung open. “Do you want to come in?”
Julie didn’t answer her but smiled and walked past her into the room. She sat down at the chair next to Freya’s desk and rested her hands on her knees.
“So, how did you find my room?” Freya asked with an impressed laugh.
“Oh, I just asked a couple of people,” Julie smiled. “It’s not exactly hard to find anyone in this building, especially with a name like yours… pretty unique!”
“I guess,” Freya sat down on the bed next to her and looked around the room, unsure of what to say next.
“Listen,” Julie said, as if she could tell there was a slight tension in the air. “I was just wondering really if you felt like getting off campus tonight and going for something to eat… Sort of like a celebrate the first day at college type of thing?”
“Sure,” Freya sat forward. “That would be great.”
Julie smiled back at her, and Freya had the feeling there was something else on her mind that she was holding back.
“Is everything okay?” she asked her finally.
Julie shrugged and smiled. She was staring at Freya, taking in every feature on her face and sizing her up.
“Everything’s fine,” she said. “You just remind me of someone, that’s all.”
“Oh?” Freya asked, but Julie waved her hand as if to bat away the conversation.
“So, tell me all about how you did,” she said instead. “I’ve got a mountain of books to buy. What about you?”
“Oh, totally the same,” Freya laughed, “I think I’m going to be glued to books for the foreseeable future.”
“Yes!” Julie laughed. “Me too! Good job we’re not into partying, huh?”
“Well, I guess we’ll have to let our hair down at some point,” Freya shrugged. “All work and no play makes Freya a dull girl… or something.”
Julie threw her head back and laughed. “I’m glad you said that before I did,” she grinned. “Everything in moderation, I guess.”
“Definitely,” Freya nodded.
“What are the other people like?” Julie gestured to the rest of Freya’s corridor.
“Wild,” she rolled her eyes. “I went out with them last week, but to be honest I didn’t really gel with any of them.”
“I don’t think I’ve even really met anybody else apart from you…” Julie said quietly. “To be honest, I’m pretty selective about my friends.”
Freya nodded, knowing exactly what that felt like.
“So,” Julie jumped to her feet. “Can I come back around sev
en?”
“Sure,” Freya stood up to and walked over to the door with her. It hung open still and they could see other girls and guys coming back from their own lectures and seminars. “I’ll be ready!”
“Great,” Julie smiled as she started on down the hallway and turned back and waved.
As she walked away, Freya had a suspicious feeling. There was something in Julie’s eyes that Freya couldn’t put her finger on… It was as if she wanted something from her, but didn’t dare ask. She shook out her shoulders and told herself to stop being paranoid. Both the girls obviously had trouble making friends, and they had found each other and instantly clicked. Maybe Julie just couldn’t believe her luck that she’d found someone in the craziest dorm on campus who liked spending her evenings more chilled out than girls gone wild. But as she started to get ready and curled her hair, she couldn’t shake the feeling. When Julie came back for her later, she was determined to find out what was going on. She would just have to tread carefully.
Chapter 3
At seven o’clock, Freya re-opened her dorm room door and turned off her mp3 player. The hallways were crammed with people going out for the evening and arranging parties. One of the guys she had met on one of her first days there ducked his head in and asked her if she wanted to go to a kegger with them, but she shook her head and said no thanks. He shrugged before turning on his heel and going back down the hall. As he turned the corner to head towards the stairs, he did a double take at the short, pretty brunette walking in the opposite direction. Freya instantly recognized Julie and got to her feet and waved before she stepped out into the hall, slamming the door behind her.
“You’re right, it is crazy down here,” Julie laughed as she turned and took in the scene around them. Girls were in six-inch heels and tiny mini-skirts, tottering along the hallway with bottles of vodka in their hands and their lips over plumped with shiny red gloss.
“It’s even worse at three am,” Freya joked as they started down the stairs. “Don’t you see any of this though, I mean, if you’re in 5C?”
“Have you seen where my room is?” Julie looked up at her. “I’m right at the end of a private corridor, part of the perks of being in my family.” She rolled her eyes and laughed.
“Oh?” Freya asked, interested.
“My dad donates a lot to the college,” she said, “so I was kind of given preference over the most private room, which also happens to be the biggest.”
“Lucky!” Freya laughed. “I wish I was out of all of that.”
“Well, you can stay any time,” Julie shrugged.
Freya felt herself blush and smiled. She was embarrassed to have such a crappy room when Julie obviously had their dorm’s equivalent of the penthouse.
As they stepped out into the warm evening air and crossed the quad, Freya realized she hadn’t even asked Julie where they were going.
“Oh, it’s just this little diner on the outskirts of town,” Julie said as she walked briskly in the direction of the parking lot. Freya jogged to keep up with her and felt her mouth drop open as she saw Julie flick her car keys and the flashy red sports car’s lights come to life.
“Is this yours?” she said as she ran her hand down the glistening metal.
“Yeah,” Julie shrugged. “Again, my dad…” She looked embarrassed this time.
They climbed into the car, and Julie started the engine with a loud roar. Freya laughed.
“So did your dad go here or something? How come he donates so much to the college?”
Julie shook her head and cranked up the stereo.
“No,” she began as she reversed and then put the car into drive. “We live close by…” She swung out of the parking lot and onto the main road out of campus.
“How come you live on campus then?” Freya asked, confused.
“I just needed to get away from home,” she shrugged again. “You know, I wanted the full on college experience…”
“Yeah, I get that,” Freya nodded. And she did. Even though she had been nervous and wary about leaving home, she still wanted to do it and feel independent. “But how come you didn’t choose to go away?”
“I like it here,” Julie smiled. “And I’m close to my family.”
“That’s really nice,” Freya said genuinely.
Julie pulled off campus and began down the highway. It was approaching dusk and Freya felt the cold nip at her skin. She was hungry and hoped that wherever they were going wouldn’t take them too long. She was even gladder to have met Julie now that she knew that she was local. It would be great to have a friend who could show her around and take her to all of the spots that she would unlikely find without her.
After a few minutes, Julie began to slow the car and turned off the highway and down a smaller road. The trees loomed above them high overhead and Freya noticed how their leaves hadn’t started to turn yet, even though it was the beginning of fall.
“Here we go,” Julie said as she pulled off the road at a small, old-fashioned diner that looked like something out of the movies.
“This is one of the best places around here,” Julie said confidently. “This is where all the locals come, and it’s like the town’s best kept secret.”
They got out of the car and made their way inside. A bell tinged over their heads as they stepped in, and Julie began waving at people who turned to look at them. A row of men sat high up at the counter next to big slices of pie, all wearing squared off caps and winter vests.
“Hey Julie,” one of the waitresses said as she thrust two menus at them and walked them to a table next to the windows.
“Hey,” Julie smiled and then gestured to Freya. “This is my new friend from college,” she said.
“Nice to meet you,” the waitress grinned before she turned on her heel and went back over to the counter.
“Everyone is so friendly,” Freya remarked as she opened the menu and looked down it. Her mouth was watering and she couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into something delicious.
“I recommend the ribs,” a gruff, deep voice came from behind her, as if whoever it was had read her mind.
Freya spun around to see a tall, muscly man, looking down at her with big, dark eyes.
“Oh God,” Julie rolled her eyes and pouted. “I should have known you’d show up!”
Freya turned to look at Julie as she burst into laughter and waved the man over to her. She stood up and wrapped an arm around him and kissed him on the cheek.
Freya looked up at him. He was incredible, and easily one of the sexiest men she had ever seen in her entire life. He turned to look at her and smiled a wide smile which flashed his perfect teeth. They looked pearly white next to his deeply tanned skin, and Freya found herself biting her lip as her eyes wandered down his thick, muscly forearms that were wiry with hair.
“This is Freya,” Julie grinned, turning the man towards her so he was close enough for Freya to catch the scent of his cologne. He bent down and took her hand in his before raising it to his lips and planting a soft, warm kiss on it.
“It’s lovely to meet you, Freya,” he smiled. “I’m Kellan… Julie’s brother.”
Chapter 4
Freya’s heart was pounding in her chest as she looked up at him. He still had her hand in his and the red hot kiss he’d planted on it was lingering there with a tingle. She felt herself blushing as she realized she couldn’t pull herself away. He smiled and bit his bottom lip.
“Yes,” Julie interrupted their moment. “This is my brother… He’s a pain in the ass, but I love him to death.”
He smiled and stepped closer to Freya so she had to scoot over for him to sit down.
“Don’t mind if I join you, do you, girls!” It was more of a statement than a question, but Freya found herself shaking her head and smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.
“Of course not,” she beamed. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
Julie noticed her enthusiasm and suppressed a grin of her own.
“So
how is everything over on campus, Sis?” Kellan asked, “You’re obviously making friends.” He turned and winked at Freya.
“It’s all good,” she smiled. “But we were just saying we’re not really into all this drinking and partying… Thank god we met each other and can just spend our evenings not getting wasted and throwing up out of windows.”
“That’s because you’re classy girls,” Kellan grinned. “Imagine what dad would say if he caught you in that kind of state.”
“Exactly,” Julie nodded. “Our dad’s pretty strict,” she whispered to Freya.
“A bit?” Kellan laughed. “More like obsessively!”
The pair began to delve into a story of how their father had kept them on a tight leash all of their lives and hated the idea of them ever straying too far from home. Freya listened intently and found that she couldn’t take her eyes off Kellan. He must have only been a couple of years older than her, but he seemed so much more mature and he oozed confidence and power.
“He’ll like you though,” Kellan’s voice broke her train of thought. “You’re obviously a good influence on Julie, so I’m sure he’ll love to have you up at the house.”
“Huh?” Freya said as she realized she hadn’t caught a word they were saying.
“He was just saying normally dad doesn’t like any of my friends,” Julie laughed. “But he’ll like you because you’re clearly a nice calming influence.”
“Oh,” Freya laughed, “Yes, of course.” She made a Scout salute and Kellan laughed.
“Well you’ll have to come up and see us,” he nodded as he raised his eyebrows and took a sip of his drink. “In fact, mom and dad are away this weekend and I was thinking about having a few friends over … Nothing wild, don’t worry, good girls.”
