The Sophomore (College Years 2)

“Bye!” I watch him go, smiling to myself. That was nice. I ran into a boy and we flirted. A cute boy too. And I didn’t think of Jackson once.

Wait, that is a comple

te lie. I compared Carson to Jackson in just about every single way possible, which sucks. I need to stop doing that.

I need to stop thinking about Jackson Rivers, period.

Scowling, I stomp my way toward the quad near the library, eager to meet up with Hayden and Gracie. We all have a break at this particular time and we decided to make a date of it.

I am so grateful for these girls and their friendship. They’re older than me. They didn’t have to take me under their wing, yet they did anyway. I soak up every bit of advice they give me, which is a lot. Both of them are so completely different than me. They’re fearless. They go after what they want, and don’t let stupid things like their insecurities hold them back.

I could take more than a few lessons from them, I know this.

I spot them, one dark haired with golden highlights, the other one a bright blonde, sitting next to each other at a picnic table under a tree. They’re talking and laughing and I stride right up to their table, plopping my backpack on the bench before I slide in next to it.

“What’s so funny?” I ask, genuinely curious. I want in on the joke. I need some laughter in my life.

“Gracie was telling me about her latest boy toy,” Hayden says, a wicked smile curving her lips. Gracie gives her a shove, irritation flitting across her face. “What? It’s true.”

“He’s not a boy toy,” Gracie tells me. “That’s so crude.”

“What is he then?” Hayden asks.

“A boy I’m talking to,” Gracie says, sounding prim and proper. “I take that back. He’s not a boy. He’s a man.”

“How long have you been talking to him?” I ask.

Gracie shrugs. “A couple of weeks?”

“Where’d you two meet?”

“On Tinder,” Gracie says.

“Oh. I could never do that,” I say with a shake of my head.

“Don’t dismiss dating apps without giving them a try first. You really should give Tinder a chance. It’s such a great way to meet people who go here, live around here. Whatever,” Gracie says. “It’s how I’ve met the majority of the guys I’ve been with since I started college.”

“And how’s that working out for you?” Hayden says sarcastically.

Gracie shoves her again, making Hayden laugh. “Shut up, you. I remember you doing the same thing until you met Tony.”

“True, true.” Hayden nods, her gaze coming to mine. The smile on her face is sly. “Tell Ellie about your new man.”

Gracie bounces where she sits, clasping her hands together. “Gladly. He’s tall. Blond. Curly hair. Big Adam’s apple.”

I frown. “You like his…Adam’s apple?”

“It’s so cute when he swallows! I don’t know. I’m weird sometimes.” Gracie waves a hand dismissively. “Anyway, his name is Franz.”

I send a questioning look to Hayden, who’s watching me carefully. As if she’s waiting for my reaction.

“Franz?” I unzip my backpack and grab my water bottle from it, popping open the lid and taking a sip. “What’s up with the name?”

“He’s from Germany. He’s a transfer student,” Gracie says with excitement. “His accent is sexy.”

“Really? We had a German foreign exchange student at my high school when I was a freshman. He was really nice, but whenever he spoke German, it kind of…scared me.”

Gracie frowns. “What do you mean?”