I tug at my skirt, now regretful I wore something short considering the heavy lifting I'll have to do.
I'm just glad they're not a lot of people here, mostly. Thankfully this is the last of the boxes, I bend over quickly and lift it off the ground, wobbling back to my room.
I place the box on the ground and finally collapse onto my cream colored bed. I haven't had time to customize my room yet, let alone put the stuff in the boxes where they actually need to be, but that'll have to wait.
I have to call Tina. I scroll through my phone and place a call to her, pressing the phone against my ear.
Tina has been my best friend since we've been in diapers, we're thoroughly different. She's the bold outgoing girl who dyes her hair unnatural colors and wears edgy clothing, I'm the shy introvert who'd rather spend and evening reading than going out. Our friendship might not look good on paper, but it has always worked for us. I guess we balance each other out.
"Hey!" Tina exclaims, in her usual high pitched voice. "How are you settling in?"
"Good, I finally got the boxes upstairs. I'm so tired" At that moment, I let out a yawn.
"You should get some rest"
"Yeah, no kidding…" I scoff, drawing concentric circles onto the bed sheet.
"Or you could act like someone who's actually in college and have some fun for the night. Go out, meet people"
I wince. Talking to people—especially guys— has always come so naturally to Tina, but not everyone is as lucky. Considering how my last relationship went, forgive me if I'm not particularly enthusiastic about getting to know other people.
"I think I'll pass" I finally say.
Tina sighs but doesn't press further, she knows it's a lost cause and she's not going to change my mind.
"Okay then. Well, good luck with your first class tomorrow, you'll do great!" Tina says.
I laugh in response, she's acting like it's my first day of kindergarten or something.
"Yeah, thanks" I mutter.
"Gotta go now, talk to you later. Love you" She chimes.
"Yeah bye-" before I can finish the call disconnects.
I have two options now, I either find a book from one of the boxes and read well into the night, or slip on a sexy dress and go to the bar.
I think it's fairly obvious which option I'm going to choose. I've been the reclusive girl all my life and it's all I know, best to stick with it. I ruffle through the boxes for any novel I can find, while I'm doing so I come across a folded polaroid.
It's of me and my most recent ex, Tyler. I feel a sharp pain in my chest as I look at it. I really thought Tyler would be the one, we had been together for so long, and I really did love him. But then he cheated on me with some random girl, and I was heartbroken.
The scary part was I still wanted to be with him, I thought it was a mistake— something he would never do again. But get this, he broke up with me. Can you imagine that? The dull ache in my chest is now replaced with bubbling anger in my throat.
You know what? Fuck this. I ruffle through my clothes boxes and pull out a little black dress, and then through another box for some makeup.
Simple Chantrea who get walked all over no longer exists.
****
By the time I'm done freshening up, I can tell why I've had so many boyfriends despite my horrible conversation skills. I'm hot.
The dress I'm wearing shows just the right amount of cleavage as well as legs. The red lipstick I applied perfectly compliments my olive skin, and my soft aurburn hair falls down my shoulders.
I strut to the bar just outside campus, fully aware of the looks I'm getting. I plop onto a seat, crossing my long legs.
"I'll have a martini" I say, mustering up fake confidence.
"Coming right up" The bartender says, winking at me. I smile back at him.
I pull at my phone on the meantime, eager to text Tina.
"I went to the bar!" I send. Almost immediately I feel a pang of shame,what kind of 21 year old sends an excited text to her friend that she went to a bar? Me, apparently.
The bartender saunters back to me, placing a drink in front of me that's obviously not a martini.
"Um-" I start to say.
"From the suit over there" The bartender cuts in, pointing to the other side of the table.
I turn, and the moment our eyes meet… I know I'm going to be sleeping in someone else's bed tonight.