I can't believe summer is going to be over in a week. I sigh as I get out of my car and walk in to the auditorium for a mandatory new student orientation. I'm a transfer student and don't know anyone yet so I pick a random empty seat towards the back. I thought no one would bother me but I was wrong. I'm looking down at my phone and I feel someone sit down in the chair next to me.
"Hi. My name's Brad. I hate how we are forced to go to these stupid orientations."
I look up into the face of a young, attractive, blue-eyed man. "Hey, I'm Mia. Yeah these things are kind of pointless." I reply.
"So are you a transfer student?" he asks.
"Yeah I am. What about you?"
"Yep, I'm gonna be a senior this year. What year are you?" Brad asks
"I'm a junior this year. I can't wait to be done." I answer.
Some prestigious looking man walks on to the stage and asks everyone to quiet down, thus ending my conversation with Brad. The orientation ended after 5 long boring hours. While walking to my car I hear a voice calling hey Mia wait up. I turn around and see Brad running after me.
"I'm having a house warming party tomorrow night if you are interested in coming. My younger sister, Ashley, has been going here since her freshman year and we are renting an apartment together. She is going to invite some people and help me get adjusted to the new school. I figured since you are a transfer student as well you might want to come, but hey if not that's totally cool... I know what you are thinking getting an apartment with your younger sister is kind of weird, but me and Ash have a good relationship and it just works for us." Brad rambles.
House parties, or in this case apartment parties, aren't really my thing, but Brad seems like a really nice guy and it would be good to meet other students. "Yeah sure that sounds like fun." I tell him.
"Really? Awesome! How about we exchange numbers and I'll text you all the info later today?" He says excitedly.
"Ok, sounds good to me." We finish typing our numbers in each other's phones and then part ways.
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I finish unpacking my last box into my dorm room and plop on my bed. 'Ping' my phone lights up. I check it and it's a text from Brad. It reads: "I'm really excited to see you later tonight, just to remind you it's apartment #14 on the second floor." I text him back: "Cool, thanks for the reminder should I bring anything?" A few moments later my phone goes off again, "Nope just your pretty face. I've got everything else covered." I smile at my phone, "Ok I'll see you at 9."
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I walk up the stairs and knock on the #14 door. Brad opens the door. "I'm so glad you made it. I hope you found it ok."
I step inside, about 5 people have already arrived and have drinks in their hands. "Nope, no trouble at all."
"Excellent." he says. "Mia, I would like you to meet my sister Ashley. This is the pretty lady I was telling you about Ash."
My breath catches in my throat and I blush; Ashley is stunning and when her ice blue eyes meet mine I feel like she can read my mind, so I quickly try to distract my thoughts away from how beautiful I think she is. She holds her hand out to me.
"Nice to meet you." she says while raising an eyebrow at me. Holy shit maybe she actually can read my thoughts.
I shake her hand, "it's nice to meet you too."
"Well Brad you weren't kidding when you said she is pretty." Ashley says. She gives me a quick smile, revealing blinding white perfectly straight teeth. "How about we get you a drink?" All three of us walk into the kitchen and join the rest of the group. Ashley hands me and Brad a beer. I drink it down pretty fast to try to ease my nerves a little.
A few more people arrive, "well it looks like everyone is here so how about some shots?" Brad asks. He pours everyone a shot of Patron. We cheers and everyone knocks it back. The alcohol burns as it slides down my throat. Before I know it Brad hands me another shot and I slam it back. We play a couple rounds of beer pong and I realize I've hit my limit and sit the next round out. I feel Ashley's eyes on me the whole night. I'm sitting on the couch when Brad comes over asking if I want to go bar hopping with the rest of the gang. I politely tell him I think I've had too much already and should probably relax and sober up.
"I can take care of her Brad, and if she needs to she can always crash in my room." Ashley says.
"Ok, is that ok with you Mia? I don't want you to feel like I'm ditching you." Brad says.
"That's totally fine. Don't worry about me. Go out and have a good time." I smile at him. Brad hugs me goodbye.