As I sat upon the grassy fields of the campus, simply observing the scenery around me, I watched as a little squirrel scurried by and into the tree nearby me.
I then returned my attention to my poetry book, eventually deciding to close it when a raindrop fell from the sky above.
Oh, hell no. I was not about to become a vertical human puddle.
I headed back inside the dormitories, and wandered into the kitchen to get myself a snack.
Once I had placed my microwavable macaroni cheese in to cook, I turned to see Winona stood behind me.
"How are you doing, babe?" she asked me.
"I'm good, Win. How's you?" I replied.
"Also good. You sure you're okay? You look as though there's something on your mind," Winona pointed out, evidently as observant as ever.
"I suppose I'm just thinking- I know there's a campus party happening this evening," I stated.
Winona gave an understanding nod in response to that, then.
"Yeah, Lily's hosting," she stated.
X soon entered the kitchen and looked towards us, with an expression of curiosity.
"You guys talking about the party?" they asked.
"Yup," I replied.
"Hey, we'll be there, Selina. No reason to worry," X stated.
I met them with an expression of gratefulness.
It did make things slightly easier, when I knew that my good friends would be at a party with me.
I wasn't entirely comfortable with talking to new people, but I knew that was something that would simply develop over time.
"Thank you, X," I said.
"Of course," they beamed back at me.
The microwave dinged, then, and I took my macaroni cheese out and began to eat it, once it had cooled down enough to do so, of course.
"See, this is what I miss sometimes. I wish I hadn't been recommended to go dairy free," X stated.
I just met them with a sympathetic expression.
"Hey, look on the bright side, it cuts out calories," Winona stated.
X just smirked.
"Not that you should even be worried about those, Winona. Your body is actually perfect," they told her.
Winona just waved a hand her way.
"Stop it. You flatter me," she smirked, tucking some stray hairs behind her ear.
"I just realised what day it is! Happy birthday, Xena!" I told them.
They beamed back at me.
"Thank you, Selina!" they replied.
"Happy birthday lovely," Winona stated, too, gathering her friend into a hug.
X simply grinned at the both of us, in her appreciation.
"We're going to take you out for dinner for your present," Winona informed her.
"Pizza?" X asked.
"Pizza," Winona agreed.
She had recently told me that she knew of a great vegan Italian restaurant nearby, which was great for us because it meant that X would be able to get a cheese-free pizza.
"Amazing," X said, clapping in her happiness for a few moments.
We continued to eat our dinners, and chattered away for a couple of moments about classes and a range of other matters.
"We can get ready for the party soon," Winona said then, and X and I nodded in our agreement.
Shortly thereafter, we were joined by Zara, when she walked into the room.
"It's hot in here? Don't you guys think it's hot in here?" she asked.
"Just you," I said, after she looked around at each one of us to get our responses.
She sighed, and went to open the window.
"I am roasting," she stated, looking out at the dark sky.
A couple moments passed, as I began to wash up, before we heard Zara yelp out in surprise.
We all pretty quickly realised why, as a stray cat had jumped inside the kitchen.
"Oh my goodness. Someone help me set this little guy free," she stated.
I chuckled.
"Hold on," I said to her, picking up the little fur ball and cuddling him close, before taking him back over to the window to allow him to leap back outside.
"He's probably just cold, unfortunately. However, we can't have a cat in here. University rules," Zara stated.
"Yeah. I hope he's okay," I said thoughtfully.
Zara gave me a look of agreement.
Zara seemed rather mellow for a moment, all up until the point at which Lily stepped into the kitchen.
She hadn't realised that Zara was there, at first, as she began to speak.
"I have been studying all day long! I am so ready for a massive pizza order, who's with me?" she asked, to no response.
"I'll be back later," Zara said, then.
"Well, you all stink," Lily said exaggeratedly.
I just chuckled, causing her to look towards me.
"Are you laughing at me?" she asked, with an intimidating expression.
"Uh...no?" I said.
She continued her serious look, but then released a soft laugh, which was oddly melodic.
"I'm just messing. I don't really care if you are. Does it smell like cat in here to anyone else?" she asked, as she began to order pizza on her phone.
"That might just be you," I replied.
Zara soon headed back into the kitchen, to grab a tub of ice cream from the freezer. Bubblegum flavour, of course.
I returned my gaze outside for a minute and watched as a squirrel ran by, swallowing in slight nervousness, but Lily and Zara didn't end up saying anything to each other.
Soon enough, Zara wandered back out of the kitchen, and Lily sighed.
"Hey hey ladies and those who don't identify with that term!" Ulric said, with a grin upon his face, as he did a finger-guns gesture, for a moment.
Lily just chuckled.
"Hey Ulric," she greeted him, "Want to get some pizza with me before the Halloween slash X's birthday-do shindig?" she asked him.
"Sounds good," Ulric replied with a friendly smile.
Lily finished up ordering her pizza, and about a half hour wait later, it arrived.
It smelt so good that my stomach rumbled again, and Ulric offered me a slice.
"Thank you," I said with an appreciative expression.
Ulric just gave a nod of contentedness.
"So, Selina, are you looking forward to your first university party?" he asked me.
"I am indeed," I agreed, with a smile.
He grinned back at me.
"Glad to hear it!" he said.
The sky was continuing to darken outside, so I took it upon myself to shut the blinds, and Ulfric came to help me clean up the kitchen, while Lily walked away for a moment to get dressed for the party later.
"Ulric, I had a question for you," I said then, and he looked towards me with interest.
Ulric had taken me by surprise, but I was convinced he was actually one of the kindest people in Europe.
"What's up?" he asked me.
"Does Lily like me?" I asked, "I mean, at all?" I chuckled.
"She can bring up walls with people she's just met. I mean- she's known me for a long ol' time, and she knew Zara back in college, too. I think given everything that she has been through, she can be a little stand-offish at times, even if she might not mean to be," he informed me.
I would have taken it upon myself to ask him more about her, but Lily soon re-entered the kitchen with...the male version of Lily?
"Hello," I said.
He just gave me a nod in greeting.
"Ulric, you remember my older brother Lance, don't you?" she asked him, then.
"I do indeed," Ulric said, waving towards him.
"This is Ulric, and Cooper- I mean, Selina," Lily informed him.
Lance looked towards me with an interested expression, as he nodded.
"Nice to meet the both of you," he replied, in a perfectly eloquent accent.
He was the sort of guy that you could just tell a lot of girls would fawn over.
How did I know this? Maybe because I found him attractive, too.
Not that I would admit that out loud, though.
"It's always great to meet my sister's friends," he said, passionately.
"Yeah! I didn't even know she had a brother up until today," I said.
Lily raised an eyebrow at the two of us.
"I am standing right here," she stated.
I just smiled towards her a little apologetically, but she didn't seem to care.
Ulric regarded her respectfully.
I realised, after a fraction of a moment, that he was probably looking towards her in admiration of her outfit.
A moment passed by, and Winona soon re-emerged in the kitchen.
"Hey Lily, I just wanted to let you know that all the decorations are up and we'll be ready to go soon," she stated.
"Fantastic," Lily replied, with a grin.
I felt a little out of place, given just how crowded the kitchen already felt, and there were only four other people besides me stood there currently.
I decided to not think on it all too much.
I didn't want to end up becoming overly anxious.
However, I did feel as though I wanted to be back in my dorm room, reading a poetry book.
That would have to happen later.
At least the sound of the rain beating down outside was helping me stay a little calmer.
I grabbed myself a cider out of the fridge, and began to drink it.
"Woah, Cooper. Save some for the party," Lily smirked.
"I will...just- a confidence boost," I stated.
She surprised me in giving me an understanding nod.
Lance soon wandered over to me.
"Want to go and help set up more decorations?" he asked me, a warmth filled his grey eyes.
"Sure," I replied in agreement.
The two of us headed out into the hall, for a minute, and Lance turned back to me.
"I do realise that all the decorations are already set up. I just thought that it may be helpful for you to have a break from other people for a minute or two," he stated.
"Well, I really do appreciate that, Lance. Thank you," I told him.
"Don't sweat it," he replied, running a hand through his blonde hair, as his jaw twitched slightly, "I was never the greatest with new people, either," he assured me, "Lily is the real confident member of the family."
I wanted to ask him more about Lily, but sooner than I was able to, Yasmin began to walk through the hall in a red party dress.
"Selina! Let's get you ready for a party, girl," she told me, and we both headed into my room so that she could help me sort out an outfit, and I quickly got ready.
Once my hair and makeup was sorted, too, we headed back out into the hall.
Yasmin smiled towards Lance, upon meeting his gaze.
I could tell that she was a little shy like me, though, given that it took her a couple of moments to realise that she should say something.
Maybe she was just awkward, though.
I wouldn't blame her if that was the case.
I could be awkward, too.
I couldn't help but think back to my moments with Lily thus far, as that thought came into my mind.
Sooner than Yasmin could say anything to Lance, Lily headed back out of the kitchen and into the hall.
"Guests will be arriving imminently, you guys. Wow, Selina, you actually look...nice," she thought, but then swallowed as her cheeks pinkened a little, and she turned her attention towards her friend.
"Lily!" Yasmin exclaimed happily.
"Yas!" Lily replied, rushing forward to wrap her arms around her best friend, "It's great to see you," she stated.
"You too," Yasmin replied, with a kind smile upon her face.
I could tell that the two of them got along just great, and in all honesty, I couldn't help but feel a little envious at that.
I had always wanted a friendship as strong as the one they seemed to occupy, but I supposed that I had more or less the same bond with X and Winona, and we hadn't known each other all that long.
"It's really great to see you! Now help me welcome people," Lily told her, and Yasmin nodded in agreement, as the two of them headed towards the front door to welcome their guests with Halloween goody bags.
Once everyone had arrived, we all headed into the kitchen again, where the main party was occurring.
Safe to say, I found myself in the corner for some time, simply observing the rest of the people dancing and having fun.
A couple of students that I didn't know the names of were making out in the corners of the room, due to the interference of vodka and gin, I would assume.
I just turned my attention to the can of cider in my hand and danced slowly, hoping that no one would notice.
I ran a hand through my curled hair, and couldn't help but look towards Lily for a moment, who was dancing in a white sequin dress.
Was it just the alcohol or had she always been that pretty?
I decided to take my mind off the subject, fearing that maybe she could, in fact, read my mind.
Weird.
I supposed I hadn't really noticed her before all this fear in my head had built up over her not liking me.
I supposed that made me question why it bothered me so much.
Again, weird.
Lily moved her toned arms in the air, as she danced to the rhythm of the music, while I danced to the rhythm of my own anxiety.
Safe to say, this was getting a little ridiculous.
Lily's grey eyes looked towards me for a moment, and she swallowed.
However, it was only a couple of seconds later that she resumed her dance to the music.
Fortunately, I was soon joined by Winona once again.
"You doing well, Cooper?" she asked me.
I allowed my eyes to glance towards Lily one more time, before taking another sip of my berry cider.
"Yeah," I replied, "I'm fine," I stated, and then placed the can down, before going to dance with my new best friend.