As we walk along the pathway, looking for seats, I’m surprised by the number of students who smile at me or greet me by name. Katie gives me a series of curious looks between the brief interactions. I rarely take her up on any social invitations, and I can tell she’s wondering if I’ve been doing so in order to take advantage of other ones. I give her a quick shrug to indicate I’m just as mystified by the attention as she is.

It takes a while for our group to find a section of open seats, but we finally claim a spot. I end up sitting between Katie and a dark-haired girl with a heart-shaped face who looks vaguely familiar.

She gives me a warm smile as we all sit down.

“I’m Claudia,” she reminds me. “We have medieval history together.”

“Right. I thought you look familiar,” I reply. “Sorry, I’m terrible with names.”

Claudia smiles again. “No worries. How do you like Lincoln so far?”

We talk for a while about the university in general, and eventually the topic shifts to our mutual class. I learn Claudia is part of a study group that’s formed for the upcoming exam, and she invites me to their next meeting.

“I’ll definitely come,” I promise. “I can hardly pay attention to anything that happens in that class, it’s so warm in the room.”

Claudia laughs. “I noticed that too. I’ve started wearing a t-shirt under my jacket on Mondays and Thursdays just because of that class.”

“There’s a vent that sometimes blows cooler air on the right side by the whiteboard,” I tell her. “You should come sit by me next class.”

“I’ll try,” Claudia replies. I feel a crease of confusion form between my eyes. “You haven’t noticed the seats around you always fill up first?”

I shake my head and laugh at her unexpected observation. “What? No they don’t!”

Claudia grins. “Yeah, they do. You’re the hot commodity in that lecture. The two guys sitting behind me last class were trying to decide how to ask for your number.” She pauses and laughs. “Based on the look on your face, I’m guessing neither of them ever did.”

The stadium loudspeaker suddenly crackles to life, echoing feedback around the stadium for a brief second before the booming sound of the announcer’s voice replaces it. He welcomes everyone to the game, and then reads through the list of starting players, pausing for each of them to run out onto the field. The announcer continues rattling off a long series of unfamiliar names, aside from a few I think I’ve heard Katie mention. Just not the one I’m waiting to hear. I start to lose interest as the announcer drones on.

There’s a dramatic pause that recaptures my attention.

“And now, number twelve, your quarterback and captain…Jace Dawssooonnnnn!”

Jace’s gorgeous face flashes across the giant screens displayed around the stadium.

I thought the stadium was loud before, but it was nothing compared to the defeating roar greeting Jace now. His solitary figure jogs out of the tunnel and onto the field.