Wes covers a laugh with his fist. “Uh, yeah, that’s the other thing. Gabby and Katrina missed their high school proms so that’s where the limo and corsages come into play. It’s a surprise party with a prom vibe.” He claps me on the shoulder and shrugs. A shrug that tells me he’d do anything for Blair and by extension, Gabby. “It’s gonna be fun.”

2

GABBY

THIS is why girls go to the bathroom together. So they can talk about boys, borrow lipstick, and so they don’t get lost.

I push through the crowd careening my neck left and then right and walking on my tiptoes to try and see through the mass of people. There are a lot of great things about being short… not being able to see over tall people isn’t one of them.

Relief washes over me when I spot my friends across the large lobby of the Valley campus theater. The front doors are open and the breeze filters through, bringing with it the sweet smell of spring. It’s a beautiful night to be out, and though this is my first time watching a campus performance, I suspect the weather is partly responsible for everyone lingering after the show.

“I made it.” I let out a long breath as I join Blair and Katrina.

“You got lost again, didn’t you?” Blair asks with a teasing smile. Damn best friends, they always call you out.

“Not lost,” I insist. “Delayed. There was a long line for the ladies and then I had to weave through a million people to find you. It’s like a Beyoncé concert up in here.”

“It’s one of the best turnouts I’ve ever seen, and the show was fantastic.”

At Blair’s praise, Katrina blushes. Tonight’s play was written entirely by her and all the actors were students too.

“It really was amazing. Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” She lets her shoulders droop. “I’m so glad it’s over.”

“We should celebrate.”

No sooner than Blair says the words I spot Joel, Wes, and Zeke walking toward us with swagger that splits the room to let them through.

“I think Joel has something planned. He was being weird earlier when I asked what the plan was for tonight.”

My throat is dry, and I have to clear it twice so my voice is more than a whisper. “Uh, guys.”

I nudge Blair and she follows my gaze to the guys.

Going to college via online classes has one big disadvantage – no boys. No running into a handsome guy at a frat party – how Vanessa met Mario. No looking across the classroom and enjoying the eye candy – like Blair and Wes. And no running into your soul mate in University Hall like Joel and Katrina.

The whole soulmate thing I don’t care about so much, but I am looking forward to the eye candy, and the three in front of me are some of the very best examples of why I decided to finally move to Valley for my senior year. The spring semester isn’t quite over, but I thought I would feel less like a freshman if I got to know some people before Fall classes start. The next few months are my own version of orientation. Though the agenda is more social than academic.