sister told me college was going to kick my ass, I should’ve listened to her, but, of course, being the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed high school senior that I was, I didn’t. I was ready to leave my boring little life in Charlotte behind and make the seven-hundred-fifteen mile move to New Orleans with my best friend, Jules.
Well, we did it, and now I’m seriously regretting not taking Drea’s warning into consideration. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we’re here, but had I listened to her, maybe I would’ve left naivety back home, too.
“Fuckin’ idiot,” I mumble to myself as I adjust the strap of my crossbody bag and start up the front steps of the dorms.
It’s not too busy at this time, just a few stray people here and there coming to and from classes, none of whom I know. I do, however, know Izaak who’s at the end of the hall, macking on this one girl from my English Lit class. Swear on everything, I’ve never moved faster. I hustle up the first flight of stairs and book it the rest of the way til I make it to the fourth floor. Here’s the thing about Izaak; he’s cool people, but he has zero regard for personal-fucking-space, and the kid will not take no for an answer. He’s asked me out at least three times since classes started, and I’ve shot him down every single time. I don’t get what part of I’m gay as fuck he doesn’t understand, but here we are.
Thankfully, it doesn’t look like he saw me, giving me a moment to catch my breath at the top of the stairs before heading to my unit. For someone who played soccer so many years, I’m so out of shape right now, it’s not even funny. Kind of pathetic, really, but then again, this is what happens when you swap outdoor physical activities for sitting your ass on a couch to smoke weed and half a pack of cigs instead.
“Did you see this before you left?” Jules asks the second I walk through the door.
She’s sitting cross-legged on our cheap Ikea couch that doubles as a futon, a matte black envelope clutched in her hand.
My brow perks at the sight of it. “Nope, not unless I stepped over it on the way out. Where was it?”
“Right by the door.”
Shaking my head, I pull my bag over my head and hang it on the coat rack before dropping down beside her. “Definitely didn’t see it. What is it?”
“I don’t know.” She hands it over and rakes her fingers through her long, naturally auburn locks. “But it’s addressed to you.”
I almost bang my head into the wall as my entire body rears back. “To me?”
Jules nods, prompting me to flip it over with a quickness and confirm her claim. Sure enough, there it is scripted on the front in gold ink. Just my name, nothing less, nothing more.
Kaia Williams
“What do you think it is?” she questions.
My shoulder hitches. I have no clue, honestly. Unless Drea’s getting married, which I doubt. She’s only been with Omar for a few months.
“Dude, c’mon. Open it already. The suspense is killing me!” Next thing I know, she’s scooting closer in excitement, and I’m tensing as her thigh brushes mine.
I try my damnedest to ignore it, but fuck, she doesn’t make it easy. She never does, especially since we moved here. She’s getting bolder...and it’s making me want to question everything.
Yes, this is me openly admitting I’m secretly in love with my best friend. I have been for a while now, long since before I broke things off with my ex of one year.
Despite whatever green lights she may be throwing my way, I value our friendship too much to potentially ruin it, though, so I stick to the best friend role and keep myself in check.
“Kaia, c’mon, seriously!” she whines, shaking me into action.
“Okay, okay, fine.” Slipping a blue-polished nail beneath the black seal, I rip it open and retrieve the—you guessed it—black card stock inside.
Maybe Drea is getting married.
I mean, it looks like an invitation, and she’s all about that dark witchy shit after spending so many years in NOLA for school. This is her style. Flipping it open, I let my eyes drift over the gold calligraphy, tilting it enough for Jules to read too.
You’re invited to come fulfill your deepest, darkest desires.
Join us this Saturday at 9 p.m. at Aspendale Estate.