Chapter 3 Welcome Party

• *Sandra’s POV*
• Strolling through the hallways, I could sense the liberating vibe of freedom coursing through my veins. Carnie and I hit up the office, tackling the paperwork for the key change. My eyes scanned the surroundings, a hint of hope for a familiar face, but alas, disappointment lingered.
• With a constant eye on my phone, I noticed no response from Thodoris. I attempted a call, but it rang unanswered. "Come on, pick up your phone," I muttered to myself.
• Carnie, catching onto my distress, casually remarked, "You gotta chill, girl. You're in college now. He's probably out somewhere, living his best life drunk or something."
• Gotta admit Carnie's wisdom hit home, and stressing wouldn't do me any good. The lady at the office grabbed our forms, assuring us a janitor would swing by our room later in the day.
• We split up, each on our mission to gather the necessary books and stuff. I decided to hit up some art student info sessions, thinking I'd loop Thodoris in later and ended up enrolling for the theory, go figure. Art wasn’t exactly popular in Black Ball.
• Stepping out of the renascence art class studio, I got bumped by some dude. He stopped, apologized, and said, "Sorry, man, missed the info session," in a friendly tone.
• I nodded, picking up the papers scattered on the floor. He handed me my book, and with a surprised look, he asked, "Art and Fashion major?" Before I could respond, he beat me to it, saying, "I'm Jake, in case you're wondering."
• Honestly, I wasn't thrilled about shaking his hand, so I just took the book and nodded. "Next time, watch where you're going, Jake," I said as I got up.
• Handing me a flyer, he said, "Happens every year to welcome the first years. You should come."
• I took the flyer and headed back to the dorm room. Separating our books and papers, the janitor knocked on the door. In less than half an hour, he changed the key, handing me the new ones. "You're all set," he said.
• Carnie walked in just as I was about to leave. I handed her the new key, and she handed me a flyer the same as the one Jake gave. "We're going," she declared, intentionally making it clear I had no choice.
• Walking towards the guys' hostel, I figured I needed more friends. I mean, Thodoris couldn't be my only go-to guy and Carnie, well, let's just say she's got a few surprises up her sleeve.
• "So, I'm into talking. Maybe I should join the debate team or something," I mused to myself, shaking my head. While I was lost in thought, a distant voice tried to grab my attention.
• "Hey, you never told me your name," he said, a bit out of breath.
• "Sandra," I replied, keeping it short and sweet.
• He nodded, and we strolled into the hostel together. Jake was tall, with thick, curly hair and smooth olive skin. Not bad at all, but he was missing a bit of that swag factor.
• When we reached room 711, I turned to him, "Thanks for helping me find my way here in one piece." I could see his face light up.
• "Can I buy you a drink tonight?" I asked, throwing the invitation out there.
• His grin widened, and I knew I was onto something. I swung the door open, only to find Thodoris and Phillip dead asleep. I gently laid the books on Thodoris's desk and left a cheeky note, "You totally owe me."
• With no clue about Thodoris's plans, I decided to roll with Carnie. I threw on a mini skirt and a tight white top, going for the classic hot chick look. Felt pretty good actually.
• Carnie, on the other hand, rocked a short, figure-hugging gold dress, and we both kicked it up a notch with some killer heels. She was like paper-thin but rocking the biggest rack you've ever seen.
• The place was alive with excitement as everyone geared up for the party. Hosted by one of the campus sororities, this party was the golden ticket to getting in to view the inside. According to Carnie, this first party of the year was the only shot you had.
• We blended into the crowd and made a beeline for the drinks. Scanning the room, I hoped to spot a comfy spot to chill. Carnie snagged my arm and led me to the living room, where a game of Pass the Orange, with a business card twist, was in full swing. The atmosphere was charged with laughter as the business card moved from mouth to mouth.
• A tall, good-looking dude strolled up with the card hanging from his mouth. As I got closer, the card slipped to the floor. "Oops," he chuckled with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Before I could react, he grabbed me with a passionate kiss.
• His hand slid to the back of my neck, tilting me over. The crowd roared, cheering him on to make the moment last. Amidst the cheers, someone called him Sly and then I gently pushed him away, avoiding eye contact, "That's enough. No need to get carried away," I declared loud enough for everyone to hear.
• Trying to slip away, I turned to find Carnie, but he snagged my waist, pulling me closer. "Don't leave," he whispered, his tongue teasing my ear in a sensuous play. Gotta say, his voice totally had me hooked.
• Concerned about what Thodoris might think, I faced him and asserted, "I'm not interested, Sly. I'm with Thodoris." His expression soured, but determination glinted in his eyes. The party was buzzing, all filled with that electric night energy, and then I casually slipped away from his grip.
• "Challenge accepted," he grinned before turning and strolling away.
• I darted out of the living room and spotted Jake sitting near the stairs. "Turns out the drinks are free tonight," I shared with him.
• He shifted his face away, handing me his jacket, "Your nipples are showing," he said shyly.
• Appreciative of his concern, I took the jacket and wore it. "Thanks, protector," I nudged him. "Come, let me get you a drink."
• Jake and I casually strolled to the kitchen, cruising past the dining room where some girl yanked him in. "Shots!" she hollered in his ear. I trailed right behind and got pulled in, ending up at the foot of the table.
• "Winner gets bragging rights," a dude in a red hockey top declared. He was just like everyone else, totally hammered. Jake and I geared up for the countdown. Sly casually strolled in, putting a pause on the festivities, pointing out that his shots weren't ready. We watched as the hockey top guy scrambled to make it happen.
• Just watching that scene made me jittery, and I was about to bail. "Scared you'll lose?" Sly tossed at me. The whole room echoed with playful ohs and ahhs, kinda convincing me to hang in there. "As if," I shot back, giving him a side-eye.
• But deep down, my hesitation wasn't all about Sly being there. It was more like my mental state doing a tightrope act. I'd been rollin' with Thodoris since we were 15, never locking lips with another dude after him.
• Sly's kiss? A whole different vibe, full of passion that I couldn't quite wrap my head around. Low-key, I kinda wanted a do-over, this time without an audience.
• "When I win, you give me a lap dance," Sly threw out there.
• "No way," I promptly shut that down.
• "Make sure you don't lose then," he mumbled, giving the signal to start the countdown.