Fridays are always busy at work. The Subway I work at is located next to campus so students and office workers alike pile in during the mornings and lunch hours. I have an opening shift at 7am Fridays to Sundays so I’m here bright and early. But not even ten minutes into the start of the day I’m faced with a group of familiar looking students.

“Hey, aren’t you the idiot that dumped food all over Matt’s shirt?” One of the guys snickers while pointing accusingly at me. The friend next to him smirks while the two girls behind huddled together start to scowl.

Oh no. I definitely recognize them now. One of the girls ordered me to apologize that day. I thought this was going to be all behind me after things have been going smoothly. Can’t I catch a break?

“Did you pay him back yet?” That same girl asks, stepping around the group to stand before me with her hands on her hips. “Don’t go thinking just because he has money that you shouldn’t pay for anything.”

That’s what I said! But if I try to use that argument they’d probably be even ruder. Matt, why couldn’t you have accepted the money? Then I could at least admit that I paid some. I could lie, but what if she asks Matt and he tells the truth?

“Uh...I...it-it’s complicated?”

“How? Just give him some—”

“Excuse me,” Becky, my snarky co-worker, calls from my side. When she smiles, so do her eyes, but those brown eyes are anything but friendly. “If you aren’t going to order something then could you please step out of line? There’s others waiting their turn and I’m sure they have places to be.” She gestures to the growing line behind.

The girl goes red in the face, either from anger or embarrassment I’m not entirely sure. But she huffs and quickly mutters what she wants, her friends following after. Although they keep their gazes on me most of the time, they end up leaving without any more trouble.

“Thanks,” I whisper to Becky once they’re gone. She’s working on piling enough vegetables to make a salad onto some dude’s sandwich when she shrugs.

“No problem. I hate people that don’t understand basic manners,” Becky snarls then does a complete 180 and smiles like an angel at the customer, asking what else he would like.

Mental note; never piss Becky off. She gives me the shivers.

There is no repeat of the morning fiasco as the day goes by. I suspect some want to ask or say something. I get plenty of weird looks and quiet whispers but no one pesters me. Work is work. Becky isn’t much of a talker. Neither am I. So the work gets done quickly and we’re prepared for the lunch rush that always ends around two, which is the exact time my feet start to ache.

I sit in the back room after the lunch rush ends with a heavy groan. Becky is counting the money in the register since we reached our limit.

Ah, I haven’t checked my phone since before noon. Not that I have a lot of people that talk to me so what does it matter. Still, I reach for said phone in my pocket and stare in curiosity at the message from an unknown number. Until I open it and realize I simply didn’t save the number so I do that now in order to recognize it should he message again.

Matt: I’ve told everyone you are paying me monthly installments. They shouldn’t bother you again. Sorry.

Ah, he must have heard from the group that came in this morning.

Me: It’s ok. Thank you, I wasn’t sure what to say this morning.

After pressing send, I enter in a quick second text.

Me: Are you sure you don’t want me to pay you back?

I sit my phone aside, expecting to wait, but it dings a moment later. Did he really text back that fast?

Matt: I’m sure. If anyone bothers you again let me know. I’ll handle it.

I start to laugh. He’ll handle it? What the heck is that supposed to mean? If he already told everyone that then it shouldn’t matter.

Me: I’m sure you won’t have to, but thanks.

I smile at my phone. Matt doesn’t seem so bad. He has that deep voice and stern expression all the time so I thought he’d be a complete asshole. Even yesterday in the restroom he didn’t look very pleased. Maybe I’ve misjudged him?

“Hey Dana, a group is about to come in!” Becky calls moments before the bell above the door rings. I toss my phone aside and get up to help her out front. My feet are really killing me. Looks like I’ll be needing new shoes soon. This pair is worn out too much.

Three o’clock arrives what feels like seconds later. My shift is over and I’m clocking out with every intention to head home, clean up and take a nap until the party. I should be able to get a good five to six hour nap in so that’ll hopefully keep me from wanting to leave only an hour in.

“Hey, still feeling up to the party tonight?” Tori asks when I return to the dorm. He’s lounging about in bed watching TV. I kick off my shoes. My feet are screaming at me but I smell like onions and old soup so I have to get a shower before laying down.

“Yeah, I can go. Gonna get a shower now.”

“Cool. We’re gonna leave a quarter till nine.”

“Mhm!”

After a quick shower I throw myself into bed for a nap that easily takes me. Tori is waking me a little after eight so I can get ready. Looks like he has already started. His normally unruly black hair is brushed back with some type of product and he has a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth. The smell of mint is insanely strong with his face not far from mine.

“I’m up,” I groan while sliding out of bed onto the floor. Searching the nightstand, I find my glasses and perch them on my face, yawning while stretching my arms and legs.

“Don’t you have contacts?” Tori asks from the bathroom.

“Yeah, but I hate them.”

“Probably not the best idea to wear glasses to a party. A bunch of drunks, you never know what will happen.”

Ah. He’s right. The last thing I want is for my glasses to break. With my luck lately, that is exactly what will happen!

“You’ve never been to a party either, yeah?” Tori asks while stepping out of the bathroom. He’s a bit more dressed up than usual but nothing fancy, just a nice button down that’s tucked into his pants.

I shake my head. “I’ve never really been the most popular guy.”

“You don’t need to be popular to go to a party. But I warn you, they can get rowdy—”

“I get the feeling you will be one of the rowdiest.”

Tori presses a hand to his chest in what seems to be offense until he says, “I was just about to warn you about that. How did you know?”

I roll my eyes. That’s not surprising at all.

It doesn’t take me long to get ready. I throw on pants and a t-shirt, put in my contacts that have me rapidly blinking my eyes immediately afterwards then grabbing my belongings before following Tori out of the room. He’s on his phone, as usual, texting away with some girl he met in class. He’s going to meet up with her there apparently, meaning I will probably end up alone. Not surprising.

Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to come. I’m not exactly a social butterfly. Already I’m on the verge of passing out. So many people, so much alcohol all in one place is bound to create catastrophe. I’m probably not even going to have the guts to talk to anyone. The corner will be where I stay the whole evening I’m sure…

I shake my head. No! Come on, Dana. I can do this. I promised myself I’d give a try. The next four years will not consist of me studying alone in the dorms. I won’t be the outcast like I was in high school. I’m going to make friends and try new things. Maybe even find myself a boyfriend?

I can do this. I can—

“Here we are!” Tori announces, gesturing to the frat house lit from the inside with colorful lights. From the street I can hear pop songs blaring at an ungodly volume. There are students littering the lawn with cups in hand. People can be seen dancing through the windows. A group of girls pass us, one smiles at Tori, who smiles back while I awkwardly hide behind him.

This definitely wasn’t a good idea. What the hell am I thinking? Mr. Unsociable coming to a freaking frat party. These are the people that teased me in high school! They’re the ones that shoved my head in a toilet. (Who does that nowadays? Seriously!)

Too late now. My fate is sealed.