Nichole sat in class twiddling her pencil between her fingers as she thought about what had happened last.

What was he thinking? She pondered.

“Are you ready to rejoin us, Miss Waters?” a voice called out to her.

She looked up to see the professor glaring at her from in front of the class, “Sorry, what?”

The professor sighed as he walked over to her, “I asked you a question, but since you are far away in a dream world, perhaps you would like to share with us your land of enlightenment?”

You don't have to be rude! She thought to herself.

“Pay attention or you will find yourself in my class next year as well,” he returned to the front of the class.

“Hey, Nikki! What is the deal?” a low voice spoke out to her.

She turned to her left, as she noticed her best friend, Melony, peering at her.

“Sorry, I just had some weird things happen to me lately,” she whispered back.

“Dish!” another voice spoke out from the other side of her.

“I will tell y'all after class,” Nichole sighed.

TING! TONG!

The students flooded the halls as they headed for the cafeteria. Nichole sat down on a bench in the hallway with her two best friends. They were identical twins, Melony and Melody. They both had blonde hair with brown eyes. Melody wore hers a little shorter than Melony. They were alike in many ways but had clearly different personalities as Melody was more of a tomboy and rowdy as Melony was polite and girly.

“So, what happened?” Melony asked as she stuffed a honey bun into her mouth.

“Yeah, girl! Dish!” Melody added.

“Well, first of all, I didn't have enough money to cover tuition, and then all of the dorm rooms were taken, “she sighed, “Then I had to get a room in the boys' dorm, and it just so happens to be with—”

“Ew! I hope it wasn't with that dirty guy from our bio class?” Melody gawked.

“I didn't even tell you who it is yet,” Nichole laughed.

“It is him, isn't it?” Melony choked on her bun.

“For the love of…” Nichole sighed,” It isn't him!”

“Hey, Nikki!” a male's voice called out to her.

She looked around to see Dante walking towards her, “Oh, hey.”

He stopped in front of her as he waved to the twins, “How is it going with Dei?”

Nichole gulped.

“That's who you are living with?!” Melody spits out her juice in surprise.

“Well…” Nichole looked at the ground as her face began to turn red.

“O—M—G,” Melony grinned.

“Ditto!” Melody added, “You are so freaking lucky, Nikki.”

Dante laughed the girls' reaction, “It isn't really that big of a deal.”

“As if!” Melony spouted, “he is like the best of everything!”

“Exactly!” Melody agreed.

“You girls are seriously crazy,” Dante replied.

“It really isn't that extreme, but it's going okay,” Nichole quickly spoke as she stood up.

“Where are you going?” Melony asked as she stood up as well.

“I am going to my room for a bit,” Nichole smiled.

“Liar,” Melody grinned, “Are you broke again, Nikki?”

“Broke?” Dante chuckled.

Nichole turned away from them, “I am not. I just have a lot of studying to do before my next class.”

Nichole walked away from them as they watched her disappear around the corner.

“She is so lying,” Melody sighed.

Nichole sat down on the bench that was in the middle of the courtyard. It was a beautiful white gazebo that was covered in bright pink roses. She held a folded newspaper in her hand as she circled potential jobs.

I need to find something soon, she thought.

“So, you're skipping lunch today,” a voice spoke to her.

She looked up to see Deivian standing in the doorway of the gazebo.

“I just don't feel like eating lunch,” she replied as she stuck the newspaper into her backpack.

“Really?” he smiled as he walked over to her.

“Yes, I have to find a job soon,” she looked around the yard at the other students picnicking.

“Oh. Right,” he sighed, “You aren't just skipping lunch because you're broke?”

She choked, “Why would you say that?”

“Your friends said that,” he answered as he leaned back on the bench, “what happened to the money I gave you?”

She forced a smile, “Well—food—fees—things...”

He stared at her for a moment then looked away. She felt like crap for wasting it, but she had so many bills due.

“About—” she gulped, “Last night.”

“Hey, you want to get some lunch with me?” he asked as he stood up and stretched.

“But lunch is almost over, plus, I have to get to my next class,” she replied standing up beside him.

“Well, I am done with my classes. Can I walk you there?” he smiled.

“Sure,” she smiled back.

They reach the science building as they made their way through campus to the biology classroom. Nichole stood in front of the door for a moment before turning around to face him, “I—”

“Hey Dei!” a voice called out to them.

They turned around to see another one of Nichole's friends rushing up to them. It was a 22-year-old girl named, Tisha Redford. She was tall with long braided hair and brown eyes.

“I finally found you!” Tisha stopped to catch her breath.

“Hey, Tisha,” Nichole greeted.

“What are you doing here, Nikki?” Tisha replied with a confused look on her face, “I didn't know you came back to school.”

“Um, I've only been here for a couple of days, “she smiled, “This is my next class.”

“Oh,” Tisha acknowledged, “Anyways, I wanted to see if you wanted to head over to the Kite with me?”

Deivian turned to her, “I guess.”

“You two know each other?” Nichole asked as she pointed back and forth between the two.

“Duh,” Tisha smiled, “Girl, he's my boyfriend.”

This is that Tish?! Nichole's heart jumped into her throat.

She knew that he had a girlfriend. Well, possibly had a girlfriend. It just kind of sucked more to her that it was one of her friends.

“I have to go,” Nichole turned away from them toward the classroom.

“Okay. See you later,” Tisha smiled as she wrapped around Deivian's arm.