Sapphire Veil

With the sprawling university campus stretched out before me, I steal a quick glance at my watch. Twenty minutes to get to the house and change before tonight’s event. Sophomore year had finally begun, but the familiar pang of anxiety still clung to me. I had spent longer than expected studying for my upcoming psychology exam and lost track of time. Kennedy would kill me if I didn’t get there soon.

Sidestepping a student on a bike, I pick up my pace. I had been dreading living in the sorority house since the day I pledged. The idea of sharing a space with a hundred girls terrified me, almost making me back out of joining altogether. But mom insisted, fueled by her and my grandma being legacies to the very sorority I was now a part of. Her mantra, “It’s a great way to get involved and meet your lifelong friends,” replayed in my head daily.

I hurry up the steps and into the front door, the noise and chaos at an all-time high as the entire sorority buzzes with excitement for tonight’s event. Quietly, I head straight to my room, praying Kennedy isn’t there to lecture me.

“Izzy! Do you know how important tonight is for me?” Kennedy’s voice hits me as soon as I enter. “Evan is going to be at the dinner, and you know I can’t miss it—”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry,” I interrupt, tossing my backpack onto the bed and heading to the other side of the room to begin rifling through my closet. “I got caught up in the library studying for my psych exam and lost track of time.”

I try to sound sincere, but honestly, I’ve been dreading this dinner all week. The sorority’s dinner exchanges with Psi Sigma Chi always felt pointless, just an excuse to dress up and meet boys. But participation was mandatory, and I wasn’t keen on paying a hefty fine and facing my mother’s wrath.

Kennedy’s face twists in disgust as she surveys my sweats and hoodie. “Please tell me you’re going to dress like a functioning member of society tonight.”

“Of course. I have a dress and everything,” I retort, shoving hangers aside to find the few nice clothes I own.

“Wow, maybe I’m finally rubbing off on you!” Kennedy exclaims, putting the finishing touches on her perfect curls.

I change into a simple black dress and slip on platform sandals, trying to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror Kennedy is currently hogging. As I tame my hair, my eyes land on the necklace. The dainty silver chain holding a deep blue stone has been a fixture around my neck for as long as I can remember, a constant insistence from my mom.

Suddenly, Kennedy yanks me out of the room. “Come on, we have to hurry!”

Downstairs, the living room is buzzing with excitement. Kennedy locates our friends Hannah and Brooklyn and weaves in and out if the crowd to get to them.

Hannah’s dark shoulder-length hair was straightened to perfection. Her counterpart, Brooklyn, had gorgeous long blonde hair, the kind people spend countless hours and money trying to achieve. She always seemed to have it in effortlessly perfect loose curls, something my hair refused to do no matter how hard I tried. As we join them, Hannah seems to be pleading for Brooklyn’s help with her calculus exam.

Kennedy, the queen of math when she would put her mind to it. That was the issue though, her mind was typically preoccupied with other things. “Why don’t we all hit the library after dinner? I need to work on an assignment anyway.”

Brooklyn chimes in excitedly, “And get coffee first, right? Can’t study without caffeine.”

“Duh! Izzy, you in?” Kennedy asks, despite already knowing my response.

“I don’t have anything to work on,” I lie, dreading the unproductive study session that would surely happen if I agree.

Kennedy gives me a knowing look but doesn’t call me out. Our friendship is a balance of her carefree nature and my anxious tendencies. She pulls me out of my comfort zone, and I ground her. Well, most of the time.

Suddenly the doorbell rings, and freshmen squeal behind us. Kennedy grabs my hand. “Come on, Izzy! You promised you’d try to have fun tonight”

I sigh, fidgeting with my necklace. I always found comfort and frustration in the simple jewel. It was the one piece of my dad I had, yet I didn’t knoe why I cared so much about a man who didn’t have the decency to care about me.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m here aren’t I?” I reply, trying hard to match Kennedy’s enthusiasm and failing miserably. “Let’s just get this over with.”

The crowd jostles as boys and girls are counted off to stay here for dinner or walk the few short blocks to the fraternity house. As the boys enter the living room I scan the crowd. They are all mingling, the boys with their polished smiles and practiced charm on full display.

I take a deep breath and plaster on my best poker face as we are finally told that we will be escorted to Psi Sigma Chi for dinner.

Once we arrived at the fraternity and are seated for dinner, the president of the frat sands for an announcement. He was a tall slender guy, probably a junior or senior here by the looks of it, with blonde hair and deep blue eyes.

“We are so glad to host each and every one of you beautiful ladies here tonight. I hope all of you have had an amazing start to the semester. Thank you so much for joining us and enjoy the food.” He sat back down in his chair and then slowly, table by table each person got up to get their food.

I sit at a small round table towards the front of the dining room with Kennedy, Brooklyn, and two boys from the frat, neither of which I had caught the name of. Hannah had run off to sit with Evan, the boy she had recently started talking to.

I notice the dark-haired boy across from me. His intense green eyes keep staring at me, a bitter expression on his face. Do I know him? His face seems familiar, but I can’t place him.

The other girls made small talk with the boys as I sat quietly fighting a migraine that had come out of nowhere. I attempted to blow it off and act normal as I did not want to make a scene knowing Kennedy would overreact and go into full mom mode the second I said anything was wrong.

I kept catching the dark-headed boys’ piercing green eyes staring at me anytime I looked his way. I averted my eyes quickly and hoped it was just an awkward coincidence.

Once it was finally our turn to get our food, the boy with light brown curly hair, stood up. “After you,” he said and motioned for us to get in line.

“Thanks.” I force a polite smile as I stood from the chair.

“I’m Connor, I didn’t catch your name earlier.” He follows beside me as we head for the buffet.

“Um- Izzy. Well Isabel but only my mom calls me that.” I mutter as a sharp pain shoots through my head. I press a hand to my temple and try to steady myself on a nearby chair.

“Are you okay?” Connor asks, concern etching his features.

“Yeah, I’m fine” I lie, the pain intensifying. “Its just a headache.”

The room blurs around me, the noise and chatter fading into a dull hum. I scan the room, trying to make out a clear picture when my I catch sight of green eyes fixed intently on mine. He was striking, his dark hair fell slightly into his eyes, his sharp jawline taught with frustration.

The world around me tilted and the last thing I could see is his intense stare before the world around me goes black.