Chapter 1 — Crowded Hallways
The university hallways were plastered with posters for the big game that night: the Jaguars versus the Rangers. It was the kind of rivalry that divided the campus for weeks. Everywhere, you could feel the anticipation—the laughter that was just a little too loud, the excited chatter, and the smell of cold coffee from students who had stayed up late studying.
The bell rang, and the classroom doors swung open. Students poured into the hallways like a noisy tide.
Lisa calmly gathered her things, adjusted her bag over her shoulder, and stepped into the hallway. Almost immediately, people started calling out to her.
“Lisa!”
“Hey, Lisa.”
“Are you going to the game?”
She simply smiled and answered them with the same effortless warmth as always. The endless stream of “Hi, Lisa” seemed like it would never stop, but she handled it without a second thought.
She reached her locker, opened it, and slipped her notebooks inside. Just then, she heard a voice behind her.
“Hey, Lisa. How was your day?”
She closed the locker and turned around.
Robert.
A classmate. He looked nervous.
“Hey, Robert.”
“I was just passing by and saw you. I wanted to see how you were doing.”
Lisa looked at him for a second. The boy’s cheeks turned slightly red.
“I’m good, thanks. At least we’re finally done for the day. I had a terrible headache today.”
“I know… You wouldn’t stop drinking last night.”
“The atmosphere was just too good,” she admitted with a smile. “But we knew there’d be consequences.”
While Robert continued talking, Gina spotted them from the other end of the hallway. She quickened her pace, stepped between them, and casually wrapped an arm around Lisa’s waist as if she owned the place.
“Ready to go, girl?”
Then she looked at Robert, one eyebrow raised.
“And what are you doing here? Classes aren’t over?”
“Uh… yeah. I just saw Lisa and wanted to say hi.”
“Aww, how sweet, Robert,” Lisa said, amused.
Gina didn’t take her eyes off him.
“Sweet… but—”
She turned toward Lisa, completely ignoring the boy.
“So, are we leaving?”
Robert tried again.
“Hey, are you girls going to watch the game tonight?”
“Of course,” Lisa replied. “This is one of the big ones.”
Gina frowned slightly.
“Are you sure you want to go, Lisa? We could go to my place and watch that show I told you about.”
“What show, Gina?” Robert asked, still trying to join the conversation.
Lisa leaned toward her friend’s ear and spoke quietly, almost in a whisper.
“Of course I’m going. Afterward, we’re going out to celebrate. Max and me. Did you forget?”
Gina’s expression immediately soured, but all she said was:
“Fine, Lisa. Want me to come with you?”
Lisa hesitated for a second. She didn’t want Gina to feel rejected.
“Of course. Come on. Maybe Robert can be your date,” she added with a laugh.
“Uh…” Robert was suddenly at a loss for words.
Gina looked him up and down.
“You’re crazy, Lisa. If I wanted a date, I can assure you it wouldn’t be someone like Robert.”
“Ouch. Thanks,” he muttered.
“You’re welcome,” Gina replied without batting an eye.
“Don’t be mean,” Lisa said, taking her by the arm. “Come on, we’ll miss the ride.”
The two girls walked away down the hallway without formally saying goodbye to Robert, laughing together. When they passed the bathrooms, Lisa suddenly pulled Gina inside.
“Hey… are you sure you’re okay with coming? I mean, with me leaving afterward with… you know who?”
Gina watched her as Lisa touched up her blush in front of the mirror. Her eyes lingered for a second too long as Lisa carefully applied her lipstick before she finally caught herself.
“What?… Oh, yeah. Of course. Besides, we’ll be together.”
Lisa finished her makeup, turned around, and hugged her tightly.
“Thanks, Gina. I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re such a great friend. I love you.”
Gina swallowed.
The hug lasted just a moment longer than a normal friendly embrace, but she didn’t pull away.
“Yeah… I love you too, girl. You can always ask me for anything.”
They left the bathroom together, still smiling, and headed toward the bus stop.
