Secrets Behind Those Eyes (30 page)

Crystal and I walk down the hall and
introduce ourselves to our hall mates. The first person I meet is
Georgia. She is all of about four-feet-eleven. She has the cutest
smile. You know how your gut tells you things? Well, I knew from
the moment that I met her she would play a starring role in my
college life. There was something about her that was familiar. Her
roommate, on the other hand, I think not!

Across the hall I see two very
athletic-looking blondes, Cassie and Jenny. You can tell that they
have spoken before moving in, hence, the matching loft beds,
comforters, and room decorated like an interior
designer.

To my right, is another Southern
Belle, Caroline. She looks like the cheerleaders at my high school,
skinny, blonde, and overly excited about everything.

To my left are Anna and Tori. Yet
again, these two look like they don't match as roommates, but there
is something different. I have a feeling these two have more in
common than they know.

Crystal and I make our
way outside and walk toward the train track. It is about four
o'clock, and we are supposed to meet on the lawn in front of Rush
dorm to have some "freshman fun."
Seriously. WTH?

"So, Charley, how excited are you
about this?"

"I’ve been waiting for
this all day!
Haven't
you?!
" I say sarcastically. I have never
been one that likes to play the get-to-know-you icebreaker
shit.

"We might get along more than I
thought, Charley. I had that exact same thought." Crystal smiles at
me and across the street we go.

We walk to the front lawn and divide
into our groups. I notice two girls that look like they have been
lifelong friends. Then they talk, and their accents are dynamically
different. This must be what happens when you come to Orientation.
The "freshman fun" leader, Lucas, starts to talk. He is well over
six feet tall, dark hair, and looks like he spends hours in the
gym. I guess I can handle the next thirty minutes of torture if I
can look at him.

I look around in my group to see if I
recognize anyone. Caroline is in my group. At least she’s a
familiar face.

I'm brought back to reality by Lucas
explaining the game I love to hate. I'm going to have to come up
with some cheesy animal name for myself that starts with “C”.
Hummm. I’m thinking “Cougar Charley”. That will get someone's
attention. Or at least a good laugh. It does, and this torture is
almost over.

Since I’ve played the
stupid game, I take a minute to look at my surroundings. By that I
don’t mean Mother Nature. I notice a couple that seems to be pretty
friendly, a couple of guys who look like they stepped out of
GQ
, and a tan,
blonde-haired guy with piercing blue eyes. He looks like he has
lived on the beach all summer long. He is absolutely scrumptious. I
realize his name is Joe after he refers to himself as “Jackalope
Joe”. I think I might want to know a little more about
him.

As I’m daydreaming about Jackalope
Joe, I’m brought back to reality by Lucas. He thanks us all for
coming, and then tells us the café is open for dinner at six. I
decide to walk back to Kluft. While waiting to cross the road,
Caroline catches up to me.

"Hey, you're Charley,
right?"

"Yeah.”

“
Want to go grab
supper?"

"Sure, thank goodness you said supper.
I almost didn't know what he was talkin' about."

We both just laugh.

“
I had that same thought,
Charley. What the hell is ‘dinner’? We call it supper where I’m
from.”

We make our way in front of Hope
Science Building and go down the spiral metal staircase to enter
the café.

We are about halfway down the steps
when I notice a group of smoking hot guys. I look at them and smile
as innocent as possible.

“
So, Caroline, do you know
of anything to do around here? I mean, there is like nothing within
a thirty-mile radius.”

“
I heard there’s always a
party somewhere on campus. Just gotta know who to talk to and who
to get the liquor.”

“
Oh, okay.” I’m sure not
about to put it all out there that I’m not a big
drinker.

We make our way into the cafe'. I
think we just walked into a pack of wolves and every set of eyes is
staring at us. I mean, like damn, take a picture! I hand over my ID
card, it's swiped, then handed back. We go into the line. I grab a
tray that looks like it's as old as I am.

We make our way through the line. I
grab a chicken salad, Diet Coke, and a chocolate chip cookie.
Caroline does the same.

As we walk out of the food line, I
notice a group of girls waving at us.

“
Looks like Kluft second
floor is eating together. Guess that means us, too,” I say as I
look at Caroline.

“
Hey, at least we’re not
like those two over there. I’m so glad I didn’t have to walk in
here by myself.”

“
I know what ya mean,
Caroline.”

We eat at the round table with
Georgia, Anna, Tori, Cassie, and Jenny. Everyone but Anna, Caroline
and I play a sport here. I wonder if that’s the norm.

“
Hey, Charley, do you play
any sports?” asks Tori as she eats a bowl of ice cream. Ah, shit,
I’d really hoped I could avoid this part of my life.

“
I used to swim in high
school. I’ve swum competitively since fourth grade.”

“
That’s awesome! You
should really walk on our team. Georgia, Cassie and I all swim
here. We have the most awesome coach, too!”

“
I’ll think about it. I
just never really thought I was good enough to compete on a college
level. So, Anna and Jenny, what do y'all do on campus?”

Anna blurts out, “The only sport I’m
into is the male species. I’m always on the hunt.”

“
I play basketball,” says
Jenny.

We finish eating and walk back to
Kluft. We all go into our rooms. Jenny turns on the radio, and it
blares through the hallway. Crystal is back.

“
Did you eat supper? I
didn’t see you in the café.”

“
Lord, no, I just went and
fed my appetite in other ways,” she says laughingly.

I give her my
the hell are you talking about
look. Then it dawns on me. I can be so gullible
sometimes.

“
Ya know I met a few of
the basketball guys today during Orientation. Looks like they
already know where the fun will be. I’m going over to Irvin now to
meet up with Lucas. He said that if we wanted anything from the
store, they would get it for us.”

“
Thanks, but no thanks.
I’m not a big drinker. Thanks for asking, though.”

“
Well, I’m heading over
that way. I’ll see ya later.”

All I know is this is going to be
interesting. I can already tell my roommate prediction might be
somewhat right. I hope not.

I’m in my room when I get a text from
Cash. Shit.

Cash: Hope all ur dreams
come true. I’ll be

here if u need
me.

Me: Thanks, $. I just have
one question y now?

Cash: I was being stupid.
I’ve seen u through everything& I couldn’t let u leave w/out u
knowing how I felt about us.

Me: Really? U know that
there’s a place for only u in my heart, but I need to live a
little.

Cash: I know. Just don’t
find trouble. Promise me that.

Me: I won’t

Or at least I’m going to try not to
find trouble. The evening moves like it’s on fast forward. I’m
checking out the classes I have when Crystal bursts into the room
with about three guys. They are definitely not my type.

“
Hey, Charley, there’s a
party over at the Soccer House. Wanna go?”

I throw the schedule onto the desk.
“Sure why not. Give me five, and I’ll be ready to go.” It’s been a
pretty good day. Why not make it an unforgettable night? Let’s see
if I can stay away from trouble!

About the Author

Casey Peeler grew up and still lives
in North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion
is teaching students with special needs. Over the years, she found
her way to relax was in a good book.

After reading
Their Eyes Were Watching God
by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and
multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and
appreciation for reading.

Casey is an avid reader, blogger
(Hardcover Therapy,) and now author. Her goal is to one day be an
author who is recognized nationwide like Jamie McGuire, Colleen
Hoover, Tiffany King, and Amanda Bennett.

When Casey isn’t reading, you can find
her listening to country music, spending the day at the lake, being
a wife and dance mom, and spending time with friends and
family.

Her perfect day consists of water,
sand between her toes, a cold beverage, and a great
book!

No Turning Back on all
platforms!

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