Day 1

“So you gonna be there tonight?”, asked the short brunette with allusive blue eyes and quite a figure.

“You should so come, it will be a blast, and who knows, first day tends to be a lucky day”, remarked her much larger, blonde, but also attractive friend.

“Why do you want me there so bad?”, I asked teasingly.

“Show up and you’ll see”, they both responded clearly seducing me as they made a few sexual gestures.

“We will see, okay?”

“Okay, hope to see you there.”

Well that was a definite first. Two girls of such attractiveness actually coming up to me, wanting to not only talk, but for me to come to a party with them. Party. What a terrifying word. Not once had I been to a party since my brothers 16 birthday party. And never had I been to one like this one was sure to be. Alcohol, drugs, sex. All sure to be there and all sure to be offered to me if I did decide to show up. Although none of that was at the top of my to do list. It still intrigued me. I had always consider trying them, and I guess I was willing to if the time came. Maybe I will go. Go and get a taste of what college has to offer outside of soccer and kinesiology.

The party began at nine, but I showed up around nine thirty for I thought getting there early was a bad idea. As I walked up to the house, I noticed how typical it was for a college house. Just like the ones you would see in all the movies about college. Wood, pretty beat up, not real big, but loaded with people and pointless decorations such as the budweiser “chandelier” hanging from the balcony.

Such as intimidating sight. My palms had already began to sweat and I hadn’t even made it through the front door. Nevertheless I continued in and was immediately relieved when I saw the Brunette from earlier. She seemed ecstatic to see me, giving me a huge hug and a drink. She grasped my hand and drug me into the kitchen where we were met by two familiar faces. Taking a second to remember them, I realized they were two of my soon to be teammates. Jack Hanson, and Chris Hall. Both seniors on the team.
“Hey hows it going bud?”, shouted Chris. He was scary tall. Like 6’6” or 6’7”, but filled in like a football player. His face was scruffy and his hair black and short. A typical jock look you could say.

“Not too shabby”, I responded quite quickly. “How about you?”

“Oh not too bad, ready for a good night thats for sure”.

He didn’t strike me as a partier, but within minutes, and within three or four beers, it became quite evident that when it came to partying, Chris didn’t mess around. Anyways, within that short amount of time, large pools of people had poured in. There had to be at least 150 people there by now. The music was louder, everyone talking, and I stood alone. Was it right to come I asked my self. Should I leave? Before I even had a chance to make a motion towards the door, she was back.

She didn’t seem to be one of those crazy party animals to my relief. Unlike most the other girls, she was still sober, and rather than wanting to take shots, she wanted to sit and talk. For sure not what I expected, but I was certainly more comfortable with this than body shots. I pulled her up a stool and we sat at the high top counter.

For a moment we just sat in silence, but she broke it when she said, “Thanks for coming. I’m glad you could make it”.

“Oh no need to thank me, I’m glad you invited me.”

“So why here?”, she asked. “Why NWU?”

“Soccer”, I answered with no hesitation.

“Ohhhh I see, you’re the new star from Michigan right?”

“Well I wouldn’t say star, but yea thats me.”

“I’ve heard tons about you, all good to say the least.”

“Well thats nice to hear.”

“Yea, Imma foot fairy as well. From Indiana, Bloomington area.”

“Very nice. I almost ended up going there, Indiana was my second choice.”

“Oh I see, nice school as well.”
She was saying how she was here mainly to play soccer, major in education, and become a teacher. She wasn’t real into the parties and what came with them but she would do what she had to do to fit in and stay hidden, that was the word she used. Never had I expected her to be so similar. It was as if we were related. Unknown brother and sister, in the same college, with relatively the same goals, and the same plan to achieve those goals.

Our deep conversation was cut short by the loud crack of a glass on the floor. Her friend had entered the room and was clearly drunk. “Woahhh look at you two hitting it off already”, she screamed. 

Not even acknowledging her, the Brunette asked me if I would like to walk her back to her dorm hall. “I’m not real into the whole party scene, and Kelly is way too obnoxious when she is drunk”.

“Of course”, I replied.

Walking along the smooth sidewalk which ran along the beach was nice and pleasent. The sight of the black lake made the silence less awkward, as we both just peered out over the water. Finally I built up the courage to ask her her name.

“Christine, Christine Waters”.

Never had the sound of someone telling me their name been so nice to hear. It made me feel at ease, less stressful about my future. She looked at me and smiled, and then asked my name.

“Jason”, I replied still smiling.

“I like that name”.

“Yea it was my moms dream to have a boy and name him Jason. Not sure why but thats what she told me.”

“Well you’re mom did a great job picking her dreams.”

I smiled once again and she smiled back. For the short remainder of the walk we were silent. Both just admiring our surroundings, and the one we had the pleasure of sharing them with. Once we reached Western Hall, she stopped, looking up at me.

She spoke in such a sweet and humble voice. One I hadn’t heard all night. “Thanks for walking me back. It’s nice to share the scenery with somebody.”

“Anytime.”

She smiled, and in that same soft voice whispered, “goodnight”.

“Goodnight”, I responded matching her tone.

And with that we both turned and went our separate ways.  I hadn’t made it more than fifty feet when I heard my name. Turning around I saw her beautiful figure standing there, as she cried out, “I’ll see ya around.”

And with that I knew I was safe. Nothing to worry about. For I had somebody who was in the same state of mind. Somebody who knew what it was like to be me, and somebody I could turn to if I needed to talk, or get some direction. Somebody I could enjoy seeing everyday.

I repeated what she had said and waved goodbye. Turning around with a great feeling of satisfaction. My first day at college was over, and I was very happy to say that I couldn’t wait for the next.