“Who’s our new friend here?” Abby questioned, drawing everyone’s attention. Brittany and Celine smiled at the new girl before introducing her as Adelaide Fischer. She’d joined the school last week and just arrived today morning to get settled in. Hera instantly liked her smile and friendly approach. It seemed natural to make friends with her. 

“You are too pretty, Adelaide,” Abby said, complimenting her and Hera agreed. “Pretty name as well, Adelaide,” Hera said, and the new girl giggled at their compliments. “Thanks. It’s a French name. You can call me Adi, and I’m one of your roommates by the way,” she said, offering a handshake. 

“Yeah, right. French bitches are pretty,” Brittany said and pulled a face as if she couldn’t digest the fact. Adelaide giggled some more at her funny face, not at all offended by her words.. Instead, she returned their compliments with her own. “You bitches are gorgeous too, and I love your accent. You all sound so sexy. I’m a sucker for a British accent, and it’s the sexiest one in the whole world,” Adelaide said, winking and all of them grinned together. 

“You know, Adi, actually it’s all about perception. It inherently sounds sexy when someone talks in your native tongue, but in a slightly different way than you would talk. So we find it cute, different, more attractive. That’s why it’s interpreted as exotic. So it’s not only British accent, but also all other foreign accents are sexy because they sound so much different from each other. And, I love your French accent, it sounds so attractive,” Hera went on and on continuously talking. 

Abby jabbed her finger into Hera’s side, interrupting her. “What?” Irritated, Hera snapped, and her cousin glared in return. “Enough, Hera. You made your point, and I’m sure Adi understood. We’re not having a debate here, so shut up now,” Abby said, and Adelaide nodded in agreement. Hera looked sheepishly at Adelaide while everyone laughed at her. 

Scowling, Hera pushed Abby, making her fall back into the bed abruptly and grinned when her cousin lost her balance and fell off the bed. 

“Anyways, to summarize my point of view, all accents sound sexy to me,” Hera concluded her point and smiled at Adelaide. It didn’t take much time for the new girl to be one among their group as they all got along comfortably. Abby left a few minutes later to explore her own room located four rooms away from Hera’s. 

“So what are you wearing for the party?” Brittany asked, and Hera glanced over her shoulder before turning around to face Brittany from the half-shut door of the wardrobe. She almost was done by arranging her clothes. “What party?” Hera asked, making her friends grin evilly at her. Hera’s senses alerted in caution. 

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know that your man is throwing a party in your honour to welcome you. Or had we just ruined his surprise for you?” Brittany asked in shock, which turned into horror in no time. Celine’s face held the same expression. “Oh, shit, he’s going to kill us, Hera. Please act surprised at the party, okay?” Celine begged, afraid as if someone had a gun pointed at her temple. 

Hera scoffed. “He’s not my man, and there’s no party as such,” she said, dismissing the topic. Something clicked, and Hera ruffled her brain cells to run back to trace the memory of her conversation with Evelyn. She did mention something about a celebration. 

‘Of course. How did I forget? Evie said they were hosting a party for me!’ 

Hera banged her forehead against the wardrobe and groaned. She never thought Evelyn could be serious about the party. 

“Are you sure there’s a party for real? Because it’s Friday today, not Saturday,” Hera asked, sounding hopeful. “Of course, Genius, it’s Friday today. The party is tomorrow night, and our President wants everyone to attend it. If you need more solid proof, then I assure you that Brittany and I heard about it from none other than Queen Bianca. And everyone from High School is invited,” Celine said with a wink. 

She sounded too excited for Hera’s annoyance. “And you are going as well?” Hera asked in disbelief, earning an eye-roll from her friend. 

“It’s not that you can turn down the invitation from the Queen herself. Of course, we are going. Then why do you think our guys stayed back?” Celine asked, and Hera didn’t know how to react to the newly gathered information. She was frustrated. She slumped against the wardrobe and dropped her butt on the floor in a huff. 

Brittany called her name. When Hera looked at her friends, both Celine and Brittany tugged her to her feet and hugged her assuring that it would be alright. Hera sighed, nodding her head. Adelaide cleared her throat, interrupting their moment. “Am I invited as well? I hope you’re not planning on leaving me alone here,” Adelaide said, looking at all three of them. 

‘What say do I have in it?’ 

Hera wanted to laugh at the irony. If only Adelaide knew the truth. 

Hera pushed the half-unpacked luggage bag deep into the wardrobe, not bothering about the remaining clothes. She’s not in a mood to deal with unpacking anymore. 

Celine replied to Adelaide’s question when Hera Didn’t say anything. “Adi, of course, you can come. Didn’t you hear what we said earlier? Queen Bee herself said everyone’s invited. We all are going. Besides, who would want to miss the party when the campus heartthrob is the host?” They all laughed, and Hera pouted, looking at them with her doe-like large green orbs. “And here I thought that my friends stayed back because they missed me!” Hera said, faking disappointment. 

“You wish,” Brittany and Celine said simultaneously. “Ah, sorry to burst your bubble honey,” Celine added grinning at Hera. 

Hera glared at her friends, mocking anger. She looked up at the ceiling, folded her hands, fingers intertwined as she said, “Thank you, God. What best friends I’ve got! What would I do without them?” 

Her sarcasm made her friends scowl while Hera laughed.