Alyssa shook those thoughts away and focused on how much she didn’t like pairing up with partners or groups. It was always so awkward, and she hardly ever had friends in her classes that she could choose. She was always left out.

“Hey! You! Let’s group up,” a girl’s voice suddenly sounded from Alyssa’s left.

Alyssa turned to see a girl with short, purple-tinted hair skipping down a few seats to sit next to her.

“Oh, sure,” Alyssa replied, feeling relieved that she didn’t have to awkwardly look around for a partner until someone took pity on her.

“I’m Zoe,” the girl introduced herself. She wore a plaid black and grey skirt with a fitted white top. Black combat boots and white tights adorned her feet and legs. She owned her look with a confidence that Alyssa would die for.

She really only wore skinny jeans and T-shirts. Fashion wasn’t something she was completely familiar with, and she was afraid to experiment and look weird. She really liked Zoe’s style.

“Alyssa,” she replied with a polite smile. “I like your outfit.”

Zoe brightened up at that and grabbed the ends of her skirt to flare it out more.

“Thanks! My parents would have a heart attack if they saw me wearing this,” she laughed out.

Alyssa cracked an amused smile, knowing exactly where Zoe was coming from. Her own parents were strict about things that didn’t even matter. When she did need them to care about something, they hardly showed any interest.

“So would mine. They don’t know anything about modern style. I mean, neither do I, though,” Alyssa admitted.

Zoe’s brown eyes drifted over Alyssa’s figure for a few moments.

“You would rock this black skater dress I have,” she replied.

Alyssa couldn’t remember the last time she wore a dress. Maybe it was high school graduation under her gown, but it was some thrifted white dress that her mom made her wear.

“I need to go shopping,” Alyssa said. It had been a while since she treated herself, but she needed to find a job first. She only had so much left over from her summer job.

“We should go sometime,” Zoe offered with a friendly smile.

Alyssa blinked in surprise as she gazed in Zoe. She just met this girl and Zoe already wanted to hang out outside of class? How did she have the confidence to just ask that? Alyssa couldn’t help but admire her even more for that.

“I’d really like that,” Alyssa said with a nod. Maybe this year wouldn’t be that bad after all. Her eyes then strayed to the boy when she heard his voice. It was deep and smooth, like a rolling wave.

“Do you know Elias?” Zoe asked her.

Alyssa turned to give Zoe a confused look.

“Who?” she replied.

Zoe nodded to the boy.

“Elias. You were looking at him like you know him.”

Alyssa shook her head as she awkwardly pushed a strand of her red hair away from her face. She hadn’t meant to stare like that. Her curiosity got the best of her once again. This guy was making her not trust herself.

“I just saw him in the cafeteria the other day,” she replied. “Do you know him?”

“I had him in my English 101 class last year,” Zoe explained.

“Is he a sophomore too?” Alyssa asked. He looked like he was a little older.

Zoe shook her head.

“He started a year later than everyone else. I think he said something about dealing with family,” Zoe replied.

Alyssa wondered if he had family issues too. That could be a rich talking point for them.

“He seems… cool,” she said. She didn’t even know how to describe him. He just seemed like himself, even if she didn’t know him. It was strange.

Zoe cracked a smile and nodded.

“You should get to know him,” Zoe replied. “I can introduce you.”

Alyssa immediately shook her head. There would be an awkward moment when they both thought about the other day in the cafeteria, and she didn’t want to add onto that awkwardness.

If they were destined to get to know each other, they’d find themselves together again. She was leaving that up to the universe so that she didn’t go out of her way to embarrass herself again.

“It’s fine,” she assured Zoe. “I’m guessing no one is actually talking about what we’re supposed to.”

A laugh rang out from Zoe.

“I think we’re all treating this like a break,” she replied.

Alyssa didn’t mind that. She was still reeling from the fact that Elias was in her class. She would have to see him every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for the rest of the semester. The thought of that excited her, but it made her nervous too.