3

This mixer was scheduled for Sunday night at seven in our hallway. Our floor was mostly freshmen and sophomores with a few juniors sprinkled in. Dakarya ordered pizza for us, and the smell of pepperoni and cheese filled the hall.

I opened my door and was bombarded with the sounds of laughter, chatter, and doors opening and closing.

Everly sat between Sabrina and me and gave me a warning look, telling me to behave. Sabrina's platinum blonde hair was pulled into an elegant French braid falling over one shoulder. She narrowed her brown eyes at me behind Everly's back. I smiled back. If Everly wanted me to get along with her, I was certainly going to try.

We went around the circle introducing ourselves and announcing where we were from and what our majors and career plans were. I was a Communications major, but was still trying to figure out what career I wanted to pursue. Everly was into photography, and Sabrina wanted to be a marine biologist.

"Ugh, this is boring," Sabrina muttered halfway through introductions.

Everly shushed her and elbowed her in the ribs. "Some of these girls have never been away from home. Remember how much this helped you last year? After introductions you can go back in the room. I want to make new friends."

Sabrina scowled at Everly but didn't say anything else. Connecticut was a long way from school, and I was surprised that Sabrina wasn't more interested in helping girls from out of state make new friends.

A petite freshman girl I recognized from the room next to Everly's came rushing into the hall, flustered and breathless wearing a tank top and short shorts.

"Sorry, I lost track of time." She avoided eye contact with everyone and rushed to sit down in the empty spot next to me.

"I'm Lexi," I whispered to her.

"Luisa," she sent me a small smile.

Her brown hair was damp and smelled faintly of chlorine, so I guessed that she'd been swimming.

We ended the mixer with Dakarya taking a picture of each of us holding a mock mugshot identification card saying "What I'm in For". We each wrote down our major and made a goofy face.

I stuck around to help Darkarya clean up.

"You and Everly seem close," she said, putting cups and plates into the trash bag I held open for her.

"We've been best friends since kindergarten. I'm glad we aren't graduating anytime soon. I don't know what I would do if she wasn't close by."

"You're both from Blue Haven, right? Were you set on NFSU after high school?"

I nodded. Blue Haven was a town fifteen minutes from November Falls. We'd both decided that November Falls State University was close enough that we could go home anytime we wanted, but far enough away that we could have a little independence.

"NFSU is perfect for us. What about you?"

She shrugged. "I'm a Falls girl. I've lived here my entire life. I'm still trying to figure out where I want to go to pharmacy school after graduation."

"You and my sister," I shook my head. "Way too much science and math for me."

She laughed and took the trash bag from me. "Thanks for your help, Lexi. I hope you have a good semester."

I smiled. "You too."

I went back into my room and sent a message to Sierra.

Me: Call me when you get a chance so we can catch up

I busied myself getting things ready for Monday classes.

Like I knew she would, Sierra called me almost immediately. I quickly filled her in on the mixer and what my classes were going to be.

"Tomorrow is probably just going to be a typical syllabus day. I have Chemistry and Twentieth Century Fiction. The only book I don't have is a collection by Shirley Jackson."

"Oh, are you going to read The Lottery?"

"Mhm," I confirmed, leafing through my syllabus, putting my phone on speaker. "Have you read it?"

"In high school. You didn't?"

I shook my head as if Sierra could see me, laying down on my bed and propping my feet up against the wall, setting the phone down next to my head.

"No, I haven't read it. How are classes going for you?" I asked.

"Busy. Stressful. Senioritis is going to kick in early."

Sierra was in her senior year of studying Biomedical Engineering at the Lavender Springs School of Medicine and Engineering. Lavender Springs was the town between November Falls and Blue Haven. Sierra often went home on the weekends. It was nice having my sister close but far enough away that we were able to have our own college experiences.

"Oh, no, I haven't read it. Is it good?"

"It wasn't my favorite, but I didn't hate it. It honestly scared me a little."

"Can't wait," I muttered, going to my desk and pulling My Antonia out of my desk drawer and setting it on top of my desk. "I was trying to get a head start on My Antonia yesterday and may or may not have forgotten to open it."

"Oops," she laughed, "I guess you better start."

She tried – and failed – to stifle a yawn.

"Sierra, go to bed."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going. It's going to be a long school year."

"It sure is. I love you."

"I love you too, Lex."