Page 5 of Unwritten Rules

Stomping along ahead of us, Kelly found where her English class would be. We had one class together since she hadn’t officially declared her major, making her options for classes more open than mine. My classes were based around the core credits for a bachelor’s in Exercise Science.

I was taking a physical education class–explorative exercise. We would be taken through a host of movement types. There would be dancing, skating, swimming, tennis, and any other activity that fit the scope of the class.

The sports science building was jaw dropping. There was a lab dedicated to metabolic research and testing. The pod–where one could get the most accurate body fat data was at the top of the list to check out. Ever since the pod came out, underwater submersion data was tossed to the side.

Unsure of where I wanted to go with my degree, I picked it because it was the topic that interested me the most at the time. I’d spent a lot of my life choosing sports for hobbies, and my mother encouraged me to follow my heart in all things. Remembering the times we had, my heart ached at the thought of her not being able to share in this next era of my life.

Whatever you choose to do, follow your heart and you’ll know the path is right.

“Now that we’ve explored,” I started, pulling myself out of my thoughts, “we should get off campus and do self-care in the form of shopping.”

Kelly looked far too happy to go check out new shit to buy. “Walk or car? Or board?” She winked at Garrett.

“Seems like a good day to walk before the weather starts cooling off too much,” he nudged me, pulling my hand into his.

A twenty-minute walk from the most southern part of campus, the shopping center of Willow Bay looked like something out of a movie. Over the summer, they expanded the center into even more territory, and looked like more and more shops would be open soon.

There was major money in one spot, why wouldn’t they expand?

It also wasn’t just a shopping center. It was a place to showandflaunt wealth.

That, and grabreallygood food.

Walking into the grand entrance, we were enveloped in the atmosphere of crisp, green money and heavy metal credit cards. The marble floors glistened with warm light radiating from the crystal chandeliers. Light music played overhead as we walked through with the occasional light chatter of patrons or clinks of glasses in a nearby cafe.

The centerpiece of the complex was a large water display. It was as if someone teleported the world’s most ambient waterfall indoors–water fell from the ceiling, cascading down a rock formation. The light sound of water rushing coupled with the elite looking clientele completed the luxury vibe. I felt like I didn’t belong here, but my bank account said otherwise.

“You sure you want to be dragged into all this?” I looked to Garrett.

He asked me out on occasional dates and showed interest, but we never made anything official. I was gob smacked when a football player askedmeout while we were on campus prepping our schedules before part of the campus closed over summer break.

We passed by after football practice had ended and he ran up to me, asking me out for coffee and my phone number. His brown curly hair was dripping sweat, his lightly tanned face had black stains all over, and he looked a mess. His brown eyes were full of excitement as he handed me his phone. Nonetheless, I agreed to a date. Then another. And a few more after that.

But, we weren’t official. We hadn’t even slept together.

“What?” He had a coy smile on his face. “And miss watching you trying on clothes?”

“Ew,” Kelly faked a gag. “I need some coffee first.”

In the cafe, she ordered some blended version of coffee that said more ‘coffee flavored milkshake’ than coffee. I ordered my standard iced americano with a packet of sucralose. Garrett copied my order.

“So, I was thinking...” Kelly trailed off.

“Oh no,” I said.

“Oh yes. You need new clothes, and Garrett can be the judge of how hot you look–after my opinion of course. Sophomore year is going to look great on you.”

Garrett looked at me excitedly, giving me a naughty smirk at the thought of me out of my clothes.

Nope, not going there. I don’t sleep around like that. Especially if I’m not an official girlfriend.

I sighed. “What are these new clothes even for?”

She grinned, a diabolical look in her eyes. “Parties andparties.”

“What about rushing?”

She clicked her tongue at me. “I don’t want to rush. Can we hold off on that?”

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