The Freshman Tradition

CHAPTER 2

Eleanor's POV

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By the time Chemistry 101 ended, I was convinced college was trying to kill me. I stepped out of the lecture hall with my notebook pressed against my chest, staring blankly ahead as students poured through the doors around me. "Please tell me you understood that class." Amaya walked beside me, carrying her bag over one shoulder. I looked at her. She looked at me. Neither of us said anything. Then we burst out laughing.

"Absolutely not," she finally said. "Thank God." I laughed as we walked down the steps. "For a second, I thought I was the only one." "Nope. I stopped understanding after the professor said something about molecular structures." "I stopped understanding when he said good morning." Amaya laughed again. Our first few days of college had already been overwhelming. There was always somewhere to be, something to read, someone to meet, and another building to find. It was nothing like high school. Nobody was holding your hand. Nobody reminded you about assignments. Nobody cared if you were late.

You were responsible for yourself. And honestly? I loved it. I loved the freedom. I loved waking up knowing that nobody here knew my history. I could decide who Eleanor Bale was going to be. We were halfway across the courtyard when someone called out. "Hey!" Amaya and I both turned around. A group of girls were sitting on the grass near a large tree. One of them waved at us. "You two!" I looked behind me. "Are they talking to us?" Amaya laughed. "Unless there's another pair of gorgeous freshmen behind us." I nudged her. "Stop."

We walked toward them anyway. There were three girls. The blonde one smiled first. "I'm Madison." She pointed toward the girl beside her. "This is Chloe." "And I'm Tessa." "I'm Eleanor." "Amaya." "Nice to meet you." We sat with them, and somehow, what was supposed to be a quick introduction turned into nearly an hour of talking. They asked where we were from. What we were studying. Which classes we had. Whether we lived on campus. What high schools we'd attended. It felt strangely easy. Maybe because everyone was experiencing the same thing. We were all trying to figure out where we belonged.

"So, Eleanor," Madison said, turning toward me, "what made you choose Georgia State?" I shrugged. "I've always wanted to stay around Atlanta. And the program I wanted was here." "What are you studying?" "Finance." Chloe's eyebrows rose. "Finance?" "Yeah." "Okay, smart girl." I laughed. "Maybe." "She's definitely smart," Amaya said. "Straight-A student." I looked at her. "Do you have to announce that?" "Yes." The girls laughed. "And you?" Madison asked Amaya. "Marketing." Tessa smiled. "That makes sense." "Why?" "You have marketing energy." Amaya stared at her. "I don't know if that's a compliment." "It is." We all laughed.

For the first time since arriving at college, I felt like I was beginning to settle in. Then Madison suddenly glanced at her phone. "Oh!" "What?" Chloe asked. Madison looked at us. "Are you guys going tonight?" "Going where?" I asked. She looked genuinely shocked. "The freshman party." Amaya immediately leaned forward. "What freshman party?" Madison laughed. "The party tonight. At one of the fraternity houses near campus." I frowned. "We didn't hear about that." "That's because you've only been here for a few days." Chloe nodded. "It's basically tradition."

"What kind of tradition?" "The kind where every freshman is expected to show up." Tessa leaned closer. "No freshman wants to be known as the person who stayed in their dorm on the first big party." Amaya looked at me. I already knew what she was thinking. "No." "I didn't say anything." "You don't have to." She smiled. "We're going." I sighed. "Why?" "Because we're freshmen." "That's not an answer." "It is absolutely an answer." Madison laughed. "She's right. You should come."

Chloe pulled out her phone and showed us pictures from previous parties. Crowded rooms. Students dancing. People hanging around outside. Music. Lights. It looked chaotic. But somehow, exciting. "When does it start?" Amaya asked. "Probably around nine, but it'll really get busy later." "See you there." Amaya said it so confidently that I didn't even bother arguing. I looked at her. "You've already decided?" "Yes." "I hate you." "No, you don't." She smiled. I couldn't help laughing. Maybe she was right. I'd come to college for a fresh start. Maybe that meant actually living a little.

We exchanged numbers with the girls before leaving. As Amaya and I walked toward our next class, she immediately started talking about outfits. "What are you wearing?" "I don't know." "You need to look good." "For what?" "The party." "I thought you said we were going to make friends." "We can make friends and look good." I laughed. "You're impossible." "I know." She hooked her arm through mine. "Tonight is going to be fun."

I looked across the campus. Students were everywhere. The afternoon sun was beginning to soften, casting long shadows across the grass. Something about the whole day felt different. Maybe it was simply the excitement of being somewhere new. Maybe it was the feeling that my life had finally begun. I had no idea that within hours, I would meet someone who would completely change the way I understood that life. At the time, I thought the party was just another college experience. I thought I'd dance. Laugh. Meet people. Then go back to my dorm and wake up the next morning with a headache. I couldn't have been more wrong.