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“The plan is all coming together!” she says excitedly.

My eyes widen in panic, and I shake my head slightly to let Jeannette know not to say any more.

I, of course, have not told my parents about the plan. In fact, I haven’t told anyone, other than Jeannette, and that was only in a moment of weakness when she was saying how as roommates, she hoped we could be open and honest with each other and then asked me what I wanted out of my first year in college.

Before I could make an excuse to get off the call before getting too deep with each other, she went first.

“In my first year of college, I want to make my family proud and show them what we’re all capable of. And”—she looked directly into the screen, directly into my soul—“to build tight, meaningful friendships that will last my whole life.”

I was overwhelmed.

I was touched.

I was put under the fairy’s spell.

I spilled it all.

So here it is—my plan is simple: For my first year in college, I want to fall in love.

Well, more specifically, to fall in love and be fallen in love with. A boyfriend. A relationship. A Happily Ever After.

And I’m using romance book tropes to do it.

No more being dateless at big events. No more having my credibility questioned in the comments. No more reason to worry if I’m not fit to be a brand ambassador for a dating app.

I’m ready for it... for love. To have someone pick me over anyone else. To find me the most interesting, to love me so much he can’t live without me. I’m ready to be pushed against a wall and have lips swollen from kissing.

I’m ready to be the main character of my life’s story.

And I’m going to use all my favorite romance tropes as my guide to selecting who to pursue. It’s the framework I understand. One I can work within. I know how tropes work and how I should work within them.

And after plenty of scouring on Pinterest, along with some fashion advice from Jeannette, I found the look I need to fit my role as a young romance heroine. My future love interest may not know what’s coming, but when I arrive, I’ll make sure he takes notice.

I have a new look-at-me hairstyle, a new styled-to-fit-all-my-curves wardrobe, and, most important, a new unwavering determination to find him. The one. And when I do...

My entire body flushes at the thought, right here in my dorm with my parents, my new roommate, and my new roommate’s dad.

Great.

“We were about to go look around campus,” I say quickly to change the subject.

“Oh, cool, we’ll come with you,” she suggests.

The parentals all exchange introductions and pleasantries and Jeannette throws an arm around my shoulder as we walk out into the bright afternoon sun. Everything looks so green, so peaceful, so quiet.

I can hear every anxious thought in my head so clearly.

“None of those fancy eyesores with modern glass and steel found here at Brighton,” Dad brags. We all nod and let him lead the way, the five of us off to explore Jeannette’s and my home for the next four years. My dream school, where I will study for my dream career...

... and where I’ll fall in love with my dream man.

The lecture hall is packed with young, enthusiastic, slightly terrified faces. Still, the total number of new freshmen at orientation is less than half of my high school graduating class. I’m worried that I’ll actually get to know every single person’s name, and they, in turn, will somehow know all my business.

Jeannette’s knee bounces next to me. “Look at everyone. I can’t believe this is who we’re going to be living and studying and growing into adulthood with.”

I reach over and place my hand on her knee. “You’re making me more nervous than I already am,” I say.

“Sorry. If you haven’t noticed yet, whatever you feel, I’m likely feeling it ten times more intensely. I’m an empath.”