Page 28 of Frat Row

Fear shoots through me when I notice her side of the bed is empty.

Confused, I sit up and turn on my lamp. I mentally replay the events that happened last night and recall that we went to bed together, happy, wrapped up in each other’s arms. I glance over at her side of the bed and the wall where she put her bag and shoes the night before, but none of it is there.

I clumsily push things over on the nightstand, looking for any sign of her and that she was here, and I didn’t just dream the whole thing.

Did this girl seriously up and leave in the middle of the night? She didn’t even have her car.

There is no way she would risk walking down Greek Row in the middle of the night, actually taking the chance of running into some drunk frat guys. She’s smarter than that.

I already figured out she had commitment issues, but after we established our relationship last night, this is pretty out of touch, even for someone like her.

I reach over for my phone that sits on the charger next to my lamp and see a text message from her.

Cassidy: I have a math exam today that I have to study for. Catch up later?

I quickly respond.

Me: No problem

I see the three dots waiting for her response, but it doesn’t come. My heart sinks into my stomach.

Cassidy never mentioned having any academic struggles. I don’t know why she would need to study at all for the exam or need that much preparation.

Shrugging my shoulders, I change for the gym and throw my sneakers on.

Deciding not to get coffee at my regular spot, I head down to the kitchen to grab a coffee.

The chefs usually get here early and have the coffee and to-go cups ready.

On my way out of the fraternity house, I stop by the charging station, which has laptops, headphones, and extra phones, and snag a pair of the new Sony noise-canceling headphones for the gym.

I sync them to my phone, and my favorite Spotify playlist starts as I walk out the door.

Still having a weird feeling about Cassidy, I make a mental note to catch up with her later, but right now, I need to focus on my day, which is set up to be a very long one.