Page 6 of Running Play (Gods of Campus #1)

Shelby

“Are you excited, Shelby? Your very first frat party. I am!” Letti makes her way to our closet. “I’m also excited to combine our clothes and see what we can come up with.”

Excitement is an understatement. It’s tradition for the Delta House to throw the first party of the fall semester, and tonight’s welcome party is open to the entire student body.

It’s Friday night and I’m ready to party with all my new friends, it’s also my first week since my anxiety medication was reduced.

It’s been a long process, but with the help of my family, the university, and my doctors back home, we have been progressing.

I see my psychiatrist once every two weeks via Skype, and even she has seen the positive changes I’ve had due to the move.

“You’re going to love it,” Letti continues, bringing me back to the present. “These parties are so much fun; granted, I only went to one with Travis last year. Oh, and wait til you see the Halloween street party this place celebrates. It’s huge.”

I watch her excitedly flick through our neatly hung clothes.

We have a divider down the middle of our closet, but that became obsolete pretty much the first week.

She pops her hip as she studies her options.

“I’m thinking my cute beige skirt and maybe this,” she says, holding a sparkling black sequined strappy top.

We both examine her choice as she holds the top above the skirt.

“Hot! And my black ankle boots will look good with that,” I say, pointing toward my shoes in the bottom of the closet.

“Oh, I love these boots; let’s see if they fit,” she says, laying the outfit down on the bed and reaching for the shoes.

I stand as I watch Letti try on my boots, loving how comfortable we are with each other.

Like sisters, we can talk openly and share clothes easily.

Actually…probably easier thinking back to the many fights I had with my actual sister Kacey over the unauthorized borrowing of clothes.

“Drink?” I ask, opening the fridge as my anticipation for tonight starts to build. Letti walks around the room assessing the shoes in our full-length mirror. “Yes, please. Wow, these fit perfectly.”

“They look great.”

I reach for the vodka and lemonade; thankful we have Travis’s mates to buy our alcohol. I quickly had to come to terms with no longer being legally old enough, unlike back home. I mix the drinks and add the ice, then hold out the cup to Letti as she examines the outfit with the boots.

“Very cute.”

“Sexy,” I agree as she places the outfit back on the bed and accepts the drink.

“Cheers!” We toast, bringing our glasses together with a clink. I watch her and still smile as the bubbles pass my lips.

“Yum, that’s so good,” Letti says, savoring the taste. You can almost see all the worry from this week’s classes slip away. “Okay, so what are you thinking of wearing?”

I smile and take another sip, then place my drink on my desk and walk over to our combined closet. “I’m thinking these black leather shorts of yours with, hmmm,” I pause as I flick through my options. “Maybe this silk cami?”

Letti nods her head while taking a sip. “That blue looks great against your skin tone,” she says as I hold the shirt against my chest.

I smile at Letti in the reflection and point. “And thinking those black strappy heels.”

“Perfect. Hair?”

“I’m thinking high ponytail.” Grabbing my hair, I hold it high on my head. “You?”

“Out, loose curls.”

“Love it,” I nod.

“Well, I need a shower, and I definitely need to shave my legs if I’m wearing that skirt,” she says, pointing toward the outfit neatly laid out on her bed. She reaches for her glass, and I watch Letti down the last of her drink.

I grasp my cup and look down toward my legs and frown. “Yeah, me too.”

** *

We down our second drink waiting in line for a shower because apparently every other female on the floor also needs to shave their legs.

After we head back to our room, we make drink three and I feel hopeful that I may get to see Christian tonight.

Until now I haven’t let the thought enter my mind, but the more alcohol that pumps around my body, the less control I have over those thoughts.

“I texted Travis letting him know that we will just meet him there. He is going to head over with some of his teammates soon,” Letti says as she sips at her drink.

I watch her set her drink down and start brushing out the curls framing her face. I pop my lips in the mirror, admiring the clear gloss I’ve just applied. I went for dark, smokey eyes, so I kept my lips natural.

“Sounds good, I’m kinda nervous about it all.”

Letti takes another sip and smiles. “You’ll be fine. It’s Travis I’m worried about. He told us to wear black track pants and a black hoodie, no makeup!” Her eyes rake down my body from the reflection in the mirror. “But look at us, poor Travis.” She laughs.

I look back at myself in the mirror and I’m happy with what I see.

Letti’s shorts fit perfectly, and the blue cami really does look great against my skin.

I flick my eyes to Letti in the mirror, so grateful for our friendship and wondering what I would be doing tonight if she wasn’t my roommate.

Hell, maybe I wouldn’t have any friends and would be spending the night in bed with a binge series.

Letti is looking gorgeous, her tanned skin is a few shades darker than mine, her brown eyes are deep like chocolate, full lips, and silky brown hair completes her many wow factors.

Letti’s gone the opposite makeup to mine—more natural eyes, but bright, ruby-woo red lip.

We both look incredible, if I do say so myself.

I realize that I’m using this party as one more distraction as I take the next step in putting my past behind me. Apparently, there will be a large group of people to hang out with at the party, which is comforting. The more people surrounding me, the safer I feel.