It's a Match! (10 page)

Cole:
Hey is for horses.
 

Jenny:
Well, aren’t you clever.
 

Cole:
I tried calling your number, but it was disconnected. Maybe I had the wrong area code?

Jenny:
Lol. I heard they won’t give out that number with any area code because the person would get too many prank calls.
 

Cole:
I can imagine. So, how’s your night going?

 
Jenny:
Just doing some homework for my intro to sociology class. You?

Cole:
Just avoiding some astrology homework. You have beautiful eyes by the way.
 

Jenny:
Thank you *blushes*

Cole:
Where are you from?

Jenny:
Little town called Chesterfield. It’s only an hour or so away. Where are you from?

Cole:
San Francisco.

Jenny:
Where’s that?

Cole:
Seriously?

Jenny:
LOL. No. I don’t live under a rock!

Cole:
Hey, did you hear about that freshman bonfire tomorrow night?
 

Jenny:
Yeah. I was thinking of maybe stopping by for a bit.
 

Cole:
Maybe I’ll see you there then.
 

Jenny:
Would you maybe want to meet up before and we can go together? I’d love to get to know you better.
 

Cole:
I’d like that.
 

Jenny:
Well, let me give you my real number then ;)

Cole stood in front of the full-length mirror hanging on his closet, thinking about what it was going to be like dating again. It had been quite a while and he was worried he might be a bit rusty. Should he buy flowers? No, he couldn’t do that before a bonfire. Where was she supposed to put them, in her pocket? And what if Jenny wasn’t even thinking of this as a date? Maybe she just didn’t want to show up to the bonfire alone.
 

Cole wasn’t a huge fan of dating—he was more of a relationship guy—but it was time to rebrand. This was an exciting new time in his life and he knew he needed to embrace it. And he knew he needed to trust Sutton, even though she might be setting him up for failure, since he had set her up with Chad.

It wasn’t like he’d done it intentionally. He just knew that Sutton’s favorite thing about Aiden was how he made her laugh, and Chad’s cheesy puns had promise.
 

Hunter took a break from typing feverishly on his laptop and turned to Cole. “What are you up to tonight?”

“Going to the bonfire. Are you going?”

Hunter laughed. “Absolutely not. I have so much homework to do. Remind me never to pick Neuroscience as my major again. I thought I was prepared, but it’s harder than I thought it would be.”

“I wish football was a major.”

“Maybe you could petition for it to be one.”

“Yeah, that’ll be the day.”

“Are you going to the bonfire alone?”
 

“No. I have a date,” Cole replied. “Ish.”

“Ooh, fun! Where did you meet her?”

“Well….” Cole hesitated. He felt mildly embarrassed about this whole Matchbox swap arrangement, but what the hell. He was going to need someone to talk to about it. “Sutton and I decided we would take over each other’s Matchbox accounts to find each other dates.”

“Wow, really? That will be fun!”

“Yeah … that’s what she said. Honestly, I’m a little worried. But it
was
my idea, so I’m just going to need to trust her.”

“Well, have a good time. I’ll still be up when you come back, so you can tell me all about it. I’m definitely going to have to hear that story.” And with that, Hunter went back to working on his laptop.

“I should head out. I’ll see you later tonight. Don’t work too hard.”

“Ha. I’ll try my best.”

Cole put his wallet in his jeans pocket and headed to Jenny’s dorm, which was all the way across campus. His hands were shaking a bit as he approached her door, so he knocked, then placed his hands in his pockets.
 

The door opened to reveal a very beautiful Jenny. She had long black hair styled into a low side ponytail. Her eyes were an intoxicating shade of green. She had a crooked smile, which Cole found very unique and intriguing, and was wearing a worn pair of dark skinny jeans and a black tank top, which fit her figure perfectly.
Good job, Sutt
, he thought.

“Heyyyyyyyy,” she said, somewhat slurred. When she went in for a hug, he smelled alcohol on her. Was this girl drunk?

“Hey. You look really pretty.” Cole regretted the words as soon as they escaped his lips. Way to play it cool.
 

“Thanks! I just need a minute. Want to come in?”

“Sure.”

Cole followed Jenny into her room and stifled a gasp. The room looked like a tornado had eaten another tornado, then thrown it up. There were large piles of clothes on the floor, and dirty dishes and empty beer bottles everywhere. Cole was a bit of a neat freak sometimes (Sutton’s obsessive cleanliness had rubbed off on him), but he tried to contain his disgust.
 

Jenny motioned for Cole to sit on the bed and he stepped over a pile of clothes and warily sat down.
 

“So, how’s school going so far?” Jenny asked, rummaging through her closet.

“It’s good. Still haven’t decided on a major. How about you?”

“Business. I figure it’s a good degree to have to fall back on, no matter what I decide to do with my life,” Jenny responded, pulling out a pair of cream-colored flats.
 

“Yeah, you can’t go wrong with a business degree. I could never do it. I’m in Intro to Microeconomics right now and it’s just not my thing.”

“I haven’t started any of the required courses yet.” Jenny stumbled a bit as she put on her shoes. “Okay, ready.”

Cole stood up and once again stepped over the massive pile of clothes.
 

They small-talked as they walked to the bonfire. Cole learned that Jenny was an only child, a mommy’s girl, and loved sushi. Raw fish really wasn’t his thing, but he figured
to each their own
. Sutton hated how picky an eater Cole was. He was one of those strictly pizza-and-burger guys. He wasn’t adventurous, and it limited Sutton’s menu options during their dinner parties. She’d tried to get him to try sushi once and he’d practically turned green as he tried a piece of a California roll, which she said wasn’t even real sushi, but she thought would be a good beginner roll. She’d never tried to get him to eat anything remotely adventurous from that point on.
 

As they were almost to the bonfire, Jenny said, “Hold on,” and walked over to a bush. In utter terror, Cole saw her squat down at the bush and pee. They were literally one minute away from the bonfire, which surely had a set of bathrooms. He considered making a run for it, but he wasn’t one for giving up on a challenge.
 

Jenny laughed as she bounced back to Cole. “Sorry, that just had to happen.”

He simply nodded in response.

They walked up to the large crowd of people and Jenny led them straight to the extensive assortment of alcohol.
 

Cole was still at a loss for words as Jenny filled up two cups of beer and handed him one. He took a few sips as he looked around at the energetic swarm of freshmen.
 

A short peppy blonde bounced up and extended her hand. “Hi, guys! I’m Kelly, the one-woman freshman welcoming committee.”

Cole shook her hand as Jenny ignored her and walked away. He and Kelly talked for a couple of minutes about his classes and how he liked the dorms and the people he’d met so far. He told her about his first couple of football practices and how he really liked his frequently-studying roommate. Kelly was in her third year and a Political Science major.
 

Cole looked around, searching for Jenny, though a part of him was relieved she had departed.
 

Kelly smiled. “So, where did your date go?”

“It’s not really a date. I mean, I think it was supposed to be … but it wasn’t really going too well.”

“You know what they say, there are plenty of fish in the sea.”

“I can see that,” Cole replied, looking around at the many beautiful girls.
 

“My boyfriend and I met sophomore year, but I really enjoyed being single my freshman year. I highly suggest it, just to make sure you get the whole college experience. Are you joining any clubs or fraternities? My boyfriend is the president of Kappa Sigma.”

“Football takes up most of spare time.”

“Ah, that makes sense. I really enjoy watching the games here. Very exciting! It’s a great team,” Kelly replied warmly.
 

“I spend all of my time on the bench, but I’m just grateful to be a part of it.”

“I should get back to making my rounds. Have fun!”

“Thanks, Kelly. I’ll see you around.”

“Yes, you will!” Kelly exclaimed excitedly.
 

Kelly walked off and Cole once again began searching for drunk Jenny. He eventually found her standing near the fire, laughing and flirting with a group of at least ten guys.

She spotted Cole and rushed over to him. “Oh my god, Cole! Where have you been?”

“Around. Where have you been?”

“Just meeting people. Want to go grab another drink?”

“I’m actually not feeling that great,” Cole lied, planning his escape from the date from hell.
 

“Oh, okay. I can get somebody to walk me home! Feel better!”

Cole nodded and began the walk back to his dorms. As he walked into his room, he took his phone out of his pocket and texted Sutton:

Seriously? That was by far the worst date I’ve ever been on.

Karma.

You did that on purpose!

I really didn’t. She seemed nice. I’m sorry you didn’t have a good time. What happened? You’re home early.

She was drunk by the time I got her. And her room was a tragic mess. She ditched me as soon as we got there. What are you up to?

Working on a book.

A
book?
When did you start that? I thought you were more of a short story and poem girl.

I decided to try something new. But I don’t really know what I’m writing about.

A romantic book, no doubt.

Well, yes and no. It’s a book about a girl trying to get over a breakup.

Sounds vaguely familiar.

What can I say? I write what I know.

Have you talked to Chad at all?

Cheese guy? Absolutely not. I’m scared to see what you have for me next.

He seems like a guy you would like.

I’m pretty sure you said that about Chad.

This one will be much better.

Mmm hm. Well, I’m gonna get some sleep. Sorry Jenny was a tool.

Yeah, me too! Night Sutt.

Night C.

I LIKE LONG walks on the beach with my beautiful girlfriend, until the LSD wears off and I realize I’m just dragging a stolen mannequin around a Taco Bell parking lot.

Brandon:
How do you feel about LSD?

Sutton:
Not really into drugs….

Brandon:
Oh, I don’t mean the drug. I’m mean LSD as in Large Sultry Dogs.

Sutton:
I’m not even sure how to respond to that.

Brandon:
What? You don’t like dogs?

Sutton:
I’ve just never really thought of dogs as ‘sultry’.
 

Brandon:
Well, you obviously haven’t met my dog then, because Jefferson is quite the sultry Great Dane.
 

Sutton:
I bet he is.
 

Brandon:
He likes to sit on my lap. He thinks he’s small people.

Sutton:
Do you guys have story time?

Brandon:
He’s a fan of the classics. Jane Austen mostly.

Sutton:
I love Jane Austen.
 

Brandon:
Who doesn’t?

Sutton:
A sultry dog lover who reads Jane Austen to his Great Dane, huh?
 

Brandon:
That’s me in a nutshell. So … how do you feel about nuts?

Sutton:
Um … good protein.
 

Brandon:
This is true lol. So, what kind of trouble do you like to get into around here?

Sutton:
I’m a sweet girl. ‘Trouble’ isn’t in my vocabulary.
 

Brandon:
“I knew you were trouble when you walked in.”

Sutton:
T. Swift fan?

Brandon:
God, no. You?

Sutton:
I like a couple of her songs, but no, not really.
 

Brandon:
Good. We’ll get along just fine then. Hey, there’s a pool party this afternoon. Would you want to go?

Sutton:
Swimming? It’s freezing out!

Brandon:
My buddy has a heated indoor pool.

Sutton:
Nice. What time?

Brandon:
Maybe around 3 or 4?