College confidential

After class, Sarah called us to come to the house. When we arrived, she emerged from the bathroom wearing a bathrobe. "So, what's the surprise?" Mia asked, plopping down on Sarah's bed, with me sitting next to her. Sarah grinned mischievously. "I have a date," she said excitedly. "Oh, so you took Zoey's advice after all," Mia pointed out. "So, who is this guy? Is he a fresher too?" Mia asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Sarah didn't respond immediately, instead taking her time to apply body cream to her skin, making sure to cover every inch. The longer she took to answer, the more my stomach churned, threatening to expel the last thing I had eaten - a cup of coffee from earlier that day. "No, he's a sophomore," Sarah finally replied. Mia's eyebrows shot up, and I could sense her alarm. We had discussed Chris before, and she knew he was a sophomore.

"It's JK," Mia exclaimed, her voice laced with concern. My stomach dropped, and my head began to spin. I clutched my bag tightly, willing myself not to throw up. But it was too late. I rushed to the bathroom sink, my empty stomach heaving. Mia and Sarah followed close behind, speaking words of comfort, but I couldn't hear them. I was too caught up in my own thoughts.

As I gazed into the mirror, I barely recognized the person staring back at me. My brown eyes, brown skin, and curly brown hair seemed to belong to someone else. I had lost so much weight, it was jarring to see myself. Losing weight had been a good thing, but it didn't bring me the satisfaction I thought it would. Only I knew the real reason I had shed the pounds - to mock Chris. Mia and Sarah thought I had feelings for him, but they were wrong. I felt hate, so much hate that I couldn't even begin to explain it. His actions had been a betrayal, and I couldn't forgive him for it.

"Zoey, are you okay?" Mia and Sarah called out, breaking into my thoughts. I quickly rinsed my mouth with tap water before responding. "I'm fine, I just haven't eaten anything yet, and it's making me dizzy," I said, using the first excuse that came to mind. I faced their worried gazes, forcing a small smile. "I'm good, you guys. Don't worry about me."

Sarah's expression turned concerned. "God, Zoey, I really can't get used to your new lifestyle of not eating well. You know how I hate it when people around me are hungry. Why don't I get ready quickly, and we can grab lunch together with JK?" I was taken aback. "What? No! I thought you two were going on a date?" I protested. Sarah waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, we are, but the date can continue after lunch. We need to get you fed first, and I don't trust Mia to make sure you eat well, not while she's busy stuffing her face with food." Mia rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

As Sarah headed back into her room to get ready, Mia turned to me. "Don't panic, Zoey. This could be the perfect chance to get your mind at ease. Let's just freshen up, get ready, and go support our girl." I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. "You're right," I agreed.

As we prepared to leave, I couldn't help but notice how beautiful we all looked. Sarah was a stunning blonde, her blue eyes matching the blue mid-thigh dress she wore. Her accessories sparkled like diamonds. Mia, on the other hand, was a black-haired beauty with midnight-colored eyes. She was tall and slender, with curves in all the right places. Her provocative makeup gave her a bold look that matched her personality.

I had decided to go for a bold and provocative look as well, especially since we might be meeting Chris. My curly brown hair was straightened, reaching the middle of my back. I wore a body-hugging black gown that accentuated my figure. We all looked beautiful, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of confidence.

As we headed out, I exclaimed, "Wow, Mia, you did an amazing job with my makeup. I can hardly recognize myself!" Mia smiled smugly. "I mean, I try." With our makeup and outfits in place, we were ready to face whatever the day had in store for us.

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As we walked out of the house, I couldn't shake off the feeling of nervousness that had been building up inside me. We were about to meet Chris, or at least, I thought we were. Sarah, on the other hand, seemed completely carefree, chatting away with Mia and laughing as if she didn't have a care in the world. I, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves, my mind racing with thoughts of what could happen when we met Chris.

As we entered the restaurant, I scanned the room, hoping not to see Chris. But he was nowhere to be found, and I felt a temporary sense of relief. "JK said he'll be running late, so let's just find a table and settle down," Sarah said, breaking into my thoughts. My nerves spiked again at the mention of his name, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

Mia spoke up, "A guy shouldn't keep a lady waiting, though. He knows you're bringing friends, right?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Sarah waved her hand dismissively, "Cool your horses, Mia. He's a busy guy, and yes, he's aware that you guys are coming with me."

We found an empty table and sat down, and Sarah immediately ordered food for Mia and me, saying she would wait for her date to arrive before eating. Mia dug in with gusto, but I couldn't even bring myself to touch my food. My stomach was churning with anxiety, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off.

Fifteen minutes into our meal, Sarah suddenly exclaimed, "He's here!" I lifted my head, and my eyes met the gaze of a young man wearing an expensive-looking leather jacket. His curly long hair was packed into a ponytail, making his chiseled jawline stand out, and he was wearing black glasses that added to his sleek, sophisticated look. But what really caught my attention was the fact that I could recognize his body from a mile away. I had spent months glancing at the gym gate, waiting for him to arrive at that time and now, here he was, standing in front of me.

He stopped in his tracks and slowly removed his shades, and our eyes locked. Sarah had already stood up, ready to greet him, but he didn't seem to notice her. His eyes were fixed on mine, and I could feel the tension between us building up. 'Chris,' my brain whispered, and I felt my heart skip a beat. It was really him.