Chapter Two:
"I am not letting you leave our dorm room like that," Cassandra yells to me for the tenth time tonight.
My lips turn into a pout as she begins to rummaging through my closet. "What's wrong with this outfit? You're making me think I have terrible style."
"LJ, you do not have terrible style. You're everyday style, from what I can see, is fabulous but this is our first college mixer. You got to come out swinging," she replies before trailing off again, "look, I know what it's like to feel invisible in high school. This is our chance to do it all over again. So what do you say we stick together? You might actually have fun."
Cass had a good point. This was my chance to start over and be less invisible; I could get more involved and meet new people. At least that's what Margot said.
Margot told me that meeting new people and getting involved is what really helped her deal with homesickness. The more time she stayed busy, the less time she thought about coming home and the less time she thought about her breakup with Josh, even though she would never admit that to me. I couldn't even imagine what she was going through back then. She was miles away from home and nursing a broken heart.
I began to think about Peter and I. I couldn't imagine what it would have been like if I had stuck to my decision about breaking up with Peter before college. I think that would have hurt more than being miles apart from him now.
Who would I have called about my first day of classes, the new friends I made or the new experiences I was having? It wouldn't have felt right without him. I guess that's how Margot and I are different.
She can bounce back from a broken heart where I can't even fathom it.
"Okay, you've got a deal," I say to Cassandra and I can see a small, giddy smile begin to form on her face, "but I have conditions."
"Of course you do. What are they?"
"We don't separate, we don't get too drunk, and you have to help me with my hair and makeup. Deal?" I ask, sticking out my hand for her to shake.
She grasps my hand firmly and shakes. "You got yourself a deal, LJ. Peter is going to lose his shit when he sees your makeover."
After getting off the phone with Lara Jean, a few of the lacrosse guys rounded everyone up for a kegger that was taking place on the grounds. With Lara Jean at her mixer, this was a great opportunity for me to bond with the team. Get to know them a little better. Besides, my roommate had yet to move in and I could use the distraction.
Grabbing my bomber jacket off the edge of my chair, I headed down the stairs of my dorm and down the steps towards the Grounds. I can still remember the night Lara Jean and I were here after Gabe's party, talking about all the fun facts and stuff we were going to do here at UVA. Except now, it was just about all the stuff I was going to do at UVA that I'd have to write to her about in my letters.
I sit down on the steps, soaking in my surroundings. I had finally made it to UVA and I was miserable. I knew I shouldn't be but this wasn't how it was supposed to go. Normally, I would be the life of the party, but all I wanted was Lara Jean to be sitting in between my legs with her arms on my thighs and her head leaning on my cheat on the steps, watching the other students get too wasted and making fools of themselves. I knew Lara Jean would laugh at that; she always found it funny when it was other people making the mistakes.
"You look like you could use a drink," I hear a familiar voice from beside me say. I take myself out of my thoughts long enough to face the person offering me a beer-filled red solo cup. I stare at the person in disbelief.
"Come on Kavinsky, I didn't poison it," he states as he thrusts the cup into my hands, "mind if I sit?"
"They're free steps Sanderson. Do what you want," I state before taking a sip from my cup. The last person I thought I would see is Josh Sanderson. The Josh Sanderson who kissed my girlfriend. And yes, even two years later, I'm still pissed about it. Sanderson is lucky he moved away to school last year so I didn't have to see him. Except now we go to the same college and right now there is no way to avoid him.
"Look Kavinsky," he begins and I do my best to look unbothered by his presence, "you and I don't have the best track record. I get that. But I want you to know that, that kiss between Lara Jean and I should have never happened. And I'm really sorry man."
"Whatever."
"It's not whatever. I guess I was jealous. Lara Jean was my best friend before you ever came into the picture. So when you and her stated dating or fake dating at the time, I was hurt. I had just lost Margot and then I felt like I was losing Lara Jean and then I got her letter ..." Yeah Sanderson, I know how the story goes.
"Sanderson, get to the point."
"I know you miss her," well, that's a given, "so if you ever want to go see her. I can always drive you and I'd love to see Lara Jean. I'm renting out a condo down the street so if you want to hang out or anything just let me know."
He's extending an olive branch as Lara Jean puts it. But I'm not buying it. "What makes you think that I would hang out with you?"
He rolls his eyes at my response. "Well for starters, the Peter Kavinksy I know would be in the middle of that crowd being the obnoxious centre of attention. But you're not. You're sitting her, all by yourself, people watching. Listen, my offer stands man. You know where to find me."
Lara Jean would be pretty disappointed in your right now Kavinsky, I think to myself as Josh begins his trek down the stairs. He did apologize and he did mean a lot to Lara Jean. As much as I hated to admit it, I kind of owed him one. If Lara Jean hadn't jumped me in the hallway to avoid him after the whole letter fiasco, our whole relationship would have never started. Maybe it was time to bury the hatchet.
"Hey Sanderson," I yell and I watch him turn around carefully, "what's your beer pong game like?"
I stared at myself in the full length mirror and holy shit, did I look good. After rummaging through my closet for over an hour, Cass had pulled out a pair of black skinny jeans, which I'm pretty sure were Margot's, and an off the shoulder, cream coloured top.
My makeup was flawless. It was natural but had just enough so you could see that effort was actually put into it. I decided to keep my hair down. Peter always loved my hair down.
"I do great work," Cass bragged she placed her hands on my shoulders and rested her head right next to mine.
"Are you sure you're in the right career field because you have a gift." I'm still in awe. She made me look like me but an older me. She made me look like college student Lara Jean Song Covey.
"I didn't have to do much. A little eyeliner, mascara, some contouring and you're good to go. Now come on, let's take a selfie!" she states as she grabs my phone, opens the camera, and holds it high in the air. She pursing her lips into a duck face while I stand next to her with a grin. Who knew a little makeup could make someone feel so confident?
"Alright, send it to your boy toy and let's get the hell outta here. We got our first college party to attend!"
Chuckling, I send the photo to Peter with the caption, 'here's the new roomie.' I send a final I miss you text before locking my phone. I really hope he's having some fun tonight too.
Turns out Sanderson isn't half bad at beer pong. We've played three games thus far and haven't lost once. Even the guys on the team seem pretty impressed by our skills.
With another game of beer pong over, I see Josh reaching to reorganize the cups into formation. I lean in to help him but hear my phone ping. Stuffing my hand inside my pocket, I pull out my phone to see two text messages from Lara Jean. She should be at her party by now.
Is she okay?
Did something happen?
Swiping open my phone, I look down and see the image of her and her new roommate. Damn, she looks sexy, I think to myself. I should be relieved that nothing bad is happening but seeing her look like that, made me wish I wasn't three hours away.
"Kavinsky, you ready?" I hear Josh call before turning his attention over to me. He catches a quick glimpse at phone with the photo of Lara Jean and her new roommate catching his attention.
"Who's that girl with Lara Jean?" he asks.
"Her new roommate Cassandra."
"She's hot."
"They're going to a mixer tonight. I'm just going to text her back real quick. Why don't you start without me?" I say to him. I see him shrug his shoulders before turning back to the table.
Within seconds, I'm sending a response back to Lara Jean:
Damn baby, you look sexy. But you know you're beautiful all the time ... right? Say hey to the new roomie for me. Really looking forward to meeting her. I miss you too.
I pause for a second before sending the next message:
Oh and in case you forgot ... I love you xo
Locking my screen, I turn back to the table and grab the ping pong ball. I glance across the table to the other players.
"Yo, we doing this or what?"
Wow! What can I say ... I've received so many amazing messages of support for this story! Seriously. You guys are absolutely incredible. Your kind comments and feedback is so greatly appreciated. I will do my absolute best to get these chapters out as fast as I can. But I'm quite the perfectionist and spend about half the time, rewriting and adding things in.
I just wanted to thank everyone for favouriting, commenting, and following this story. I really hope to not let you all down. Here's to hoping that news of a movie sequel comes soon!
Until we meet again readers.