After meeting Dee, the librarian, Luce made her way back to her dorm.
"Luce! Where have you been all day?" Nora pounced on Luce as soon as she walked in the door. "Daniel- whoever that is- has been here three times. Looking for you!" Why was Daniel here? He was cancelling. Why else would he have visited three times?
"He told me to tell you that he can't do tonight," Nora delivered. "Do what? Are you going on a date? With him?"
"Well, I was going on a date with him." Luce replied, disappointed. She couldn't hide her sadness. Why had he bailed? Did he just realise that Luce was nothing special? That he could have any girl he wanted? Stop it Luce. You don't even know him, she told herself.
Nora bugged her for details and wouldn't stop until she realised Luce wasn't going to reveal anything. Because it didn't matter. She wasn't even going out with him now.
"I'm really tired anyway," Luce said. "I think I'll just go to bed."
"Do you mind if I go out? I was gonna catch up with Jordan and Hailey."
"No, of course not, have fun." Luce forced a smile. Why was she so cut up about Daniel cancelling? She barely knew him. It may feel like she does but she really doesn't. Just as Luce pulled out her favourite book- a tale of two cities- someone knocked on her door. She jumped excitedly from her bed. Was it Daniel? She swung the door open to find the not-so-charming Max.
"Oh." Her smile dropped.
"Expecting someone else?" Max asked, leaning against the door frame.
"No," Luce replied quickly. "What do you want?"
"Please, who says I want anything?" Max replied, his voice lazy and smooth.
"What else would you be doing at my door?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to come to the party at mine. It's in an hour and everyone's coming."
Everyone? Would Daniel be there? No, Luce. Don't think about him.
"Why not?" Luce replied.
"Great. I'll see you there. And wear something nice." He answered, running his eyes up and down her body.
Luce forced a smile and closed the door in his face.
An hour later Luce found herself at Max's door, wearing washout jeans, a knitted jumper and her locket around her neck, exactly what she was wearing an hour ago. The music was loud and there were people laughing inside. She took a deep breath and stepped inside.
Max's room was stuffy and smelt of cigarettes and alcohol. It's only eight, Luce thought, how are they already drunk? Luce stood in the door way searching for Nora when a hand settled on her lower back. Luce jumped backwards and turned around to find Max laughing at her.
"Did I scare you, Luce?" His breath smelt of alcohol and cigarettes.
"No, I'm fine. Where's Nora?" Luce asked, stepping away from him.
"Not here yet. But that's okay, you can hang with me." Max grabbed her arm and pulled her into the middle of the room, which had been transformed into a dance floor. He grabbed her waist and started dancing with her but Luce did not sway with him.
"Excuse me. I need to find Nora." Luce started to pull away but Max pulled her closer.
"Can't dance, Luce?" He said, his face so close she could see a bead of sweat on his forehead.
"I can dance, I just don't want to dance with you." Luce replied, pulling back.
Max released her and spat, "Fine. Go. Have fun by yourself."
Luce raced across the floor, towards the door. She flung it open and took a deep breath. What a creep, she thought, as she walked back to her room.