Chapter Two

Finally, the booths morphed into tables and the fields faded into pavement and courts. The banners on each table were for all of UU's sports teams. Jack scanned the people, rather than the banners, and when he seemed to spot what he was looking for, he turned in the direction. He motioned to a court, where a small skirmish was going on. The game was… 4 versus one?

The four were all clad in UU Basketball jerseys, and the one person who seemed to be facing them all was a tanned girl with dark hair pulled into a ponytail, and a tattoo beneath her eye. Lena had never seen someone with face tattoos in real life, but she always thought them to be menacing, yet this girl somehow pulled the ink off as really pretty. There was a strip of field next to the court, and a couple of people sat lazily on the grass on blankets, watching the game.

One spectator that caught Lena's eye was a girl with bright blonde hair sitting with a notebook that looked like she meant to be studying, but was utterly failing to as she kept getting distracted by the game playing out in front of her. She was cheering for the girl who was playing against the four other people.

Lena grinned. "Angela!" She called, forgetting about Jack for a moment and heading over to the beautiful girl.

Bright blue eyes shifted from the game to Lena. "Oh, Hello, Lena. I didn't expect to bump into you so soon." She giggled.

Lena ran a finger through short hair. "Yeah, this guy named Jack brought me here to meet the basketball team…" She trailed off.

Angela's face lit up. "Oh, you met Jack?" She asked brightly.

Lena laughed. "You know him, too?"

"Of course, we're quite close." She said with a grin.

Soon after, Jack came over, accompanied by the well-toned and beautiful girl who'd been playing.

"Well, Lena. I didn't know you'd known Angie already!" He exclaimed breathlessly. "Then I suppose you already know Fareeha too?" Jack gave a huff. "You weren't just humoring me, were you?"

The accusing glare wasn't really that menacing accompanied by the laughter in eyes.

"No, I was Lena's tour of campus, Jack. And of course she doesn't know Fareeha yet. It's hardly noon and she got here at ten!" Angela said, sitting up a bit straighter to address all the tall people around her.

Jack gave another puff. "Well, I'll introduce them, then." He turned to Lena. "This is Fareeha Amari." He gestured to the other girl. "And Fareeha, this is Lena Oxton. You guys both play sports, so… I think those are pretty stable grounds for friendship, yeah?"

Angela gave a twinkly laugh that warmed up the conversation. "Oh, Jack. Don't force them!"

Lena giggled along with Angela. "No, I think the controlling thing is nice." She gave a thumbs up. "Keep it up, Jack."

Jack growled while Fareeha extended a muscled arm. "Nice to meet you, Lena. What sport do you play? You don't seem to have the build for basketball. Soccer, perhaps?"

Lena raised an eyebrow. "You mean football? Nah. I'm a track girl all the way."

Fareeha let out a hearty laugh at the culture barrier. "Yes, football. And that's pretty cool. I've never been friends with a runner." She shot a grin at Jack, who stuck out his tongue.

Angela was looking dreamily at Fareeha throughout the entire conversation, and Lena decided -she wasn't one for not asking about stuff- to mention it. "So what's up with you too? You and Angela, I mean. You look just about ta' snog each other."

Fareeha blinked. "Excuse me?"

Angela giggled. "Yes, we're dating, Lena. Ever seen lesbians before?"

Lena did a face-palm. "Yes, of course. It was just a question, love."

Jack was staring at Fareeha, who was glowering at Lena. "Hey, hey. Guys, let's not ruin the mood. Lena's just curious." He turned to Fareeha. "I'm sure she's not trying to steal your girl."

Lena nodded. "Yeah, no bad intent here." She raised her hands in a defeated way. "You'd definitely beat me in a duel, anyway." He joking matter took over the fear towards the obviously ripped Fareeha.

Fareeha narrowed her eyes, and everyone was silent for a moment, and then Fareeha let out another hearty laugh. "Awesome. You seem fun, I like you." She said, the laugh still apparent in her voice.

Angela wasn't phased by any of this confrontation, and continued on in her cheery manner. "Lena, we're having a party to start off the new semester. It's at Jack's frat house. Care to join us? I can text you the details."

"Jack's a frat boy?-"

"-Lena has your number?"

Lena and Fareeha spoke at the same time. Angela sighed at both remarks.

"Yes, Jack belongs to a fraternity, and yes, I have Lena's number." She turned to Fareeha with a withering glare. "I'm allowed to have friends who are girls, Fareeha."

Fareeha blushed profusely and lowered her glare from Lena to the ground.

Angela's manner changed immediately back to cheerful as she turned to Lena. "What do you say? Up for an upperclassman party? It'll be the perfect opportunity for you to meet the rest of the gang!" She giggled.

Lena smiled. "Yeah, I'd like to. So, Jack. What's your fraternity called?"

Now it was Jack's turn to blush. His light face turned a color that would've made a tomato jealous. "Alpha Omega. The name's pretty damn stupid but the guys are cool. Not your basic entitled, bitchy frat boys."

"Nice. And I really don't care what your frat house is called, don't worry Jack." Lena said. Just barely holding back a giggle.

Just then, her phone rang. The caller ID was unknown, but Lena could guess who it was. "Hello?"

"Hola, chica." The thick Spanish accent on the other side confirmed that it was indeed Sombra.

"Hey, Sombra. What's up?" Lena asked.

"Ah, not much. We caught up, and we planned some gaming sessions and some get togethers in the near future. Now I'm nearly ready to go back to the dorm, and I thought I'd call you. What do you think about meeting in front of the building with that ocean mural at 2:00?"

"Yeah, sounds good." Lena replied. "See ya."

"Adios." Sombra replied, and hung up.

Jack approached Lena. "Who's Sombra?"

"Oh, that's my roommate. We're meeting up at 2 to go back to our dorm." Lena replied.

The two turned back to Angela and Fareeha. "So, can I meet the team, now?" Lena asked Jack and Fareeha.

Angela snickered.

Lena frowned. "What?"

"They've all gone home, Lena. They just performed all morning for new arrivals, and tryouts are next week. They have to go home and rest or train." Fareeha said matter-of-factually.

Lena gave a huff. "Well, there goes meeting the team." She said in a tired voice.

Angela gave her a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry that you can't meet them today, Lena."

Jack tapped Lena on the shoulder. "Hey, it's nearly two. Wanna start walking back? The ocean building is kind of far."

Lena nodded. "Yeah, okay." She turned towards Angela. "And don't forget to text me the details of the party. I'm totally coming."

Angela nodded. "Sure." She paused. "Oh, and invite your roommate to come too!"

"I will. Bye, Angela. Bye Fareeha." Lena replied.

"See ya, Angie. Fareeha." Jack added, before turning to go with a wave.

Lena trotted after him, looking around at all the people laughing, talking, and just hanging out in the midday sunshine.

After around seven minutes of weaving their way through booths and groups of people, the ocean building came into view. Under a huge flowering tree sat Lena's roommate, balanced on a huge root and typing on her computer.

"Hey, Sombra." Lena spoke.

Sombra looked up, and smiled. "Hola, chica." She looked at her watch. "Right on time, Lena."

Jack scratched his head. "I'll be going, now. I'll see you at my party, Lena."

As Jack left and Sombra started to pack up her things to get ready to go, Sombra asked Lena, "So, already got invited to a party?"

Lena snorted. "Yeah, he invited me to his frat party."

Both girls laughed. "That guy is a frat boy?" Sombra asked, the laugh still apparent in her voice.

"Yep. And the best part… You wanna know what his fraternity is called?" Lena said.

"What?" Sombra asked carefully.

"Alpha Omega. It's so stupid it's hilarious." Lena said with a giggle.

Sombra laughed along with her. "That's great, I love it."

"Oh!" Said Lena. "I almost forgot, they said to invite you."

"Well, I'm honored to be invited to the house of Alpha Omega. What day is it?" Sombra replied with a snicker.

"Oh, I don't know yet. Angela, a friend of Jack's, is going to text me the information."

Sombra had finished packing up her computer and bag, and nodded. "Got it, and I'll most likely be able to come."

Lena grinned. "I'm glad."

The two girls walked back to their dorm, chatting about friends, family, and all the things they planned to do in college.