Over the next couple days, I keep my eyes peeled, watching for the hot freshman. Man, I really need to learn his name or refer to him as something other than 'the hot freshman'. Shaking my head I return my attention back to Laurel, who's telling me about the mandatory event we're on our way to.
"—and there's professional instructors too! I mean, it's a really great opportunity to get some extra training, and- "
"Not that you need any extra training." I cut her off with a laugh and poke her in the arm as we go out the doors into the large outdoor park right on campus.
"Thanks Caitlin. But, a little extra training or advice never hurt anyone." She smiles back at me, "Besides, it's a self-defense training exercise. And when is that not a good idea?" She raises her eyebrows questioningly at me.
I nod in agreement, "You do have a point." I make a face, "I know I definitely need to do more. I mean, I'm not too bad at gymnastics which is useful and all but that might not always be what I need."
I bite my lip as we share a somber look. A month or two ago, a couple of students were attacked near campus. They were robbed, and injured in the process. Thank goodness, they've made full recoveries, but the fact that they were even targeted is scary.
"Hey girls!" A smile reclaims my lips as Thea bounds over, "I am so so so glad we got to choose which groups to be in!" She exclaims, "I mean, I like fighting and training and all but it's much better when you have a friend around." She shakes her head before smiling again.
"C'mon I've picked a spot already." She nods her head in the direction and we follow her closely through the semi-crowded area and plot down on her blanket in the spots she saved for us. Leaning back, I run my fingers through the soft grass as I glance around again. By the time I look back Laurel and Thea have stretched out beside me and gotten comfortable.
"Sooooo…" Thea turns her now inquisitive gaze to me, "How's your hot freshie?" she asks as she wags her eyebrows suggestively.
I let out a snort as I hold back laughter, "He's not mine, I don't own him or anything."
Thea and Laurel share a look before rolling their eyes. "Dude, everyone knows that the hot freshie got picked by a senior, they just don't know which senior." Thea gives me an almost triumphant look.
"Did you spread that, Thea..." I groan, "No, I did not." She interrupts me. "Laurel?" I look at her questioningly, feeling like I already knew the answer.
"Nope." She shakes her head, "But I did do some investigating." Her grin turns mischievous. "I tailed him a bit, didn't get a name yet though." She scrunches up her nose, "I didn't want to get too close, I'm a little rusty on my 'hot guy stalking'." She uses her fingers to do air quotes.
"And?" Thea prompts.
"He's smart that's for sure. He's taking engineering classes, and he spends a lot of time around Professor Stein's room. He's also strong and athletic, probably because he lifts weights and runs at the gym." She begins to count things off and list information for us, and I listen with rapt attention until a loud bullhorn screeches. The three of us, as well as many other students around us, wince and let out small cries of surprise as we hurriedly cover our ears.
"Ye-ouch." Cisco rubs his right ear slightly as he plops down on my other side. "I cannot believe we have to be here." He grumbles and I shush him, reminding him that this is mandatory and we don't want to get in trouble over it.
So, we sit, whispers passing through our group and others around the area occasionally as we try to pay attention. Laurel and Thea seem to be enjoying themselves, but it may have something to do with volunteers who are helping demonstrate different moves.
Soon enough the demonstrations are over and we are given instructions and paired off to try the moves ourselves.
I find myself paired off with someone I vaguely recognize, and I try to place where I know this guy from as we agree to go easy on each other for a while so we can learn the moves before stepping it up. "I'm Jax." He smiles kindly at me, as he offers his hand to shake. "I'm Caitlin." I smile back as I take his hand and we shake in greeting.
Soon after we figured out the various moves that were demonstrated and are going full blast at each other. Thankfully, neither of us are too strong that we overpower the other so we balance in some areas while the scales are tipped in others.
After everyone is thoroughly exhausted, after the trainers called it quits for the day and invited us to still go work out and stay in shape, he gets a look of recognition in his eyes.
"Hey wait," He stops me before I can walk off to find my friends, "I know you." He laughs, "You're the girl that my friends keeps going on about. He won't shut up about the hot senior who randomly gave him a high five and called him bae."
"Wait-"I blink rapidly as I process the information, "You're friends with the hot freshie? Wait-"My eyes widen, "Did you just say he calls me the hot senior?" my jaw has dropped slightly and he back-peddles before sighing, "He told me not to say anything if I saw you."
"I-" He pauses "Wait, did you just call him the hot freshie?" He raises an eyebrow at me and I pause. "Uhhhh." I wince.
"I won't tell if you don't?" I suggest and he easily agrees.
That is cut short when I hear Thea's maniacal laughter, "No way!" She manages to say, breathlessly from the laughter. "No, you gotta tell him now, cause I'm definitely telling all of our friends." She folds her arms around herself as she finally begins to catch her breath.
"Well dang." He shakes his head. "Oh well." I sigh, "It's not that bad, right?"