"Okay, class. Remember to submit the group presentation worksheet and the presentation before the due date. All of the requirements are on the worksheet, which all of you must complete. I don't want any situations where one person pulls the weight, and everyone else kicks their feet up. All participants must work together to make the project successful. Any questions?"

Silence.

"No? Okay. I'll see you guys next week Monday for presentations, and on Thursday for a lecture on Media Ethics. Have a good weekend, and stay safe." the professor dismissed the class.

Rachel sighed deeply, joining the flurry of bustling students. Though she sat in a lecture for about three hours, she felt like she had absorbed close to nothing. The entire time, Rachel maintained a blank stare, and an absent mind.

Well, almost absent.

Rachel tried extremely hard not to think about it, but the harder she tried... was the more she was forced to ponder on the topic.

Sex with her roommate.

It was both the best and worst thing she has ever done. Psychologically, physically, and emotionally, Rachel had no idea on how to handle the debris of the experience.

In the physical aspect of things: Rachel was suffering from a series of headaches, nausea, having broken sleep, soreness in her muscles, and her menstrual cycle was a wreck.

That physical disarray melted into the emotional world. Rachel was more somber than usual. She was less talkative, easily irritated, and avoided as many social interactions as possible.

Rachel had no idea what the next step for Garfield, and she was too much of a coward to find out.

In the moment... it was good. Too good. But now, Rachel was shoved out of the warmth of sexual intercourse, and into the cold world of the present.

She plodded outside of the building, and to a seating area a short distance away. Almost slamming her bag on the table, Rachel took out her study materials for her next class, Feature Writing. Rachel put her headphones in her ears, then the song idontwannabeyouanymore by Billie Eilish poured through her mind.

Every lyric channeled flowed through her. The hair on her skin lifted from the rhythm of the song, her heart began to change slightly, almost like it wanted to match the beat of the music. Rachel's eyes closed slowly, as her thoughts entangled with each verse.

Rachel felt like she was slipping out of the world, and into another dimension. Somewhere, where she was only bound to the responsibility of expressing her true emotions, instead of concealing them. It was one of the best feelings ever, feeling like she was escaping the confinement of reality.

"Rachel? Rachel. Hello, Rachel?"

Opening her eyes, Rachel removed one headphone.

"Sorry. Hey, Kori."

Rachel's friend, Kory Ander, sat down at the seat across from her. Kory was a tall, young woman. She had a bright orange complexion, and fiery-red hair that grew down to he waist. Her eyes were a unique green: not only were her purples green, but he scales were a light-green as well.

She was wearing a pink shirt, distressed, demin overalls with iron-on patches, white sneakers, and a pink cap to complete her look.

"Hello. Richie and I are going to a drive-in movie tonight and I am sooooo excited!"

Richard Grayson, or "Richie" as Kory sometimes called him, was Kory's boyfriend. Rachel saw Richard frequently during the week, not only because he's mostly with his partner, but because he hangs out with Garfield as well.

Rachel tried to sound interested, "That's great, I hope you guys have fun."

"I hope so, too. We are going to watch Holes."

"Oh, I never watched the movie, but the book is pretty good."

"I had no idea there was a book. But, Richie loves that movie, and he's been wanting to watch it with me for the longest. Now, it's finally showing, and he made it a date night."

Rachel sighed, flipping a page of my notes, "Yeah."

"What are you reading?"

"Studying. I have a test next period."

"Really? What is your exam on?"

"Honestly, I don't even know." Rachel brushed her hair with her hand in a stressed manner.

"I'm sure you know something. After all, you're an exceedingly diligent student, I think you'll do just fine."

Rachel replied bluntly, heat growing in her face, "It's not like that, Kory."

"Rachel, are you alright? You have been acting strange recently."

Rachel felt as if she was standing at a split in a road, and had a choice of two, unlit, seemingly endless paths. Rachel was torn between telling her friend the truth, or just covering it up with a lie. Either way, it probably wouldn't end well on Rachel's part.

Rachel avoided Kory's gaze and kept her eyes on the papers in front of her.

"I'm trying to be. It's fine, really. I'll get over myself eventually."

Her voice was firm "Rachel, seriously."

"I promise I'm okay, Kory. Give it a rest."

The redhead sighed, growing silent for a short while.

She spoke, "I think you need a break."

"And why is that?"

"All you do is study for the exams and complete homework. You need some time to unwind and enjoy yourself."

"I already have that, and that is called "reading in quiet without anyone disturbing me"."

"I understand that reading in solitude is your favorite form of leisure, but I think you should experiment with other ways of recreation."

"Like..."

"Well, there is a party going on this weekend and I was wondering if you'd like to come."

Rachel scoffed sarcastically, "You must be joking."

"No, I am serious."

"I don't like parties."

She interrogated, "Have you been to one?"

"No, but I still don't like them."

"Rachel, you will never know for sure if you will like something unless you try it."

"Parties, things that involve social interactions... I'm not cut out for that kind of stuff."

"Puh-leeeeaaaaaaase!" Kory leaned forward, with a pleading expression, "Parties have the foods, the colorful blinking lights, new people to meet, music, games, and dancing," she shimmied adorably.

"I understand your introverted nature, Richie is similar. Even so, I have managed to get Richie into more interactive activities, and he loves to do them with me!"

Rachel lifted her right brow, unamused.

"Plus, being social increases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that makes people happy."

Kory reminded Rachel of a business person promoting the market. She was insistent and persuasive, almost as if she left no option but to agree with her.

Rachel exhaled with a weak smile, "Alright, I'll go."

"Yyeeeeeeee-ayyyyyyyyyyy! YAY, YAY, YAY!", she bounced cheerfully, grabbing my hand, "I promise, Rachel, this will be a night to remember."

Rachel's forced smile faltered into a fragile frown. She had no idea of what about this party she was going to remember, but she had no choice but to find out.