I sit alone, staring at my birthday cake with the sparkly '23' candle lit up aesthetically on top of it. My friends are surrounding me, I can't see anything but them in my apartment room. They're singing me happy birthday, but I can barely listen as my ears are clouded with my own thoughts.

23? Me? Already? Time went by so fast. All I can recall are my studious and rebellious teen years and my worthless party life now. I feel like I've truly wasted my college years. In exactly 8 months, I'll be graduating and truly start my adult life. Working a nine-to-five job, getting disgusting eye-bags, losing all my friends, you get the point. It's just going by so fast... I don't know how to handle it.

"Aria?"

The sudden call from my closest friend, Kaitlyn, makes me flinch.

"Oh, yeah?" I try to collect myself and answer her with a smile.

"You good? You look out of it."

"Huh? Really? I'm just a bit surprised. You guys didn't have to do all this for me."

Knowing Kaitlyn, I'm not surprised she's the only one who notices me zoning out. She's always cared for me, ever since we were fourteen.

"Yes, we did! After all that shit you went through with Professor Jennson, you deserved this!"

"You found out about that?"

"I know everything that goes around here, princess. You totally were supposed to get that extra credit! What an asshole."

Kaitlyn has always been protective of me. I was planning on keeping the beef I had with my professor a secret from her, but I guess it's never a good idea to hide something from her. I look back at my cake and my other friends chatting around with each other. The more I think about it, the more I feel like this isn't really the life I want to proceed with once I graduate. Maybe a good way to step away from it is to step away from them.

A few days have passed.

I sit in class, on my right is Kaitlyn who's totally not paying attention to anything. Well, I can't say I am either. All I've been doing is observing the students around me. Especially the quiet, nerdy looking ones. I figured if I'm going to start a new life, I better commit to it, right?

Thud.

I hear a silent thud from behind me. I look to my foot and see a fallen eraser. Without turning, I could tell someone dropped it. I lean down and grab it.

"Sorry about that..."

I hear the eraser's owner's voice from the desk behind me. I turn to return the eraser.

I pause.

The girl sitting right behind me is my jackpot. Bangs, braces, short messy hair, a nerdy hoodie with some Star Wars reference on it, a boring looking pencil case, fully written notes on her desk. This is it. This is my new friend. My ticket to a new life after graduation. I can sense it already!

"Uh... My eraser..." she speaks softly.

"Oh! Right, here you go."

"Thank you..."

Her voice is so soft and silent that one can barely hear it.

After handing her eraser back to her, I turn back to the professor. My heart pounds from excitement as I think of how I've finally found the perfect gateway to my new adult life. I can't let go of this opportunity!

Class ends. Kaitlyn and I walk out of the room with the rest of the students. I look around, to potentially find the girl who was behind me. No luck. I sigh and turn to Kaitlyn who seems to be texting someone.

"You have plans?" I ask her.

"Hm? No, not really. Might just go to Rosebud later tonight."

Rosebud is the local lesbian nightclub we both go to. Normally, I would be begging her to let me join her, but I'm done with that life.

"By yourself? You should go with Talia. She's been so stressed with that group project."

"Sure, I'll text her later. But I'm not going alone, silly. You're coming with me."

"Oh, nah, I'll pass. I haven't, um... Been feeling like it?"

"You? Since when did you not want to get drunk and find a new one-night stand?" Kaitlyn laughs.

"It's nothing serious. I'm just not in the mood."

"Hah. You're a comedian now?"

"Kaitlyn, I'm serious. I've been having all-nighters to work on my assignments and it's just taken its toll on me."

Kaitlyn gives me an annoyed look.

"Shit. Fine, whatever. I guess it's just me and Talia then. How fun." Her fake enthusiasm is glowing all around her.

I sigh. I know I should just let go of it and let her sulk but she knows I have a soft spot for her. She knows too well.

She gives me a longing look and I crack.

"Alright, alright... I'll go to Rosebud with you and Talia."

Kaitlyn's eyes sparkle.

"Really? Great! I'm thinking of dressing full-on slutty. You should too! I'll help you with your hair if you don't know what to do with it again."

"Yeah, okay, sure. Just, text me the time later."

"Yes~" She smiles widely with pure joy.

Honestly, how does she ever expect me to say no?

She runs off to her next class. Seeing how I don't have any more classes today, I walk back to my apartment building. It's right next to my college building, so the fact I don't need a car or pay public transport is great. Plus, I get to lose some weight by walking back and forth everyday.

As I reach the floor of my apartment room and am about to unlock my door, a familiar voice calls out to me.

"Excuse me?"

I slowly move my gaze to the voice and widen my eyes to see that my jackpot to a new life is right beside me.

"You're... Aria? In room 533?" She asks with a gentle tone.

"Yeah, that's me alright."

Seeing her better now, I notice her hair isn't really that messy. She's a lot shorter than me and it's kind of cute how her bangs slightly cover her eyes.

"I see. Um, I'm Karly from room 534."

"Is that so? I've never seen you around before, Karly."

"Actually, I've been living with my parents for a few months. That might be why... But, uh, I'm moving back here so I thought I could get to know my neighbours..."

"That's really nice of you. Well, if you ever need anything, I'd be glad to help out in any way I can."

"S, Same here!" She stutters.

"Do you want my number? That could make it easier for us to ask each other for any help."

"Y, yeah... That works." She smiles softly, I can't help but smile too.

She slowly hands me her phone and I start typing in my number. Yup, this will work greatly! With an influence like her, I'll surely stop partying and drinking like an animal... After tonight, that is... I hand her back her phone.

"We were in the same class just now, weren't we?"

I ask her.

"Um, yeah, you... picked up my eraser."

"Have we always taken the same classes?"

"We have. I usually sit at the far back, which is probably why you don't recognize me..."

"Guess so..."

There's an awkward pause. Without even realizing it, I stare at her. Not with any weird intentions, of course. It's just odd how I've never noticed her all this time... Have I really been that engrossed with my own circle that I forgot about everyone else in the world?

She notices my stare and tucks her hair behind her ear.

"Well, I should go now. I have some assignments due soon." She speaks softly, again. It's cute.

"Right, yeah, okay... See you around, Karly." I smile as I say so.

"A, Alright..."

She smiles too, but it's way sweeter than my smile. She walks away and goes inside her place. I chuckle a bit from my own thoughts.

"Cute?" I say to myself.

I can't help but laugh at myself. Good thing I agreed to Kaitlyn's invitation. I need to get laid before I start thinking weirder things about my jackpot to a new life.

To be continued.