I was trying to take notes when the projector screen suddenly went black. I rolled my eyes and slammed my notebook shut. "Why does he always do that?" It took me a second to notice that someone was talking to me. I looked over at the seat next to me and saw a girl with super black hair sitting there like she'd rather be elsewhere. I could've sworn that seat was empty awhile ago. She must've sat there when I wasn't paying attention.

"I don't know. I guess he wants us to fail the class." I said, half jokingly.

"He needs to stop. I paid a lot of money to come to this school. He's not getting in my way anymore."

I watched as she quickly gathered her things together and got up from her seat.

"What are you doing?"

"Going to tell him that we want him to stop messing with our future."

"We?" I did not want her mentioning me in her little pep talk. The last thing I wanted was to be on the professor's bad side. I needed to pass every class, but this one was a necessity. If I didn't make it through this class, I could kiss my degree goodbye.

"Oh, come on. You want him to give you a fair chance to succeed right?" What kind of question was that? Of course I wanted a fair chance.

"Yes," I said as I suddenly realized that everyone was looking at her because she was the only one standing up.

"Then let's go ask for a fair chance." she said as she put her long hair up so she could get it out of the way. Mr. Bentley finally noticed that someone else had the class's attention.

"Is there a problem Roxanne?" Mr. Bentley asked confused.

"Sit down," I whispered. " The fact that he knows your name should tell you that he cares".

"And?" she said, as if to say so what. "It's not like he knows my last name too."

"Miss Smith, I asked you a question." Mr. Bentley still sounded like he didn't know what was happening.

" Nothing sir. I'm just stretching." We all knew that was a lie because she was just standing there.

"Well can you please sit down so I can explain the project everyone will be doing for their exam."

Roxanne sat down without another word. We all watched as Mr. Bentley pulled out a stack of books from his desk. "Okay everyone listen when I tell you that this project is big. What I'm assigning you is going to determine your whole future. It's going to test everything. By everything I mean you."

Roxanne and I exchanged wtf looks.

"I'm going to pick a book." Mr. Bentley continued. "You and your partner are going to bring that book to life however way you want to. Once you're done with the project you will present it in front of the whole class."

I ignored the feeling of anxiety that was building up. I hated doing presentations. I almost didn't go to college just for that reason.

"The book is going to be Romeo and Juliet." We all watched as Mr. Bentley put the stack of books on his desk.

"Romeo and Juliet? Am I in the right class? I thought this was Science not English." Roxanne whispered to me.

"Yeah me too." I say after awhile.

"I know Romeo and Juliet has nothing to do with this class. I wanted to give you guys a break from science so I decided on this."

No one said anything.

"Was he even allowed to do this?" I thought to myself.

"Once you guys get your books you can leave. Class is dismissed." Mr. Bentley said as he began gathering his things together.

I put my books in my bag before getting up and walking down to where Mr. Bentley's desk was.

I grabbed my copy of Romeo and Juliet and quickly left the room.

"Hey what's your name?" Roxanne said trying to catch up to me.

I stopped walking and turned around to face her. "Sunny," I said.

Yes that was my name. I don't know why my parents chose to give me that name but they did. The irony of it all was that I wasn't sunny or happy at all. I've been depressed my whole life and last year I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder. My life did not match my name.

"Oh that's a cool name." Roxanne said coming up next to me.

"I think it's kind of lame." I said as we made our way outside of the science building.

"No it's not." Roxanne said.

"Well thank you." I said looking both ways before crossing the street.

"Hey listen I know we just met, but there's a party tonight at this address." I watched as she pulled out a piece of paper from her bag and began writing something on it. "It'd be cool if you came. We can get to know each other there since we're doing the project together." She handed me the paper after she finished writing on it.

I don't remember talking to her about doing the project together. I barely knew her, but then again I barley knew anyone in that class.

"Um...ok?" I said grabbing the piece of paper and putting it in my pocket.

"So you'll come?" Okay great!" She said before I could give her an answer. "Well I'm parked on the other side of the parking lot, so I'll see you later." She waved goodbye before leaving.

After watching her leave. I went over to my Volkswagen and drove home.

I came home to an empty apartment. As I was grabbing a snack from the pantry I noticed a note on the counter. It was from Amanda who was one of my really good roommates.

Her and Elizabeth who was my other roommate took me under their wing last semester when the other girls I was supposed to get an apartment with bailed on me at the last minute. After reading the note I threw it in the trash. It just said they were out getting groceries and that they would be back soon.

I went in my room and locked the door. "Finally time to relax." I said to myself as I flopped down on the bed.

I took my phone out and pulled up my contacts. I clicked on Kyle West's name and pushed the FaceTime button. Kyle was my boyfriend. We met my junior year of high school. We've been dating for awhile now.

He was my favorite person in the world.

As soon as his face popped up on the screen I noticed his brown hair.

"Hey gorgeous." He said smiling.

I blew him a kiss. "Hey."

"How was school?" He looked into the camera.

"It was stressful as always." I said playing with my hair.

"Anything interesting happen?"

"No, not really. Oh, wait I did get invited to a party." I said remembering the piece of paper in my pocket.

"Oh that sounds fun. Are you going to go?"

"I don't know. Maybe"

"This will be your first party if you go."

"I know. I'm kind of nervous."

"Don't worry it's nothing scary. Just a couple of drugs and wasted kids."

My eyes widened.

"I'm kidding," he said once he saw my reaction.

"I mean it's a college party...there's going to be something crazy there." He finished.

"I need to stay away from things like that." I said.

"Just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you can't have fun." He laughed.

"I know, but I can't be around drugs and alcohol. That's to much."

He rolled his pretty hazel eyes. "You worry to much. I think you should just go and have fun."

"Now that you mentioned DRUGS I'm not sure I want to go anymore." I said putting emphasis on the word drugs.

He rolled his eyes again and smiled. "It was a joke Sunny."

"I think I'll go."

"This will be the perfect opportunity to get out of your shell and make new friends."

"I wish you could come." I said with a sad face.

"I know. I wish I could be there for your first party."

"What are you doing for the rest of the night?"

"Probably gonna hang with the boys."

"Tell Ethan and Cory I said hey."

Ethan and Cory were his best friends. I met them a couple months ago when I went to visit Kyle in Florida.

"Will do," he said.

"Well I've got a lot of homework I still need to do, so I'll talk to you later?"

"Sounds good. Love you bye."

"Love you too." I screamed into the phone.

I heard him laugh before hanging up.

I got up from the bed and went over to my study desk. I put Spotify on before I set my phone aside. I grabbed my school bag from the ground and put it on the desk. When I pulled out my copy of Romeo and Juliet from the bag a piece of paper fell out. I picked the paper up and realized it was a list of directions as I read through it. As I reread the part where it said we needed a partner I thought about Roxanne.

If I was going to need a partner for this project it was going to have to be Roxanne because I didn't really know anyone else in that class. I was also to shy to ask anyone else to be my partner. I put the paper back in the book before closing it and putting it back in my book bag. I pulled out the text books from my other classes and began doing my homework.

When I was finished with my homework I went in my closet and began looking for an outfit to wear to the party. I spent ten minutes looking and trying to decide what to wear before I finally decided on some jean shorts and a black tank top. After picking out my outfit I went to the bathroom and took a shower. Once I was done taking a shower I dried myself off. I took my time getting ready.

I had just finished doing my hair and makeup when Amanda came knocking on the bathroom door. "Hey Liz and I are going to watch a movie. Do you want to join us?"

"I can't I'm going out with some friends." I said opening the door.

I didn't even know if I could really call Roxanne a friend right now. I barely knew her, but I didn't know what else to say so I just stuck with that.

Amanda's mouth dropped open when she saw me. "Where are you going looking like that?"

"A party!" I said cheerfully.

Her eyes widened in shock. "Since when do Sunny and party go together?"

I laughed. "You're funny."

"No seriously you don't do parties. I've been trying to get you to go to one since the day I met you." She wasn't the only one who's tried to get me to go to a party. Back in high school Kyle would try, but he too would fail. I don't know why, but I didn't like parties. I felt like it was a very easy way to sin and get into trouble. And the last thing I wanted to do was be on God's bad side. The only parties that I've been to were birthday parties when I was younger. "So who's the lucky person that gets to take you to your first college party?" I knew she would object if I told her that the person was Roxanne and that I barley knew her so I just said, "It's a friend from my science class. You don't know her."

"Okay," she said satisfied with my answer.

"Can I borrow your car for the night?" I asked hoping she'd say yes.

"Okay, but if anything happens to Rose I'm killing you." She said referring to her car. I followed her to the kitchen. "Take good care of her." She said grabbing the car keys from the counter and handing them to me.

"Where is she going?" Liz asked no one in particular.

"A party...can you believe it?" Amanda said.

"What? Where? When?" Liz said changing her position on the couch.

"Now." I said slipping out the door before she could ask anymore questions.

"If you're going to be partners with her you need to get to know her." I said trying to convince myself not to turn the car around.

I drove around for awhile before I pulled up to a big house. There were cars parked in the driveway and by the sidewalk. I parked the car by the lawn and slowly got out. I checked the address one more time to make sure I was in the right place before I made my way to the front door.

I was about to ring the door bell when someone opened the door. It was a black girl with box braids. She was wearing shorts and a cute white top. "Hi," I said giving her a smile. She didn't give me a second glance. She walked right past me without saying a word.

'Okay, well this should be fun.' I thought to myself.

As soon as I stepped in the house loud rap music filled my ears. "Sunny!" Roxanne screamed my name once she spotted me from across the room. She was wearing ripped jeans and a crop top. Her hair was up in a bun. She looked really pretty. I waved to her as I made my way to where she was leaning up against the wall. She was surrounded by people. "You made it." Roxanne said giving me a hug.

"Yeah," I said casually.

"Sunny welcome to mi casa." Roxanne said with a big smile on her face. She seemed really happy.

What? You live here? I said looking around the big house. Inside of the house looked really nice. It was well furnished. There were people everywhere.

"Yes, and these are my friends." Roxanne said pointing to the group of people in front of her.

"Hi", I said waving to the group.

"Hey, I know you." A blonde girl from the group said smiling at me. She had really pretty blue eyes.

"Oh really?" I said not knowing what to say. I had no idea who she was. I actually had no clue who anyone in any of my classes were. This was my first year at Berkely. I was in my second semester and I still didn't know anyone in my classes and I didn't have that many friends. I blame it all on my social anxiety and lack of social skills.

"Yeah, I'm Sandy." The girl said putting out her hand for me to shake.

"Nice to meet you." I said shaking her hand.

Before anyone else said anything someone else called my name. "Sunny?" I looked behind me to where the voice came from when I saw a tall guy with dirty blonde hair making his way towards us.

"Um...do I know you?" I said once he was close enough to hear me.

"Joey," he said as if I was supposed to know that name. "Joey Rockwell, I'm in your math class. I usually sit behind you in class." The name still didn't ring a bell. "We were in a group project together last semester." He said hoping I'd recognize him now. I had many group projects last semester with many different people I didn't care to get to know. I didn't remember him, but I went along with it.

"Oh, yeah Joey. That's right! I remember you now." I said in nervous voice.

"Yeah, how are you? I didn't know this was your kind of scene." Joey said.

"It's not." I said.

"Then why are you here?" Joey asked.

"Oh Roxanne invited me." I said pointing at Roxanne. Roxanne gave him a wave.

"I didn't know you two knew each other." Joey said taking a sip of the drink that was in his hand.

"Oh we don't-"

"We're in the same science class. We're working on a project together." Roxanne said interrupting me. " And now we need to go." Before I knew it Roxanne was grabbing my hand and we were moving away from the group. I followed her as she lead me upstairs in silence. Neither of us said a word until got to her room.

Roxanne's room was really pretty. It had a beachy feel to it.

"You should be safe here." I watched as she closed the door behind her.

"Thank you so much." I said sighing in relief.

"So I'm guessing you have no idea who Joey really is?"

"How did you know?"

"I could just tell."

"It's embarrassing I know."

"Says who?"

"I thought-"

"Well you thought wrong." Roxanne said interrupting me.

"Why did you sit next to me in class today?"

"Oh I don't know. I've been watching you for while now and you seemed kind of lonely."

"You sat next to me because you felt sorry for me? Wait did you say you've been watching me?"

"Not in the stalker kind of way."

'What other way is there?' I thought strangely to myself.

"That's still creepy." I say after awhile.

"I'm just an observant person."

"Out of everyone in that class why did you pick me to observe?"

"I don't know. You just caught my attention."

"How long have you been observing me for?"

"Since the first day of class."

"Okay stalker what did you find out from observing me?" I said teasing her.

"You're quiet. You like to keep to yourself. You don't talk much. You don't have much friends-"

"I don't have any friends." I said stopping her.

"That's not true. You got me and apparently Joey". She said laughing.

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "You still haven't said why you sat next to me."

"The seat was empty."

"Yeah, but it's been empty for months."

"I got bored of sitting at the top. Thought I'd sit in front today. Speaking of seats why do you sit so close to the front anyways? Are you blind or something?"

"Oh no I just like the front because the professors never pick on the people up front. They always go for the back." I said.

"Is that an observation you made?"

"Pretty much."

The room went silent for a second.

"You know you can sit down. Right?" Roxanne said pointing to her big queen size bed.

"Okay." I said moving to sit on the edge of the bed. Roxanne joined me.

We spent the rest of the night just talking in her room until I had to leave.