Friday arrived at last, bringing with it a free day from classes and the first time I'd had a moment to myself since arriving at Kingsford. Max's words about fitting in-or more like, surviving-still played on a loop in my mind. It was unsettling, the idea of being judged based on my scholarship status, but more than that, the tension I'd created with Max lingered uncomfortably. He was only looking out for me, and I'd probably overreacted.

To clear my head, I decided to wander around the nearby village, hoping to shake off the heaviness of the week. The village, like the university, had an old-world charm; cobblestone streets, ancient stone buildings, and a sense of timelessness hung in the air. Yet unlike the formality of campus, the village had a laid-back energy. Students from Kingsford were scattered around, laughing and unwinding, almost as if the social hierarchies of campus had been left behind here. It was... freeing.

I strolled through a small garden at the village's edge, where a few animals roamed around: a family of ducks in the pond, pigeons pecking at crumbs, even a few squirrels darting up trees. Just then, I noticed an ice cream stand, a small relief from the lingering summer heat. I waited behind a strange-looking man wearing a heavy coat, glasses, and a wide-brimmed hat that shielded most of his face. It struck me as odd, given the September warmth.

When it was my turn, the vendor-a jolly man with a contagious smile-handed me a chocolate cone with a friendly wink. Ice cream in hand, I wandered deeper into the garden, crossing a little stone bridge where I stopped to watch a pair of swans glide beneath. Eventually, I found a shady spot beneath a large oak tree, and I let myself sink into the peace of the moment, dialing my mom.

Hearing her familiar voice brought a wave of comfort, and I filled her in on my week, telling her about Max, the campus, and the whirlwind of new experiences. I admitted to her, maybe more to myself, that I'd misjudged Max's intentions. He was just worried about how I'd fit into a world that was, admittedly, different from my own.

Just as I ended the call, something unusual caught my eye-the man from the ice cream stand. He was moving quickly through the garden, disappearing into a hedge maze at the far end. My curiosity got the better of me, and before I knew it, I was following him through the winding paths of the maze. The hedge walls towered around me, and after a few twists and turns, I lost sight of him. By the time I reached the maze's edge, I caught a glimpse of him climbing over a fence, heading straight into the woods.

There was no way this guy wasn't up to something odd. Without thinking, I found a gate and followed him down a dirt path that twisted through the trees. The trail ended at a fallen tree that had been fashioned into a crude bench overlooking a steep cliff. The man was there, his back to me, watching the sunset.

I froze. What was I doing? Panic welled up as I realized I might have walked straight into danger. Before I could turn back, he whipped his head around, locking eyes with me. My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm. I put on the bravest face I could muster, managing a shaky smile as I walked up to him.

"Uh, mind if I sit?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

He nodded, barely acknowledging me, and turned back to the sunset. I followed his gaze, pretending the whole thing was completely normal.

After a few silent moments, he let out a quiet chuckle. "You're not scared?" he asked, his voice deep and curious.

I hesitated but decided honesty was my best chance. "I am. But one of my rules is not to show it."

"Interesting," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You have rules, huh?"

"Yeah, they keep me grounded. I don't know if they're foolproof, but they work." I hesitated before adding, "Like... never assume people's intentions. And... always walk into a room like you're supposed to be there."

He laughed again, a low, almost amused sound. "Not bad. Although, you might want to add something about following strangers into the woods."

I smiled awkwardly, feeling both foolish and strangely relieved. He seemed more amused than dangerous, his tone light despite his odd appearance. "Good advice. So, what are you doing out here?"

"This place is a bit of a retreat," he said, glancing over at me, his expression softer now. "Everyone has to have a place to get away from it all, don't you think?"

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting everything in twilight hues. He stood up, brushing off his coat. "It'll be dark soon. Better head back unless you want to get lost."

He turned toward the path, motioning for me to follow. I trailed behind, feeling strangely reassured by his presence. Once we reached the garden, he stopped and glanced back, as if checking to see if I knew my way from here. I gave a quick nod, thanked him for the company, and made my way back to campus.

Back at my dorm, I was met with a whirlwind. Maeve and Julia had burst in, bags of new clothes and accessories covering my bed. They each held up outfits, grinning mischievously.

"Oh no, you're dressing up!" Maeve said, pressing a sparkly blue dress into my arms.

I couldn't help but laugh as they insisted I wear it. The dress was stunning-more glamorous than anything I owned. Maeve tossed me a warm jacket as well, and before I knew it, we were walking together across campus to the party, joined by James, Dan, and Max.

"Whoa, Evelyn, look at you!" Dan said, raising his eyebrows as I caught up with them. I blushed under the compliments, especially as Max looked at me with a broad smile.

As we walked through the village toward the fraternity house, Dan kept everyone entertained, rattling off joke after joke. Every step closer felt like stepping into a world I wasn't sure I belonged to, but surrounded by laughter and friends, the doubts quieted. The party loomed ahead, loud music spilling out of the grand old house, and for the first time since arriving at Kingsford, I felt a thrill of excitement... and a little hint of fear for what the night might bring.

The party was already roaring by the time we got there-loud music, dim lights, and a crowd that looked more like it had spilled out of a music festival than a college event. People were everywhere: dancing, laughing, making out, shouting across the room. Dan was the first one to fully embrace the chaos, throwing his arms in the air and shouting, "Kingsford's finest have arrived!"

A bunch of people turned around and cheered back like he was some kind of celebrity. I shot him a look, smirking. "Do you have your own fan club here, or is this just how Fridays work?"

"Stick with me," he said, grinning. "You'll understand by the end of the night."

We made our way outside to the backyard, which had somehow transformed into its own mini-party. There was a pool lined with people who were either swimming fully clothed or lounging around, flirting in the glow of neon lights. A couple of beer pong tables were set up, and Thomas and Dan immediately challenged Maeve and Julia to a game. The four of them dove right in, the ping pong ball flying across the table as they trash-talked each other and cheered after every shot.

I found myself standing alone with James, who motioned toward a couch by the edge of the patio. We sank into it, looking over the pool where people were splashing around and laughing, and I took a deep breath, half-tempted to pinch myself to make sure all this was real.

James turned to me, a little smile on his face. "So, Evelyn. I'm curious-what's your story?"

"My story?" I laughed, not expecting him to actually be interested. "Well, if you're looking for something exciting, you might be disappointed. No castles or private jets. Just... normal."

He raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "Normal, huh? I don't believe it. You wouldn't be at Kingsford if there wasn't something more to you."

I felt my cheeks heat up a little. "Fine, normal-ish. I don't have a ton of money like half the people here, but I've got enough to get by. I worked my butt off to get a scholarship here because... well, I want to be a journalist. Kingsford is kind of a dream, you know?"

He leaned in, his expression serious. "That's actually impressive. I respect it. What about your family?"

I grinned, the thought of them making me relax. "My mom's the sweetest person you'll ever meet. My dad is... let's just say, very committed to bad dad jokes. And my little brother? He's 13 and deep in the 'I'm a teenager, leave me alone' phase. He's my favorite pain in the neck."

James chuckled. "They sound... normal. Like you said." He looked genuinely interested, which was somehow more unnerving than if he'd been messing around. Then he hesitated before glancing at me. "So, what about love?"

I felt my face flush again, way too aware of his gaze on me. "Love?" I managed to echo, not sure what I was supposed to say.

Just then, as if summoned by the universe to save me from this awkward moment, I heard someone call my name. I looked up to see Max, standing on the other side of the pool and waving, his blonde hair falling into his eyes as he tucked it back behind his ear. I smiled back, trying not to feel relieved at the interruption.

James, however, didn't let up. "So... do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, a teasing note in his voice. "Or is it Max?"

"Max?" I sputtered, caught off guard. Before I could even think of an answer, our little circle expanded as Max walked over with Alex and Charlotte. Charlotte slid into the seat next to James, leaning into him with a look that made me wonder if they were already very close friends.

Max took a seat beside me, glancing at my outfit with an approving grin. "Evelyn, you look... amazing. I've never seen you in a dress before."

I smirked, trying to play it cool. "Guess we've never had an occasion for it."

"Well, now I'm starting to regret that," he said, eyes lingering on me a moment longer.

Before I could think of a response, Alex interrupted by nudging Max, his eyes drifting over to a group of girls by the pool, who were pretty much barely dressed and eyeing both of them like they were a free dessert platter. Max flashed me an apologetic smile, then nodded at Alex. "We'll be right back," he said with a wink.

I watched as they swaggered off toward the girls, quickly shifting into what could only be described as full flirt mode. Both of them leaned in close, flashing smiles and practically radiating confidence. It was... a little bit impressive, I had to admit.

Turning back, I realized that James and Charlotte were no longer just sitting together-they were practically in each other's personal bubble, talking with their faces close enough that I could tell it wouldn't be long before they were literally in each other's faces.

I leaned back on the couch, looking around at the crowd of strangers and my supposed "friends" all scattered around, fully immersed in the wildness of it all. Maybe Dan had been right-maybe I'd understand this kind of scene eventually. But right now, with the neon lights flashing and the noise of the crowd blending into a blur, I was pretty sure this party wasn't for me.