"Someone stab me with a fork," Heather groaned.

"I would, but all I have is this plastic spoon."

Heather and Courtney ate lunch outside on their first day of college. They already had lots of homework.

"Then scoop my eyeball out; I don't care."

"You know I'd never do that to my bestie."

Geoff, Bridgette, and Gwen sat next to them. "Hey, dudes! And dudettes!" Geoff waved.

"I can't believe we all have the same lunchtime," Chimed Bridgette.

Courtney frowned. "Heather's boyfriend doesn't."

"Awe, that sucks! I don't know what if do without my Geoffy-poo!"

"Ok, don't make me barf," Heather grimaced, putting her napkin down.

Bridgette ignored her. She grabbed her boyfriend's hand. "Geoff and I have been texting each other every time we leave a class and arrive at the next one."

"Um—good to know." Courtney looked perturbed.

"You two should write a codependence 101 book," Duncan cut in. He sat next to Courtney and wrapped his arm around her.

"Pfft, you should talk, Duncan," Bridgette shot back.

Gwen snorted. "I remember when he had a secret picture of Courtney under his pillow."

"What's wrong with you, Gwen?"

"It is kind of funny, babe," Courtney giggled. "But it's cute. Really cute."

"I'd like to finish my food!" Heather snapped.

"Sorry, drama Queen," Duncan rolled his eyes.

Courtney crossed her arms. "You two need to stop fighting all the time. It's so annoying! It's like I'm taking care of kindergarteners!"

"She started it!"

"Not productive!"

Heather picked up her phone when it buzzed. She saw a text from Chandler.

Chandler: Wyd? Lunch?

Heather: Yes, I'm at lunch. Aren't you supposed to be in class? 😜

Chandler: I have a five-minute break. It sucks that I don't have a break for lunch until after this next class! 😡

Heather: Ik 😔

Chandler: Hey, can u take a pic of who ur sitting with real quick?

Heather: Um, y? It's just Courtney, Duncan, Bridgette, and Geoff

Chandler: Just take a picture, please.

Heather: Fine 🙄

She snapped a quick photo of the group.

Heather: Here it is. I don't know what you want from it, psycho 🙃

Chandler: I just wanted to make sure u were sitting with people I can trust. It's kind of scary to know ur at lunch in a new school without me 😢

Chandler: And u 4got to mention Gwen was there 2

Heather: Omg 🤦🏻‍♀️

Heather: Chandler, I can handle myself.

Chandler: I know, bby, I just wanna keep u safe and make sure no loser tries 2 hit on my woman 🥰

Heather: Thanks for being so sweet 💕

Chandler: Anything 4 u

Chandler: Gtg, see u after school 😘

Heather: Love u

Heather put down her phone and continued to eat. "Was that your boo thing?" Courtney made a kissy face.

"Ok, Courtney, I love you, but don't ever say that again."

"Tell Chandler I said hi!" Geoff smiled. "It sucks to eat without you, dude!"

"He's already at his next class, but I'll let him know."

"What did he text you?" Courtney pried.

"He just asked if I was at lunch, and he said it sucked he couldn't sit with us this semester."

"You know, I hated the guy at first, but now he's grown on me the past couple of years," Duncan said.

"Duncan, you hate everyone who actually knows how to dress."

"No! Don't start!" Courtney held her hand up to silence Heather.

Duncan glared at Heather. "She-"

"Shh!"

"Fine. Heather, you're a fucking saint, and I'm so happy you're my BEST friend!"

"Wow, thanks."

"Where's my appreciation?"

"Up your ass!"

"Heather, stop! If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!"

"That should go for Gwen too! She's always messing with Duncan!"

"I'm just joking around!" Gwen said. "That's the difference."

"Who says I'm not doing the same?!"

"Because you're Heather," Duncan laughed.

"Duncan! Ugh! I give up." Courtney buried her head in her hands.

**

Heather walked into her Spanish class- her last class of the day- after lunch. She sat in the middle row. A short and confused-looking guy strolled in and sat next to her.

She sighed. "Cody, why are you sitting next to me?"

"I need protection from Sierra!" He whisper-yelled.

"I don't see her anywhere."

"She probably copied my schedule!"

"Well, was she in your other classes?"

"This is my only class today."

"Tough luck. I guess we'll find out if she did."

"Heather, can you please protect me?!"

"No!"

"Some friend you are!"

"What the hell? Who said we were friends?"

"CODY!" Sierra stood at the door, beaming.

"Oh no." Cody gulped. Sierra ran to him at full speed, knocking him over his desk. Heather covered her mouth to keep from laughing.

"Cody!! What are you doing sitting next to Heather?!"

"I-I just sat down!" He managed through the pain.

"Stay away from him, you witch!" Sierra hissed.

"Why don't you two go sit somewhere else?"

"That's a perfect idea! Come on, Cody!" She pulled him up and dragged him away by his wrist.

"Why Heather? Why?!"

She cringed but didn't feel that bad because, in the end, Cody could always tell Sierra that he didn't like her instead of sparing her feelings. She took out her laptop and opened the web page for the class.

A lady wearing a tie-dye shirt came in. "Buenos días, class! ¿Cómo están?"

"I'm tired," a girl answered. The class chuckled.

"Ah, me too," she laughed. "It is hard getting back on track with the schedule. Now, how many of you are freshmen?" Heather raised her hand with most of the class. "¡Bien! I can't wait for the semester! Before we start learning, I need to introduce someone! Come on in, Alejandro!"

Alejandro strode in with confidence. He wore a dark red suit with a black tie. His hair was slicked back as if he were attending a party at Jay Gatsby's house.

"Alejandro is my TA for the semester- my teacher's aide. Feel free to tell them about yourself!"

He cleared his throat. "Hola, soy Alejandro. Soy de Perú y acabo de transferirme a Canadá para mi Segundo año de Universidad. ¡Estoy deseando ayudar a cualquiera de Ustedes que requieran mi Ayuda!" He paused with a smirk. "Would anyone like to try and translate?" A blonde girl in the back eagerly raised her hand. "Sí?" Alejandro gave her a charming smile.

"I actually only understood nothing, but I just wanna tell you that you're, like, so hot! Ooh! Was that what you said?!"

Heather rolled her eyes. Typical Lindsay.

"Oh—thank you, miss," he laughed disconcertingly. "Anyone else?" The room shook their heads. "I said hi; I'm Alejandro. I am from Peru, and I just transferred to Canada for my sophomore year of college. I am looking forward to helping any of you who require my assistance!"

"Peru?" A girl giggled to her friend. "I wanna go to Peru now."

"If any of you have questions for Alejandro, feel free to ask!" The professor chipped in.

"Damn, is he single?" A guy behind Heather whispered.

I have to admit; the guy is impressive, Heather thought. He's a Sophomore, transfer student, and a tutor already. And he is kind of attractive.

"I'd like to get to know about you guys!" Alejandro smiled. "And you guys don't have to speak in Spanish for now. I'll go easy on you," he winked. Heather nearly barfed. The way he carries himself is so—frustratingly attractive! "Just say your name, where you're from, what year you're in, what your hobbies are, and if you could travel anywhere, where would you go?."

"Excellent ice breaker, Alejandro! We'll start with Bertha!"

Heather blocked out all the people who went before her. She stood up after Harold went. "I'm Heather. I was born in Huntsville, Ontario. I'm a freshman, and my hobbies are dancing and going out with my boyfriend." She sighed dramatically, wanting everyone to know how 'boring' this exercise was for her.  "If I could travel anywhere, I'd probably go to any of the richest countries in Europe."

The class clapped as part of the routine as Heather sat back down. Alejandro kept his eyes on her for a moment longer than he needed to. Ella es muy atractiva. Too bad she has a boyfriend.

Once class ended, Heather walked towards the door, hoping the girl in front of her would hold it for her. But her fellow student let the door shut. She scoffed out loud. "You were probably Bertha!"

A muscled arm reached out in front of her and grabbed the door handle before the door could close all the way. "Actually, that was Sadie. If you paid attention in class, maybe you'd know people's names."

She looked to her side and saw Alejandro. "I was paying attention!"

"Right," he chuckled. "And I'm not single."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"It means that I have connections in Europe. I'd love to take you anywhere your heart desires. Although I don't think I could take more than one person. That boyfriend of yours wouldn't do."

"Wait, are you hitting on me?"

"It depends on your answer." He followed her into the hallway.

"Ok, first of all, you're being toxic. Second of all, I love my boyfriend. I'd never leave him for a TA who's probably aware that flirting with a student is inappropriate."

"Oh please, I'm a student here too."

"But you're more like a teacher figure in the class I'm in. So pause for a moment and reflect on your behavior," she simpered.

His mouth went slightly agape. Alejandro felt dumbfounded. Never in his life had a woman turned him down- even though he always told them he just wanted to hook up. "Ok then. I accept your answer, chica. But just know; we are going to be studying together all semester long."

"I know, Einstein."

"Adios, Heather."

"Bye, creep!" Heather rolled her eyes and walked outside, where she and Chandler agreed to meet after school. What a weirdo. She heard quick footsteps down the hall and looked up to see her boyfriend.

"Heather! Why didn't you text me?"

"What do you mean? We're at school."

"You didn't text me when you left lunch!"

"Chandler, my last class was five minutes after lunch."

"I don't fucking care. A lot can happen in five minutes!"

"Like what?" She laughed.

"This isn't funny, Heather! God, you never take anything seriously!"

"Um...because it's not that serious!"

"It is to me! What if some guy tried to flirt with you?! Especially with that top you're wearing! A woman who's taken shouldn't be wearing crop tops and shit all the time!"

"I can wear what I want! What's wrong with you?!"

"I'm jealous! I don't want anyone taking my girl from me! And baby—" He stepped closer to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You're so hot and sexy. Everyone wants you. It's not fair to me."

"What? I know I'm hot. How is it my problem?"

He looked around and lowered his voice. "I don't want other guys to see that beautiful body of yours."

"Babe, stop it," she flushed red.

"I can't help it." Chandler kissed her lustfully. He took both her hands in his. Ever since their Junior year of high school, when he took her virginity, Chandler had in his mind that she was his and only his. "You know I'm the only one with the right to see this much skin," he whispered against her neck.

Heather's face fell. "It's not that much."

"It is. Don't you hate getting hit on by tons of guys?"

"Yeah, but it's not my problem they can't keep their hormones to themselves."

"It's called controlling what you can."

"Then the guys need to control what comes out of their mouths!"

"Heather, you're being so overdramatic about this. How did a comment about your outfit turn into a whole attack on men?!"

"What are you even talking about?!"

"Just drop it. You've made this difficult."

"No. All I'm saying is I should be able to wear whatever I want!"

"I don't have the energy for your drama today!"

"You're being such an asshole!"

"And you're being a whore!"

She gasped. "I can't believe you just said that!"

"It's true. You don't even care about my feelings towards this! I wouldn't call you a whore if you took my advice and wore clothes that covered you up more!"

Heather looked away, frustrated. She knew how to deal with his previous outbursts and mental breakdowns, but she couldn't figure this one out.

"I'm doing this for you, baby. I don't want you to be sexualized by everyone on campus. Do you know how degrading that is? I'm only protecting you." He gently stroked her face. "I get so worried when I think of someone hurting you. I'd kill them."

Heather felt less angry now. He's trying to protect me. That's really sweet. "I guess you're right. I'm sorry. I didn't really think about where you were coming from."

He smiled. "It's ok. I still love you. Couples fight all the time, but we can get through it."

"I know. And I love you too. I don't want to ever let something this small turn into a fight again."

"Never." He nuzzled her nose.