Page 2 of Learning to Love

My stomach is in knots, and I hope my roommate is not a Mean Girl because I can’t deal with that right now. I've dealt with my fair share of Regina Georges throughout the years. They don't like anyone different, and God forbid you are socially awkward. That makes it so much worse. Add being plus size in the mix, and they have even more ammunition against you. They will make it their mission to bring an army of clones against you.

It will be less work for me if my roommate is nice and honestly it would be nice to have a friend instantly being so new. The itinerary shows her moving in on Friday. Her name is Sasha Maria Hernandez and I'm too chicken to look her up on social media. I'd rather be surprised than dread her arrival.

Toby and I skipped supper, so we decided to walk to a 50s diner near campus. It's open 24/7 with all its greasy goodness. My Apple Watch says it's a little past midnight, and not too many people are out tonight. I wonder if it will be quiet like this all summer. Yes, please! We've been to this place twice already, and my mouth is watering for those buttermilk pancakes. We walked like 12 miles today, learning the layout of the school and finding every one of my classes, so I deserve those pancakes.

"Whatcha thinking, cuz?" Toby always takes forever to order his food. There could be only two items on a menu, and he would still take twenty minutes to decide. Considering that's the only thing about him that gets on my nerves, I let it slide.

"The pancakes, duh!” I roll my eyes at him. As if I would ever order anything else from our new favorite restaurant.

"There are like 52 items on this menu, Dani. You got pancakes the last two times." He runs his hand through his dark blonde hair, clearly overwhelmed with all the choices.

"I like what I like." I shrug.

"You're so boring!"

"Your Mama is boring." I throw up my hands in the air. "Boom!"

"Bitch please!" Mimicking my movements from seconds before. I laugh so hard I almost spit out my Sprite Zero. He's like my brother from another mother. He finally settles on the chicken club, and I get my pancakes. Both ravenous, we eat in silence.

"This is so good. My freshman 15 might turn into the freshman 500. I'm not even mad." I snort.

"Can't be as good as this chicken club!" He does his happy food dance, which makes me snort again.

Toby is 6'5 with dark blonde hair, tan skin, and an athletic body. With his big blue eyes, he never has a problem with the ladies either. He's fun-loving and an all-around great guy. Everyone in my family is like that. They're loud and rowdy, and my socially awkward self is over here being the total opposite. It used to bother me, and I have lost some sleep over the years fretting over not being like them, but I've put that in the past. I am who I am, and they are who they are. Life is not a competition, and they love me for who I am. I wish I could be the person I am around Toby when I'm around everybody else, though. That's my most authentic self.

The dinging bell sound on the door of the diner goes off, alerting that new customers are walking in. I look over in that general vicinity and my mouth involuntarily pops open. The hottest guy I've ever seen walks in like he owns the place. He exudes sex appeal, dressed head to toe in Longhorn gear -shirt, shorts, and slides. I’m almost positive he's on the football team because in Texas, football is life for most of these guys.

He's with two other guys and how long they've been standing with him, I have no idea. I've only just noticed them. Both are attractive but not like him. One has deep red hair and freckles. He's cute in the boy next door type of way. The other has dreads and big muscles! I bet he could carry me on his back in all my chunky glory, he looks that strong. Both are cute, but neither can hold a candle to the Sex King. I grin to myself because that'll be what his name is in my mind forever. I know I’ll never talk to him, so it’ll always be my secret.

Toby looks starstruck. He turns to me slack jawed. "My man card is about to be revoked, Dani. I'm totally "fangirling" over here. That's 3 out of the 5 of the Fearless Five. The Jake Ryan, Dallas Kincaid, and Jaxon Williams. They are only Sophomores and already being looked at by the NFL."

Toby lives and breathes football. I have no doubt he knows exactly what he’s talking about. I only know Georgia football. I don't know anything about any other players. "Who's the one with the shaggy brown hair?" I whisper.

"That's the Quarterback, "The Jake Ryan" and he’s been first string since his freshman year. Somebody got a crush, Dani?" He laughs, wagging his eyebrows at me.

I blush but fiercely deny it! Only Toby can make me want to hide underneath a rock in certain situations. "I do NOT!" I say a little too loud.

I look in their direction, and all three are staring back at us. Kill me now. I want to slide under this table and hide until the jocks leave. Jake raises his right eyebrow at us, but the other two are smiling. I mouth "sorry" and direct my eyes to my last uneaten pancake. I can't finish eating it now. I can feel his eyes still on me. It's almost like an invisible electric current is running between us.

I look down at my shirt and realize I'm wearing my favorite Georgia Bulldog tee. That's probably why he's boring a hole through my soul. I don't have to look to know he's still staring. As if reading my thoughts, Toby whispers, "He might be the one with a crush! He's still staring at you, girl. You have to date him, and I'll get all the sex I want then."

I look up at Toby. "You are the grossest of man whores. Ewe. I don't wanna know about you and all the sex you can get."

I hear snickers from the other table. While Toby had whispered, I had not. Without any semblance of control, I look over. The looks on their faces are priceless. Even Jake is amused. I shake my head and look back at Toby. I sigh with relief. He's not even embarrassed or mad at me. He's unapologetically smiling. I'm the only one mortified. Which is generally the way it goes.

We have no more mishaps and I say a prayer of thanksgiving for that. Toby finishes eating, he pays the waitress, and we head out. I’m exhausted after the day we’ve had plus this little encounter has worn me out.

"Hey, Georgia!" The redhead yells out.

I turn around quickly, surprised he's talking to me. "Yes," is the only word I can muster.

"You know this is Longhorn territory, yeah?" The guy with dreads demands. His tone is playful, so I don't feel like he's being a jackass.

I smile an all-tooth kind of grin. "Prove it!"

All three laugh. The Sex King responds. "Challenge accepted."

It's my turn to laugh then, giving them an extra smile and a wink, I turn on my heels and follow Toby out the door. He goes on and on about how cool that was all the way back to the dorm. He's proud that I didn't even stutter. I punch him in the arm, but he's not wrong. I'm pretty proud of myself too.