Dana had grown up surrounded by luxury—mansions, vacations, designer clothes. It was a life most people would dream of. But for Dana, there was always something missing: friends her own age. Being homeschooled all her life had made her shy, nervous, and unsure of how to act around other people. Today was different, though. Today, for the first time, she was stepping into a real college. Her heart thudded in her chest as she walked across the campus, surrounded by the chatter and energy of students rushing to class.
The college was as lively as she'd imagined, maybe even more so. People filled the hallways, laughing, sharing inside jokes, and calling out to each other. Dana swallowed her nerves and scanned the room, quickly noticing two people who seemed to be the center of everyone's attention.
Catherine was the queen of the school. She was the girl everyone wanted to be friends with, and the one all the guys tried to impress. Then there was Ethan, the mysterious and insanely cool guy. He was so handsome that girls couldn't stop staring, but he always seemed a little distant, like he didn't care much about anything.
Rumor had it that Catherine and Ethan were secretly dating because they were always together, laughing and whispering. But whenever anyone asked, they just rolled their eyes and laughed it off.
Dana walked into her first class, her hands clammy and her face flushed. She chose a seat in the back corner, hoping to blend in. She glanced up just as Catherine's eyes met hers. Dana looked down immediately, pretending to be busy with her notebook, but it was too late.
"Hey! You're new, right?" Catherine's voice was friendly and warm. She slid into the seat next to Dana without waiting for an answer. "Mind if I sit here?"
Dana's cheeks turned pink. "Um, sure. That's okay."
Catherine grinned, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I'm Catherine. This is, like, the best class, mostly because our professor tells the worst jokes. You'll love it."
Dana nodded and felt a slight smile spread across her face, even though she hadn't expected it.. By the end of class, Catherine had introduced Dana to nearly everyone in their row, sprinkling her stories with quick, funny comments that made everyone laugh. For the first time in forever, Dana felt her nerves start to loosen.
Lunch was even better. Dana found herself at a table with Catherine and, to her surprise, Ethan. He was quieter than she expected but had a way of making dry comments that cracked her up. "So, what do you think of the campus so far?" Ethan asked, looking at her with an expression that was impossible to read.
"It's… big," Dana managed, her heart fluttering at the attention.
Catherine laughed, "Took me a year to find the best shortcuts. Stick with us, and we'll show you all the secret spots."
The day ended with Dana feeling a little giddy. She hadn't expected to find friends so soon, and definitely not ones like Catherine and Ethan. That night, in the privacy of her luxurious room, Dana scribbled in her diary. "Today was awesome! I made two new friends, Catherine and Ethan. Ethan… well, he's just really cool." She paused, biting her lip, wanting to write more about Ethan, but feeling too shy.
Over the next few weeks, Dana, Catherine, and Ethan became a trio. They ate lunch together, studied in the library until closing time, and shared jokes that made Dana's cheeks hurt from laughing. But something kept gnawing at her. Every time Catherine leaned over to whisper something to Ethan or when they burst out laughing at an inside joke, Dana felt a knot in her stomach.
One afternoon, after a long study session, Dana blurted out, "Hey, what if we did something fun this weekend? Like a picnic by the lake?"
Catherine's eyes lit up. "That's a fantastic idea! We can pack sandwiches and snacks, maybe even bring cards to play or something fun like that."
"Yeah, why not?" Ethan said, giving Dana a small smile that made her heart flip.
The day of the picnic was perfect. The sun was warm, and the breeze carried the smell of wildflowers. They spread out a blanket under a big oak tree, laughing as they passed around sandwiches and chips. Ethan leaned back on his elbows, eyes half-closed as he listened to Catherine's stories, but he'd look at Dana every now and then, giving her a soft smile that felt like a secret.
"I had so much fun today," Dana said as they packed up their things to leave.
"Me too," Ethan said, his eyes meeting hers.
"Definitely! We need to do this again soon," Catherine chimed in, throwing her arm around Dana's shoulders.
Dana forced a smile, but her heart sank. It wasn't that she didn't like Catherine—she did. But she wished, just for once, that it could be her and Ethan alone.
That night, Dana poured her thoughts onto the page. *Today was perfect. But I wish I could have had more time with Ethan. Catherine is always there, and it's getting harder not to feel jealous.* She sighed and shut her diary, staring at the ceiling.
Over the next few days, the feeling grew stronger. Dana didn't want to resent Catherine—she was kind, funny, and had welcomed her with open arms. But as Dana found herself watching Ethan from across the table or catching moments between him and Catherine, she knew something had to change. She just hadn't realized how complicated things would get when she finally decided to act.