Lake Lagunita glistened in the afternoon sun, its calm waters reflecting the clear sky. Sack, Olivia, and I were sitting on the shore, enjoying the calm of the place. Classes would start tomorrow, and although we were a little nervous, there was also a sense of excitement in the air.
Olivia was lying on the grass, with an open book over her face to protect herself from the sun. Although she had decided to pursue medicine like Sack and me, she didn't seem very interested in studying at the time. Instead, she was busier telling us one of her chaotic stories, this time about how she had tried to cook for her siblings and ended up burning a pot.
"And then, my older brother came into the kitchen and said, 'Olivia, are you trying to make soup or create a black hole?'" she said, laughing as she picked up the book to look at us.
Sack, sitting next to me, let out a snort that could almost be considered a laugh. It was strange to see him so relaxed. I, for one, leaned lightly on her shoulder, feeling the warmth of her presence as I listened to Olivia.
"I don't know how you survived your childhood," I said, smiling.
"Neither do I," Olivia said, putting the book back on her face. But hey, at least now I know not to go near a kitchen unsupervised.
Sack didn't say anything, but I noticed his body relax a little more when I leaned on him. It was a quiet, but comforting connection. Olivia, however, did not take long to notice it.
"Hey, did you realize that you're like in one of those couple photos?" She said, picking up the book again to look at us with a mischievous smile.
I sat up quickly, feeling my cheeks warm.
"We're not in a picture," I replied, trying to sound indifferent, though I knew my tone betrayed my nervousness.
Sack, for his part, simply shrugged.
"Don't make a big deal out of it," he said, in his usual tone.
Olivia laughed, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Well, I'm just saying they'd make a nice couple." But hey, don't listen to me, I'm just the girl who burns pots.
I changed the subject quickly, not wanting to delve into that territory.
"Classes start tomorrow. Have you checked your schedules yet?
Olivia sat down, setting the book aside.
"Yes, and we have the same class at 8 a.m. Who programmed that? A sadist?
"General biology," I said, grimacing. Not exactly my idea of a good start.
"I have that class, too," Sack said.
Olivia looked at us in disbelief.
"How can they sound so calm?" It's general biology! At 8 in the morning!
"Well, it's not like we have a choice," I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
Olivia sighed, leaning back on the grass.
"This is going to be a disaster. I'm going to be late for all my classes, and when I'm not late, I'll be half asleep.
"Don't worry," I said, smiling. I'll wake you up if I have to.
"I don't," Sack said, his tone so dry that Olivia and I laughed.
"Thank you, Sack. You're a true friend," Olivia said, giving him a look of fake indignation.
He just shrugged, but I noticed a small smile on his face before he looked away at the lake.
We spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the lake and joking about what awaited us in the classes. Although we didn't say it out loud, I think the three of us knew that this friendship was something special.
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The morning of the first day of school arrived with a clear sky and fresh air that promised a good start. Or at least that's what I tried to convince myself as I quickly got ready, checking my backpack a third time to make sure I was carrying everything I needed. My phone vibrated on the table, and when I looked at it I saw a message from Sack.
Sack: Ready? I'll wait for you outside.
I smiled as I read it. Although Sack wasn't the type of person who used to show much enthusiasm, the fact that he had written to me to wait for me made me feel a little calmer. I answered him quickly.
Lindsay: yes, I'm coming out. Did Olivia write to you?
Sack: No. No idea.
That didn't surprise me. Olivia wasn't exactly the most organized person in the world. I decided to call her to make sure she was awake, but after several attempts, I only got her voicemail. I sighed and headed for the door.
"Megan, did you see Olivia this morning?" I asked my roommate, who was hastily eating breakfast while reviewing her notes for the Stanford Debate Society.
"No, but if she doesn't answer, she's probably sleeping," he replied, without looking up. Good luck waking her up.
So, after meeting with Sack, we decided to stop by Olivia's bedroom. We couldn't let her sleep on her first day of school, even though I knew waking her up wouldn't be easy.
When I reached her room, I knocked on the door loudly. There was no response. Sack shrugged and folded his arms, as if he already knew what was coming.
"Olivia, wake up!" I shouted, knocking on the door again. We have class in 20 minutes!
Finally, I heard a noise from inside, followed by a dull thump and a groan.
"What?" Who is it? A sleepy voice murmured from the other side.
"We're Lindsay and Sack!" Open the door! I answered, trying not to laugh.
The door slowly opened, revealing Olivia with her hair disheveled and her eyes half closed. She was wearing a huge T-shirt and wrinkled shorts.
"What time is it?" She asked, rubbing her eyes.
"7:40," Sack said. The class starts at 8.
Olivia blinked, processing the information. Then, her eyes snapped open.
"7:40?!" WHY DIDN'T THEY WAKE ME UP SOONER?! She shouted, running up and down the room like a hurricane.
"I called you about five times," I said, trying not to laugh as I watched Olivia try to put her shoes on backwards.
"I didn't hear the phone!" I was in airplane mode! she exclaimed, tossing a jacket in the air and catching it in flight. Wait, I need to brush my teeth!
Sack and I exchanged glances as Olivia disappeared into the bathroom. Two minutes later, she ran off with a towel in one hand and an apple in the other.
"Ready!" Let's go! She said, biting into the apple as she slammed the door shut.
The road to class was a race against time. Olivia tried to comb her hair as we walked, which resulted in an even bigger disaster, and Sack just walked beside us, though I noticed a small smile on her face as Olivia tripped over a rock and almost fell.
We made it to class just in time, finding seats together in the back. The professor, a middle-aged man with glasses and a lab coat, was writing on the blackboard. He turned around when we were all seated and looked at us with a smile.
"Good morning, welcome to General Biology. "I'm Dr. Harris, and I'll be your professor this trimester," he said, his voice clear and enthusiastic. This course is an introduction to the fundamental principles of biology, from cell structure to basic genetics. I hope you're ready to work hard, because it won't be easy.
Olivia muttered something inaudible next to me, and I couldn't help but smile. Dr. Harris continued with his presentation, explaining the curriculum and expectations of the course. As I listened, I noticed how Sack calmly took notes on his laptop, his expression serious but relaxed. Olivia, for her part, tried to stay awake, resting her head on one hand and yawning discreetly.
When the professor finished his introduction, he announced that we would start with a short icebreaker activity. He divided us into small groups and asked us to introduce ourselves and share why we had chosen to study biology.
"Well, this is awkward," Olivia muttered, as we moved to form a group of two other students.
"Me first," I said, taking the initiative. I'm Lindsay Grove, and I chose biology because I want to study medicine and help people.
"I'm Sack Steele," Sack said, in his usual tone of indifference. I chose biology because it is a requirement for medicine.
Olivia looked at us with a comical smile before introducing herself.
"I'm Olivia Hart, and I chose biology because... well, because Lindsay and Sack did it, and I didn't want to be left alone," she said, laughing. Also, I burned my last pot, so I need a plan B.
The other students laughed.
The rest of the class flew by, with Dr. Harris explaining the basics of cell biology. Although the material was dense, being with Sack and Olivia made everything more bearable. Olivia tried to take notes on her Ipad, but ended up drawing small doodles, while Sack seemed to absorb every word from the professor.
When the class was over, we went out together.
"Well, that was... interesting," Olivia said, stretching. Is anyone else hungry?
"We still have chemistry in an hour," I recalled, looking at my schedule.
"Great, more science," Olivia said, with a dramatic sigh. At least we're in this together, aren't we?
Sack nodded, and I smiled. Although the first day of school had been hectic, I knew that with Sack and Olivia by my side, everything would be easier. Or at least, more fun.