Chapter 19: College life

                                    

                                          
College life wasn't what I expected. Believe it or not but in high school I was very uptight. I was more than focused on my education. Always working myself harder and harder to try and make it to college. Mala, the head of UCLA university, likes to show me off because not a lot of foster care cases end up like mine. Younger me was always on track never took any time to relax or goof off a little. Look at me now I'm walking with my two crazy best friends off to buy some special supplies for a special girls night out. College for sure changed me. 
                          
Heather taught me that It's not just me who has my back. I can let my guard down and let other care for me. 
Ruff taught me the most important things of them all: that life is too short. That's it's okay to just have fun. I'm always going to worry but I can't spend my entire life worrying about my future.
                          
We're the better version of the three musketeers. 
                          
"What up, you got stress-rhea?" Ruff asks heather who looks like she's about to explode from nervousness. 
                          
"That was one time!" Heather says back defending herself.
                          
"I think it's a stretch calling an entire year of college one time" Ruff says putting her hands in her pockets. Heather gives Ruff a mean look from bringing up those memories.
                          
"If anyone is going to have stress diarrhea it's me" I say looking at our destination ahead of us "let's make this fast and get back to class".
                          
"I'm putting my key in between my fingers just in case this guy tries any funny business" Heather says sounding serious, this guy better not try anything. 
                          
"Yes girl, you shank that man with your mail key" Ruff laughs and does an elegant spin before we enter the building. 
                          
The stairs up feels endless but finally we reach the top.
                          
"Okay that's the exercise of the week" I say as we finally make it. 
                          
"Try year" Ruff comes up behind me looking like she just did an iron man. She puts her hands on her knees and tries her best to catch her breath. We walk up stairs everyday at our university but we haven't gotten used to it yet. 
                          
"Okay let's do this" I say pulling my girls with me towards the apartment we walked up all those stairs for. 
                          
We're about to knock on the door but before I can even put my hand up the door opens.
The door gets pushed all the way open. 
                          
"Hey chicas!" A man with short curly hair, greets us by the door "come in, come in".
                          
Heather, Ruff and I look at each other before walking in. The brown haired boy stands there with his arms out wide as he shows off his incredible big apartment. 
                          
"There's pasta in the kitchen if you want a plate, there's tequila right there" He says pointing to a crazy expensive bottle of tequila. My stomach makes twist from the sound of tequila "and my dog is very cuddly so go for it".
                          
He didn't have to say that twice since Heather went straight for the dog. 
                          
"I'm Juan and you guys are?" He grabs a cigarette that was lying on the couch table and lights it up. 
                          
"I'm Astrid, this is Heather and Ruff"  I say pointing to my two girls that are standing on each side of me. He nods as he blows out smoke. 
                          
"Hey What Harry Potter house is y'all?" He asks getting up on a skateboard that was lying on the floor and rolls towards his couch. He lands perfectly on his sofa with a loud bump.