Fell In Love With My Roomy Chapter 21

"Julianna!" I awoke to the sound of Mark's voice cutting through the stillness of the morning. Sunlight streamed in through my window, and the clock indicated that it was almost ten—not too early for a Saturday.

Groggily, I muttered, "What?" while rolling over and pulling the covers up to my chin. A late-night study session had left me feeling fatigued, even on a weekend morning.

Mark's persistence in his quest to enter my room was evident in his voice. "Can I come in?" I sighed before begrudgingly granting permission.

"Fine," I grumbled, my attempt to return to slumber thwarted. Weariness clung to me from the previous night's study session.

As Mark entered my room, the half-hearted glance I gave him conveyed my reluctance. "What's up?" I managed, my eyes barely open.

A chuckle escaped Mark as I moaned in response. "Not a fan of early mornings, huh?"

I shook my head, my voice still groggy with sleep. "Why are you here, and what do you want?"

Mark continued to chuckle. "Today, we're all going to the lake," he declared with palpable excitement. "It's our annual tradition, a way to kick off the school year on a beautiful weekend. Come on, you can't miss it."

I groaned in protest. "Mark, I'm utterly exhausted. I don't think I can make it."

"No way, Julianna! Even if you pulled an all-nighter, you're not skipping this. It's going to be a blast, and you can catch up on sleep later tonight."

I rolled over to face him and found Mark standing beside my bed. "Fine," I conceded with a sigh. "When do you want to leave?"

"Can you be ready in half an hour?" Mark proposed, and I winced at the short notice.

"That's not much time," I complained.

"We're not attending the Met Gala; it's just a day at the lake. Now, get up," he insisted, and I reluctantly complied.

Mark continued, "Do you even have a swimsuit?" as he made his way back down the hallway, his question hanging in the air.

Recalling that I hadn't unpacked my swimsuits since I rarely used them for work, I realized I needed something more conventional for a typical pool day. Delving into my drawer, I found two pieces, both light purple, with high-waisted bottoms that complemented my figure nicely. Embracing my not-quite-flat stomach, I knew I'd enjoy the day.

Ensuring my door was tightly shut, I slipped into both pieces. My job at the pool kept me in the habit of regularly shaving my legs, a detail that escaped my coworkers. Swiftly, I gathered a towel, sunscreen, and other essentials into a backpack, then dressed in a long t-shirt and comfortable shorts, prioritizing comfort in case I wasn't sure what to expect at the lake.

Slipping on sandals, I grabbed my keys, phone, sunglasses, and a baseball cap before heading to the main room.

"Hey, Julianna!" Kyle greeted me cheerfully, brightening my morning. "Could you help us get this cooler to the car?"

"Of course," I replied, grateful for the cheerful wake-up call. I joined Kyle in transporting the cooler filled with beer up the stairs and helped load it into Kent's open trunk. Kent nudged it further inside with a sigh of relief.

"That should do it," he remarked, and I returned his smile.

"Could someone please fill me in on this 'tradition'? I've never heard of it," I quipped as I made my way back to my apartment. Kyle burst into laughter.

"It's a tradition unique to our friend group, going way back to our days in first grade. There's a quiet, private beach about fifteen minutes from here. It all started when we were searching for a place to enjoy some drinks away from the campus crowd," Mark explained with a chuckle when I inquired about the origin of this ritual.

Curiosity piqued, I asked, "What led you guys to that particular lake?"

"We all hopped on a bus, packed our bags with booze, and embarked on a little adventure until we stumbled upon this park. We ventured into the woods, discovered the beach, and it's been an annual tradition ever since," he replied with a grin, leaving me nodding in acknowledgment.

"We're delighted to have you on board," Mark announces with a shirtless appearance, a bucket hat atop his head, and an evident eagerness to soak up the sun. "Welcome to the crew!" He adds with a hint of sarcasm. "Has waking you up finally extinguished your grudge against me?"

"Maybe," I respond, nonchalantly. "I'm still weighing my options."

"Cheer up, we're grabbing some grub before hitting the beach. Your awakening was my reward," he remarks with a smirk, effectively putting an end to my grumbling.

"Alright, I'll let it slide," I concede, sighing as I lean against the kitchen counter.

"Would you like some of what I'm whipping up?" Kyle offers. Mark chuckles and shakes his head.

"No thanks."

"Why the exhaustion? What kept you up?" Kyle raises an inquisitive eyebrow, prompting me to release a tired sigh.

"I had a late-night study session working on a hefty reading assignment due Monday. It was a substantial task, and I just wanted to get it out of the way," I explain, earning a chuckle from Kyle.

"Only you could work so diligently that you'd end up exhausted," he teases, earning an eye roll from me.

"Are we waiting for Kent?" I inquire, puzzled by Mark's enthusiasm to depart while Kent is still missing in action.

"Yes, he dashed to the corner store to snag a bag of ice," Mark informs me, and I confirm this as I hear the clinking of ice against plastic. Kyle strides to the door, peeks outside, and delivers a report.

"He's out there adding ice to the beer," he informs us.

Kent had become a rare sight around the apartment since he opened up about his family struggles. His demeanor had shifted, leaving me with more questions than answers, but I refrained from prying. It felt like handling a live grenade; you might get a brief moment of success before it exploded in your face.

"Ready to go?" Kent calls out upon his return to the apartment. He looked particularly appealing today, darn him. It was quite vexing how someone with such a prickly personality could consistently look so attractive. The tank top he had on showcased his well-built arms and torso, with sides cut low.

Kent had never been shirtless in my presence before. To witness that, I'd have to be there in person.

"Let's get moving so everyone can rendezvous at the lake," Mark instructs, and I comply obediently. This was unquestionably an unusual tradition, and I felt like I was just along for the ride.

Mark locks the door, and I head back to Kent's car alongside him. "Are you sure you still want to drive?" Kyle asks, making Kent laugh.

"After what happened last time, none of you are getting behind the wheel of my car," Kent warns, and I try to stifle my curiosity, but it gets the better of me.

"What exactly happened last time?" I inquire, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't even think about telling her," Kyle interjects, and Kent attempts to conceal a grin. Kent didn't often flash a smile.

"Julianna, Kent managed to crash his car into a pole because of him!" Mark joins in as he climbs the stairs, and I let out a quiet laugh. "And the kicker? It happened in a parking lot when he accidentally put it in drive instead of reverse, and he rammed into a sign that read 'Wheels Only.'" Both Mark and I burst into laughter, and even Kent breaks into a smile.

"He did a number on my bumper in a place he wasn't even supposed to be," Kent concurs.

"Alright, alright!" Kyle raises his hands in surrender, pleading with us to cease poking fun at him. "You drive, I merely suggested it."

"Alright, everyone, hop in," Kent says, twirling his car keys around his finger before hitting the trunk's button. It's a pretty fancy car for a bunch of jerks. As everyone starts to make their way over, a high-pitched voice disrupts the scene.

"Kent!" Piper and her entourage of look-alikes are on their front porch. I can't stand how they live right above us. They've all meticulously curled their hair, donned skimpy dresses and beach cover-ups. The harsh truth dawns upon me: they're all joining us today.

"What?" Kent grumbles, heading toward his car door.

"You're not planning to leave me behind, are you?" She descends the stairs, batting her eyelashes as she approaches. "I thought you'd be giving us a ride," she insists with a touch of persistence. As she nears him, he casually steps back, creating a standoff.

"Why would I go anywhere with you? You have a car," he retorts, and I can't help but chuckle, murmuring something about that white Audi under my breath.

"Because I want to be on good terms with you," she whines, and we all exchange eye rolls in response to her plea.

"Piper, I'll be with the guys. Just go on your beach trip with your friends," Kent says, and my eyes widen as he utters those words. Was that even harsher than calling them "clones"? Probably, especially if the guy you're involved with tells it to your face.

"But I want to drink," she protests. "I'll give Chloe my car keys, and she can drive it. Your car easily accommodates five people, so please, let me ride with you."

"Nope," he shrugs, and I nod in agreement. Though it's amusing, I'd likely be upset if someone I liked did this to me. It would sting, but I wouldn't be as entitled as Piper, nor would I make such a ludicrous request.

"I won't cram my friends into the car just so you can ride with us when there's plenty of space in another vehicle," he explains, and I concur because it's a sensible decision. Besides, I doubt I could endure 15 minutes in a confined space with her without being tempted to open her car door and give her a gentle push.

Too violent, Julianna.

"Wait, Julianna's one of the guys, right?" She sounds surprised as she asks, and I roll my eyes. "Let me ride with you, and she can join the girls."

"Oh my god, Piper!" Kent exclaims, and I struggle to contain my laughter. That was quite a spectacle. "I'm not taking you. Come if you want, don't if you don't. Uber, drive, walk—whatever you prefer. In the end, you're not riding in my car, and we'll see you at the lake," he asserts, giving us all a look that says, "Get in and spread out as much as possible so I can make my point."

Mark and I settle into the back seat, placing our bags in the middle. Kyle takes the driver's seat.

Kent promptly joins us in his vehicle.

"Dude," Kyle chuckles as he connects his phone. "Getting involved with that girl was a major mistake." I roll my eyes and gaze out the window, nodding in agreement. I'd rather not hear about this at all.

Kent remains silent, rubbing his face with his hand. I keep waiting for him to speak, but the words never come. Instead, he simply looks weary and troubled.