Despite her eagerness to get out of the dorms, Kaitlyn quickly realized that heading directly to Vinny's was a bad idea. Showing up as a complete stranger with no preamble and asking to stay with them was already a questionable bet. Sure, the guys had always gone for it before, but that was after she'd already spent the night after their first party—so why not stick with what worked?

  The only problem was, that party wouldn't even start until evening. In fact, right now it was still early enough that the whole house would almost certainly be asleep. Usually, it would take her a good part of the day to walk there, but the car meant she didn't actually have to leave until much later.

  I've already said goodbye, though. So heading back now would just seem weird… Kaitlyn shook her head at her thoughtlessness. Well, whatever. There's plenty of other things I can do in the meantime.

  Finishing her John Avenue Capital programming challenges was an obvious first step. The sooner she got that done, the better—especially since she wouldn't have her Cappy Credits or income from Kate's Kitchen to help over at Vinny's place. After taking a moment to think, she also decided to make a quick stop at the on-campus store and load up on seasonings and spices. Those items would keep well in her trunk overnight and shore up some of the more dire needs of their kitchen. They were also basically free, since she could buy them with credits and didn't yet have the signing bonus from her work.

  After finishing all of that and picking up a few other items, Kaitlyn loaded all her stuff into the trunk of the Bowley. Stepping back, she placed her hands on her hips and stared down at it one more time.

  I'm… not exactly sure what kind of first impression this will make.

  Having a car like this would definitely raise questions about why she wanted to stay with the guys. The supplies and her readiness to move in might also generate a bit of confusion. Maybe it was better to just leave it all behind anyway?

  Kaitlyn shook her head. Nah. It's worth a try. The guys have always been very… relaxed about stuff like this. I think I can make it work, as long as I don't play my hand right away.

  It was unlikely that anyone would mark the vehicle as hers right off the bat, not with all of the other cars that would crowd the neighborhood for the party. And besides, she could always park a little further away to keep it from being too obviously seen. Stocking the pantry also wouldn't be a huge issue, considering how infrequently most of the guys checked it. It wouldn't work forever, but at least it would push the issue down the road a little bit.

  It will be nice to have a car there, though. It means we won't have to bug Chris whenever there's a big grocery run. I can just go myself.

  Satisfied with her preparations, Kaitlyn headed back to campus in search of some other way to pass the time. After putting together a shopping list and grabbing lunch at Cappy's, she settled on stopping by the library for a bit of light reading. It had been far too long since she'd actually picked up a book, and this seemed like a perfect excuse.

  I never did end up diving into this world's books too much, did I? Well, aside from the webnovels. Maybe I should buy a few of those, too…

  It was one thing to keep busy with cooking, cleaning, and work. But even those activities might not be enough to fill her days as she integrated into Vinny's life. In fact, without most of her go-to activities to fall back on, she had a sneaking suspicion that she'd be looking for even more to do soon enough.

  …Wow. I guess that really puts into perspective how hard I've been going, doesn't it? She let out a wry chuckle at herself. It's like I don't even know how to take a break anymore.

  Not that she really minded. If anything, all of this stuff made her feel more energized than wasting a few hours browsing the web ever did. At least, that's what it felt like.

  As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, Kaitlyn finally headed out toward Vinny's house. Her front headlights flicked on as the dim twilight faded into night, revealing a dusting of stars above. She settled back into the unfathomably comfortable seat and let her mind wander a bit as she pieced together the correct series of turns and landmarks that would lead to Vinny's house.

  It's been a while since I've stayed over there. Sure, I've visited a bunch for the post-Nationals party, but actually staying the night? I don't think I've done that since… since after Philip, really.

  That wasn't the only thing, either. Even in those loops where she had come to the party, she usually hadn't talked to Vinny. The looming prospect of his endings had turned that otherwise innocuous prospect into something more daunting, something heavy with potential meaning. Especially when she'd been focused on Elliot.

  What if we don't hit it off? What if I… don't know how to talk to him anymore? I mean, I've changed a lot since then. It's completely possible.

  Kaitlyn shut that line of thought down. Doubting herself now wouldn't be useful, not in the slightest. Especially since she was already committed to going.

  The Bowley turned a final corner into a sleepy-looking neighborhood. Rows of nearly identical white houses lined the street on either side in neat rows, some of their windows glowing with light from within. One in particular had its driveway choked by a cluster of cars that had begun to spill onto the street further up. It was early enough that their numbers hadn't swelled too crazily. But soon the whole neighborhood would be clogged with visitors.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  As planned, she parked a little further up the street than strictly necessary before approaching the white-walled house on foot. Her belongings stayed in the trunk for the moment, as well—no point in bringing them in yet, and it wasn't like she had a better place to store them. Before long, she was knocking on the front door and stepping back to wait, her hands in her pockets.

  A blast of bassy club music escaped as it swung open. Warm amber light spilling out onto the doorstep, illuminating the stout outline of a fratboy filling the entryway. A floral-patterned shirt pulled tight against his broad shoulders and thick biceps. His face, already ruddy with drink, bore a wide grin. "Yo! What's up?"

  "Hey, Ryan," Kaitlyn greeted the guy, searching through her memories for what she'd said last time. "Can I come in?"

  "Damn, you know my name?" Ryan put a hand to his forehead, face screwing up in concentration. He paused for a long moment to think. "…Nope, no idea who you are. Sorry. I must've been trashed wherever we met."

  "Yeah, you were." She nodded in agreement. "No worries, though. It was a long time ago either way. I'm Kaitlyn."

  Ryan eyed her curiously, one hand scratching the short stubble on his chin. "Kaitlyn, huh? Still doesn't ring a bell… I'm usually good with faces, too, even if I am wasted. How trashed was I exactly?"

  "Really trashed," Kaitlyn said. "Like, to the point you were trying to pour beer in the ice maker to make beer ice cream."

  Technically, that particular story had yet to happen. But judging by Ryan's strange experience with the matter, it hadn't seemed like the first time, either.

  "Yeah, that would do it." Ryan groaned. "Shit. I didn't make a total ass out of myself, did I?"

  "I mean, yes? But no more than anyone else did, so you're cool."

  "Good enough for me." The fratboy stepped back, extending an inviting arm toward the interior of the house. "Well, either way, no one's gonna complain about another cute girl dropping by. Come on in!"

  She thanked him, stepping inside as Ryan shot her a wink. Some part of her still jolted in surprise at being called cute, but it didn't entirely catch her off-guard this time.

  It's not just Ryan being Ryan. Elliot said the same thing, and I'm way more inclined to listen to his opinion on the matter. Still… that's gonna take some getting used to.

  She shook her head. Evidently, as much as her self-esteem had improved, it still needed a bit of work. That, or these two guys just needed glasses.

  If it is just me… then that really is crazy. It's amazing what just a bit of confidence can do, I guess.

  She waded into the crowd of partygoers, taking advantage of the gaps to slip between people without bumping into them excessively. The speakers must've had their bass turned all the way up given how the music seemed to vibrate the air around her. The sheer volume made it so that shouting remained the exclusive method of communication here, only adding to the din of the too-small space.

  She eyed the table of cheap liquor near the middle of the room. A steady swarm of people in various states of inebriation milled about it, filling and refilling their red plastic cups as needed. Chris hovered nearby as the house's designated mixologist.

  …Should I grab a drink?

  It had been a long time since she'd touched alcohol. It just never seemed to end well when she did. However, she'd also grown quite a bit since her days of trying to drown her sorrows in the stuff.

  Maybe this is the loop where I finally learn some kind of restraint. Or at least try to. If I can't… well, then maybe it'll be time to admit I'm better off staying away from the stuff altogether.

  That was probably a better way to go about it. She would allow herself to drink, but not to go out of control. It would be a good exercise of willpower and keep her grounded.

  I don't know if I want to start quite yet, though. Maybe in a bit.

  She nodded to herself at the resolution and began meandering through the party once more. For the moment, she simply observed the people around her. There weren't too many familiar faces that she knew from campus, likely because of how far away the event was. But she did recognize a few. The girl that always got so drunk she couldn't pour a shot without spilling half of it. The lanky brown-haired guy too tall to hold a conversation with unless she was craning her neck. The fratboy wearing a collared shirt dotted with flamingoes that was way too good at beer pong.

  But within the press of bodies, one figure stood out among the rest.

  A broad-shouldered blonde ran one hand through his slicked-back hair, his muscled frame seeming to pull at his black leather jacket. Deep blue eyes narrowed in concentration as he pinched a ping pong ball between thumb and forefinger. He scowled, lining up his shot, before letting the tiny ball fly. It sailed across the table, landing nearly into a cup on the other side with an inaudible plop.

  Vinny pumped his fist victoriously, grinning fiercely as bystanders erupted in cheers. His opponent across the table groaned as he grabbed the cup to take a drink.

  Kaitlyn watched the exchange from afar with a small smile. There he is.

  For a moment, she simply looked on, observing the game as the pair battled back and forth. Vinny was no slouch, as evidenced by his commanding lead. His ball again sailed into one of his opponent's few remaining cups as he took another turn.

  As she watched the cocky blonde line up his next shot, Kaitlyn frowned. Finding the guy was just as easy as expected. But now she faced a different dilemma.

  How am I supposed to approach him?

  Usually, she met Vinny on the back porch after having some breakdown or moment of solemn reflection—or, as he put it, "moping." But this time? She didn't feel like that would work out so well.

  I guess I could go out there and try, but… I feel like I'm not actually sad enough to trigger his "downer detector" or however the heck he usually ends up finding me. It would probably be better to just talk to him myself.

  The prospect was more daunting than she'd expected. The fears she'd pushed away of not hitting it off with him all rushed back in a torrent, threatening to paralyze her. What would she even say? After all, if she said the wrong thing, she could probably kiss goodbye to her chances of staying here overnight—much less actually accomplishing anything this loop.

  …I'm overthinking things. Kaitlyn took a deep breath to calm herself. This is a party. No one's expecting to make deep personal connections here, much less for other people to be at their best. I don't need to impress anyone. I just… need to act natural. Have a bit of faith in myself.

  The crowd roared as Vinny sank his ball into the last cup on his opponent's side. Squaring her shoulders, she stepped forward and began making her way toward the victorious blonde.