Love in the Bubble: Borrowed Beaux in the Bubble

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a St Andrean in possession of a fling must be in search of at least three mutual friends.

In my first year, I have a very distinct memory of some sage words received from a fourth-year whom I admired. 

She said, “In St Andrews, you either need to not sleep with anyone, or be comfortable sleeping with people your friends have also slept with.” Words, I’ve discovered, to live by. 

In the moment, my naivety prevented me from believing that this was entirely true: surely there’s some untapped market out there that no one has discovered yet? As it turns out — no. 

I can’t number the times I’ve thought I’d met a complete unknown, only to discover they were flatmates, coursemates, or just mates with many people I knew. All of this is fine, of course, when making a friend.

When trying to form a romantic connection, however, this pesky obstacle can often get in the way. It can just be an off-putting thought: pondering if your partner pulled the same moves on you as your friends. 

I console myself; after all, shared experiences are often bonding!