The silence in the enormous library was momentarily disturbed by the sound of footsteps. Bored with the assignment, the two women reluctantly made their way to the periodicals room to complete the cumbersome library workbook due that week.

Pushing her long brown hair out of her eyes, Julie caught sight of a familiar face. Before she could figure out who it was, she noticed the dark eyes of that mysteriously recognizable stranger open wider as they made contact with hers. Suddenly realizing who it was, Julie darted to the rear of the room, following her friend, who was laughing, as she made her way to the farthest table.

Sliding quickly into the chair and burying her head in the purple workbook, Liz muttered to her friend Alicia to stop laughing. Both women realized that this was Steve, the result of Julie's beergoggling episode two weekends before.

Peering over the top of her workbook, Julie saw Steve staring her way. His squinting eyes tried unsuccessfully to make contact again as he nervously scratched his forehead, messing the ponytail he had neatly pulled his black wavy hair into. Blazing red from embarrassment, Julie returned her workbook to the position in front of her face.

Feeling foolish for not recognizing one of the signs before it was too late, Julie was determined to take extra caution the next time she came in contact with any of the four components of beergoggling.

Beergoggling is the act of being with a member of the opposite sex while intoxicated that you wouldn't even consider spending time with when sober.

Staring down at the workbook in front of her, Julie began to recall what had occurred that Saturday night at an apartment party about a block away from her dorm room. Crowded in with dozens of people she had never seen before, Julie felt somewhat insecure, though she had come with three friends. Deciding it might loosen her up, she walked into the kitchen where the beer was usually kept.

A rather feminine-looking guy dressed in black aided her in getting a cup of beer from the keg. Wanting to get away from his too-eager eyes, Julie darted out of the kitchen into the adjoining room. The first component of beergoggling had been fulfilled. An alcoholic beverage must be present. Though the name beergoggling seems only to refer to beer, it also includes all other types of alcohol. Coolers, mixed drinks, champagne or wine can all fulfill the first requirement for beergoggling.

Seeing an empty seat at the table in the other room, Julie sat down among a group of guys engrossed in a drinking game. She curiously observed as they passed an upside-down cup around the table, shaking it to mix the dice underneath.

Noticing the confused look on her face, the guys refilled her drink and quickly described the game's details. Finally comprehending, Julie joined in as they refilled her glass every few minutes. After about seven drinks, the second beergoggling component took effect -- intoxication.

Eventually becoming bored with the game, Julie left the table and wandered into the living room. Noticing that the guy in black from the keg was now sitting on the couch, Julie retraced her steps and walked back into the kitchen. Her steps were now more deliberate as she concentrated on walking because of her slowing reflexes.

Peering out into the living room again, Julie noticed the couch was now vacant. She decided it was becoming too difficult to stand and made her way over to it and sat down.

After getting settled, she noticed a couple intertwined on the chair to her right. Another couple was opposite her on the couch, while still another was heading toward the bedrooms. When the alcohol kicked in and everyone paired off, the third component became active. Her hormones started working overtime as she felt envious and out of place among the couples.

From out of the bathroom came the fourth component, a member of the opposite sex. He looked over at Julie as he tucked the black shirt into his jeans and fixed his ponytail. As he walked over to her, his smile warmed over Julie's defenses. Reaching over for her hand, he stared intensely at Julie as he motioned for her to dance with him.

Through blurred eyes, his features didn't seem as feminine as before. Julie reached up and removed his hair from the ponytail, deciding he looked much better without it. He introduced himself as Steve as he held her face in his hand and kissed her. Dropping his arm to her waist, he led her to the rooms in the back of the apartment.

As she heard Alicia pull her chair out and get up from her seat, Julie drifted back to the present and her library assignment. Coloring in the final letter on the answer sheet, Julie closed her workbook and got up to return her reference book to its proper shelf. The two women put on their coats, gathered their belongings and prepared to leave the library.

Accidentally meeting Steve's stare, Julie averted her eyes to the ground in embarrassment. Briskly walking out of the room, the women couldn't help but laugh as the door shut behind them. A crimson tint was still coloring Julie's cheeks as she firmly decided she would never humiliate herself by beergoggling again.