“Wow. Does that sting?”
“Nope. I’ve dated a few of the guys here, and right now, I’m currently single. I’m not one of those girls who has to be with a guy to feel complete.” She grins, her wink ridiculous. “I do have a few booty calls.”
I laugh. “At least your itch can be scratched whenever.”
“Yes, there is that, but Ace… He’s one guy I’ve never been with. Probably won’t ever be.”
“No? I would’ve thought a stud on the football team would be able to be with as many girls as he wants.”
“Well, he can be, but he’s never looked my way, and that’s completely fine. No sweat off my back, but he’s maybe played a starring role in a few of my fantasies.”
I giggle and shake my head. “I bet he’s a bit egotistical.”
“Is it egotistical to know and recognize that you’re elite when you really, actually are? He doesn’t just talk the talk. He walks it and all that jazz.”
I shrug and realize there’s hardly anyone else walking about.
“You have one minute,” Robyn assures me, gesturing to the building before me. “Do you want me to walk you all the way to the front door?”
“Nah, I can make it inside. I’ll see you around, Robyn. You’re a lifesaver!”
Impulsively, I give her a quick one-armed hug, and then I’m off, racing inside. It actually takes me that entire minute to locate my actually classroom, but I manage to slide into my seat just before the professor starts. I blow out a breath and try to ignore the fact that it looks like every single other student has a backpack with them. Even Robyn had one.
Inconspicuously, I open my purse and grab my notebook and my pen.
Time for college to start.
The next chapter of my life.
The chance to start anew.
Instead of feeling excited, I feel terrified. My recent past has been hell. Can I really escape all of that and emerge onto the other side unscathed?
CHAPTER3
The syllabus is insane.Completely insane. I just don’t know how we can cover all of this material. Holy shit. I knew college would be a huge step up from high school, but this is borderline ridiculous.
And the next class? It’s just as bad.
At least both of them are in Dooling, but now I have a break, and after that, my next class is in another building, so I figure I’ll head on outside and walk around and try to find it, get more familiar with the campus. It would be nice if I could run into Robyn again. Why couldn’t she be my roommate? Not that they would pair a freshman with a junior but still. Robyn seems like she’s a lot of fun, and we hit it off right off the bat, so unlike Lauren and me.
Not that I’m going to dwell on that, but I can already feel doubt and worry starting to creep in. I’m trying to hold it together, and I know I can do this.
I have to.
The darkness will not claim me.
It didn’t claim Erika.
Still walking, I grab my phone and call Erika up. She might be in class, but if not…
Two rings, three, four… I’m ready to hang up.
“Katie!”
“Erika.” I can’t help laughing, my outlook already improved.
There had been just as much if not even more darkness in Erika’s life and she’s coming out much happier despite it all. There’s no person in my life who I root for more than I do her. She’s amazing, absolutely amazing, as strong as anyone has any right to be.