“Seriously?” Asher asks, his shock obvious.
I flop onto my back and shrug. “Me and my mom aren’t exactly close. I don’t know how much time you’ve spent with her or if you’ve even met her, but she's… flaky.”
He stays quiet, like he’s waiting for me to expand, but I don’t exactly want to trash talk my mom either. Especially when this conversation is likely going to be rehashed with Travis and co. later.
“So, what did you really want to talk about? Other than giving me the spiel about Travis?” I ask, peeking over at him.
He watches me closely and then shrugs. “Nothing really. I was just intrigued by the girl who got my brother and two closest friends to let down their guard for a change. Last night isn’t exactly a norm for them.”
“It wasn’t for me either,” I grumble.
He nods before sitting up and scooping Shadow into his arms. “I could see that much earlier, but I do think you just made this year a hell of a lot more interesting. I’ll see you on campus, Briar.”
He stands and leaves, and I pull the duvet back up over my head.
Yeah, because interesting is exactly what I was going for.
Fuck my life.
* * *
I pull the car into the lot for Saints U and stare up at the building. Oh yeah, I’m never going to fit in here. I felt awkward as fuck asking Tobias to use the car this morning after my conversation with Asher, and when he gave me a choice of options, I went for the most low-key one I could find, which still ended up being a fucking Porsche Panamera.
Because of course.
The building before me is a huge brownstone building with ivy climbing the walls, surrounded by the biggest lawn I’ve seen in my life.
I’m definitely not in the city anymore, but there’s something about this place that makes me wish I had my sketch pad with me.
There’s a metal-railed wall that’s broken up by brick pillars lining the grounds, which leads to giant iron gates at what looks to be the main entrance.
I’m going to get so fucking lost, I can tell that already and I’m only looking at a fraction of the campus. I’m already late for orientation. Most people will have gotten the drop on it weeks ago, so I’m dreading finding out which classes are going to have space left.
Especially when I still have no idea what I want to do. I used to want to work with children, but I’ve been so focused on surviving rather than living up to this point that I never thought it would be an actual decision I’d have to make.
Taking a deep breath, I climb from the metal monstrosity these people call a car, pull my bag onto my shoulder, and make my way toward campus.
First task: get through orientation. Then, find my freaking dorm.
Why I need a dorm when I can drive here in under an hour is beyond me, but at least I’ll be able to sleep more. Unless the person I share my dorm with is an absolute asshole, but here’s hoping the fates aren’t that cruel.
Though, looking at the last few days, they might just be.
There are people milling around the main pathway through the quad toward a huge building, which I’m really hoping is where I need to go. Being absolutely clueless about all things college really isn’t helping me, but I’m also too stubborn to ask for help.
Especially when the only people I could maybe ask are Travis or Asher, and there is no way in hell I’m asking either of them, even if Asher was nice to me.
I haven’t seen any of them since this morning, but Tobias told me they have a house together close to campus, so I guess that’s where they’ll be. Mostly, I’ll miss the puppy cuddles, but it will be nice not having to dodge and avoid the boys who comewiththe puppies all the time.
I’m just hoping this campus is big enough that I don’t run into them too much either.
I head into the main building, following the signs on the walls for the office, trying to ignore the looks I’m given. I get it. I definitely don’t look like I belong here, probably because I don’t. Everyone I’ve seen on this campus is polished and refined and looks like they’re about to walk a fucking runway in New York Fashion Week.
In my torn jeans, band tee, and Converse, I definitely do not fit that description. My outfit is topped off with a messy bun, chipped nail polish, and my band-patch-covered backpack. Though I’m sure that my bright red hair doesn’t help how obvious it is that I don’t belong here. If I still had the vibrant red… well, the stares I’ve gotten here have been bad enough already.
I knock on the door labeled ‘office’, trying to push down the urge to run away and hide from this place. I’ve never felt more like a fish on land than I do right now.
The door opens and a woman who looks like the main character fromStepford Wivessmiles tightly at me. “Yes, dear? Are you lost?”