She looks over to me, her freckles like glitter in the early morning rays. “Yes?”
“That dream you had, it wasn’t a dream at all. That really happened.”
She frowns. “That’s concerning. Have they said who did it? Or maybe who the student is? Have they put us in lockdown?”
I shake my head. “I haven’t heard anything else about it. Almost as if it never happened.”
Primrose shivers. “Well, I don’t like that at all.”
I’m about to reply when a small sound reaches both of our ears.
Meow.
“What was that?” I shoot up.
Meow.
“Oh my gosh!” Primrose exclaims. “Look over there.”
I turn to where she’s pointing at, peering into the trees. I finally see it. A small, fluffy kitten slowly makes its way to us. It was hard to see in the shadows of the trees because it’s midnight black.
Primrose walks slowly to the kitten. “Prim, we don’t know where that thing has been.” She shoots me a fierce look over her shoulder which rivals that of the kitten she’s attempting to pick up.
“It’s okay,” she coos, bending down and scooping the tiny kitten into her arms. She nestles her face into the black fur and hums. “I’m going to keep you,” she proclaims.
I roll my eyes. “Where are you going to keep that thing?”
She smiles, looking up at me. “In our dorm.”
She gets in step with me as we walk back to the dorms. “You know, I wouldn’t have taken you as someone to break the rules,” I begin, but startle when a dark presence appears beside Primrose.
“Me neither.” Vance grins and Primrose jumps.
“Holy fireball, you scared me. Where did you come from?” she asks Vance.
He shrugs. “I was out running, saw something I wanted to hunt down. So I did. How are you feeling today, Angel?”
Primrose scrunches her nose up, looking over to me. “Is this guy for real?”
I hide a laugh behind my hand. Vance gives off dangerous vibes, but something tells me he won’t hurt Primrose. I’m probably fair game, though.
“Listen, Angel,” Vance says, causing Primrose to look back up at him. Her face is less than impressed. “How about we head to my place, yeah?”
She shakes her head, her white braid bouncing off her chest with the motion. “Absolutely not.”
“Why?” he asks.
“Because I don’t know you. And no offense, you’re kind of… You know.”
He grins. “No, I don’t know. Why don’t you enlighten me?”
Primrose is saved as we step up the porch of our dorm building. She quickly dashes inside and leaves me alone with Vance. “What’s your angle?” I ask him. He pulls a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it up. “You can probably get any girl you want, why are you bothering my sweet, innocent roommate?”
“That’s my secret.” He smirks, putting his hands in his pockets and walking away.
It’s going to be a long year.
* * *