With a sigh, I put my phone away and started the car again. I had to suck it up and go in now, or I’d be late.
I headed past perfectly-manicured lawns, following signs until I reached the closest student parking lot. It was full of luxury cars that made my secondhand Honda look like a busted old pile of junk.
Oh well.
As I made my way into the lot, I drove right past a group of gorgeous girls with smooth, tanned legs and glossy hair. All of them wore RFA uniforms. I swallowed hard, instantly feeling out of place with my junk-heap car, but when the girls saw me, they all waved and smiled like I was one of them.
So much for RFA’s so-called snobbery.
I left my bags in my trunk for now and furrowed my brows as I looked down at the campus map on my phone. It was enormous, spanning over two hundred acres, and it bordered a national park—pristine land made up of mountains, valleys, dense forests, lakes, and streams with a vast network of hiking trails and camping spots. One of the largest lakes sat on the outer edge of the park, cutting right into the RFA campus, and a note on the map stated that it was used by the academy for water sports.
That part of the map was probably only one-hundredth of the whole thing.
I zoomed out and groaned inwardly. It was going to take me forever to get used to the size of this place. Right now, it seemed unfathomably big.
“Admin… admin… where are you…” I mumbled to myself as I ran a finger down the elaborate map. “Ah, there you are.”
I took off toward the admin offices, where I was supposed to meet with an advisor named Meredith Flores. As I walked, delicate light filtered through the towering pine trees lining the path. It made everything look fresh and magical, especially when it hit the dew on the lawns at the right angle.
Damn, I was never going to get over the sheer beauty of this place.
When I found the offices, I stopped to smooth my skirt down and straighten my little tie. Then I stepped inside, holding my head up and hoping my nerves didn’t show too much.
The double-height office foyer was lit by several chandeliers, and a sweeping staircase led up to the second level. The dark wood-paneled walls were lined with maps and framed photos from decades past, and marble busts of historical heroes and politicians sat on pedestals at regular intervals. They seemed to glower at me as I made my way past, as if they knew I didn’t belong.
Oh, shut up,I lectured myself. I might be poor, and I didn’t hail from an elite family, but I did belong here. I earned this, and with the weight of an RFA senior year education behind me, I actually had an amazing shot at life. A shot at being part of a world I had only ever dreamed of—a world of privilege, success, and freedom.
A kindly-faced woman with gray hair approached me and asked if I knew where I was going. I told her I was looking for Ms. Flores, and she directed me to a door on the right side of the first floor hall. I thanked her and headed down the hall before timidly knocking on the door.
A pretty woman with ash blonde hair glanced up at me. A friendly grin broke out on her face. “You must be Laney.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you, Ms. Flores.”
She rose to her feet. “I’m so sorry. I was going to wait for you out in the parking lot, in case you got lost, but time got away from me. I always have so much to do on the first day back.”
She was wearing a long, flowy skirt and a loose top with a floral pattern. Her arms were decorated with many thin silver bangles, and a necklace with a bohemian-style charm hung over her chest. She wasn’t what I expected from an RFA staff member at all. She seemed way too young, cool, and arty.
“It’s fine. I found my way,” I said, giving her a shy smile.
“You must be tired after the drive. How far away is Silvercreek again?”
“Only half an hour. I packed last night, so there wasn’t much to do this morning.”
“Still, it’s only seven. I’m sorry for making you arrive so early, but I figured it would give us time to go over everything before I show you to your dorm.”
She gestured for me to take a seat, and we spent the next fifteen minutes discussing various school topics like the rules, honor code, and important academic dates. I was also given a class schedule, ID, keycard, and a paper version of the campus map.
“You’ve been assigned to a top-floor dorm in Blair Hall,” Ms. Flores said, eyes sparkling as she pointed it out on the map. “You’re lucky. They did some renovations last term, and all the students on that floor were moved elsewhere. They’re still in their new dorms, so you’ll practically have that whole top floor to yourself.”
“Wow. That’s cool.”
“Should we go and check it out?”
“Sure.”
“Actually, let’s go to your car first. I’ll help you carry your bags.”
Five minutes later, arms laden with luggage, we headed down a brick path toward my new accommodation. A cool wind rustled the deciduous trees around us, and red and gold leaves fluttered to the ground like confetti.