I open the dorm room, and Alice leaps off the bed. She runs to me and wraps her arms around me. “There she is.”
“Here I am,” I say in a sing-song voice.
“Hey.” Alice searches my eyes, and her voice is soft. “We’re going to be okay.”
I nod, so I don’t have to try and speak over the lump in my throat. It’s hard seeing her again, but, at the same time, she mends a part of my broken spirit.
“Come on. Trent is saving us seats at the Pizzeria. We’ll unload the rest of your stuff tonight.”
I take a deep breath and drop my bags. “Do you know who all is coming?”
“No. He just said some of his friends.” Alice gives me a knowing smile. “But he hasn’t been with Maggie, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
I roll my eyes and mumble, “no, I don’t care.”
Alice laughs as she continues to walk out the door. She knows I’ve had it bad for her brother, but I don’t think she knows the full extent of our relationship. I don’t even know the extent of our relationship.
As soon as I walk in the restaurant, the smell of garlic and parmesan hits my nose. The place is a small red brick building, and everything is red and black and white checkered. The booths and chairs are red with black tables. We find Trent with a group of bulky muscular guys and a few girls in shorts and skin-tight shirts. All the girls look exactly the same—long bleach blonde hair, fake baked, and heavy mascara. These are not girls—they’re women clones. I immediately feel out of place in my leggings and loose Rolling Stones shirt.
“Hey everyone,” Alice smiles and waves. She seems more confident than I remember. It’s only been three months, but she’s grown while here. Seeing her blossom into a self-assured young woman gives me hope that maybe that can happen for me as well. “This is my friend, Rachel. She’s starting her freshman year here, as well. We’re rooming together.”
I wave as they nod their heads and smile. One of the guys narrows his eyes. “How old are you?”
“Not old enough,” Trent clips. He doesn’t even bother looking at the guy or me.
The guy chuckles. “Rachel? Oh right. Yeah, you graduated early. Impressive. Beauty and brains.”
“She’s too young, Parker. Don’t get any ideas.” Trent takes a big bite out of his pizza, still refusing to make eye contact with anyone.
Parker, on the other hand, hasn’t taken his eyes off of me. He winks and smiles so big that I can’t help but smile back. “Too late, Randall. I hope to see you around, Rachel.”
Trent reaches across the table and smacks him on the side of the head. “You probably won’t. Remember, she’s smart? Doubt you two will share any classes.”
Parker, completely unaffected, leans over the table toward me. “I’m more interested in sharing study sessions rather than classes. We can study all night and until the morning hours.”
Trent’s jaw ticks as he slowly places his slice of pizza on his plate. As I walk over and gently place a hand on Trent’s shoulder, I smile and feel his muscles tightening.
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I pull out the empty chair next to Trent. “Can I sit here?”
He nods and picks back up his slice of pizza. The subject is changed, and after a few minutes, Trent is laughing with the rest of the group. I notice, again, how easily Alice chats with everyone. Our small group slowly becomes even tinier as people begin to leave. Finally, Trent makes eye contact with me.
“You’re going to have to watch out for older guys.”
I roll my eyes. “Tell me about it. I seem to keep making the same mistake.” I look him directly in the eyes, so he’ll get my point. There’s only been one guy, period, and I keep falling for him.
“I was ready to jump over the table and knock the hell out of Parker. He knows better. Alice and I told the group about you yesterday.”
“What exactly did you say?”
“You’re like a sister to us.”
Ah-huh. “Wow. I hope you don’t treat Alice the same sisterly way you do me.”
Trent’s tongue slides across his top teeth and then licks his bottom lip. He bites back a smile before he says, “Believe me, I don’t treat anyone the way I do you.”
With that, he stands up and leaves.
When I walk into English 101, my first class on Monday, I can’t help but have an extra pep in my step. I’m ready to take on this year. I slide into my seat and unzip my backpack. I grab a notebook and ink pen. A few people have laptops, but I can’t afford one yet, so it’s good ole’ paper and pen for me. The girl next to me doesn’t have anything on her desk. She holds out her hand, and I accept it. She gives me a firm shake and says, “I’m Bexley.”
“Rachel.” I’m surprised she’s introducing herself with a handshake. Most people give a little wave or head nod. I can tell, right away, though, that Bexley isn’t most people. She has rich, long black hair that’s so shiny, it looks fake. Her skin is flawless, and she barely looks as though she’s wearing any makeup, other than a thin strip of pink glittery eyeshadow, right above her long lashes. She’s dressed in black leggings and an oversized white thin shirt that hangs off her shoulder, revealing part of her black sports tank. Bexley gives me a warm smile. “Nice to meet you.”
When class is over, Bexley groans. “Might as well make a friend in here. I don’t know about you, but I’ll need some company if I’m going to keep sitting through this course. I mean—is there any point to being here? I feel like she rushes through exactly what’s posted on her website and then basically says ‘okay, get to it.’ I could teach this class. Anybody who can read could.”
“Yeah, she’s not one for details or discussion. Maybe since it’s still early in the year?”
Bexley gives me a closed smile and then sighs. “You’re an optimist. I like that. I’m more of a realist, myself, but that’s why I bet we’re going to be good friends. You’ll be my ying.”
“Your ying?”
“To my yang. See you Wednesday.”
Exploring the Universe is in a stadium seating room with the universe projected on a huge screen. I’m in awe of this classroom. The class is an elective that’s not required for my major, but I took it because it sounded interesting. As I’m walking toward the front of the room, I accidently bump into someone.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“No worries,” replies a boy with hair that’s almost white. He gives me a crooked smile and looks like he’s about to say something else, but I feel people behind me, trying to also move forward into the room, so I nod and continue walking.
I grab a seat in the front. I look up at the screen that’s filled with stars and planets. Staring at the screen, showing how vast the world is, fills me with excitement. I push my personal life drama out of my mind. College is going to be a new start for me. There’s a whole world out there, why am I still harboring feelings from back in Lumberton? Everyone has their spot in the world; I just have to figure out where mine is. All I know for sure is that it’s not in Lumberton.