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“Go tomorrow,” she challenges. “You have all weekend before classes to go shopping.”
“I …” I’m stuck and I see no way out. If I insist on going shopping, she’ll think she’s won and I’m never one to forfeit. “Fine, I’ll go.” I drop my purse back down on the bed.
Her eyes widen in surprise and her lips part. I’ve stunned her. Good.
“The party’s not until tonight,” she admits reluctantly, and I had figured as much, “so you have time to do your shopping.”
I can’t contain my smile as I grab my purse. “Don’t leave without me,” I chirp, closing the door behind me. “What a bitch,” I mumble to myself out into the hall.
The hall is filled with girls; most of them shrieking in delight and excitedly talking about their summers. I envy them just slightly since it looks like I’m stuck with the devil incarnate for my roommate.
I call for a taxi as I head outside. My mom and dad wanted me to take my car to college, but I opted not to. Freedom to come and go as I liked would be nice, but this experience was all about pushing myself out of my boundaries. Riding the bus or taking a taxi was something new for me.
I hurry down the steps of my dorm and push open the door to the outside. The sun shines brightly above the bustling campus but I know it’ll soon be going down. The campus buzzes with voices as people catch up with friends and say goodbye to family. There’s a campus coffee shop not far from my dorm that I wanted to find, but I know if I’m to make it back in time to go to the party I can’t linger.
I look around, trying to get my bearings, but it’s impossible. As soon as I got here, I grabbed my information pack and headed straight into the dorm, not bothering to check things out. When I told the cab driver I went to Addams University he said he knew it well and he’d pick me up across from the fountain, only I don’t know where the fountain is.
I look around blindly, panic building inside me.
I wanted to be on my own but it’s only beginning to hit me how truly alone I am.
I turn to my left, where there seems to be more activity, and head that way. A normal person would probably stop and ask for directions, but I’ve always been a doer, and I hate asking for help even when it’s necessary.
I can’t believe how many people are on campus. I mean, I knew this was a big school, but knowing it and experiencing it are two different things. Besides, people only began arriving on campus yesterday and classes don’t start until Monday so it’s bound to get even more crowded.
I bumble my way around, looking every which way. I know I look like a chicken with its head cut off.
“Are you lost?”
The voice could belong to any number of people speaking to someone around me, but somehow, instinctively, I know they’re speaking to me.
I turn toward the deep rumble, holding my breath.
My eyes collide with hazel ones and I look up at the massive wall—man—in front of me. He’s tall, probably six-foot-four at least, with blondish-red hair that’s shorter on the sides and slightly longer in the front. Not too long, but long enough that I could run my fingers through it if I wanted to … which I don’t want to. A white t-shirt stretches across his muscular chest and several tattoos adorn his arms. I want to look and see what they are, but I don’t want to look like I’m checking him out so I don’t.
“Um … I’m looking for the fountain,” I say.
He chuckles, and the sound washes over me like a summer breeze. “Which one?”
“There’s more than one?” I frown. Well, this isn’t good.
“Three, actually.” He shrugs and his shirt rides up the smallest amount, showing off his smooth stomach.
“Is there a main one?” I ask.
“I guess you could say the one in the center of campus is the main one.” He frowns.
“Would a taxi pick me up there?”
His brows furrow. “Uh, no. Sorry.”
I sigh heavily. “The cab driver said he’d pick me up at the fountain, I assumed there was only one, but obviously I was wrong. He’ll be gone by now anyway,” I groan. There’s no way the cabbie would’ve waited this long for me.
I turn to leave, not even bothering to thank the kind stranger.
“Wait,” he calls. I stop and turn back around, tilting my head to the side as I regard him. “Where are you headed, maybe I can take you?”
“Um, I don’t even know you.”
