AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Um, hey. I’m Kenzi. It's nice to meet you."
Instantly her smile returns and she stands.
"We should go and see your room, you're going to love it!" She says with more enthusiasm than I'm used to.
I rise from my chair and follow Poppy out of the office.
She starts speaking as soon as the door is closed behind me. "So where are you parked? I'll help you take your stuff up to your room and fill you in on everything you need to know around here to survive the year."
I continue walking, not saying anything, and make my way out of the building and towards my truck.
"Wow, cool truck! And is that amotorbikein the back?" She lets out a small laugh. "You'vegotto be one of the popular ones. What thehellwas he thinking?"
The last part is said quietly, like she doesn't want me to hear it. Now I’m both paranoid and curious about this girl and what her deal is.
"What do you mean? What the hell waswhothinking?" My voice has a slight edge to it and I watch Poppy’s eyes widen in fear.Fuck, Kenz, get it together for fucks sake!I take a breath and start again, trying to seem as harmless as possible. "Sorry. I'm not really good at talking to people. Please, what did you mean when you said ‘what the hell was he thinking?’"
"My dad, assigningmeas your guide." She looks at me and sighs. "You’re gorgeous and have a cool truck and bike. You areobviouslya popular chick and you're not going to want to be seen with the likes of me, the daughter of the Dean." Her eyes fall to the floor. I think she’s waiting for me to tell her she's completely right.
I should tell her she is. But my gut twists once again at the look on her face, and I don’t like that she's looking at me like sheexpectsme to ditch her. She looks alone, and if her father’s the Dean, and most people have treated her how she thinks I’m going to, I can see why.
I let out a sigh.
"I've never been popular, Poppy," I tell her. "I was invisible in my last school, and I’m happy to remain invisible here." She doesn't have to know that it’s because I can’t have anyone asking too many questions.
"Yeah right,” she scoffs. “I doubt that somehow. I mean look at you. There is no way you went around unnoticed."
"I’m deadly serious. No one pays attention to the quiet nerd where I'm from. And I have spent the last six years taking all my classes online." I don't know why I'm telling her this, but I feel the need to reassure her I'm not like everyone else.Yeah, there's no way I'm trying to analyse this right now. Nuh-uh. No way.
I reach into the back of my truck for one of my boxes and Poppy reaches for another. I look at her and she shoots me a small smile. Idoneed someone to give me the lowdown of this place and if she is as alone as she seems, she must be as invisible as me.
"Look, Poppy," I sigh. "I'm not used to talking to... well anyone, but I appreciate you taking the time to show me around and fill me in on this place."
“Oh, it’s really no problem.” She lets out another little sigh. “If you haven’t guessed, I’m not exactly popular myself.”
I’ve never had any girlfriends before, but for some reason this girl keeps on getting to me, and I suddenly realise why. She isn’t alone by choice or necessity like I am. She’s alone because she’s been shunned by the rich arseholes due to who her father is. That doesn’t sit well with me, my demons stirring and wanting to make people pay for hurting this sweet girl.
“Look, I’m not good at this type of shit, and I'm not saying we’re going to be BFFs or whatever, but I won’t go out of my way to avoid you or anything. Like I said, I really appreciate what you’re doing for me.”
Poppy’s answering smile lights up her whole face as she turns to go back towards the building.
“Well then, let’s get this stuff upstairs and I can fill you in on everything you need to know. I think I’m going to like you, Kenzi Scott.”
I chuckle as I follow her towards the dorms. I’ve got a feeling I’m going to like her too.
* * *
Afew hours later I’m sitting on my bed in my dorm room with Poppy, eating popcorn and watching a movie on my laptop, after she helped me unpack all my stuff. This girl knows everything there is to know about this place. She’s already pointed out where everything is on the map, which lecturers like to torture their students, and which ones are pretty laid back. She’s told me what time the dining hall is open for breakfast and dinner, in addition to lunch - if you don’t want to cook and eat in your room.
“Okay, now we’ve got all the boring stuff out of the way, let's get on to the important information for surviving your year at WinterHill,” she says, turning to face me. “WinterHill is pretty much the same as any normal University, except everyone here is super rich. The students whose parents are the biggest donors are the popular lot, and they are always together. And I would suggest staying away from them if you don’t want any trouble. Especially The Crew.”
“The Crew? What sort of name is that? Are they some sort of gang?” I ask.
“No. The Crew is made up of the four most gorgeous and popular guys at WinterHill University. They’re like kings around here. They are fourth years, all the guys want tobethem and all the girls want to bewiththem. They’ve practically run this place since our first year and youdo notwant to end up on their shit list. They can make your time here absolute hell.” She looks down at her hands like she’s talking from personal experience.
“Bullies? What the fuck is this,primary school? I fuckinghatebullies,” I sneer. Poppy looks at me and gasps at the vehemence of my reaction. I quickly school my features. “I’m sorry Poppy, bullies are a bit of a trigger for me. I can’t standanyonewho hurts someone weaker than them for nothing but their own pleasure.” Memories of the beatings my father used to give me flash through my mind, disappearing as quickly as they appeared. “If you say we steer clear of the popular clique, then we stay as far away as possible. I’m not looking to draw attention to myself this year. I have to keep my head down and my grades up if I want to graduate.”
She looks at me with wide eyes and a grin that takes over her face.
