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LENNON
Iedge through the doorway, glancing around the massive lecture hall in awe. This is the opposite extreme from the cramped, ammonia-scented rooms I’ve attended college in until now.
Excited chatter fills the soaring space.
Sunlight spills in through windows that line the far wall and overlook Clarkson’s football stadium.
I walk up the central aisle and take a seat about halfway up the stadium-style seating.
My phone vibrates as soon as I sit down. I pull it out of my bag to see a new text from Caleb.
Caleb:Happy first day!!!!
I roll my eyes—mostly at thefourexclamation points—but can’t help the smile that forms.
Lennon:You’re a dork.
Caleb:Takes one to know one, Matthews.
I respond with an eye-rolling emoji, then shove my phone back into my backpack.
“This seat taken?”
A guy with light brown hair and tortoiseshell glasses is standing to my left. He nods to the chair next to me when our eyes connect.
“Nope, it’s free,” I reply, watching out of the corner of my eye as he settles in the spot beside me. There are still plenty of other open seats.
He looks up and catches me looking. “I’m Eric,” he tells me, holding out a hand and flashing a set of straight, white teeth.
“Lennon,” I reply, shaking his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Lennon.” Eric bends down and pulls a notebook out of his backpack. “Have you had Glannon before?”
“Glannon?”
Eric smiles. “The professor.” He nods to the front of the room, where a man with a graying shock of curly hair is opening up a briefcase and removing stacks of paper from it.
“Oh. Uh, no,” I reply, although I’m guessing my first response already answered his question.
“Did you swap majors?”
“No, but this is my first year here. I just transferred.”
“Oh, cool. From where?”
“Richardson Community College.” I wait for the flash of judgment, but it doesn’t appear.
“Well, welcome,” is all Eric says. “What do you think of Clarkson so far?”
“It’s…nice. A little overwhelming, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”
“Yeah, it’s a great school. I transferred here sophomore year, and I’ve been really happy so far.”
“Where did you transfer from?” I ask.
“Lincoln.”
I laugh. “Well, if you can fit in here after transferring from Lincoln, then that gives me some hope.”
