Page 3 of All Saints: Pledge

Unpacking my clothes and backpack only takes twenty minutes, and soon I’m scanning my schedule app. Now that I’m sitting still, loneliness crashes in for the first time. I feel very far away from Jaqueline and my parents. It doesn’t help that the schedule for today is empty until an Orientation meeting. No dining service, so hopefully the Orientation comes with food? Thereisa welcome buffet tomorrow, kicking off Fresher’s Week, and something called Formal Dinner training the next day.

I eye my granola bar on the desk, chucked there along with my purse. It’s the only food I could keep from the plane ride for import reasons.

“Hellooo?” A voice comes from outside, along with a knock. “We thought we’d come say hello! We’re your neighbors!” The voice is cheery and British.

I pull open the door to reveal a girl with a curtain of sleek dark hair and a smiling face. I start to say a hello when I catch sight of the other person with her. A tall black guy with natural hair leans casually against the stone wall of the building. In a long trench coat, under a wrought iron street lamp, he resembles a character from a novel.

Our gazes collide. He blinks and then a small smile forms on his lips.

The girl glances between me and the guy, waiting for me to say something. Anything.

“Hi.” I say, as normally as I can. It’s a bit breathy, which could be cool in different circumstances, but feels awkward for a first-time meeting. I clear my throat, rip my eyes from the guy to focus again on the girl.

“Yeah, that’s Dominic. He takes a little getting used to.” She puts out her hand. “I’m Li Fey.”

“Helena,” I say, taking her hand. Her grip is firm and cool, proving she’s adjusted to Dominic’s presence. “Eades.”

“American!” Li says, shaking my hand. “Did you bring ketchup and mayonnaise with you?”

“What? I—no. Why would I do that?”

“Isn’t that what you eat crisps with?”

She means potato chips. This much I know from my books about England. “Um, no. Definitely not.”

She considers me. “Pity. The last American did. I love that stuff.” I snort, but she continues without waiting. “So, have you had a tour yet?”

“I met the porter and saw the room where we get mail?—”

“No, notthatofficial bullshit, therealtour. The Li and Dominic tour.”

My jet lag takes a back seat. This is why I’m here—for a genuine experience. I’m here to make my mark and unleash the Helena I’ve always aspired to be. “Why no, I have not had the Li and Dominic tour,” I confirm. I allow myself a brief glance at Dominic. Yep, still utterly gorgeous.

Li Fey gives me a smile. “Perfect. We’ll show you the sights.”

“Are you going to the orientation tomorrow?” I ask, as I grab my Oxford-issued jacket—my puffer, as they call it here—in case it gets chilly tonight. When I dressed today, I’d felt trendy in my jeans, ballet flats, and long-sleeved T-shirt, but now I feel dowdy next to the effortlessEuropean-nessof Li Fey and Dominic. The puffer will help cover my clothes.

“Nah, we’re both second years. Dominic enjoys living near the First Years.”

Dominic’s face pinkens. “I enjoy livinghere. It’s historic. I can see the sunset from my window,” he qualifies. “And plenty of second years live here.”

“Dominic is a romantic,” Li Fey says with a resigned sigh. “He likes thearchitecture. And thehistory.”

“Ilikenot having to ride my bicycle down the High,” Dominic mutters.

Their repartee sets my nerves at ease.

“We’ll get you back in time for orientation, and we’ll get you a decent meal while we’re out,” Jing Fey declares as we amble out of the alleyway and onto a wider street.

“Fellow’s garden,” she says, motioning to the quad near us. “Those trees are a popular snogging spot.”

I cough. “Um, noted.”

They twine me through stone walls, wooden doors, quads, showing me their favorite secret spots on both sides of High Street. At one point, we duck through an archway, and I’m accosted with a heavenly sound. Like, literally. It sounds like angels.

“What isthat?”

“One of the New College choir practices,” Dominic answers. He hasn’t said much on our walk, content to listen to Li Fey’s non-stop—and hilarious—commentary on everything including: the best places to buy weed, the best Thai food, places used in the Harry Potter films, the best place to pick up drunk first years, the best place to pick up drunk graduate students or professors, and the libraries with more lax librarians that allow you to have small snacks.

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