Page 479 of Filthy Elites

While I wait, I lift first one foot, then the other up behind me, stretching my muscles. Once the gap in the gates is wide enough, I walk through it and down the asphalt road that meanders through the campus housing.

The feeling of being watched washes over me and I still, letting my eyes wander from side to side before I turn and look back at the house. It’s in darkness, there’re no lights on in any of the bedrooms. Shaking my head, I twist my neck from one side to the next, then take off in a slow jog.

Before moving to Maine, the idea of running would have made me laugh, but when I literally ran away from my life, I was so worried and anxious that Dad suggested I try burning some of my frenetic energy away with exercise.

The first run was ridiculous, I lasted about half a mile and by the time I got home I was coated in sweat and breathing so hard I thought I might pass out. On my second run I realized that while I was concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, my mind was blissfully silent.

Desperate for that quiet, I started running every day and now I do a few miles in the morning and sometimes in the evening as well if I’m struggling to turn off my thoughts. Some people say you can’t run away from your problems, but I disagree.

Hitting play on my cell phone, music starts to play through my earphones. I don’t run to heavy dance tracks or songs with a fast beat, instead I run to a soundtrack of calming rain forest sounds, thunderstorms and classical chill-out stuff. It doesn’t help me run any faster or farther, but instead it calms and soothes me.

After a mile or so, I find my groove, increasing my pace and lengthening my stride. This is the best part, when your muscles are loose, your mind is empty and you’re running for the sake of running. The road is lit with streetlights, and I stay out of the shadows, doing my best to be safe even though I’m stupidly running alone at nearly three in the morning.

Most of the houses are dark, except for a few where the lights are blazing and drunk kids are littered on the grass of the yards, music blaring through open doors and windows. Perhaps in another life I might have been one of those kids enjoying a party on my first night of college, but not now. The me I am now would rather run alone in the dark than be around all those people.

It’s another mile before I reach the main campus buildings and I run through the quad, across the lawns and out toward the main gates I entered through yesterday. There’re still people in the valet hut where I spoke to Angelo, and I wonder if the ridiculous college valet service is available twenty-four seven.

“Starling?” a voice calls out as I run past the hut, planning to head out onto the road.

Startled to hear my name being called, I slow to a stop and turn around, finding Angelo half hanging out of the hut. “Starling, is that you, girl?”

“Hey,” I pant.

“What the hell are you doing out on your own at this time of night?” he asks.

“Running.”

“It’s the middle of the night,” he laughs.

“I had like the world’s longest nap and woke up an hour ago. I couldn’t get back to sleep so I figured I’d get a run in while it was quiet and learn my way around the campus.”

Angelo shakes his head and sighs. “Girl, you take the bus to get here, walk your ass through the gates, and now you’re running on your own in the middle of the night. It might seem like it should be safe on a campus with kids this rich, but it’s not. These people think that the laws don’t apply to them, you need to use that pretty little head of yours.”

“I’m more than aware of how the type of kids that go here think,” I say, bitterness lacing my tone. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine.”

“Well, I kind of have to disagree, you’re heading out onto the street in the dark, without a light in dark colors. You’re an invisible target.”

Dropping my gaze down to my black bra and shorts, I shrug a little sheepishly. “Yeah, that’s probably not a great idea. No worries, I’ll head around the buildings and do a circuit back to my house.”

“Where’s your suite?”

“Collinwood.”

His eyes widen and he jolts back a little. “Collinwood?”

“Yep, I asked if it was a mistake too. There’s been a bit of confusion over my name and I’m still pretty much convinced I’m in the wrong room, but student services insist I’m not. Anyway, I should get moving before I cramp up. Thanks for stopping me from ending up as roadkill,” I say, smiling as I wave and set off.

Traversing the admin buildings and the gymnasium, I do a loop around the library and science block and end up panting and gasping for a drink in front of the cafeteria. The kitchens are in darkness, but the vending machines are working and I grab myself a bottle of water, loving that my key card can be used as a cashless payment card as well.

Checking my smartwatch, I’m impressed to find that I’ve already done five miles and my legs still feel fresh, or at least strong enough to get me home again. Opening the water, I take an eager pull, moaning in pleasure when the cool liquid soothes my throat and quenches my thirst. The feeling of being watched again prickles across my skin and I lower my drink and slowly look around, trying to find the identity of the voyeur, but just like at the house, I’m alone.

Being this close to Green Acres must be messing with my mind, add in Evan’s unwarranted trick with my name, and apparently paranoia is my new best friend. Shaking away the feeling, I take another pull from my water and then push off back toward the house as the sun starts to rise.

I get a little lost on the way back and by the time I press my card against the small foot gate I hadn’t noticed at the side of the huge double gates, I’ve run nearly twelve miles. My legs are heavy and my breathing is labored, but my mind is clear and I’m smiling. Until I started running, I’d always scoffed at those annoying athletic people who say you get endorphins from exercise, but it’s true. After a run I’m always happy and even here in this school I don’t want to attend, with my stepbrother who is apparently still holding a grudge, I’m still excited for the rest of the day and the start of my college experience.

There’s no sign of life from the other people in the house when I step through the front door, but it’s barely five a.m. and most normal people are still asleep at this hour. Slipping my sneakers from my feet, I pad into the kitchen, pour myself a glass of water and then silently make my way back to my room.

I know I’ll be tired later if I don’t get any more sleep, but I don’t want to go to bed and lose this buzz I’m feeling right now. Deciding to shower and get ready for my first day, I waste the next hour nervously primping, then decide I’ll take a slow walk back to the cafeteria which opens for breakfast at seven.

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