Page 19 of Shadows Within
I pull my phone off my nightstand and check my notifications. Sophia wants to grab coffee before class and Dadsaid to have a good day in case I miss him this morning. It’s enough to make me smile. I have people who love me, and today that’s a good enough reason to get out of bed.
I press my palms into the bed and sit up.
“Today is going to be a good day.” Maybe hearing it will help me believe it.
I try to relax in the shower. As I throw on some freshly washed jeans, I put on some Arctic Monkeys. Their music changes my mood, and I can’t fight the flow that controls my body as I groove in the bathroom. I wipe the steam off the mirror—there I am.Smile.
Outside, the crisp fall air helps today feel like a clean slate. The drive to campus is quiet— besides the hum of the car and a playlist that Sophia sent me that’s on in the background. The music matches my mood today: soft and hopeful.
I pull into the school lot, tapping the steering wheel to the beat of the song ‘Talk’ by Hozier. I roll into a spot, turn off the car, and put on some clear lip gloss. As I get out, my phone buzzes in my bag.
Sophia:You better hurry up before I have both of our drinks. ;)
I roll my eyes and smile.
Scarlett:Keep your hands off mine. Be there in 2!
The little coffee cart on the other side of the quad is swarming with half-awake students. I spot Sophia near the back. She has her circular black sunglasses on, looking like a glamorous movie star. Although she isn’t a morning person, I know she’s perfectly put together underneath them. I watch her laugh and talk with the barista as I approach.That girl makes friends wherever she goes.
“Scar!” She waves and motions for me to come over. I’m just over five feet away from her, when I see her scanning me, up and down.
“Wow, don’t you look nice today.”
I snort. If anyone can get away with being blunt, it’s her.
“Gee, thanks.” I roll my eyes. “I’m still groggy from a crappy night’s sleep. This coffee better bring me back to life.”
Sophia hands me a coffee. I smell it before I take a sip.
“I love the fresh smell of napalm in the morning,” I say trying to impersonate Robert Duvall fromApocalypse Now.
“You’re a friggin’ weirdo.” Sophia side eyes me. We each take a few steaming sips and begin our walk down the halls to class. She glares at me.
“Another one of the Mommy Voss dreams?”
“Yeah, but I’m good.” I reassure her with a smile. “I promise.”
“Okay, well I’m headed the other way. Text me after class and we can study if you want?”
“Sure!” I yell as she disappears down the hall.
I push through two heavy doors and head down a staircase, straight to a seat near the front of the lecture hall. The classroom is filled with quiet chatter as I sit and sip my coffee. Professor Elliot walks into class, his leather satchel swings in his hand and his hair flows in tune with the speed he’s going at. He looks spry with his old blazer and acts like he’s perfectly on time, even though he’s five minutes late.
“Morning, everyone.” He sets his satchel on his desk and opens it.
“Let’s see how many of you actually did the readings.” He looks up at me. “Scarlett, should I call on you first, you look suspiciously alert today.”
I laugh. “I’m always suspicious, Professor.”
He raises an eyebrow and glances around the class before answering.
“Fair, but you are also the only one who handed their paper in two days early.”
A brief flicker of pride burns in my chest. While I don’t always have it together, I hate being disorganized with my schoolwork. When I can, I try to hand things in early, but it’s a nonnegotiable for me to meet deadlines. It’s a standard I hold myself to.
As the class discussion picks up, I’m fully engaged. Elliot occasionally paces the room, throwing questions like darts. I answer and sometimes assist in a friendly debate.Today is a good day.
After class, I walk across campus. The breeze is warmer than this morning. As I pass through the courtyard, I hear someone yell my name in the distance. They catch up to me as I approach the football field.
