Page 28 of Freshmeet
I started walking backwards with my hands up. “Consider me warned. Have a good night.”
She waved, and I turned around to make the trek back to my apartment.
Cutting through the quad, I felt my new life set in.
I’d done it. I was in college. Not only that, but my brother was too. The McCormick boys were moving up in the world, and I was just five years away from making my dreams come true.
Students passed me, smiling and laughing, some even smiling at me.
I’d been on campus with my uncle’s construction crew doing renovations of the residence halls, but when you’re there on the job, it’s like the students don’t really see you. I imagined that’s how it was for the staff and students who work jobs around campus—working separated you from the privilege of being a student.
But no more.
Walking past the Welkum, my joy dimmed.
Sarah.
Maybe I’d watched too many romcoms with my mom, but when I first saw her, I thought, “This is it.” I didn’t know whatthiswas, only that she was something special. I’d been so comfortable talking to her that I’d let myself act like I was living in my very own movie. When she dragged me around the Barn, I knew I was a lucky son of a bitch.
But of course, Jamie had ruined what promised to be the best night of my life.
Okay, that was dramatic, but I couldn’t help how I felt.
Lying in bed that night, it wasn’t worries about my mom, or Jamie, or all the bills we had to pay that kept me awake. It was a pair of big blue eyes judging me and finding me wanting.
SIX
HEY, BABY, YOU EIGHTEEN?
SARAH
UNKNOWN
Hi Sarah! Mona gave me your number for tutoring. Are you still available?
I am. When can you meet?
It’s short notice, but does now work for you?
I glanced down at my trash bag dress and laughed. We’d been getting ready for an anything but clothes party, and there was no way I wanted to cut myself out of the intricate neon duct tape and plastic bag creation only to recreate it later.
Why not go to the student union in frat party finery?
Sure. Meet you in 10. I’ll be the blond wearing a trash bag.
UNKNOWN
Also blond, also wearing garbage. Wild. See you there.
I chuckled and rushed down to the living room. “Hey! That freshman texted about tutoring. I’m meeting him at the SUB. I’ll see you guys at the Gamma house later.”
Mona nodded, ripping another piece of neon pink duct tape off the roll. “Bye!”
“Newspaper was a bad idea,” Kat said, lifting her tattooed arm so she could get a better look at the black smudges on the inside of her elbow.
Mona laughed and added another piece of tape to the Xena-esque chest plate.
Racing down the shaky back steps, I avoided the spot where Emma had fallen. Despite their best efforts, the landlord hadn’t been able to get all the blood out of the gravel, so they just poured new gravel on top. In the middle of the worn gravel parking lot, the new rocks stood out just as badly as the blood.
