Page 16 of Made of Steel (Made of Steel 1)

"Goodnight." I quickly changed into my pajamas and climbed into bed too. The darkness settled in around us. Just because I told myself I could forget, it didn't mean it would just happen overnight. I needed to actively become Sadie Davis. I stared up at the ceiling. I wished I was staring at the stars. Apparently the new me had insomnia.

"Sadie?" Kins whispered. "Are you still awake?"

"Mhm."

"I know it's silly. I'm only like half an hour from home. But I'm really homesick."

"Me too." I had been homesick for the last ten years. "It gets easier, though." I realized my mistake as soon as it slipped out. Sadie Davis had lived in North Dakota her whole life. She had never moved. I held my breath until she responded.

"You've been away from home before?"

Crap. "Just for overnight summer camps and stuff. It does get easier, though. I promise." Please let that be enough information.

"Yeah. It doesn't help that I'm nervous about tomorrow. Like, really nervous."

I exhaled slowly, relief washing over me. I needed to be more careful. "Just remember that at the end of the day you get to hang out with our hot RA."

She laughed. "I am looking forward to that."

"Besides, we have our first class together. It's going to be fun."

"You're right. I don't know what I'm so worried about. At least I'll have someone to sit next to. Goodnight, Sadie."

"Night, Kins." I continued to stare at the ceiling. Maybe I had been lying to myself for years. It didn't feel easier tonight. All I wanted was to go home. I squeezed my eyes shut. I wanted another chance. I wanted to tell my parents I loved them one last time.

I touched my necklace. It was so painful to remember. So why couldn't I make myself forget?

Chapter 13

Monday

"But the back row is where all the fun is," Kins protested.

"And the front row is where all the learning is." I may have been a new person, but it didn't mean I couldn't still love school. I sat down before she could somehow manage to convince me to go to the very back of the huge lecture hall.

"You're ridiculous, you do realize that, right?" She sat down next to me. "We're the only people in the front row."

"That's because there's still fifteen minutes until class starts."

She laughed. "I don't even think I need an RA. You'll be the one keeping me in line."

"Is he really that handsome? You haven't stopped talking about him since last night."

"You'll see. He had this kind of bad boy vibe, which I am definitely into. I bet he rides a motorcycle. Wouldn't that be hot?"

"I guess."

"You guess? Have you ever ridden on a motorcycle? It's like the epitome of romance."

"No, I haven't. What kind of romances are you into, anyway?"

"The sexy kind."

I laughed. "And you thought I was the ridiculous one? Oh, shhh, here's the professor."

"I didn't even say anything."

But my mind was already tuned to my first college class. I had been dreaming of college for as long as I could remember. It had always been the ultimate escape from my life. No, this wasn't my first choice of schools. But I was definitely going to make the most of this opportunity.

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