True blind judging. I’m excited. My heart is racing. This is going to be life-changing. I can feel it in my soul.
CHAPTER 3
BREVAN
Ireally like the dorms on campus. While I’ve spent most of my time in the student athlete dorms, I’ve been in a few of the others, and from what I’ve seen, most of them are the same style. There are two bedrooms, albeit small rooms, and a common room to share. The common area has a small kitchenette with a mini-fridge, a small sink, and a few cabinets. No stove. We brought in a single-burner cooktop and a microwave.
Our shared bathroom is also accessible from the common area. There’s a decent-sized table that we sometimes eat or study at, and a couch with two chairs, a coffee table, and a television.
Our underclassmen student athlete dorms are slightly bigger because there are two people in each bedroom, making this suite house four students instead of two. I didn’t mind sharing, but moving into upperclassman rooming is great. I love the space and privacy.
The key twists in the lock easily, and I open the door, finding Eddy on the couch with a bowl of cereal. He looks up and smiles.
“Hey,” I greet.
“Hey.”
That’s often the extent of our interactions. It’s not that we’re not friends. Well, maybe we’re more acquaintances than friends. We get along well enough, though.
He doesn’t play football with me. He’s a lacrosse player. I think it’s kind of cool that we’re not only housed with our teammates but those from within the same department, only different sports.
I bypass him on the way to my room.
“Mail’s on the table,” Eddy calls after me. “There’s something from the dean’s office for you.”
My stomach flips. I’m not in trouble, am I? My grades are good. My play on the field is good. Do I have outstanding tuition? I don’t think I do, but maybe that’s it?
Setting my bag on my bed, I head back into the common area and toward the table. A normal-sized envelope waits there for me. There’s a label that reads:
Brevan Skeeter
Bluff 324
In the upper left corner are the school crest and the words:
Provost Kendrick Keller
Alok Vaid-Menon Hall
“It’s from the provost’s office,” I say. Maybe to Eddy or maybe I’m just saying the words out loud. I don’t know.
“Yeah? What is it?” Eddy responds.
The envelope feels thick in my hand, which makes my heart race. Oh my god, I don’t know! What have I done? Am I being expelled?
Swallowing my nerves, I stick my finger under the lip of the seal and begin peeling my way in. There are a handful of papers folded up, and I carefully unfold them to read the words.
Dear Mr. Brevan Skeeter
On behalf of Rainbow Dorset University, I have the pleasure of offering you a position as student ambassador in the Companion Alliance Program (CAP) and extend a cordial welcome to you as a member of the inaugural team. After carefully reviewing your application, I believe you’ll be an invaluable addition to our team of student ambassadors.
As you know, CAP is a new program introduced during the 2018-2019 school year, and our first ambassador trip will be this spring to þórðargleði University in Iceland this spring with the mission of creating a sistership in the LGBTQIA+-forward culture of RDU. You will be representing our program and campus.
You will be provided a number of opportunities to exhibit your leadership skills. This is your chance to obtain great experiences with fellow RDU students as well as those who attend þórðargleði University, share your experiences at RDU, and begin your development of a strong network of people globally. RDU as an organization prides ourselves in investing our time and effort into ensuring that we are able to provide you an environment in which you can learn without prejudice, prepare for a successful future under the highest-esteemed people in their field, be part of a team in a peaceful, happy, and safe environment, and most importantly, have fun as is part of the college experience. With CAP, we hope to take this mission globally.
CAP looks forward to welcoming you to a revolutionary cause. Please find relevant details below:
1. Date of departure: March 16, Alok Vaid-Menon Hall, 8:00 am
