“Let’s go get a burger, then we can go by the store and get some boxes and tape.” Jacob stands, crossing the room to the door.
I sit there, thinking about how much things have changed since Dylan walked into my life. It’s been a whirlwind and I can’t imagine how things would be if she hadn’t moved here. So, no matter how much of a bitch her mother is, at least I can thank her for that.
“Ford, come on man, I’m starving!” Jacob shouts from the hallway.
Laughing, I follow him, stopping long enough to get my keys off my desk.
Chapter 19
Dylan
Itake a deep breath as Matthew and I step onto the luscious green grass of Colorado State University. The familiar scent of pine wraps around me, grounding me, a reminder of the nights I’ve spent crashing at his place these past few weeks. The administration building rises up in front of me, its cool brick and stone framework towers over us, but somehow still seems warm and inviting. It’s hard to believe this is where I’ll be spending the next few years of my life. I crack my knuckles, a mix of excitement and nervousness swirling in my chest.
“You okay?” Matthew asks. I feel a sense of relief as he looks at me, his smile reassuring, easing some of the tension I have.
“Yeah,” I reply, nodding a little too quickly. “It’s just… wow, you know? I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this being my school, my home for awhile.”
He chuckles softly. “Yeah, I remember feeling the same way when I first came here. But you’ll get used to it. It’ll feel like home before you know it.”
I hope he’s right. The campus is stunning, no doubt, but it’s also a reminder of how real everything is becoming. This isn’t just some dream or a distant plan; my future is here now, materializing before my eyes. And while it excites me, it’s also terrifying. So many things are changing at once.
We walk along a winding path, Matthew pointing out different buildings and landmarks. “That’s the library,” he says, gesturing toward a large building with huge glass windows. “You’ll probably live there with all the work you’ll have.”
I can’t help but laugh, though I'm a little nervous. “Maybe I’ll just hide in there and never leave.”
Matthew bumps his shoulder into mine. “Nah, you’re too social for that. Besides, you’ll be on the lacrosse team, which means you’ll have a whole team to hang out with.”
I glance around, watching the summer session students hurry across campus, backpacks slung over one shoulder, their faces relaxed as if they belong here. They know where they’re going without any forethought. They have their routine down. I don’t. Not yet. But maybe I will soon.
Matthew leads me through a courtyard, past a gently bubbling fountain in the middle, and guides me back toward the administration building. “I got you an early meeting with a counselor,” he says with a grin. “Pulled a few strings.”
I raise an eyebrow, smiling. “Pulled a few strings? Impressive.”
He shrugs, his smile widening. “What can I say? I’ve got connections.”
I laugh, feeling butterflies take flight in my belly. Matthew just knows how to lighten the mood. The air inside the administration building is cool and smells faintly of coffee and old paper. We’re led into a small office, where a kind-looking woman with silvering hair and glasses perched on her nose waits for us.
“Welcome, Dylan,” she says with a warm smile, shaking my hand. “I hear you’re ready to set up your classes for the semester?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I nod, sitting down in the chair across from her. “I’m still getting used to all of this, but I’m excited.”
She flips through a folder and glances at her computer screen. “I see you’ve already declared your major, which is great. And I hear you’ll be balancing lacrosse with academics, so we’ll want to keep that in mind.”
Nodding, I can’t shake off the lingering nerves, but I’m relieved that she seems to have an uncanny sense of what I require. She assists me in selecting a schedule, carefully distributing the workload to prevent me from feeling overwhelmed.
“Calculus, Chemistry, Nutrition, and Speech,” she says, typing into her computer. “Although it’s a full twelve-credit hour load, it’s manageable. You’ll be busy, but not drowning in it.”
Busy is good. Busy keeps my mind focused, and that’s exactly what I need.
By the time we leave her office, I have my classes, student ID, a campus map, and it all feels much more real.
“How are you feeling now?” Matthew asks as we step back into the sunshine.
I glance down at the schedule in my hands, then up at him. “Good. Actually, really good.”
He grins. “You see, I told you you’d feel better once it was all set.”
We start walking again, this time making our way toward the student center where a plethora of food trucks are located. The air is filled with the mouthwatering aroma of grilled meat and spices, causing my stomach to rumble.
