one
Rowyn Hale
Whispers
Stepping off the shuttle bus, I swallow thickly looking up at the tall building. When I applied to Lockridge University I never thought I’d actually be accepted, let alone on scholarship. I guess having no family and no income will get you just that.
Taking a deep breath, I look around and smile. This place is even more breathtaking in person than the pictures I saw on their website.
Climbing up the stairs, I step inside and immediately become overwhelmed with all the bodies moving fast in and out of the building, along with the loud chatter through the halls. This is going to be a huge adjustment for me, but excitement flowsthrough my veins just like it did the day the acceptance letter arrived. I screamed in my dingy studio apartment and had to pinch myself to make sure it was real. The last year has been rough to say the least. My parents died on my seventeenth birthday on their way home with a cake to celebrate. A drunk driver smashed into them taking their lives along with his. I try not to think about it because all I’ll do is continue to blame myself for it. If I ne—my thoughts are cut off when I slam into a hard body.
“Watch it,” he growls, and I look up at him, but his green eyes cut into slits as he stares down at me. I immediately cast mine down and fix my oversized hoodie.
“Sorry,” I whisper, and he laughs.
“You should be. Now, get out of my way, Chunkers!” he spits, and I gasp.What the fuck?I hurriedly step out of his path, only for hands to grip my hips.
“Are you alright, Petal?” a deep voice asks, and I look up at him, swallowing thickly. His blue eyes sparkle with mischief as he smiles down at me.
“I-I’m okay,” I stammer, and he chuckles.
“Might want to pay better attention next time,” another guy whispers as he passes me.
“Don’t pay him any mind. Kade is a prick. So is the other one. I’m Elliot. What’s your name?” he asks, tucking a loose strand of my hair behindmy ear. I shiver at his touch and adjust my hoodie, pulling it down over my stomach.
“I’m Rowyn,” I say softly, and he lifts my hand, placing a kiss against my skin. My body litters with goosebumps, and I thank heaven above that I’m wearing a hoodie so I can’t embarrass myself.
“Such a pretty name. See you around, Petal,” he states, releasing my hand, walking around me.Holy shit. Did that just happen or did I imagine it?I glance over my shoulder but they’re gone. Almost as if they were never here to begin with. I take a deep breath, pulling my suitcase, and walk down the hallway. I look from room to room hoping to find my dorm but I’m not even sure I’m in the right place.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the map that came with my orientation booklet and see I am almost there. It’s move-in weekend and this place is mobbed with new students and their parents dropping them off. My heart pings in my chest thinking of what it would’ve been like for my parents to bring me here for my first year of college. Would they have loved this place as much as I do? Would they have wanted me to stay home and attend community college? So many questions I’ll never get answered.
Finally, I make it to my room and see the door is already open. Stepping inside, there’s a girl unpacking her clothes.
“Um, hi. You must be Misti,” I say, and she whips around with a huge smile on her face.
“Oh my god. Are you Rowyn?” She squeals, and I smile.
“Yep. That’s me.”
“You’re so freaking pretty, Jesus.” She laughs, wrapping her arms around me for a hug.I’m not sure what she sees but I’m far from pretty.
“Thank you, and so are you,” I reply, hugging her back.
“I’m so excited to finally meet you. We’re going to have so much fun this year,” she says, and I nod. I’m not used to friends or hugs, or any interaction really, so this is going to be a little bit of an adjustment.
“Same here. I’m guessing this side is mine?” I ask, nodding to the left side of the room with a full size bed and an L-shaped desk.
“Yes, I hope that is okay. I didn’t know when you were arriving. I’m sorry,” she says, and I shake my head.
“No, no. Don’t apologize. I’m good wherever,” I say, wheeling my belongings towards the bed and lifting it onto the mattress.
“The only thing that sucks about being on the freshman floor is the communal bathroom and shower,” she states, rolling her blue eyes. I laugh and shrug because I’m not sure what else to say. “When you’re done unpacking, do you want to walk around? I can give you the scoop on the hierarchy of the school.” She laughs, and my eyes widen.
“Hierarchy?” I ask, and she grins.
“Get unpacked and I’ll give you the tea. My older sister is a senior here so she told me all the things we need to know as freshmen to survive.”
“Alright, thank god for older sisters, right?” I laugh, tucking a strand of my dark hair behind my ear.
