“Mm-hmm. Really.”
“Well, I’ll keep that in mind while I’m watching Mike and Ally suck face all day.”
“What in the world do you think they did for all that time before dinner yesterday?”
I snickered. “Do you really want me to recount it for you?”
She paused. “Wait a second, am I missing something? Did you and Michael talk? What happened?”
I threw my head back in laughter. “I don’t know any details for sure. But I’m sure it involved a lot of cuddling, heavy petting, and Mike begging to get between her legs before Ally came to her senses and wrapped herself up in a petticoat.”
“You’re so mean.”
I chuckled. “Do you have another idea of how that went down yesterday?”
“Actually, no. I don’t.”
I kissed the top of her head, trying to respect the boundaries of her makeup. I didn’t like that, though. It wasn’t Rae, and I didn’t like the fact that she felt she had to doll herself up to make a good impression. Especially without me next to her on campus while those horny-ass college boys roamed around. Even in her nice black pants and button-front shirt, she looked outstanding. Her clothes didn’t have to cling to her like some girls in order to showcase the beauty of her body.
And I wouldn't be there to protect it.
“Call me if you need anything, okay?” I asked.
She nodded. “I promise I will.”
“And you're sure you don’t want someone with you? Even if it’s Ally?”
“I promise. I need to do this on my own. Mom is still concerned as to why I need an entourage with me on this thing. I know she’ll use it against me if she thinks someone came with me to orientation. I need to show her I can do this alone so the next week and a half with her isn’t atrocious.”
I grinned. “All right. Well, get out of here before you’re late. I told you. No quickies, no matter what you try to pull.”
She laughed, and the sound filled me with joyous pride.
“You’re insane, you know that?” she asked.
I kissed her nose softly. “Insane for you.”
“I’ll keep in touch.”
“I’ll keep my phone on me.”
And as she pulled away from my grasp, it took all I had to not put my foot down and tell her I was coming with her.
Especially since I wanted to be at her side for purely selfish reasons.
15
Raelynn
Butterflies took flight in my stomach as I took a cab to the bank. The first thing I wanted to do before this damn orientation was get this money in a separate account. A place where neither myself nor my mother could touch it. The bank line was long, and I feared I might miss opening orientation. But I needed this money to be safe.
And this was the only way I’d get away from my mother without her asking questions in order to get it done.
“Welcome to P&R Banking. How may I help you today?”
I sighed. “Yes. Hi. I already have a checking and a savings account with you guys. I’d like to maybe open a third account? Or open an investment account?”
“Well, I can certainly help you with choosing the right one out of the ones you have open. But if you want to open an investment account, you’ll have to go take a seat.”
She pointed and I looked over at the overflowing chairs in the corner. There was no way in hell I’d open up something like that without being late to orientation.
“Okay, well, can I make a cash deposit into my savings account, then?” I asked.
The woman smiled. “Of course! Just fill out this deposit slip and hand it over with your money. I’ll get your account looked up and get you squared away.”
I filled it out quickly, then started pulling wads of cash out of my purse. I felt all eyes on me as I kept taking them out. Counting them in front of the woman before jotting numbers down. I didn’t know exactly how much I had. All I knew was that I had to get it off my person.
Can I open a security box for the diamonds and other shit?
“Here, let me help,” the woman said.
I started handing her money I hadn’t unraveled. And after ten minutes of people cursing behind me, we had a final tally. Seven thousand dollars. I had seven thousand dollars stashed in my bedroom. And at least that in diamonds and jewelry at the bottom of the purse. I smiled warily at the woman and she gave me the side-eye. Like I was someone to be warned against.
“Do you guys have safety deposit boxes here?” I asked.
“We don’t,” she said flatly.
So much for good first impressions.
After the money got deposited and I had my receipt in my hand, I made my way quickly out the door. I used the little bit of cash I kept on hand in a small wad at the bottom to pay the driver, then rushed across campus. I had to find the sports stadium. I felt myself sweating down the nape of my neck and my forehead. Ruining my fucking makeup as I sprinted as quickly as I could.
“Come on, where are you?” I groaned to myself.
Finally, after what seemed like hours of running around, I saw a bunch of kids filing into a massive building. As I dabbed at the sweat on my forehead with a tissue, the butterflies of nerves turned into butterflies of excitement. Older kids at the doors greeted me. One even handed me a water bottle before giving me another tissue. I thanked her and giggled, to which she giggled right back. Then I was handed a program.
And a small map of the university.
Everything felt and looked fantastic. The dean got up and made a speech as I took a seat next to a few girls. They looked at me before one of them patted me on my knee, asking me my name. Passing notes to me back and forth on our programs. Already, I’d found some girls to tag along with. Something that definitely wouldn't have happened had Clint been with me.
“Where are you from?”
“What’s your major?”
“That shirt is so cute, where did you get it?”
“Converses! I’ve never been brave enough, my feet are so wide.”
“Do you have any of that lip gloss with you? It’s gorgeous.”
I didn’t even pay attention to the ceremony. Or the speech. I was too excited about finding some girls to pal around with. After we were dismissed, the girls dragged me over to a tour of the dorms. Which were bigger than I imagined.
“If we requested one another, we could be roomies!”
“I’d much rather room with someone I’ve met than leave it to chance.”
“Do you like classic rock? I listen to it while I’m trying to sleep.”
I smiled. “I love classic rock. My boyfriend does, too.”
One of the girls slipped her arm around mine and I walked with them around campus. The dorms we saw had private bathrooms connecting two rooms apiece. And there were four of us, which made us very excited. There was chatter about not sharing bathrooms with strangers and we all jotted down our names and numbers, hoping it wasn’t too late to get in our roommate requests. With every tour we took, I saw myself on this campus. Walking around with my books. Studying in the library. Rooming with these three girls I’d hooked up with.
This is perfect.
“All right, who’s ready to try the cafeteria?”
“I hope they have salads and soups. Otherwise, I’ll have to do the most expensive plan.”
“If the cafeteria food isn’t bad, it’ll be worth the money you’ll save.”
“Yeah, these meal plans are ridiculous.”
“But you get more flexibility with off-campus plans!”
“Rae, what do you think?”
I looked between the three girls and shrugged.
“Why not have the best of both worlds?” I asked.
“Oh, I like that idea.”
“Do they have a plan like that?”
“Oh! It’s the middle tier plan!”
“Rae, you’re a genius.”
I smiled as the four of us walked into the cafeteria. The tour broke up and we all got in our respective lines, and I couldn't believe the selections of food. There was a hot bar and a salad bar. Soups and sandwiches and wraps. There was a stir fry station and an all-breakfast bar. Which I quickly went toward.
“Oh, just like me. I love breakfast.”
I looked over at the girl and I couldn’t conjure her name.
“Don’t worry about it. Rae, right? I’m Meredith,” she said.
I snickered. “Sorry. Today’s been a bit of a whirlwind.”
“Right? I mean, it’s been insane. But I’m glad I found you guys. I was terrified I’d do this orientation alone.”
I heard Kristen call out. At least, I thought her name was Kristen.
“Over here, guys! We got a view with this table!”
Meredith lowered her voice. “Kirstie, right?”
I snickered. “I thought it was Kristen.”
The two of us picked up our trays and made our way to the table. We all sat down, and I gazed out through the window I sat against. It looked like the whole of the campus could be seen from here. There were lush trees and brick walkways. People walking below us and professors strutting across campus. I saw two or three different tours walk underneath us before someone cleared their throat.
And when I looked back at the girls, I found them staring at me.
“So, did you say something about your boyfriend liking classic rock?”
I paused. “Kayla, right?”
She smiled. “Yep! Kayla and Kristie.”
Kristie. That’s it. “Do you two know one another?”