Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
F reshman Year
Cameron
Thirteen years ago …
“We’re late,” Caleb says in annoyance.
“Relax, we’re fine. I told you no one comes to these orientations anyway,” I reply.
“You’ve never been to one before. You can’t say that for sure. We shouldn’t have been late.”
I have tons of shit I could be doing, but my brother insisted he wanted to come to freshman orientation. He’s the only reason I’m here. I’m doing this for him, but I drew the line at the courses he’s signing up for.
Caleb’s ass has signed up for a bunch of nerdy shit I’m not touching. Dakota can handle that shit. I’m here for baseball. I refuse to sit through lectures on physics and don’t get me started on the advanced math courses I had to sign up for to shadow him.
It’s not that I can’t handle the work. I’m just not spending my time here with books tied to my face. Nope, this is going to be four years of coasting. That is if we hang around here for four years. The major leagues are calling our names.
“Look, no one’s speaking yet. They haven’t started,” I say.
“We’re late,” Caleb repeats.
“I know, but we didn’t miss anything.”
“It’s our first day. We shouldn’t have been late. I hate being late,” he says, pursing his lips and squinting.
Yeah, I fucked up. We shouldn’t have been late. I know that.
This is a new environment for Caleb, and he needs to adjust. Making us late isn’t the best way to start off our college life, especially since we’re hiding the fact that my brother has autism.
He could totally melt down on me. In my defense, it was Kay’s fault. God, that girl can get on my last nerve at the worst times ever. I knew this was going to be a problem.
She couldn’t get into college with the rest of us and she’s been sulking since we all got our acceptance letters and registered for classes.
This isn’t about me, so I couldn’t choose a different school she’d gotten into. Caleb is supersmart. When we started to receive offers to play ball, this school was at the top of his list.
The academic program here is top tier. That was as important for Caleb as playing was. Dakota might be shit at math, but with Caleb’s help, she made the grades needed to get in.
Kay spent too much time focused on cheerleading and friends. She didn’t even focus on competitive cheerleading where she would have had a chance at a scholarship. Her focus was on being popular.
Now she wants to blame me for everything. I didn’t fail her classes or choose to leave her behind. None of this is about her or me.
Caleb comes first. He has to be okay before I can figure any of my shit out. I can always find my way. My brother, on the other hand, needs someone in his corner to make sure he does.
That’s always been me. It will always be me until he doesn’t need me anymore. I don’t know if that will ever be the case, but if it never is, I’m good with that.
The world wants to place Caleb in a box I’ve never thought he belongs in. That’s their problem, not ours. I’ve always accepted Caleb for who he is.
The more I do, the more he grows and does his best. When he gets comfortable in his own skin, he’ll shock the hell out of you. I love that about him.
“Come on, let’s sit back here,” I murmur to Caleb and nod my head at a few rows of empty seats.
“No. If you sit in the back, you don’t intend to listen or learn. We need to be closer to the front,” he replies like only he can.
I roll my eyes but don’t argue. I can tell this will be a trigger. Good thing I see Dakota closer to the front waving to get our attention as she has two empty seats next to her.
“Kota saved us seats up there,” I whisper and nod.
Caleb follows my gaze then purses his lips and squints. Then he starts to blink rapidly. I reach for his bicep to give it a gentle squeeze.
We’ve been working on this one. He flinches just a bit but stops blinking and nods to let me know he’s back in control. I release my hold immediately.
“You’ve got this,” I whisper.
And even if he doesn’t, I’m here. We’ll do this together. My little brother wants to go to college and then make it to the league.
I’m not going to allow Mama, Kayleen, or anyone else to get in the way of that. The next four years are ours to command. Let the pieces fall where they may.
Kayleen
I sit nervously at the kitchen island in the Perry household. I didn’t know what else to do, so I called Mrs. Perry to have a talk. I need someone to tell me I’m not crazy.
I feel like Cameron and I are growing apart, and if I don’t do something, I might lose him. The problem is, I don’t know what to do. The more I try to address things with Cam, the worse it gets.
“You want some breakfast, sugar?” Mrs. Jemma asks as she floats into the kitchen.
Mr. Perry has been sitting with his paper and breakfast while I’ve been sitting here waiting. Sometimes I question whether or not he likes me. He and my daddy are good friends, but I can’t say I always feel like he’s a fan of mine or my relationship with Cam.
It wasn’t always this way. He used to treat me like family. Things changed about a year and a half ago.
“No, thank you. I don’t think I can stomach anything this morning,” I say and wipe at the sweat on my brow.
I’m nervous as heck. Mrs. Jemma could call me crazy and kick me right on out of here. I hope she doesn’t. I don’t know what I would do next.
“Nonsense. Have some toast and juice,” she says and gestures for the chef to bring me both.
My family has money, but the Perrys are next-level wealthy. The Perrys have a full staff and live like royalty. At least Mrs. Jemma does, and everyone else lives in her bubble.
The staff members have been around more than Mr. and Mrs. Perry themselves. I smile at Martha as she places a glass of apple juice and a plate of toast and strawberries in front of me. She knows what I like from all the time I spend here with Cam.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Now, talk to me, honey. What’s going on?” Mrs. Jemma says as she takes the seat beside me.
I peek over at Mr. Perry. I didn’t know he would be a part of this conversation. I almost change my mind and ask to return some other time.
Taking a deep breath, I let it all spill out. “I don’t know what happened. I tried to get into college with everyone else. I didn’t think they would leave me behind. I just feel like things are falling apart.
“Mama says I can go to a community college and then apply again next year, but that’s a whole year that Cam will find new friends and create an all-new life without me,” I explain.
“I’m so sorry things didn’t work out. We tried to pull strings to get you in. Right, Kyle, honey?”
I chew on my lip and my palms become sweaty. Mr. Perry looks up from his paper. His eyes lock with mine before he looks back down.
“Your father and I did all we could. I think I exhausted my favors trying to accommodate my son’s needs. I wasn’t able to push the subject when it came to your acceptance,” he says.
I know right away some of that is a lie. My father doesn’t want me running behind Cameron like some lost puppy, so I know he didn’t do all he could to help me.
I can understand that Mr. Perry has done a lot for Caleb. Which leaves me with nothing to say. I can’t argue that Caleb’s needs are more important than mine.
“All senior year we worked on me being a part of Caleb’s support team. I just thought …”
“I think Caleb has enough support. Too many people trying to be helpful could expose him in the end. I spoke with your father.
“He brought to my attention that you’re not really sure you even want to go to college. Why not focus on your future and where you’re going to end up? If things are meant to be between you and Cam, you two will be together,” Mr. Perry says before he downs his glass of juice and stands to walk out.
I sit with my mouth hanging open. I don’t know what changed. Everyone used to talk about me and Cam getting married someday. Then my daddy and Mr. Perry started to act as if that were the worst thing that could happen.
“Don’t mind him,” Mrs. Jemma whispers and reaches to pat my hand. “He’s a little grumpy because he’s worried about the boys and their first day. It’s going to take some time for everyone to get used to all the change.”
“Yeah, I guess so. I sure have a lot to get used to,” I murmur.
“Now you listen to me. You and my son were meant to be together. You may not be going to school with Cam and Cal, but they won’t be in class twenty-four seven.
“What you need to do, honey, is make yourself a permanent fixture on that campus. When Cam isn’t in class, you need to be there. You go to any and all the games you can.
“Don’t forget you’re a woman and you have assets. You use everything you have to make sure you get what you want at the end of the next four years. If he has a little fun in between—” She shrugs and looks at me pointedly.
Then she holds her hands up. “All of this is what you have to look forward to if you can hold on. Your mama and I are in your corner. We’ll do all we can to make sure things work out like we always dreamed.
“In fact, we don’t leave for Spain until next week. How about I throw a little get-together this weekend and you can make sure to remind Cam of what he has right here at home. It’s not like he left the state, darlin’. We have this under control.”
I swipe the tears from under my eyes and give a wobbly smile. She does make some valid points. They could have picked that school in Michigan.
“Yeah, that will be perfect,” I say and nod.
“Great, that’s a plan.”
Maribel
I look around at all these people surrounding me as I sit slouched down in my seat. None of them are like me. I already know I’m out of place.
I picked this school intentionally. Someplace to get far away from my real world. I fucked up. I jumped out of the pan into the fire and now I need time to work out a plan.
For fourteen years, I didn’t see my father. I knew nothing about him. Just his name and that he and my mother broke up when I was one year old.
Mom never told me more than that about him. Not even when I tried to ask, and I did ask a lot. I wanted to know my dad.
However, she wouldn’t say a word about him. It was like he didn’t exist. I dealt with it until I was about to turn fifteen. Mom and I had talked about my quince for so long.
It was supposed to be the biggest party ever. I had notebooks filled with plans and ideas. I spent months searching for the perfect dress.
Then suddenly, my mother started to change everything. I was so mad at her for taking my dream away. Then I found a box in her room with letters from my dad. One for every single birthday from the time I turned two.
Birthday cards, letters to check up on me and see if mom would allow me to see him—all addressed to my grandmother’s place in the Bronx. My anger with my mom only grew and I decided to set out to find my dad, hoping he would step in and be a dad.
He stepped in all right. My quinceanera was one for the books. My father never had another child, so he spoiled me with everything I wanted.
Not only did he spoil me with a huge birthday party and more attention than a girl could ask for, he demanded custody from my mom and took me to live with him.
I spent two years with my dad, getting to know him and the other side of my family. My father and mother are both mixed Black and Latino. However, I was raised more in the Afro-Latino community with my mom. My dad’s family opened my eyes up more to my black heritage as well as submerging me into a life of luxury.
If I could explain my life with my father and his family, it would be black excellence meets soul food. At least, that’s what I got on the surface. I was too enamored to see the truth of what was going on.
Things were going fine until I turned seventeen. At seventeen, I was introduced to the Demarco family. Everything changed as they entered the picture.
Especially the second oldest son, Dez Demarco. I thought nothing of it in the beginning. Then my father told me I would be marrying him.
Don’t get me wrong, Dez is handsome and all that, but I would like to find my own husband. Thank you very much. I also don’t plan to marry for my father’s business interests.
Then there is this look in Dez’s eyes that always unsettles me. Something might be off with that man. In fact, I’m sure there is something dark about him.
So here I am in Texas, doing my best to avoid my fiancé and impending marriage. I have four years to figure out how to get out of this situation because I’m not marrying Dez. I don’t care who he is or what my father wants.
Trust fund or not, this isn’t going to happen. I’m not sure what planet they woke up on with that dumbass idea, but I’m not having it. I mean, who threatens to cut their daughter off if she doesn’t marry some random—to her—guy?
My mom hasn’t said I told you so, but I feel like she should. The look in her eyes when I told her I would be coming here to attend college said it all. She knows I’m running from something.
I didn’t tell her about what my father wants or about the Demarcos but I didn’t have to. She knew something had gone wrong with my dad when I moved back a month before leaving for college.
“Is this seat taken?” A girl with red hair and freckles sprinkled across her light-brown face says with a bright smile on her face.
“Nope, not at all,” I reply.
Without standing up, I know I would tower over this girl. She’s petite with a lithe but shapely figure. I’d take her for a dancer if not for the camera bag slung over her shoulder instead of a pair of ballet shoes.
I quickly note she seems like another transplant from her long red locks and sweeping bangs, not to mention her outfit and the East Coast skater vibe.
I return her bright smile as she sits down next to me because it’s infectious and because she’s giving off cool energy. I can’t spend four years staying to myself. I guess she’s as good as anyone else to start making friends with.
“I’m Taylor. It’s nice to meet you,” she says and holds out her hand.
“Maribel. Nice to meet you too.”
I take her hand and shake it. The way her eyes light up makes me think I’ve just made my first new friend. We settle in our seats and look ahead, waiting for the orientation to start.
Taylor looks around us, then pulls out the packet they gave us. I haven’t even looked at the thing yet. I’m only here because I didn’t want to go back to my room.
I don’t think things are going to work out between me and my roommate. Something I’m going to need to figure out. I’m not about to live with that for a year.
“Is it me, or do you feel like such a nerd being here? I knew I should have skipped this,” Taylor leans over to whisper.
“Are you calling me a nerd?” I say with a straight face.
I hold her gaze and place a little scowl on my face as I narrow my eyes. Taylor’s face turns near purple, causing me to burst into laughter. That one was priceless.
“Oh my God, I totally thought you were serious,” Taylor breathes in relief.
My sarcasm has to be one of my greatest features. It’s the delivery. I nail it every time.
“You haven’t told a lie. I wouldn’t be here if my roommate wasn’t irritating,” I say.
Taylor rolls her eyes. “You too? My roommate is just weird. She embodies everything I feared about a college roommate.”
“I hear you.”
I don’t tell her I might already have a plan for that. As an out-of-state student, it’s a requirement to stay in the dorms as a freshman. I already know that’s about a money grab.
Lucky for me, I have a cousin who has an apartment here. She’s a flight attendant and never uses the place. I’ll be using her apartment as much as possible.
That stink-face chick can have that shoebox dorm room to herself. I don’t know Taylor yet, so I don’t want to tell her this. I don’t want to get busted.
We sit, getting to know each other as we giggle about the nervous look on the faces of some of the others who enter the auditorium. Taylor was right. Not many of the people here look like the cool kids.
This is why a blonde a few rows ahead of us draws my attention when she starts to wave her arms in the air. She looks like a supermodel. When I turn to see who she’s waving at, my mouth falls open. Two blond guys who are equally as gorgeous as the girl are heading down the stairs.
They are huge. Both look close to around six-six or six-seven. The one who grabs my attention most is slightly shorter than the other, with shorter blond hair. I feel like I’m watching a movie as they move in what now feels like slow motion.
The same one who I’ve been staring at locks eyes with me and gives a cocky grin when he notices I’m staring with my mouth gaping. The other guy with him looks exactly like him with a bearded face. They have to be identical twins.
I bite my lip to hold back a smile. Then realize I have my hair in a fucking messy bun and I’m in sweats. Not the first impression I want to make. I turn forward and slump down in my seat, wanting it to swallow me.
“Wow, the guys here are hot,” Taylor whispers beside me.
“Yeah, they’re cool.” I shrug.
Guys are the last thing I need to think about. I need to keep my focus on getting a degree I can use to avoid being married off. I’m not about to allow my dad to use money, or lack thereof, to lord over me.
“This is going to be an awesome four years,” Taylor says excitedly.
“We’ll see about that.”