Chapter Five
Harper
I lay in bed as long as I possibly could.
Sometimes, I felt so out of my depth with this new life, it took a stern self-talking-to to keep from running back to the pain I already knew.
Being told for many years that I should be grateful that I had a place to sleep and whatever scraps of food remained after they ate their fill.
Rags for clothes. Plenty of hard work to keep me busy despite my clumsy incompetence.
On bad days, I believed them, and despite my boss’s kindness, I sometimes wondered how long she could keep trying with me.
But if I did not force myself out of bed in the next five minutes, I’d be late for orientation, and that would be a disaster.
The paperwork I’d signed stated that even though most of my classes would be online, the school required all students to attend an orientation before they could log in to those classes.
No time for a bath, but my fancy tub also had a handheld showerhead, which I used for the quickest cleanup in history.
No time for hair care, so I twisted it up into a messy bun and pulled on the jeans and soft, blue sweater I’d picked up along with a few other things at the thrift store with what I could spare from my first paycheck.
Gently used, they called it, but it was nicer than anything I’d ever owned, and I wanted to look nice today.
I dashed into the bakery for a cup of coffee and mixed-berry muffin.
My employee discount made it more affordable than the grocery store and also conveniently on the way to school.
My stomach was a little flippy with nerves, but the muffin helped settle it.
When I walked onto the campus, my second visit, I looked around at the other students and faculty and staff running here and there.
They all seemed so confident, while I clutched my phone, GPS showing me where I needed to go.
The phone wasn’t fancy, but it made my life so much better.
Orientation was taking place in a large auditorium with theater-style seating.
I didn’t know what I’d expected. Probably something with traditional desks in a classroom, but as I looked around at the huge number of students, I recognized how impossible that would have been.
This way, the school could have all the new arrivals oriented at once. Whatever that actually meant.
I found a site along the center aisle and settled in, watching the others arrive, mostly in groups of two or more. Maybe they’d already gone to high school together or something. If they were already all friended up, it wasn’t going to be much fun.
But then, I wasn’t here for fun, was I? The purpose of attending college was to get an education. There’d be time for friendships later. I’d gone without them for a long time, and I could wait a while longer.
“Is this seat taken?” I looked up to see a young girl, probably about my age, actually, smiling down at me. She pointed to my left.
“Oh, no, looks like it’s available,” I said, standing to let her take the seat next to me. “Your first day too, huh?” Duh.
“Yes, and I’m a little nervous.” She giggled and clapped a hand over her mouth. “Maybe a lot. You don’t seem to be anxious, though. You look so calm, cool, and collected.”
“I do?” I held up my hand, trembling a little. “At least it doesn’t show too much, but I’m anything but calm.”
“Everyone take your seats.” A deep, smooth voice came from the back of the room. “We’re going to get started now.”
I started to turn, wanting to get a look at the person who went with that voice, but before I could, he was next to me, brushed my arm as he passed.
The scent of pine filled my nostrils, and my wolf awoke and howled inside me.
By the time I got hold of myself, he was already at the front of the room, facing us.
Many of the others had not managed to settle into their seats, and the professor’s jaw was set.
I wanted to jump up and tell them all to sit down, be quiet, pay attention, but fortunately my innate shyness overcame that impulse. He didn’t say another word, just waited, and after a couple of minutes, the others finally seemed to get the idea and quieted. Finally.
The professor introduced himself then explained some things about the campus.
A bit about the history of the school. Parking permits and where to get one.
What hours the library was open. How the bookstore worked and where online we could find all the syllabi for our classes.
I frantically scribbled notes on a small pad I’d stuffed into my backpack, recognizing even this, notetaking would take more preparation.
The girl next to me was tapping away on her phone, and at first, I thought she was not paying attention to what the professor was telling us, but then I realized she was also making notes.
Of course, there’d be an app for that. Maybe I even had it in my phone already, or there would be a free one to download.
I had a lot to learn even besides the classes I’d signed up for, if I was going to survive and maybe even thrive.
It would have helped if I wasn’t so fixated on watching the professor talk.
He smiled and frowned then looked serious, his expressions so mobile.
Also, he walked back and forth, seeming to make sure everyone had his attention at one time or another.
Me? I wanted all his attention, and nothing I could tell myself could make me feel different.
Then, all too soon, he left, going up one of the side aisles this time, and when the door closed behind him, everyone moved around gathering their things and heading for the door. It was such a letdown, having him gone.
Was he teaching any of my classes? I didn’t think so, but I’d have to look at my schedule.
I stuffed my notebook back in the backpack and stood up. Could I maybe catch up with him? Introduce myself? I wasn’t even sure why. Just that I wanted to.
“I’m Brin, by the way,” said the girl next to me, drawing my attention back to her.
“Oh, gosh. Harper. I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself. I hope we have some classes together.”
“We’ll have to compare. Want to go get coffee and look over our schedules?”
“I do.” I did, but the crowd and the whole atmosphere had started to get to me a little. “But I can’t today.”
“Oh, all right.” She sounded disappointed, and I probably had just cost myself a friend. I didn’t want to do that…but I also wanted to get back in my apartment and hide a little. “Another time, maybe.”
“I’d like that.”