𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉

[Chapter 3] A Secret

"Alright, guys!" Selena, Hemingway's soon to be senior class president, claps her hands enthusiastically.

Like me, she signed up for welcome committee---not that she needs the credentials to make it on student council. She's a shoe-in. Come October, it would be a shock to the school, community, city and possibly even state if she wasn't voted president.

Next to me, Olivia and Kit, two of the other welcome committee volunteers clap along as well.

"We have a lot of new students this year and a lot of ground to cover! So, welcome to all of you! My name is Selena, former Freshman, Sophomore and Junior class president. My fellow colleagues, Kit, Olivia and Kelly."

Selena gestures to the three of us and we all wave to the slew of new students in the auditorium, the majority staring boredly back at us.

"So, all of you will be divided into four different groups: red, green, yellow and blue with a different group leader. With your student pamphlet and information packet is your assigned color, so when you see your color, come stand in front of your group leader."

Selena nods to us three and we all hold up our color cards, mine being yellow.

No one in the audience budges and Selena widens her smile. "Come on! Don't be shy! The sooner we get this started, the sooner you can all check out the campus common room!"

This seems to stir some action and the four of us girls, stand patiently, right arms stretched over our heads.

Well, except Kit---because I'm pretty sure she's left-handed or something.

So, we continue standing, arms raised as the students painstakingly slow begin to filter themselves into our four separate groups.

It works out to about five apiece,  except I have six because I always force Dakota to participate for moral support, despite having attended the school just as long as me.

Dakota's not who my focus is on though, because SOMEHOW through some twisted stroke of fate: Harry somehow ended up in my group.

His pair of stunning blue eyes are intently focused on me above a Grecian-esque nose and set of perfect lips---curved into a shameless smirk.

I wonder if that swing I took left his face permanently in that position. No, Kelly, that's ridiculous. He's just...ridiculous.

Still, that's the thought at the forefront of my mind as I uneasily continue staring directly at him.

I'm torn between feeling an aching guilt as a result of my actions vs. not being able to stand the vibe this guy gives off. Ugh, I hate this.

"AHEM!"

Dakota clearing her throat makes me come to and I blink, now noticing that Harry is clearly avoiding eye contact and shifting casually as he glances around aimlessly.

Great, so I look like the crazy one.

"Okay, well we should probably get going!" Dakota enunciates her voice, widening her eyes meaningfully at me. "I am so excited to see the campus, for my first time probably ever. Woo-hoo."

Everyone else in the group looks at me blandly, clearly bored out of their minds.

"Right." I lower my yellow card and force a bright smile, seeing that the other group colors have already begun filing out of the auditorium. "Well, let's get going, guys!"

Thankfully, no one questions my authority or my ability to be a group leader and instead they all follow me, willingly or not out of the auditorium to begin our designated route.