Adeline
Sitting on an uncomfortable wooden chair, I watch the students take their seats in this vast amphitheater. Being a stickler for punctuality, I arrived with more than twenty-five minutes to spare. This allowed me to carefully choose my preferred seat in the large room-not too far back or too close to the front, but right in the middle of the row that was beginning to fill.
"May I sit here?" A petite redhead standing next to me asks. She wears large black glasses on her nose and has her hair styled in an African braid that falls to her waist.
"Please do," I reply, removing my leather bag from the seat next to me. She sets her laptop on the table and begins preparing a cover page for the upcoming class.
"By the way, my name is Judith," she introduces herself.
"Adeline," I reply.
"Are you a freshman?" I let out a laugh before answering, "Yes, completely new. And you?"
"No, I'm repeating the year," she grimaces.
"Damn, is it that hard?" I ask.
"No, you just have to work hard. I just took a job on the side and couldn't juggle the two," she explains.
A tall man in a suit walks onto the stage and connects his laptop to the projector.
"Are you from around here?" Judith asks.
"No, I'm from San Francisco," I reveal.
Surprised, she raises her eyebrows and looks at me questioningly.
"Really? Why did you come all the way out here? There are so many other more prestigious universities in California," she comments.
"I know," I admit with a small chuckle. "But I always wanted to come here with some friends, so we took the plunge."
"I understand better now. It's true that it's easier when you're not alone," she concludes.
As I was about to resume our conversation, the professor launched into a rapid presentation of the course we would be taking throughout the year. I listened attentively to his explanations, occasionally taking note of important details and exchanging a few words with my neighbor. At noon, we leave the amphitheater and she gives me her number so we can meet after lunch. Happy to have made a friend so easily, I join my friends who are already settled in the cafeteria.
"So how was your first morning?" I ask, sitting next to them.
"Extremely long," Holly grimaces. "I felt like I was back in high school with all that administrative stuff to fill out and listen to."
"I liked it," Cameron interjects. "I've already spotted some cute girls in my class."
He laughs as Tyler pats him on the back, congratulating him on his keen eye and imploring him to get invited to some parties soon. The girls roll their eyes, already bored of seeing him strut around like a rooster.
"Enough joking around, have you ordered anything yet?" Esther replies, showing me the receipts in the middle of the table.
"Okay, I'll go wait in line."
As they begin a lively discussion about their respective integration parties, I stand at the end of the line, eyes fixed on the stand in front of me, unable to decide between the chicken sandwich and the zucchini quiche.
"I recommend the chicken, it's delicious."
My heart jumps before my head, aware of what's about to happen. I turn sharply to face that deep voice and that damn smile. Jayden.
YOU ARE READING
Despicable Desires
Romance"He is her despicable half-brother. And he drives her mad... For years, he has returned to the family home only on rare occasions, and that suits Ambre just fine. The less she sees of her obnoxious half-brother, the better off she is! So when she le...
