Chapter 1: Welcome to Chaos
I grabbed my bag from the carousel, my hand gripping it tighter than necessary. A few minutes ago, I was scared. Terrified, even. The whole "new country, new life" thing was sinking in hard. But now? Now I just felt...numb. Not calm—no, definitely not that—but more like I’d shut down emotionally to survive.
"Florence? Florence Watson?" I heard a voice call out as soon as I stepped out of the baggage claim area. I turned, and there she was—a tall girl waving at me like she was trying to land a plane. That’s probably her. My mentor. Please be normal.
I forced a breath and walked over to her. “Hey! Uh, Ingrid?” I said, trying to sound like I wasn’t about to throw up.
“Yes! Oh my God! I can’t believe you’re even cuter in person!” Ingrid practically shrieked. Before I knew what was happening, she’d grabbed my bag, yanking it out of my hand like I was incapable of carrying it myself. Okay, we’re at that level of friendliness already.
She led me toward a sleek, black car parked outside. It looked expensive—like, really expensive. Then again, the college I was going to? Also expensive. I guess they had a budget for mentors with luxury cars.
“So, tell me about yourself! Are you, like, super scared right now?” she asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Uh, yeah… kinda,” I mumbled, awkwardly scratching the back of my neck. I didn’t know what to say, and her energy was making me feel like I’d just downed three espressos without consent.
“Aww, don’t worry! You’re gonna LOVE it here! Oh, and guess what?” She paused dramatically. “I threw you a party!”
"A... what now?" I choked, nearly tripping over my own feet. A party? Was she kidding?
“Yeah! At Jacob’s place. It’s gonna be so fun! Everyone’s already there!” Ingrid threw my bag into the trunk like it was nothing and gestured for me to get in the car.
I climbed in, my brain still processing the whole "party" thing. “Um... where’s the rest of your stuff?” she asked, glancing at my two, lonely bags.
“Uh, this is it for now. My parents are sending the rest later,” I said, trying to sound casual, but I felt like I was on the verge of sinking into my seat and disappearing.
“Got it. No worries! Well, whatever—WELCOME TO THE LAND OF THE FREE!” she yelled, hugging me sideways from her seat.
“Thanks, but I’m not really that social,” I muttered, shifting awkwardly to the side to create some space between us.
“Oh, don’t worry, honey. Our crew will turn you into an extrovert in, like, a week. Maybe less.” She winked at me, clearly unfazed by my personal-space bubble.
Great. Just what I need—forced extroversion. My anxiety was rising again, along with a slight wish to be back on the plane.
We pulled up to what I assumed was the dorm. It wasn’t the giant, glamorous building I’d expected. Only three stories, but it looked... nice. Cozy, even.
“Welcome to your new home for the year! Isn’t it AMAZING?” Ingrid beamed, practically dragging me out of the car. “Leave your bags here! The concierge will get them.”
Concierge? What kind of dorm has a concierge? I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at that.
Ingrid looped her arm through mine and led me inside, her enthusiasm radiating in waves. The interior was... way fancier than I’d imagined. It kind of looked like someone had taken a modern mansion and squeezed it into a college dorm.
“Each floor has five bedrooms, so fifteen people total in the building. We’ve only got, like, twenty-four people here right now, but the best part?” She stopped dramatically at the staircase, turning to me with wide eyes. “You’re my roomie!”
Oh. Great.
She practically dragged me up the stairs, chattering on about the dorm rules and how amazing everything was, while my brain was trying to figure out how I’d survive this extrovert tornado for a whole year.
When we got to the room, it was already full of people. Oh, no.
“Guys! What are you doing here? You’re ruining the surprise!” Ingrid squealed at the small group. I cringed internally. Her voice? Not subtle.
“Oooh, is this the new roomie?” a girl with bright pink hair asked, smirking at me.
“Uh, hi. I’m Florence,” I said, trying not to sound like I was about to pass out. Which, to be honest, I was.
“Where are you from? London?” a guy with a thick French accent asked, leaning against the wall.
“Yeah. London,” I replied, giving a weak smile. Is there a way to quietly vanish?
“Okay, okay, everybody!” Ingrid clapped her hands like she was directing traffic. “Let me introduce you to our mentor group! Florence, meet your new family!”
The room smelled like... weed and vape. Great. I held my breath, smiled like my life depended on it, and took in the chaotic group.
This is going to be the longest year of my life.
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Tempted Attraction
RomanceFlorence moves from London to the U.S. for a fresh start, hoping to escape her troubled past and strained relationship with her father. She meets Sebastian, a mysterious and flirtatious bad boy who's running from his own family issues. Despite their...
