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Excerpt of Chapter 1, Hot Water 2

Jessica’s POV

Dear Miss Stabler,

Congratulations! It is our pleasure to inform you that you have been offered a place at the University of Kansas for a Bachelor of Psychology for the class of 2017. You will find enclosed, a campus map and details of your enrolment and your class timetable (you can choose your subjects) and there is also a letter enclosed informing you of your subject enrolment.

During the next few months, our faculty, staff and students will connect with you to share more about the extraordinary opportunities available on our campus and beyond. We invite you to engage with our vibrant community during one of our Admitted Student Open Houses.

I hope you decide to join the University of Kansas family. To respond to your offer of admission, please go to our enrolment website as soon as possible but no later than October 26, 2013. We look forward to seeing you in the fall/winter.

Yours sincerely,

Jane C. Smith

Board of Admissions

Clutching the paper so tight that I thought I was going to rip it, I let out a joyous scream, bouncing up and down on the carpet. It may only have been 7 30 in the morning, but this letter had already made my day. The fact that I applied to so many universities – and KU was the one that I had my eye on – all accepted me. I knew working hard and having a 5.0 GPA would soon do me good.

“Jess? Is everything okay? I heard you screaming,” Aunt Vivian called from my doorway, scratching her head. Her eyes were barely open, and I immediately felt bad. The next thought was that I’d have to leave her behind for college life.

“Everything’s better than okay, Aunt Viv – I just got my fifth acceptance letter – and its from KU! Kansas, here I come!” I yelled and that shook her out of her half-slumber, and she ran over to me, enveloping me in her embrace.

“Oh my gosh, baby, that’s incredible! I’m so proud of you! Getting accepted into five colleges, and your favourite one too!”

“I know – look at me, already a college girl,” I said, my arms still wrung around her neck, and I began to feel a little weepy. “I’m going to miss you so much. I’ll come back and visit every time I can, I promise.”

She sighed and I knew it’d be hard for her to let me go as she was the only family I had left. She pulled away and looked me in the eyes, cradling my face in her hands, smiling at me.

“Your parents would be proud of you too, and I know they’re smiling down on you right now,” she said, and I grinned knowingly. “Hey, do you know whether Harry got into – “ she started to say, then clapped her hands over her mouth.

“Anyways, I’m going to make a celebratory breakfast – be ready in 10!” she said, making a quick escape and trudging down the stairs.

With the mention of Harry’s name, my smile and joy immediately faded when I remembered everything ended just a year and a half ago. And it wasn’t a “mutual feeling” that we should end it – in fact, it ended quite abruptly with me screaming in his face and slamming the door so hard, the house felt like it was shaking.

*FLASHBACK*

He came over to my house the day after our graduation party, and I greeted him like I always do – with a big kiss on the lips. Usually he would swoop me around in the circle, but this time he didn’t. I pulled away from him and his eyes looked glazed over, and it looked as if guilt had stricken him.

“We need to talk,” he said, seriousness coating his voice.

“S-sure,” I said, motioning him to enter the house, and like he always does, he takes a seat on the couch. He ran his hand over his curls, and they bounced.

“What’s this about, Harry? What’s wrong?” I said, putting my hand on his knee, but he recoiled to my surprise.

Wanna find out what Harry's gonna reveal? Read the first chapter of Hot Water 2 ;)