The Edge of Forever

Chapter 2

Hi everyone! 

So I realize that it's been about a million years since I've posted an update, but I'm finally getting back into it! I finished my semester (and my degree!), and I've spent the last week getting re-adjusted to my summer job, but I'm settling into a good routine now, so I'm hoping that will equal a lot more time to write. I'm having a little trouble getting going with this story right now, so this chapter isn't as long as I originally intended it to be, but I'm hoping that inspiration will start flowing soon. Until it does, thank you for bearing with me, and I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Thank you so much for reading, love you all!

xoxo Kate

Chapter 2 – Wake Me Up (Avicii) - Nate POV

"Welcome to Lipton Hall!" a chipper young woman pushed a clipboard into my face, her smile far too wide for the early hour of the morning. "What's your name?"

"Umm..." I blinked a few times to get my bearings. "Nate Sterling," I said, finally. She scanned her list, clicking her tongue the whole time, which started getting on my nerves the second she began and only got worse as time passed.

"You're in room 207, it's on the second floor and just down the hall on the left. Your supervisor will be upstairs to help you move," she said, looking past me to the next person. "Good morning!" she shouted through me, and I stepped away from the desk to meet my mom.

"Second floor," I said, grabbing one of my suitcases from the ground. My mom picked up one of my boxes, and started towards the stairs, leaving a huge pile of stuff still on the floor. I rolled my eyes – I knew she didn't want me to leave after so much time apart, but I didn't want moving to take all day.

I followed her up to the second floor, and we found ourselves submerged in a dingy hallway that smelled a bit like stale beer. A few people were walking around with bags, trying to figure out how the keys worked, and a young woman with another clipboard was standing at the far end of the hall. She smiled and approached us, her whole demeanour much more easygoing than anyone in the lobby.

"Are you on this floor?" she asked. I nodded wordlessly, as she scrolled through her list, and smiled absentmindedly.

"Odd numbered rooms are on your left, and even are on the right," she said, finally. "I'm Jenny, I'll be the supervisor for this floor,"

"Nate," I said, shaking her hand. She turned to help a girl standing behind me, and I dragged my mom down the hallway towards my new home.

I flung open the door, and was nearly bowled over with the scent of sweat. The room was tiny and dark, and the bed looked hard enough to put dents in my bones. But my mom was beaming, looking like she'd been reunited with her childhood bedroom, so I followed suit, too afraid to shatter our delicate peace to argue.

It took a few trips to get everything up the stairs, but after the better part of an hour we'd made the transition. Breathless and sweaty, I stood in the doorframe with my mom, who was fiddling nervously with her purse, trying to decide how to proceed.

"Okay honey," she smiled shakily. Even though we'd spent the better part of my high school career apart, she was still acting like this was the first time I'd ever gone out on my own. In a way, it was. At least back then she'd been able to trust that someone was looking out for me – now there was no one in charge anymore.

"I'll see you at Thanksgiving," I said, trying to give her a confident smile. I didn't want her to realize that I was terrified – she would never leave if she thought there was any doubt in my mind.