Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112449 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112449 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Ten minutes later, I was signed up for Bankruptcy Fundamentals, Civil Rights Law, Ethical Issues in Law, and Land Transfer.
Not the most exciting course schedule, but I left the fun, philosophical law classes in my freshman and sophomore years. Now it was time to learn the things that would launch me into law school. If I would still be able to go after—
I shut the door on that thought. Breathing slowly, I peeled my fingers off the mouse, releasing the death grip.
I was going to Harvard Law. That was the plan, and I never veer from the plan.
“Done?”
I jumped. Zoey had some soft footsteps.
“Yes, I’m done.”
“You can head out. It’s too nice a day and too nice a campus to be shut inside.”
“Okay, yeah. Thanks, Zoey, you’re...” I smiled at her. “You’re a really lovely person.”
She beamed. “Ah, Rainey. Thank you. You are too.”
No, I’m not. I brushed past her. That’s why I’m here.
Paris was chilling on the stone steps, messing with her phone when I came out. Of course she was. She’d have had her course schedule chosen in advance as well.
“Hey, Rainey.”
“Hey.” I dropped next to her.
“Ugh. My brother is the literal worst. I know all siblings say that about each other, but only I’m telling the truth. Look at this.” She flashed the screen at me.
Assface: You better not show up tonight. If you do, the first impression everyone on campus gets of you is being thrown out on your ass.
Paris: I’d like to see you try. I’m coming, and fuck you for not inviting me. I had to hear about the party from Roan.
Assface: Roan’s out on his ass now too. You both have fun making other plans for tonight.
“Charming, isn’t he?” She shook her head. “One year between us and he treats me like a baby.”
I seized on my chance. “But if he doesn’t want you there, isn’t that a no for your plus-one too? I’d rather not piss off the Great and Terrible Assface.”
She laughed. “You’re funny. Why didn’t you tell me you were funny? My brother is all bark, no bite. Besides, tonight’s the night Dante announces the Kings of Ruckus. Assface and his friends are so sure it’ll be them, they already arranged the coronation.”
The words blurred on the screen. “The Kings?” I rasped. “D-Dante?”
“Oh, sorry, I should explain,” she chattered on in a tone too bright for the thoughts going through my head. “Dante hosts an online secret radio show. He—”
“I know who he is,” I cut in. “I grew up in Bedlam.”
“You did?” Paris cocked her head. “Then how are we just meeting today?”
“I was homeschooled. We had a farm. Grandma needed help running it, so we did chores all morning, and school in the afternoon. Even way out with the chickens, I heard of Dante’s show, and the Kings of Ruckus.” I found myself taking the phone from her grasp. “You’re saying your brother is going to be named a King?”
“That’s what he thinks,” she scoffed. “Probably right too. He and his friends do whatever, and get whatever they want around here.”
“Why?”
Paris heaved a sigh. “The whole story is going to come out soon enough. I’m not skipping to the end because right now you like me, and I want to be friends a little longer.” Paris got to her feet, slipping her phone from my grasp. “See you tonight. Right here at ten o’clock, yeah?”
“Yes,” I said before she ended her sentence. “I’ll meet you here. Can’t wait for my first college party.”
She waved goodbye, running off to meet a group of girls idling on the sidewalk. Orientation was over for the day. We returned tomorrow for the tour of our individual colleges, then I was officially set loose on Bedlam University.
I lifted my pack on my shoulder, brushing the pocket as I did so.
Transferring to this campus was the easy part. Tonight, and all there was ahead of me, that was impossible. Not hard. I wished for hard. Fucking prayed for it. I did and survived hard things my whole life.
What I had to do was impossible, and as surely as Paris foresaw the end of our friendship, this was going to break me.
***
Ten o’clock on the dot, I was sitting on the same steps in the same red boots I wore to orientation. I traded everything else out for a clutch bag, slinky black top, and striped skirt. Ivy would be pissed if she found out I raided her closet, but I didn’t have anything remotely party-worthy in mine.
“Rainey!” Paris arrived with her girl band in tow. “Come and meet everyone.”
I ran up, waving to all the new faces. Paris was gorgeous in a hot pink dress and high white boots. It was very seventies go-go dancer, but somehow looked incredible on her. Paris’s crew didn’t bend the fashion rules quite as much. They were dressed similar to me in miniskirts and thin, swishy tops.