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reedandannie · 4 years ago

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Scholars Sneak Peek!!! - Available Sep. 14th 2020

Embarrassment at its Finest - Evie’s POV

I clutched the envelope tightly in my lap, my heart pounding. When the drive started it hadn't felt real, it was just another road trip with my best friend, another drive across the country in the old red car that we'd been taking places since we could drive. But now, so close to our first year of college, it all set in, and I was beginning to feel the panic that I always felt when facing the new and unknown. Before, I'd been annoyed that Stella had insisted on driving, but now that my hands were clenched around our move in information, I was relieved. I probably would've driven the car off of the road by now.

The gates seemed to materialize out of nowhere. One minute there was a wall of trees on either side of us, the next, we were pulling through them. Stella turned off the radio hastily, and we exchanged a look that conveyed everything that needed to be said. We were both caught between terror and excitement. We had been studying to earn places at Pine Hill University since Stel had first found out about it. Freshman year of high school, a long four years ago. And now, here it was. I turned to watch the wrought iron pass behind the car, open for move-in day.

"I can't believe this is happening," Stella breathed, looking over at me with awe in her eyes.

I turned back around to stare across the campus. The open grounds looked exactly like they had on the website, dotted with elegant brick buildings and lounging students. I wasn't sure if I was going to cry or vomit, but I swallowed hard, determined to enjoy this moment.

"Do you have the map?" Stella asked, and I jumped.

"Oh, yeah, of course." I rubbed my sweating palms over my jeans before opening the envelope and removing the brightly colored map inside of it. I studied it thoughtfully for a moment, trying to make sense of the little road markings.

"Left," I said finally, then cursed. "No, I mean right."

Stella quickly changed directions, making a wide turn which caused a few of the nearby students to turn and stare at us curiously. I flushed and Stella laughed, clearly both unsurprised and unconcerned about my shoddy directions. Naturally, she was used to them by now, but she had taken away my navigation rights within the first hour of our multi-hour trek.

It was fortunate that this hadn't been part of the entrance exams. It was one of the few things that hadn't been tested. Everything from basic math and history to strange questions about how we would respond in panic, and where we felt most comfortable. Stella and I had failed it the first two times we'd attempted, but we were nothing if not stubborn.

I was torn from my thoughts when Stella slowed down. "Is that it?"

I looked up and stared in awe at the brick building in front of us. There was ivy climbing the walls, violently green against the red. Black letters above the main entrance read "Grove Hall".

"It looks like it," I answered, as she pulled around to park.

I stepped out of the car onto the gravel parking lot and looked around, mystified. The wall of trees was close behind the dorm, the sound of the wind among them quiet and soothing. On the other three sides, though, well-tended grass stretched away to other distant brick buildings. It felt secluded and idyllic, and I beamed.

"Are you two here to check in?"

I looked around to find a tall brunette approaching us. She was smiling warmly, and I glanced back to find that Stella was as well. I couldn't find it in me to copy the expression, I was too overwhelmed by how magical campus felt, and I knew my face was stuck in a look of shock and awe.

"I'm Emilie. I'm a sophomore here. I can help you move in if you'd like?"

Stella and I shook her extended hand.

"We don't have much," Stella answered, "but you're welcome to. I'm Stella, and this is Evie," she said, nodding to me.

I waved shyly over Stella's shoulder.

Emilie waved back as Stella opened the trunk to reveal our meager belongings. We'd been instructed to bring very little. The school was strict about uniforms, and supplies and furniture were provided for us. As a result, we'd packed five bags between us, mainly our casual clothes and the decorations we'd bought for our dorm.

Emilie lifted one of them out, and Stella and I each followed suit. They weren't heavy, but after lugging them up two flights of stairs to the top level, my arms were aching. I had never been strong, and I felt particularly out of shape in that moment. But when Stella opened the door at the center of the hall, I stopped thinking about any of that.

Emilie whistled quietly when we entered. The furniture was standard issue, the wooden beds, desks, chairs, and nightstands neatly arranged in a perfect mirror on either side of the room. In the center, directly across from the door was a large picture window, tucked into an alcove. A window seat between them was recessed into the wall, an ugly blue dorm cushion on it, indicating that it was intended for seating. We would have to find a way to cover that.

The room itself was wide, with a closet door at the foot of each bed. When Stella opened one, I realized they were already full of our uniforms.

"You guys are so lucky, this is the best room on the floor."

"How did we manage that?" I asked quietly.

"It's a random draw. Freshmen are given their choice of building, but rooms are assigned from there," Emilie answered, dropping the bag she was carrying beside the door.

"I'll go get the other bags," Stella announced.

I turned, closing the door. "I'll come."

"I'll come check in on you guys in a second. I need to make sure the other freshmen are settling in okay."

I grinned and nodded before following Stella back down the stairs.

"She seems nice," I noted.

"I wonder if she's our RA. I hope she is."

I shook my head. "Our RA emailed us. I think her name was Jenna or something, not Emilie. She's probably just helping out, being nice." She shrugged, clearly preoccupied by other thoughts, and brushed her golden hair out of her face. I smiled fondly. There was a nice breeze blowing across the parking lot, and I savored it, glad that it was chasing away some of the heat. It was sweltering now, but I knew this wouldn't last forever. Colorado got cold and snowy fast, so I was glad for the sun while we had it.

I was so busy contemplating the weather that I didn't notice where I was until I was tripping. I pitched forward, crying out in shock as I slammed into the gravel, cringing as it dug into my bare arms.

I looked up curiously and realized that I had just tripped over a person's foot. Stella, I saw, had run straight into the center of the small group of people that were leaning on a car close to ours. She was staggering backwards, face reddening as she realized what had just happened.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention," she said, looking up wide-eyed.

I stumbled to my feet and brushed dust from my jeans. It was a small comfort that I had chosen today to wear pants instead of my usual skirts. "I'm so sorry. I didn't hurt you, did I?"

And only then did I register who I was looking at. They all looked more amused than upset, but I froze nonetheless, feeling like a deer in the headlights. They were all tall and attractive, five of them lounging carelessly around a shiny car, smiling, wearing casual clothes and looking unfairly polished despite the heat. And we had just slammed into them.

"I..." I coughed uncomfortably, "I'm so...are you..."

"Don't worry about it," one of them said in a strange accent, his voice lilted with laughter. Stella took another step backwards. By the looks of it, she had just plowed straight into him. But he grinned, eyes bright, and I hastily looked away, feeling as though I shouldn't be allowed to look at him at all in my current state.

The one I'd just tripped over leaned closer to my face, as though looking for injuries, then grinned. "I didn't know people could turn that red," he remarked. Though there was no malice in it, I could have barfed.

"I'm sorry," I said again, my voice painfully small.

He tucked his hands into his pockets and rocked back onto his heels. He was dark haired, with bright blue eyes and a soft, round face. He looked backwards at the boy beside him, a broad ginger with warm dark eyes and square features. He looked older than the others, though judging by the way that they were clustered, I doubted that they were in different grades. The red-headed boy was leaning against another person, who was slender, their features more feminine, and eyes rounder. They regarded me with what looked like concern rather than amusement, and I stared at them pleadingly. They seemed to recognize the look at once.

"Leave them alone," they said, looking at me warmly.

The blond boy in front of Stella pouted. "Laney, where are your manners? We're just trying to make them feel welcome."

"Laney's right," the fourth one said, and I peeked up to look at him cautiously. His hair was almost as long as mine and fell in perfect dark waves around his face.

"Alright, get outta 'ere, no hard feelings," the one I'd tripped over said softly. I smiled faintly.

Stella darted around them to our car, and dragged out the last two bags. I took one from her as she slammed the trunk and we dashed back indoors without looking back. We took the stairs faster than I normally would have managed, but my eagerness to be back in our room felt like adrenaline. We dropped the bags carelessly inside the door and hurried across to the window.

I heard someone come in behind us.

"Are you two okay? You look like you just saw a ghost," Emilie said, voice full of concern.

I waved from the window to indicate that she shouldn't worry, but Stella was the one who spoke. "Who are those guys in the parking lot?"

"Who?" Emilie asked, joining us at the window. Her face hardened as soon as she saw them standing by the car. The blond one was clearly telling a story, talking dramatically with his hands, while the others looked on.

"Them," Stella said unnecessarily. The parking lot was otherwise unoccupied.

"Nobody, they're just people from my year. I wouldn't try to get too close, they're bad influences."

"But...who are they?" I asked, leaning close enough to the window that my breath fogged the glass.

"Like I said, just some people," Emilie reiterated.

I scowled, unsatisfied. "They're very pretty," I said, and I saw her glare at me out of the corner of my eye.

"You guys really should try to avoid them."

"Warning noted," I said, nodding once. "Don't worry. They won't look twice at us anyway after the spectacle we just made of ourselves."

"At least I stayed on my feet," Stella snickered.

I felt myself flush. "At least I didn't body slam any of them."

"This isn't a joke."

"Everything's a joke if you laugh at it hard enough," I answered.

Emilie sighed, clearly realizing that we were a lost cause. "Alright, fine. But, you've been warned."

We both nodded and turned to watch her leave.

"Lunch is in an hour," Emilie said, as she stopped in the doorway. She glanced at our bags, still unopened and piled in the middle of the floor. "If you want to unpack you can, but you need to get your IDs before you can get food from the Cafeteria. Do you want me to take you to get them?"

I looked at Stella, who was considering the bags as well. "We can unpack later," she decided. "I think it'll be better to get IDs first."

"We can go now."

Emilie started to nod, then stopped. "I don't mean to say that you guys don't look adorable. But, they'll be taking your school pictures, and, well, those do stay with you all four years... So if you wanted to freshen up, or change or anything..."

My hand flew to the mess of unruly curls around my face. "Oh, uh, I think I need a minute." I dove to the bags to try to find a mirror and a hairbrush.

Stella laughed. "Give us 20 minutes and we'll be ready?"

"Sounds perfect. I'll be back then."

I heard the door close behind her, but my hunt for something to tame my curls had absorbed me.

"She's really nice."

Stella nodded agreement. She was looking through one of the bags, brow furrowed. "She is really nice. Have you seen my makeup bag?"

I grinned and pulled it out triumphantly. Stella took it from me with a grateful smile.

"Twenty minutes," I told myself, finally finding a brush.

Stella laughed at me, sorting through her makeup bag. "It's always food with you."

"It's what motivates me. But don't lie. It's what motivates you too."

After a moment, Stella grinned "You're right."

"I know I am."

Straying Along With a New Friend - Stella’s POV

I yanked on my heather grey, lighthouse painting sweatshirt and 1460 Dr. Martens that I paired with ripped-knee boyfriend jeans. I brushed my hair before I attempted to stir Evie awake. I knew that there would have to be coffee in it for her. We'd stayed up late unpacking and deciding where to put the decorations to showcase our personalities.

A polaroid collage of us surrounded the wall space by the door. Fairy lights trickled down by the head of Ev's bed, and a poster of a woman superhero hung on the larger wall by mine. I'd stacked my CDs by genre on my desk with my single player beside it, and Ev had chosen to bring her favorite novels, which was a feat for her. There's no solution for the window nook cushion yet, though Ev is pretty sure she can sew a temporary cover for it.

"Five more minutes, Stel, please," she mumbled into her pillow.

"We told Emilie we'd meet her. I bet we can manage to find coffee before we do."

Ev rolled over to look at me through her ratted hair. "Fine."

I smirked lightly before I went to put on a little make up and pull my golden locks into a ponytail. I checked the weather to see it was actually supposed to be fairly hot today, so I quickly changed into a white tee that was decorated simply by a row of three hearts in pink, blue, and purple and light wash Levi's shorts.

Despite my change, Evie dressed herself in a cream sweater, light wash skinny jeans, and purple sneakers. I knew not to say anything as we left the room. I texted Em that we were going to find the cafe on the crowded campus; non-freshmen were moving in now, and would be for the next few days. It wasn't as hard as expected since there were signs that pointed to everywhere imaginable, and it wasn't a large span of mileage.

"Crap," Ev muttered when she saw the sign that IDs had been activated for points, which are the equivalent of dollars, and I eyed her.

"Need me to get yours?" I pulled my ID from the wallet that I had hanging on my lanyard.

She smiled sheepishly. "Yes. Anything hot."

I nodded and waited for my turn. I ordered two caramel macchiatos; one hot and one cold. I was glad they weren't that busy despite the chaos on the main. The two of us stood to the side by the student center, the newest built building, and compared to the other medieval bricks, it didn't match too well.

Emilie's resting features came into my view when she emerged over the hill. When she approached us, she let out a heavy sigh. "I'm glad I moved in when the other RAs did. Fewer people."

Evie and I laughed, but Em didn't seem amused and looked at us dumbfounded. "What?"

I shot her a look. "That was funny, Emilie."

"Oh," she trailed, and then a smile crept onto her lips. "Let's get going. There's more to show you about this campus."

I cocked a brow at her and took a sip of my coffee, yet didn't question as we followed her.

"What else is there to know about Pine Hill that's not in the brochures?"

"Or for educational purposes?" Evie added as she blew into her cup and took a drink.

Em pursed her lips. "The hangout spots near campus. There's also camping, hiking, hot springs-"

Ev waved her hand for a second and pried the cup from her lips. "Is there anything that's not outdoorsy?"

"You came to Colorado and are not an outdoors person?"

"Yeah." She shrugged.

She smirked lightly and uncrossed her arms. "The library has good reading nooks, the science hall has some of those as well."

"You're not an outdoors person either, are you?"

"Not really, but I'll do it if I have to."

I held my drink in the air. "Here, here! To be honest, I don't mind it."

Evie snorted. "She's being modest. She loves the outdoors and all that. Her dad takes her on a canoeing trip every year."

"That's great! Does your mom go too or no?"

I smiled tightly and looked at the ground for a second. Evie's hand immediately encased mine and gave it a squeeze.

I cleared my throat. "Uhm... No, she passed away when I was a kid."

I was six. I only remember it being that age because I was sitting in my first grade class, all excited for the new year, and the teacher was pulled aside for a moment by the principal. Then my teacher came over to me and said I needed to go with the principal, and take my backpack too since I wasn't going to be returning. My classmates thought it was unfair that I got to leave. How ridiculous was that? Of course, my little mind didn't understand how horrible cancer was or understand why my mom was in the hospital all the time. Or understand why when she was at home I wasn't allowed to roughhouse with her. She got pale so quick; she was bald in most of the vague memories I have of her. Eventually, she stopped fighting and that day was a day my dad lost part of himself.

It was weird growing up without a mom during the years I got older. There was no one to teach me about make-up or the "girly" things. I didn't have that woman figure in my life; that was until I met Evie in seventh grade. It was just my dad and I for as long as I can remember. He definitely always put on a game face; there were nights I caught him crying and that was out of character. After Evie convinced me to go to the prom our senior year, my dad went dress shopping with me and helped me pick out that emerald green gown; he said that my mom would've loved it and that was the first time I ever cried about her passing. It hit hard that day; she wouldn't be there for the graduations, wedding day, baby showers. My dad really always tried the best he could and that was all I could ask for. He was both parents in my eyes.

Em's eyes went wide. "I'm so sorry. That was insensitive of me. I- My parents are divorced. I lived with my mom most of the time."

"Hey, no, it's okay. I was so young." I shook my head. "My dad is kind of like both parents, so I guess my mom does join the yearly camping trip."

Thankfully, Emilie lightly smiled. "Your dad sounds awesome. My mom is an outdoors woman. I think because she loved it so much and tried to get me to be as excited about it, it made me not enjoy it."

Ev laughed into her coffee. "That sounds like a better scenario. Mine are still together and I want to kill my mother sometimes. She's a witch."

"That's ...I can't argue against that," I snickered. "How about we go check out those spots? I've got my training to start later."

"Training for what?"

"Tennis. She's an athlete." Evie lightly rolled her eyes. Jokingly, of course.

I stuck my tongue out at her for a second. "I thought I mentioned it yesterday. I'm here on a tennis scholarship."

"I'm also here on a scholarship, but it's not athletic."

"Oh, nothing wrong with that. I know plenty of scholars. I got in by a landslide because of my mom. She's an alumni."

I looked at her thoughtfully. "Always had your heart set to go to Pine Hill? Was it the Harvard of your dreams?"

She shrugged. "Not necessarily, but it's a great college. It's what I need."

"Understandable," Ev replied, and eyed me to drop it. I got the sense it was a sensitive subject for Emilie, despite it probably being a constant question. I know I get it all the time, especially as a first year.

"So, if you're not athletic, why do you wear athleisure?" I teased.

Em rolled her eyes now, a smile crossed her lips. "It's comfortable, what can I say?"

The three of us laughed as we continued on where Emilie led us. She showed us the lake nearby where the row team practices when they're in season, and where students are allowed to swim. There were quite a few trails around that I knew I would have to try at some point. Of course, Emilie presented all of the nooks to Evie before we stopped to go eat dinner.

I held my right foot to my butt and then did the same with my left before I stretched forward to touch my toes. As I straightened back up and sat down in the grass to stretch my muscles more, I caught someone's eye.

It was the long haired brunette from yesterday. The one who hadn't teased us. He waved with a warm smile and I felt taken aback. Was that to me?

I looked around and I was the only one in this direction. I made an awkward wave to him and went back to my stretches.

That was kind of weird.

I took deep breaths as I pushed my foot against the tree I was under to stretch my arches. It was a distance run rather than sprints. I only ever do sprints right before the season starts. It was only day two and classes haven't even started, but I can't slack. That just wasn't in my nature.

I stepped through the open gate onto the track where it was occupied by a few others. I gave myself a few jumps to get my blood pumping more, then began the laps. I tried not to pay attention to the others because it would only psych me out of my comfort zone. I focused on the feel of my feet hitting the asphalt, and kept my breaths level.

It was only my mind and body connecting with the track; it was sort of like a trance. The first eight loops were the easiest part of the twelve. The last third was always the hardest.

"Hey!"

I barely slowed from surprise, but brought myself back to the previous pace. My eyes met the guy from earlier once again. Why was he talking to me? I didn't think he wanted to, or any of his friends.

I gave him a pressed smile. "Hi."

"You run?" he asked as he kept with me now.

We rounded one of the crescents. So, he wasn't going to stop any time soon. I wasn't sure how to feel about him yet. I didn't even know his name and I was pretty sure he didn't know mine either. I knew I shouldn't completely cancel him as a possible friend. He seemed harmless.

"Not for fun," I replied.

There was so much ease in his steps. He did have the advantage of long legs, so I could only assume my pace was nothing for him. I mean, it wasn't like I was super fast.

"What for then?"

"Tennis. You?"

He smirked. There was a laugh mixed between his heavy breaths too.

"Track and field... I'm a high jumper."

I gave him a look. "Not much... Running in that."

The smirk returned. "Caught me... I enjoy it."

"Right," I laughed breathlessly. I looked ahead of us; we weren't alone on the track. It was a great day for the distance. I guess I didn't mind the company. My eyes wandered back to the guy jogging with me, for whatever reason, and assessed his attributes. He did have the long legs and wide, buffed shoulders.

I cleared my throat. "I bet your height... Gives you major advantages."

"Not really." He chuckled. "I have to be careful about how... I carry my body over the pole."

I snorted and wiped under my nose as I slowed down to a walk. "Sure, I can understand that... I guess... What's your name?"

"Edward."

"Stella."

He smiled cheekly. "It was nice jogging, Stella. Maybe we can do it again."

I felt my heart lurch into my throat and I swallowed hard. "Yeah, maybe."

I walked off the track to do some quick post-run stretches to fend off any soreness and went back to the room where I'd left Evie and Emilie. They were sprawled out in the nook and observed others out the window. I'm positive that when they put in this large window, it was not intended to be for people watching.

Ev pointed at someone else. "What about them?"

Emilie laughed. "Arthur. He's in the science department."

"He's cute. Maybe I'll see him around."

"I don't know." She shrugged, her voice monotone. I could only guess how long Ev has had her doing this. Em looked back at me. "How was the workout?"

"I met Edward. He's from that group we ran into yesterday. You know, the one you said to avoid."

Em raised her brows. "I didn't think he'd be over there."

"Neither did I. He's a high jumper for track and field. He ran with me for a bit."

"A high jumper? The ones who launch themselves over the bar?" Ev questioned.

I nodded. "Yes...or they'll be disqualified."

"Wouldn't that actually be difficult for someone his size then?" Emilie questioned now, no hint of sarcasm.

I thought about it, and back to his own words, "Yeah, I suppose so. He seems to be a better fit for a sprint relay, or distance. He kept up so easily."

"Wait, so are you guys, like, running buddies now?" Evie mused.

I scoffed, "Doubt it."

"Good. I don't want to warn you again," Em reiterated and stood up. "I'll see you two sometime tomorrow. Goodnight."

"Later, Em," Ev and I chimed with waves.

"I'm going to shower," I said.

"What am I supposed to do then?"

I laughed under my breath. "Read?"

"Yes," she replied, then grabbed a book and sat back in the window nook.

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