To Kristine for being the best cheerleader a writer could ask for.
To my Cheer Book Club, for your belief in me.
To The Book Club Bitches for always having my back ALWAYS and FOREVER.
Finally, to Samantha thank you for letting me steal from your world.
To the moon and back angel princess-you will never be normal.
Crisp air filled the cab of the truck. My feet tapped the floor to the rhythm of the music rolling out of the cracked speakers. Freedom vibrated through my blood, allowing me to feel weightless.
My red loose curls blew untamed in the wind. This marked the whole new beginning for me. This would be the truth of my future.
My destination was only five short hours away, but this would be the beginning I’d always wanted.
Chapter One
I closed the truck door stepping onto the campus of my home for the next four years. Breathing in the air, I trying to commit to memory the feel of the energy pulsing through me.
College.
I’d waited for this. I’d worked weekends and applied for every scholarship I could possibly find to make this happen.
I had arrived.
I walked toward the dorm, smiling at everyone as I passed.
“Hi, what’s your name?” a sweet, perky blonde asked from behind a table.
“Savanah Mills.”
“Yep, here you are. You are in room 231. Second floor.” He stood and pointed down the hall. “It is easiest if you go down this way and then up. Those stairs are a bit wider to carry stuff in. Did you need help loading in?” He looked behind me.
“Nope, I can manage. I’m an original minimalist.”
He smiled, handing me forms to fill out and bring back to him to get my key.
The door opened with not a creak. Sighing slightly, I somehow expected lights and a music intro. My roommates hadn’t made it yet, so I claimed my bed and headed back down to the truck.
My final trip brought the first introduction of Crystel. She obviously was an athlete. The muscles that rippled on her back and shoulders glowed under her sun-tanned skin. This wasn’t a spray on. This was all outdoor activities. “Hey.” Crystel dropped her large duffle bag and walked out.
“Hi,” I whispered under my breath.
The next two roommates arrived as I finished carefully unpacking my things. I didn’t bring much, mostly because I didn’t have much. I’d always gotten by on a little less. Besides everything I’d need could just as easily be acquired at a thrift store here, as back home.
Camryn took the top bunk above mine. She was built like she could throw a punch and based on the duffle she tossed on the floor; I suspected another athlete.
Secretly, I prayed for a nice little emo girl, or even a peppy cheerleader type to walk in the door.
Alas, the gods were against me. The last to arrive was Cassidy. Yup, no guesses needed. Cassidy stood about 6 feet easy and wore a state basketball champions sweatshirt. Awesome--three athletes and me. Cassidy, Crystel, Camryn and Savanah. Which one doesn’t go? I closed my drawer and slipped out of the room as one of the triple C’s parents walked in.
“Nope. My day is going to be great. This is what I have worked so hard for. This is it!” I repeated over and over in my mind.
I walked around the campus, keeping the smile firmly on my face. Nothing could pull me down. Noting the people prattling on, excitedly chatting with friends; parents greeting other parents, I realized for the first time I seemed to be the only one without someone. Grandma would have come if she didn’t have therapy. Hip replacement meant PT two times a week. Someone had to driver her, so grandpa couldn’t come, so honestly it had to be a solo mission.
It didn’t bother me in the slightest. I enjoyed the drive and felt this needed to be my journey. My grandparents had done more than anyone should have done for me. Without them, I’d have been sent to live with crazy Aunt Susan in New Jersey. That is, if she would have taken in a gangly 10-year-old girl.
“Hi, I am Leah. Are you alone too?” A dark-haired mousey girl with glasses asked. Ahh, the words I hated more than nails on a chalk board. The words I only ever seemed to have the same answer for.
“Yep, just me.” I added a smile to keep the flippant tone from my voice.
“Well, do you mind? I hate being the little lonely orphan all alone.”
My expression reflected something in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I just meant that we don’t have family here with us.” She looked down at her fingers, picking at her recently chewed nails.
“No, it’s fine. I hate being all alone too.” Come, on. It was time to bring that positive energy from my drive back out again.
I plastered a smile on my face, “I guess we are all a little nervous, huh?”
Leah instantly relaxed. “Which dorm are you in? I’m in Anderson.” Pointing to the opposite side of campus.
“Hamman.” I pointed over my shoulder.
“Do you know your roommates?”
“Um, yeah, met them about four minutes ago. I think they had a team deal.” I lightly scanned the crowd, not really looking. “You?”
“No, she is an international student. I think they had a thing too.”
So, there it was. Two little lost girls on a campus.
The Welcome Week activities started, and people began funneling into lecture halls and auditoriums, moving about with the perma-grin upon their faces. All the while, Leah and I traveled side by side, committed to being with each other, and avoiding the lonely feeling of exclusion.
I was no stranger to exclusion. I felt it my entire
