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I stopped immediately.

“You are August Kree's daughter?” She nodded. “He's a household name in cinema, Jazmine!” Winner of an Oscar and a Golden Globe, he was a living legend of contemporary cinema. He had more than 25 films in his career and some of them were my favorites, such as: Rare Jewel and There's No One Home for Christmas.

I was excited by the information.

“I know…” She laughed in my face, obviously.

“Ok... and how come you're not anepobaby? I mean, why didn’t he put you in every film he directed?”

She laughed even more when we managed to reach the bedroom door.

“My mother didn't want that for me and, despite loving cinema, I never seriously considered it for myself. That’s my dad’s thing, I wanted something else. Something just mine, you know?” Jazmine confessed as she opened the door to help me hop my way to the couch.

I sighed.

“I can understand that.”

Jaz closed the door and I let my bag sit on the floor. Gently, she took one of the gel packs from our small minibar in the freezer section and handed it to me.

“Thanks…”

“You're welcome.”

Suddenly, our cell phones rang at the same time, which made us a little suspicious, but it was just Sidney asking if we wanted her to bring us dinner. And for a moment, I was happy to have the two of them as roommates. We weren't best friends, but I felt like we could be.

The hot day made me rethink all my decisions until now. I hated the weather, and I was cursed with a terrible headache. Even so, I tried to pay attention in Economy 101 class. But when it was over, I was sure my brain would melt and run out of my ear. I left the room almost dragging myself and ended up finding Emily in the hallway as she seemed to try to understand the mural with the map of the building, trying to guide herself.

“Hey...” I greeted her, stopping next to her.

“Oh, hi. Do you know where room A-24 is?”

“I just got out of there.” I pointed to the hallway behind me.

“Right.” Her blonde hair was perfectly tied in two braids that morning while her face didn't have a single drop of makeup. She was just there, perfect. “I have Economy 101.”

I nodded.

“Good luck!”

“Thanks.”

Emily left in the same direction I had come from and I just followed the flow of students towards the outside of the building. I definitely needed a coffee. I stepped out of the air conditioning and into the Texas sun and tried to look happy for the people smiling, propped up on the grass as they chatted between their classes, but I couldn't.

I went straight to the nearest cafeteria. On the way, I heard my cell phone ringing, which was unusual. After all, who still uses their phones to actually call people? It was strange and worrying to say the least, especially when the number in question belonged to my brother.

I picked up.

“Hi, Derek!”

“Hi,chica… Are you in class or practice?”

“None of them. Actually, I'm in the cafeteria, I have a half-hour window until the next class.”

“Excellent! Send me the location and I will meet you there.”

“But I don't want to meet you…” I said ironically.

“Stop being annoying, Veronica. Send me the fucking location. Goodbye!”