Page 1 of Sunrises & Salvation
HUNTER
MOVE-IN DAY FRESHMAN YEAR
O h shit.
My palms are sweaty against the cheap plastic handle of my suitcase, my meager belongings stuffed inside.
The lobby of my dorm is packed to the brim with people talking, and the decibel level is ten times louder than it should be.
My pulse pounds in my ears, and my heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest.
I’ve never been good in public settings, especially not ones like this. The temptation to run niggles at the back of my mind, but no matter how much I want to, I can’t. First, I already took out loans to help me pay for my first semester. Second, this college is three hours away from home.
Frederick H. Lewis Residence Center is where I’m calling home, at least until next May. Great.
A football flies past my ear, so close I can feel the wind blow off it as it ruffles my hair.
“Sorry, man!” some blond guy yells as he runs past me, chasing another guy out of the building and into the scorching sun. Well, at least he didn’t hit me with it. It could have been worse.
“I am so sorry about them!” a girl close to my age says.
A name tag pinned to her red and white polo says, Brittany - Resident Assistant.
Her brown hair is streaked with bright purple highlights, and I instantly know that I like her.
Not only is her hair cool, but the rainbow pin under her name tag brings a smile to my face.
Thank God the university pamphlet wasn’t lying.
One of my biggest worries was accidentally enrolling in a homophobic college and being stuck here until I could transfer, but if Brittany feels confident enough to wear a pride pin on move-in day, it won’t be so bad.
It could definitely be worse, that’s for freaking sure.
I lived through hell in my high school, and I don’t plan on doing that now.
College is my chance to break free, to really get to know myself and let loose.
“I’m Brittany! I am one of the resident advisors. Anything you need, you can come talk to me about. What’s your name?” Her smile is wide, and a hint of a dimple shows in her left cheek.
“Hunter.” I extend my hand for her to shake. “I like your pride pin,” I say bashfully, my face flaming red. But this is a part of finding myself—being unapologetically me, and putting myself out there to make connections.
“Thank you! My partner gave it to me when I got this job. I think she bought it online; I can find the link if you want,” she offers, grabbing my hand and shaking it.
“I would like that, a lot, actually. Thank you.” Another yell sounds from behind her, and we both look over to three guys fighting over the same ball that whooshed past me earlier. Brittany rolls her eyes, pulling out a whistle from her pocket and blowing it.
I cover my ears to fight against the loud sound, but it makes them immediately pause and stare at her with innocent expressions on their faces.
“Outside if you’re going to roughhouse, we’re trying to get the freshmen moved in. I need as few issues as possible today.” She points her finger outside, and the boys scatter like mice and exit out the door Brittany pointed to.
Huffing, she tucks the whistle back in her pocket and dusts the invisible lint off her shirt.
“Sorry about that, the older guys get a little too excited on move-in day. They love preying on new meat.” My eyes widen, and Brittany slaps me on the back while she directs me toward the long desk with workers behind it handing out lanyards.
“Don’t look so serious, I meant they’re always looking for new members for their fraternity.
It’s like a free-for-all when new people come to campus.
Every fraternity wants to be the best. Have the highest GPA, the most leaders, yaddayaddayadda.
You know how it is.” I don’t, though. I don’t know how it is, because I’ve never been good around chaos.
That includes sports of any kind, and clubs.
I prefer to stay home by myself and read my romance novels.
I would never admit that out loud, though.
My obsession with romance of any kind is for me, and me only.
Also, not a lot of people took well to me being gay in high school.
But that’s fine, too; they’re all too small-minded to be able to look past the one thing that makes me different from them.
It would have been the same if I was the only blond guy in an all-brunette school—nobody wants to understand someone who isn’t like them.
“Okay, this is where I leave you. They’re going to give you a lanyard with your name on it, a key to your dorm room, and a map of campus.
My advice? Keep the lanyard on you at all times.
if you get locked out of your dorm, it’s a five-dollar charge.
Don’t just study the map, actually go and follow the sidewalks to find the buildings you need.
Campus looks a lot different in person than it does on the map.
” My mind races, trying to process all the information.
It’s fine, I’m smart. I’ll be able to figure this out, even if the only person I’ve attempted to make friends with is about to leave me with the sharks to fend for myself.
“Give me your phone.”
Ummm. I hesitantly reach into my back pocket, pull it out, unlock it, and hand it to her.
She grabs it, her tawny, delicate fingers holding it securely in her palm.
I watch her curiously as she quickly types something in and then hands it back to me.
“I put my number in there, text me if you need anything or if you just want to hang out. We have movie night once a week in the dorms. Come and hang out. The first one is tomorrow night to help all the freshmen get settled in.” I nod my head, tucking my phone back into my pocket.
I turn around to talk to the guy at the desk, who’s currently staring at me with a hint of impatience on his face.
“And Hunter?” I look at her over my shoulder, and she winks at me. “Welcome to college.”