Page 3 of Sunrises & Salvation

HUNTER

FIRST DAY OF FRESHMAN YEAR

I know this campus like the back of my hand, including all the sidewalks that aren’t on the map that I borrowed from my roommate. I know how to get to every building, and how long it takes me to get from one building to the next. What I didn’t think about, though, was where I was going to sit.

In high school, it was obvious. I sat in the front row of every class and sat through being tormented by people throwing stuff at the back of my head.

College is different, though. I can sit in the front and not have to worry about people bothering me, or I can turn the tide and sit in the back for once and act like a cool kid.

The only problem with that—there would be way too many distractions between me and the professor for me to be able to focus.

So, I guess the front of the class it is.

My first class of the day is at eight a.m., which everyone warns against, but I like the thought of waking up early and getting my stuff done. Then, I can spend the rest of my day however I want to.

There’s no one here yet, the hallways are quiet, and the dull lights overhead give an eerie feeling. I’m in a horror movie, aren’t I? The serial killer is going to pop around the corner, and I’m going to scream and try to run away. Probably tripping over my shoestring in the process.

The overhead lights flicker, and I freeze, my paranoia skyrocketing. I’m not actually going to get murdered, am I? I think my parents would resurrect me just to kill me again for falling for something stupid like this.

It’s fine, deep breaths in and out. I keep my shoulders pushed back and walk down the hallway, counting my steps as I get to the door to my English class.

English is my favorite subject. I love reading and interpreting writing from famous authors.

I reach my hand out to open the door when it swings open and a dark silhouette appears in the frame.

I squeal, the sudden terror flooding my body and freezing me. Saliva pools in my mouth, and I have to swallow to make sure I don’t throw up.

“What the fuck?” the deep voice asks when they step out, and they’re bathed in the light from the hallway.

Oh. Oh. It’s the guy from move-in day.

“Adam, right?” I ask and then realize how creepy I sound. I might be a tad bit creepy, but I couldn’t help it. He’s hot. Dark hair and shockingly blue eyes—they looked almost translucent that day in the dorms, and I couldn’t look away.

“Yeah,” he says gruffly, shoving past me and leaving me standing there staring at the spot he just vacated. Well, that went great. Not.

I groan in embarrassment. I can’t believe I squealed out loud. Like a high school girl. He probably thinks I’m an idiot. Whatever, it doesn’t matter. I don’t care what he thinks about me.

I don’t care what he thinks about me, I reassure myself as I pick out my seat in the classroom. The smell of disinfectant is strong enough to burn my eyes, and I have to blink to clear them.

This school year is off to a great start.

After English, I walk across campus, taking in the bright green trees lining the sidewalks and the assortment of flowers popping up in random succession.

“Hunter!” a voice screams at me, and I flinch, still on edge from the terror of this morning.

I haven’t made any friends on campus yet, not for a lack of trying, though.

My roommate is a football player who is here on scholarship and wasn’t interested in getting to know me.

Everyone else who lives in my hall already has connections with their roommates or other people.

It’s just me, left behind, like usual. You would think I would be used to it by now, but it still freaking sucks.

I glance over my shoulder and see Brittany waving one of her hands at me, the other one thrown across the shoulder of another girl.

I lift my hand in a wave, letting her know I heard her. She’s probably doing her due diligence as an RA and wants to make a good impression on the underclassmen.

Instead, she and her friend approach me. I pause on my path to my next class, checking my watch and trying to calculate how long I can stand here and not be late.

“Hey, how’s it going? Are you finding your classes alright?” she asks, and I nod my head. “Oh, sorry. That was so rude of me. Hunter, this is my girlfriend Zoey. Zoey, this is Hunter, the freshman I was telling you about.” My face flushes, and I wish I hadn’t stopped.

“Oh, right. Nice to meet you.” Zoey ducks out from under Brittany’s arm and wraps me in a bear hug, squeezing the life out of me. It’s comforting to be hugged like this.

“Where are you heading?” Zoey asks as she steps back and resumes her place by Brittany’s side.

“Math building, I have Calc One.” They both flinch.

“Jesus, and you’re a freshman,” Brittany says, even though it sounds more like a question.

“Yep, sadly. I don’t like it either.” They laugh, and I can’t stop myself from joining in.

“We’re heading that way too, wanna walk together?” Zoey asks, and I find myself agreeing before I can even think about it. This is what college is about. Finding my place and finding my people. No matter how terrifying that might be.

Our walk is filled with Zoey telling us about a project she’s been working on all summer. Though I suppose it’s more for my benefit than Brittany’s, I enjoy it all the same.

“It’s going to be epic. Just think. Costumes, goodie bags, and food. What more could people ask for?” I nod along as she talks about the Halloween fundraiser for the LGBTQIA+ Youth Shelter, making a mental reminder to add it to my calendar so I don’t miss out.

Too soon, we’re at the math building. “I’ll see you guys later,” I say, hiking my bag farther up on my shoulder.

“We’re having a movie night tonight, if you want to come,” Zoey offers.

I internally cheer, the excitement of being invited to something on my first official day of college thrumming through my veins.

“I would love to. Do I need to bring anything?” My parents put fifty dollars in my account yesterday to get me through the week.

They don’t want me working through college, so they’re trying to help out where they can.

I can splurge; it’s not very often I get invited to social gatherings.

We would definitely need popcorn if they don’t already have it.

I could get that, and maybe some popcorn seasonings.

I love the cinna-dust one, but they might prefer salty, and the options are endless.

My inner ramblings are cut short when I see Brittany slightly nudge her in the ribs and subtly shake her head. My good mood deflates.

“Oh, you know what, I just remembered that I have a thing to do tonight. So I can’t. Thank you anyway.” I awkwardly nod my head and hurriedly enter the building, trying to fight the sinking feeling in my chest.

It’s okay if not everyone wants to be my friend; that isn’t going to stop me.

I put on my brightest smile and enter the classroom.