

"What are you so cranky about?" Annabelle asks me the following morning, as we climb down the steps out of Thompson Hall towards the street. "I missed class last night," I say.

"Yeah, I noticed. You were drooling on your pillow when I came back from my class, wearing the same clothes you were wearing when you arrived." "Why didn't you wake me up?" "It was past eight already. And so what? You missed a class. Big deal. People miss classes all the time. That's the beautiful thing about college, sweetie. No one cares." "I don't care about missing classes," I say, as we cross Sunset and start down a cobblestone path leading to the north side of the campus, "I care about missing the first class."

"Why?" "Because it's the first class! Now everyone knows each other and I'll be the new girl." "So? That's cool. You'll make an entrance, next class. People will notice you." "I hate making an entrance. And I'm not too keen on being noticed, either." "Why?"

I roll my eyes. "Trust me, Annabelle, if I wanted to make an entrance and be noticed, I'd have... I don't know, possessed the Pope. Or rode in from the sky in one of the apocalypse horses." "What?"

"Never mind. Where's your class?" Annabelle checks her phone. "Bunche Hall. You?" "I don't know. I have an introductory walk, or something. Sort of like a welcoming... thingy."

"The Bruin Welcoming Walk?" "Yeah, that's it."

Annabelle laughs. "Jesus, I remember when I did that... seems like ages ago." "You did it? What's it like?" She shrugs. "Fun. It's just senior students walking you guys around telling you about the campus history, school stories and urban legends, showing you the buildings, that kind of thing..." "Sounds boring." "A little bit... but at least you'll have a friendly face there."

We stop in front of an imposing building held up by large columns. "What do you mean?" Annabelle pulls her backpack over her shoulder, distracted. "Dean is one of the seniors that volunteer to help with the walk. He'll probably be there." "Oh. Dean?"

"Yeap. Anyway, see you after lunch, I guess." Annabelle smiles and turns back, going through the columns towards the entrance of the building.

Dean... this could be interesting. What? I'm just saying. Not cause I'm gonna bang the dude or anything. He looked fun, that's all. I respect a man who drinks before noon. What?

Oh, shut up.

I make way across the long path out of the north side into the heart of the campus. Past Haines Hall and Powell Library, I reach a large set of stairs sided by green hills of grass looking nice enough to be on the cover of community college flyers. I'm halfway down when I hear a familiar high-pitched voice behind me.