Twisted Fates

Chapter 3 Harrington University

I stood in front of Harrington University, my heart racing like it was in a marathon. The building loomed large – three stories of brick and aspirations, with two perfectly manicured trees flanking the entrance like leafy sentinels. Students darted around, buzzing with energy, as if they all had their futures mapped out.

And then there was me, feeling like I’d stumbled into the wrong movie.

"Can you believe we’re here?" Katie said beside me, practically bouncing with joy. "Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming!"

I laughed and gave her arm a light squeeze. "No pinching needed, kate. We made it."

"Totally!" She grinned, linking her arm with mine. "Let’s go conquer this place!"

As we walked toward the entrance, I couldn’t shake the memories of how hard the journey had been. The endless latenight study sessions, the stress breakouts, and that moment of sheer panic when I thought I’d bombed the SATs…

Flashback

"Are you ready, sweetheart?"

The words echoed in my mind, as vivid as if they'd been spoken yesterday instead of fifteen years ago. I could still see my dad's kind eyes looking down at me, feel the reassuring weight of his hand on my shoulder.

It was my first day of preschool, and I was terrified.

Flashback ends

The memory washed over me as I stood at the entrance of Western ExecuTrain University. The imposing brick building loomed before me, a new mountain to climb. But instead of my dad's comforting presence beside me, I had Katie, my best friend since that fateful day in preschool.

"Earth to Iris! Hello? Anyone home?" Katie's voice cut through my reverie, her hand waving in front of my face.

I blinked, shaking off the ghosts of the past. "Sorry, Kate. Just... remembering."

Katie's expression softened. She knew exactly what or rather, who I was thinking about. "Your dad?"

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Yeah. I was thinking about my first day of preschool."

"Oh man, that was a day and a half, wasn't it?" Katie chuckled, linking her arm through mine as we started walking towards the university entrance. "I was a complete mess. Pretty sure I cried enough to fill a small swimming pool."

I couldn't help but laugh at the memory. "Your dad was trying so hard to cheer you up. Remember that silly dance he did?"

Katie groaned, covering her face with her free hand. "Don't remind me! I've spent years trying to repress that particular trauma."

As we walked, the sounds of excited chatter and laughter surrounded us. New students milled about, some looking as nervous as I felt, others exuding a confidence I envied. It wasn't so different from that day at preschool just on a much larger scale.

"What about you?" Katie asked, nudging me gently. "I remember you being practically glued to your dad's leg."

I smiled, the bittersweet memory washing over me. "Yeah, I was scared out of my mind. I looked up at him with these big, sad eyes and said, 'Daddy, I don't wanna go.'"

"What did he say?"

I closed my eyes for a moment, picturing the scene. "He knelt so he was at my eye level, put his hands on my shoulders, and said, 'I know it's scary sweetpea. But I need you to be brave and give it a try. Remember what we always say?'"

Katie grinned. "The secret to success is to never give up!"

"Exactly," I laughed. "We said it together, and then he kissed me on the forehead and told me I wouldn't be alone because you'd be there with me."

We paused at the top of the steps leading to the main entrance. Katie turned to face me, her expression serious. "He was right, you know. You're not alone. I'm still here."

I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes and blinked them away. "I know, Kate. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Katie pulled me into a tight hug. "Hey, none of that now. We're the Two Musketeers, remember? All for one and one for all!"

I hugged her back, grateful beyond words for her friendship. When we pulled apart, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the day ahead.

"You know," I said as we pushed through the heavy doors into the bustling hallway, "sometimes I think my friendship with you is one of the few things I have left of him. Like, he gave me this amazing gift that keeps on giving."

As we navigated the crowded corridors, looking for my first class, Katie regaled me with stories of her first semester. "Oh, and wait until you meet Professor Hendricks. He's like this adorable grandpa type, but don't let that fool you. His pop quizzes are the stuff of nightmares!"

I was trying to tune in to what she was saying, pushing aside the knot of anxiety twisting in my stomach. But I guess it was pretty visible because Katie suddenly paused and looked at me.

"Hey, you alright? You look a bit pale."

I managed a laugh, but it came out more like a weird cough. "Is it that obvious? I just... I can't believe I'm actually here, you know? It feels so unreal."

Katie's expression softened with empathy. "I totally understand. It's a huge deal. But you can handle it, Iris. You're smart, tough, and when you set your mind to something, you don't back down."

"Thanks a lot," I replied with a smirk, but I couldn't help but grin.

"I'm being serious!" Katie pressed. "Remember when we were kids and you were determined to ride a bike without training wheels? You wiped out a million times, but you kept getting back on until you nailed it."

That memory made me laugh. "Yeah, and I had the scrapes to show for it. Dad was so proud. He wouldn't stop bragging about how his little girl was the most determined kid in Worcester."

"See? You've got this. And hey, I don't have any classes today, so I'll be your personal cheerleader s***h tour guide s***h bodyguard. How's that sound?"

I felt a rush of affection for my best friend. "That sounds perfect, Kate. Thanks."

As we continued our search for my classroom, I found myself thinking about the journey that had brought me here. After Katie's family moved to New York when we were twelve, I thought my world was ending. But we'd managed to stay close, despite the distance.

"Hey Kate," I said, interrupting her detailed description of the campus coffee shop's menu, "remember how devastated we were when you moved?"

Katie's smile turned wistful. "Oh man, do I ever. I cried for like a week straight. My mom was worried I was going to dehydrate myself."

I laughed. "Same here. Dad kept trying to cheer me up. He even suggested we adopt a cat and name it Katie."

"You're kidding!" Katie gasped, delighted. "Why didn't you?"

"Because I told him it wouldn't be the same," I said, my voice softening with the memory. "He got this look on his face you know the one, where his eyes go all crinkly at the corners? And he said, 'You're right, sweetpea. There's only one, Katie. But just because she's far away doesn't mean she's not still your best friend.'"

Katie squeezed my hand. "Your dad was a wise man."

"Yeah, he was," I agreed, feeling the familiar ache of loss in my chest. "That's part of why I wanted to come to New York for university. After... after he was gone, I just felt so alone. I needed my best friend."

Katie stopped walking and pulled me into another hug, right there in the middle of the hallway. "I'm so glad you're here, Iris. I've missed you like crazy."

"Well, look who it is—my favorite little Kitten!"

I turned to see Jax, Katie's boyfriend, swaggering over with that annoying grin I couldn't stand. He had just finished class, his backpack casually tossed over one shoulder.

"Hey, babe!" Katie said, giving him a quick peck. "How was class?"

"Boring as ever," Jax shrugged, then shifted his focus back to me. "So, Kitten, how's your first day treating you? Missing your ball of yarn?"

I managed a tight smile. "It's going fine, Jax. And please, don't call me Kitten."

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. "Oh, come on. It fits you! All adorable and cuddly, but I bet you’ve got some hidden claws."

I noticed Katie frown a bit at this, but before she could jump in, Jax continued.

"Hey, how about I give you a ride home after your classes? I could show you around the city."

The idea of being alone in a car with Jax made me uneasy. "Thanks, but I have work after class. I’ll just take the subway."

His smile wavered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Come on, it’s no big deal. I insist."

"I said no, Jax," I replied, firmer this time. "I appreciate it, but I'm all set."

Katie finally noticed the awkward vibe and jumped in. "How about we all grab coffee later this week? Once we’ve settled into our routines?"

"That sounds awesome," I replied, relieved she stepped in. "I should head to class now. Catch you later, Scar. Bye, Jax."

As I entered the classroom, I could feel Jax's gaze on me. It wasn’t the first time he’d made me uneasy, especially when Katie wasn’t around. But I shook it off. I had bigger fish to fry – like making it through my first day of university.

The day zipped by in a whirlwind of syllabi, introductions, and way too much information. Before I knew it, I was swapping my backpack for an apron at Petit Monde Café, my new job.

"Hey, new girl!" my manager, Tom, shouted as I walked in. "Elena called in sick. You’re on her tables tonight."

Perfect. Just what I needed on my first day of uni – double the work for the same lousy pay. But I needed this gig, so I forced a smile and got to it.

Three hours later, my feet were screaming. Whoever thought high heels were a good idea for waitressing clearly never had to wear them for a shift. I was balancing a tray of drinks, navigating through the packed café, when disaster struck.

One moment I was steady, and the next, I was tripping over some kid's outstretched leg. I watched in horror as a glass of red wine flew through the air in slow motion, splattering all over a man’s pristine white shirt and fancy suit.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" I gasped, setting down the tray and grabbing a handful of napkins. "Please, let me help you clean that up."

The man stood up slowly, his face turning an alarming shade of red. "Do you have any idea how much this suit costs?" he snarled.

"I'm sorry, sir. It was an accident. I tripped over—"

"I don't care what happened!" he cut me off. "Where's your manager? I want to speak to whoever's in charge of this establishment immediately!"

My stomach dropped. "Sir, please, I can clean it up for you. There's no need to–"

"I said, get your manager. Now!"

I rushed off to find Tom, my face burning with embarrassment. When we got back to the table, the guy was going off about how terrible the staff was and how his night was ruined.

Tom listened, nodding and apologizing like crazy. Then he turned to me, looking serious. "I’m really sorry, but I have to let you go."

"What?!" I stuttered. "It was an accident! I tripped over a kid's leg; I didn’t mean to—"

"I know," Tom said, avoiding my gaze. "But we can’t risk upsetting customers like him. Please hand in your apron before you leave."

I stood there, completely shocked. This couldn’t be real. I needed this job. How was I going to pay for my books? For food?

As the reality hit me, something inside me snapped. I turned to the socalled Mr., who looked way too pleased with himself.

"Thanks a lot, sir," I said, my voice oozing sarcasm. "Because of you, I just lost my job. I hope that makes your night a little better."

He shot me a look full of contempt. "Maybe this will teach you to be more cautious next time. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a messedup evening to fix."

I have no idea what got into me at that moment. It could've been the stress from the day, the sheer unfairness of it all, or just the way he stared at me like I was some dirt he’d stepped in. Whatever it was, before I could stop myself, I snatched a bowl of kimchi from a nearby table and dumped it right on his head.

The café went dead silent. He stood there, mouth wide open, noodles sliding down his face. Tom looked like he was about to pass out. And me? I felt a wild laugh bubbling up inside.

"There you go," I said, tossing my apron at Tom's feet. "Now your evening is officially ruined. Enjoy your pasta, sir."

With that, I spun around and bolted out of the café, my heart racing. I ran until my lungs felt like they were on fire and my legs turned to jelly, finally collapsing onto a bench in a nearby park.

As the rush faded, the weight of my actions crashed down on me like a ton of bricks. I had just attacked a customer. Lawsuit? Definitely a possibility. Arrest? That could happen too. Oh man, what have I done?

But then, out of nowhere, I burst into laughter. Not just a giggle, but fullon, tears rolling down my cheeks, bellyaching laughter. I mean, what else was there to do? I had just lived out the ultimate fantasy of every retail worker, and honestly, it felt pretty incredible.

For the first time ever, I had stood up to someone who thought they could walk all over me. It wasn’t the smartest move, and it sure wasn’t mature, but wow, it felt liberating.

Once I finally calmed down, I grabbed my phone to call Katie. This was going to be an epic story.

"Hey kate," I said when she answered. "You won't believe what just went down..."

I couldn't help but c***k up as I finished telling Katie about the ridiculous thing that happened earlier. You know that feeling when you're trying to keep it together, but then you look at your friend and just lose it? Yeah, that was us.

Katie was practically on the floor, tears in her eyes. "Oh man," she wheezed between laughs, "I wish I could've seen that!"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I know, right? But honestly, I kinda feel bad for the guy."

Katie sat up, wiping her eyes. Her expression turned a bit more serious, but there was still a glint of amusement there. "Nah, don't feel bad. He had it coming. After what he did to you and your job? That's karma, baby."

I nodded, because yeah, she had a point. Still, a tiny part of me felt a twinge of guilt. But before I could dwell on it, Katie was up and heading to the kitchen.

"Here," she said, coming back with a plate. "Eat something. You haven't touched food since you got home."

I looked down at the scrambled eggs and toast. It wasn't anything fancy, but my stomach suddenly realized it was starving. I dug in with a grin, wondering for the millionth time what I'd do without Katie.

Few days later, and I'm at uni, heading to my last class of the day. My mind's already on what I'm gonna do after probably curl up with a good book or bingewatch something.

"Iris! Wait up!"

I turned to see Katie running towards me like she was being chased by a horde of zombies. I waited, watching her weave through the crowd.

She finally caught up, bent over and panting. "Jeez, Kate, what's the rush?" I asked, amused.

She held up a finger, still catching her breath. Then, "You heard about Melissa's club party tonight?"

I groaned internally. Here we go...

"Yeah," I said, trying to sound casual. "I think I'll pass."

Katie's eyes went wide. "What? No way! You've never even been to a club before!"

"Exactly," I muttered, but she wasn't listening.

"It'll be fun, I promise. You'll be safe with me," she added, giving me that look you know, the one that's part puppy dog eyes, part 'I know what's best for you'.

I opened my mouth to object, but Katie was on a roll.

"Nope, it's decided. You're coming. See you later!" And just like that, she was gone, leaving me standing there like a deer in headlights.

So now I'm just standing in the hallway, wondering what the hell just happened. A club? Me? Oh boy. What am I in for?

I mean, I trust Katie. She's my best friend for a reason. But clubs? That's so not my scene. All those people, the loud music, the drinking... Just thinking about it makes my palms sweat.

But then again, maybe it's time I stepped out of my comfort zone. Who knows? It might even be fun.

...Right?

As I finally start moving towards class, I can't help but wonder: Is this the start of some grand adventure, or am I walking into a total disaster?

Guess I'll find out tonight. Oh god, what am I going to wear?