Opposite Attract

Chapter 3: A Rush Start

Zara's pov

I sprinted across the quad, my laden rucksack slamming cruelly against my shoulders. It was the first day of class, and I was already running late, due to my new roommate's cold goodbye. After her chilly "unfortunately" statement, I raced to unload the remainder of my belongings in record speed, wanting to escape the tension boiling around our tight dorm room.

So much for making friends on my first day. Little Miss Trust Fund probably didn't want anything to do with the random scholarship child they had assigned her.

I looked at my watch again, frightened. I had five minutes till Intro Biology began, and I still needed to locate the science building. Why did elite institutions always have to transform their campuses into vast, complex mazes?

My nerves tingled as I power-walked by groups of laughing kids spread out on lovely green lawns. They all appeared to know where they were heading, making simple welcomes to familiar faces. Me? I felt completely lost, overwhelmed, and alone.

Just keep your head down and concentrate, I reminded myself firmly. I was not here to make friends. Surviving the next four years would need every ounce of concentration I could muster.

I hastily checked a directory board until I saw the science building. Thank God. I raced across the grass, my heart quickening as I battled not to drop the mini-library of textbooks I'd packed in my backpack. I was not going to come there without the proper documents, especially given how much I had to prove. These students were years ahead of me intellectually, regardless of how hard I studied at home. I couldn't risk falling behind in week one.

The scientific building's glass doors loomed ahead. Almost there. I dug in, ready to make a furious sprint for the door.

When a corpse crossed my way. I smashed into his muscular chest, textbooks and papers bursting from my bag across the grass.

"Oh my god!" I yelped, terror overtaking me. "I'm so sorry; I didn't even see you there."

"No worries!" The man stated it effortlessly while kneeling to grab my belongings. He had nice brown eyes and shaggy black hair. "It looks like you've got your hands full anyway."

My face burned. Great. It was just the first morning, and I had already face-planted into a poor, innocent pupil. So much for keeping my head down.

I swiftly knelt to get the papers, whispering another apologies. The man merely grinned as he stacked my huge biology textbook and loose leaf notes.

"Bio major?" He examined the textbook's cover.

"Pre-med," I said hastily, still attempting to gather everything. "I want to get a head start on requirements."

The guy's brows raised, impressed. "You should respect that. "I'm Brandon."

He extended his hand, but did not grasp my mini-avalanche of homework. I managed to release a hand for a quick shake. "Zara. "And thank you."

"Don't mention it." He effortlessly hefted the stack of books and papers and handed them to me. I reloaded my bag quickly. Brandon looked toward the scientific building. "Got class in Hurston Hall?"

He smiled at my frantic nod. "Me, too. "May I walk you?"

I blinked, surprised by the offer and the fact that Brandon was even speaking to me. Back home, hardly one noticed our high school's few scholarship students. We were not worth the popular crowd's attention. Brandon waited patiently, his keen eyes filled with pleasant curiosity.

The scientific building's doors are just twenty feet away now. Part of me wanted to decline Brandon's offer; I'd done well on my own. But the other side flared brightly at the tiny gesture—my first genuine welcome to Bexley.

So I found myself replying, "Yeah, that'd be great, thanks."

Brandon grinned wider. We set off together toward Hurston Hall, with Brandon following behind at a leisurely pace. "Let me guess," he said, holding wide the door. "You've got Griggs for Intro Bio?"

As we walked into the immaculate corridor, I checked my schedule. "Yeah, Griggs at 8 a.m."

"Nice. "Me, too." He escorted me to a lecture hall. Voices resonated from inside. "Just a heads up: Griggs is an excellent lecturer, but he does not tolerate tardiness. I once observed him shut out a female for arriving thirty seconds after the start time."

My heart gripped. We dashed into the lecture hall's open doors just as a grim, silver-haired guy in a tweed jacket stood at the podium. "Welcome students," the man—presumably Griggs—announced crisply. "Please take your seats immediately so we can—"

Brandon slid into the back row as his keen blue eyes rested on me. We both froze. Oh my gosh, this was it. On my first day, I got given detention or something. So much for being under the radar!

But, to my surprise, Griggs just pursed his lips. "Don't make tardiness a habit," he urged. Then he went into his introductory talk.

I sank into my seat, my heart beating. Brandon gave me a gentle thumbs up. I sighed, giving a tentative, thankful grin. Perhaps this location would not be that difficult to explore after all.