The crisp autumn air nipped at their cheeks as Cassie, Emmett, and Elisia walked onto the sprawling campus of Northwood University. Emmett, with his usual boundless energy, bounced ahead, already pointing out interesting architecture and speculating about which professors might be the toughest. Elisia, quiet but observant, trailed slightly behind, taking in the scene with a thoughtful expression. Cassie, however, felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. While Emmett and Elisia had attended the same high school, this was Cassie's first time at Northwood – a completely new environment, filled with unfamiliar faces and potential social minefields. The vibrant colors of the fall foliage seemed to blur into a hazy wash of apprehension. She clutched her backpack straps a little tighte
