Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 51243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
We said nothing.
“I need to go check on something,” was all I could say.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to getting to know you more,” she said. “I’m sure Taylor feels the same.”
“Oh, I’m sure…” I stormed out of the suite, hoping I would wake up from this Twilight Zone-themed nightmare.
“Good afternoon, Miss.” A woman in all red greeted me the moment I stepped into the admissions office. “How may I help you this afternoon?”
“I’m having a personal crisis and an extreme emergency.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Miss Parker.” She frowned, motioning for me to step forward. “What’s wrong?”
“Well, I—” I blinked. “Wait a minute. How do you know my name already?”
“I know all the program attendees’ names.” She smiled. “I studied everyone’s social media after we sent out the acceptance letters, and I bet I could tell you what your status was four years ago to this day.”
I blinked.
“‘Audrey Parker at 3:26 p.m.—Is it legal for a therapist to quit on you in the middle of a session? Asking for a friend.’” She clapped. “Want to give me a random date so I can recite another?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I would like you to assign me a new roommate. Now.”
“Our system selects people at random,” she said. “It’s pretty effin’ good at matching people, and you signed off on that policy when you agreed to come here.”
“That was before I knew that I would be randomly assigned to an asshole,” I said. “I’m not working or sharing an apartment with Taylor Wolff.”
“‘Taylor Wolff, on this same day at 3:42 p.m.—That moment when a therapist finds out what the rest of us already know… You belong in an asylum.’” She tapped her lip. “Oh wow! What a coincidence, huh?”
“Oh, I’m sure it was.” I held back a groan. “Give me a new roommate.”
“That’s out of our hands, Miss Parker.”
“I refuse to believe there’s never been a roommate issue here before me.”
“That’s actually a fact… Never.”
I tapped my fingers against the desk, searching for another angle I could make my point. I glanced at her name placard—Lindsey Everett—but I hadn’t done my research on the staff anywhere near as well as she had.
“Not that I’m ever supposed to reveal this,” she said, “but Taylor Wolff was our number one pick. He had the highest scores and merits out of anyone. Well, anyone except you.”
She paused. “It was a tie, but he edged you out with his essay by half a point in the end.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“Not at all. We were surprised as well, but his writing spoke for itself. Want to read the essay collection he submitted?”
“No.”
“I think you should.” She slid me a folder. “Now, on the other hand, if he ever makes you feel uncomfortable—”
“I’m extremely uncomfortable.”
“You can request that someone else trade with you, but—” She looked around. “Thanks to him, you have the nicest suite here, so you’ll probably have to change suites, not him.”
I nodded, then tried to force fake tears to roll from my left eye. I blinked a few times, did the “painful image” mental trick, but not a single tear came.
“Is something wrong with your eyes, Miss Parker?” Lindsey asked. “Should I get someone from Medical to see you?”
“No, I…” I threw one last Hail Mary. “I was promised that my roommate was a one-hundred-percent match, and that we practically filled out everything on our intake form in identical ways.”
“That’s true.”
“I said that I preferred a female roommate.”
“The scholarship dorms are coed, and they always have been.” She shrugged. “You have separate bathrooms, and you’re only sharing the common areas. I really don’t see the issue.”
“The issue is that I would like another roommate that I didn’t want to murder…”
“Are you making a threat on Mr. Wolff’s life?”
“I’m being sarcastic.”
“That’s not what it sounds like.” She furrowed her brows. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” I forced a smile and grabbed the essay folder she’d offered. “I’ll take this up with the group message board, thank you.”
She didn’t say “You’re welcome.” Instead, she eyed my every step until I left the room.
Sighing, I immediately headed to the closest campus café and logged into the private scholars group.
Taylor Wolff is attending?
OMG is this REAL?
I saw him!
I groaned. The top page of topics was all about him.
No—the top three pages.
The words Roommate switch request jumped out at me as I reached the next page, and I clicked—ready to make a deal.
I’m the 50th pick, and my place has a perfect view of the sea. I’m in the smoking section, since my roommate and I both smoke.
Looking to trade for whoever is rooming with Taylor Wolff LMAO
I swallowed a pent-up scream and shut my eyes.
If this was the universe’s idea of irony, it was nailing the assignment.
TRACK 8. MIRRORBALL (2:59)
AUDREY
Two hours later
An aimless walk around campus dropped my blood’s temperature from boiling to simmering. At this rate, I’d be ready to return to my suite with Taylor by next month.