stretchy brown leggings, and tall buckskin boots. She made lovely look effortless. I hated her immediately.
“Hi, I’m Stella,” I said as I approached her and gave a little wave. “This is my first time here.”
“Timbra Redfern,” she said and stood to her full height, which was at least five foot nine. She had an easy smile, but only made brief eye contact as she crossed her arms, tucking her hands between biceps and body. She hunched forward a bit, too. Her shyness surprised me. I hated her a little less.
“So, you’re the one everyone is talking about,” she said, still smiling.
“Talking? About me? Who knows I’m here?” The revelation I was the topic of conversation gave me a jolt of panic. I’d never wanted to be the center of attention. In fact, I had always done my best to stay on the outskirts of it.
“Oh. Just everyone,” she said. “Trust me, the moment you stepped foot on campus, speculation began. I heard that even a couple of bets were placed on the spot. Odds are you won’t last a week. No one can remember the last time a bi-dimensional came through. Ours is a big world, but it’s still small town.”
Perfect. Probably before I had even decided to stay myself, half the campus was betting against me. But, god knew, as the only little girl in my tiny school whose daddy was unaccounted for, I had plenty of experience as the subject of gossip. I had also always been one to rise to a challenge.
“Well, I’m afraid even a week is too long for their bets. There’s no way I can afford this place, even if I wanted to stay. I took out loans for what scholarships didn't cover of undergrad back home.”
“Afford?” Timbra squinted at me. “Tuition and board at Radix…even a monthly stipend are all covered by Thayer. We’re considered investments as citizens, as future guardians. If you’re lucky enough to be accepted, Stella, you don’t have to pay anything.”
“Oh,” was all I could manage.
I considered what life in a college town had to offer me, and couldn’t come up with anything that drew my interest. I thought about moving back into my mother’s house. She would be happy if I lived at home for the rest of my life—just as long as I accompanied her to church every time two or more were gathered. Good lord, the thought of that. I could see our future together just like two Edies from Gray Gardens, one just as batshit crazy as the other, bickering all day about patè and cats.
I had always suspected there was something else out there for me, some greater purpose, and I knew in my bones that Radix and Thayer were it. I might as well dig my heels in and plant some roots. With this hearty dose of resolve warming me from the inside, I knew forward was the only way to go.
“I enjoyed meeting you, Timbra,” I said. Then the words were out of my mouth before I could scoop them back in, “I need to find Admissions. Classes start Monday and I haven’t even bought books.”
Big brown eyes held a knowing twinkle. “Ha. I knew I liked you. Tell them you want the fourth floor. We can be neighbors.”
Chapter 6
A dmissions turned out to be not much different than in any other institute of higher learning. A drag-ass woman in her fifties somehow found the energy to help me register for classes and find a room. She left me with no doubt as to my ineptitude and inexperience in the world as a whole. Worlds, plural , I thought belatedly. I didn’t know if I would ever get used to that. Despite the registrar I left the building with a positive outlook on the days ahead.
It was well past lunchtime and I was famished. After tossing the sophisticated PDA awarded to me upon registration into my bag, I found a campus map and Café Row.
Quite unlike any campus I’d been on, there was no stark cafeteria or food court. Instead, and much to my pleasure, a line of quaint bistros lined the elevated bank of a river that formed the back of Radix campus. A pizzeria, a sandwich shop, and others
“Hi, I’m Stella,” I said as I approached her and gave a little wave. “This is my first time here.”
“Timbra Redfern,” she said and stood to her full height, which was at least five foot nine. She had an easy smile, but only made brief eye contact as she crossed her arms, tucking her hands between biceps and body. She hunched forward a bit, too. Her shyness surprised me. I hated her a little less.
“So, you’re the one everyone is talking about,” she said, still smiling.
“Talking? About me? Who knows I’m here?” The revelation I was the topic of conversation gave me a jolt of panic. I’d never wanted to be the center of attention. In fact, I had always done my best to stay on the outskirts of it.
“Oh. Just everyone,” she said. “Trust me, the moment you stepped foot on campus, speculation began. I heard that even a couple of bets were placed on the spot. Odds are you won’t last a week. No one can remember the last time a bi-dimensional came through. Ours is a big world, but it’s still small town.”
Perfect. Probably before I had even decided to stay myself, half the campus was betting against me. But, god knew, as the only little girl in my tiny school whose daddy was unaccounted for, I had plenty of experience as the subject of gossip. I had also always been one to rise to a challenge.
“Well, I’m afraid even a week is too long for their bets. There’s no way I can afford this place, even if I wanted to stay. I took out loans for what scholarships didn't cover of undergrad back home.”
“Afford?” Timbra squinted at me. “Tuition and board at Radix…even a monthly stipend are all covered by Thayer. We’re considered investments as citizens, as future guardians. If you’re lucky enough to be accepted, Stella, you don’t have to pay anything.”
“Oh,” was all I could manage.
I considered what life in a college town had to offer me, and couldn’t come up with anything that drew my interest. I thought about moving back into my mother’s house. She would be happy if I lived at home for the rest of my life—just as long as I accompanied her to church every time two or more were gathered. Good lord, the thought of that. I could see our future together just like two Edies from Gray Gardens, one just as batshit crazy as the other, bickering all day about patè and cats.
I had always suspected there was something else out there for me, some greater purpose, and I knew in my bones that Radix and Thayer were it. I might as well dig my heels in and plant some roots. With this hearty dose of resolve warming me from the inside, I knew forward was the only way to go.
“I enjoyed meeting you, Timbra,” I said. Then the words were out of my mouth before I could scoop them back in, “I need to find Admissions. Classes start Monday and I haven’t even bought books.”
Big brown eyes held a knowing twinkle. “Ha. I knew I liked you. Tell them you want the fourth floor. We can be neighbors.”
Chapter 6
A dmissions turned out to be not much different than in any other institute of higher learning. A drag-ass woman in her fifties somehow found the energy to help me register for classes and find a room. She left me with no doubt as to my ineptitude and inexperience in the world as a whole. Worlds, plural , I thought belatedly. I didn’t know if I would ever get used to that. Despite the registrar I left the building with a positive outlook on the days ahead.
It was well past lunchtime and I was famished. After tossing the sophisticated PDA awarded to me upon registration into my bag, I found a campus map and Café Row.
Quite unlike any campus I’d been on, there was no stark cafeteria or food court. Instead, and much to my pleasure, a line of quaint bistros lined the elevated bank of a river that formed the back of Radix campus. A pizzeria, a sandwich shop, and others
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