Chapter 1 Chapter One

Chapter One

Michelle's POV

"Welcome to Halestone College, I hope you have a lovely time here," the volunteer said as she handed me my room key.

"Oh, thank you," I responded, but she had already moved on to the next person.

"Ok then," I muttered as I dragged my luggage.

I looked around at parents helping their children move into the dorms as I struggled with three heavy bags by myself.

I sighed and kept moving. I didn't get far when I felt my phone vibrate in my left pocket. I paused and took it out.

Aunty Mel.

A small smile found its way to my face as I picked up the call.

"Chelley my dear, how is move-in day going?" She yelled into the phone.

I grimaced as I pulled it away from my ear. When I was sure she wouldn't yell again I brought it back.

"You don't have to yell, Aunt Mel. Move-in day is going smoothly, the dean welcomed me and everything."

"Wait, really?" she said in amazement.

"I was being sarcastic," I chuckled as I walked.

I didn't watch where I was going as I continued to talk to her. I tripped on the uneven ground as I dragged my luggage, flailing as I tried to steady myself and letting out a grunt.

"Chelley, what was that noise?" Aunty Mel's voice echoed on the other end of the line. "Did you fall?"

"No, Aunt Mel, I just tripped. The bags are heavy," I said as I adjusted the phone on my ear.

"You should have just let me come," she huffed.

The real reason I hadn't let her come was because Aunt Mel cried at commercials, graduations, and once at a particularly emotional episode of Great British Bake Off. A college drop-off would have destroyed her. It was a whole thing I didn't have the emotional budget for, but being surrounded by tearful families, I had begun to seriously second-guess my decision right now.

"What, and let you miss out on your naked retreat?" I chuckled as I raised my eyebrows suggestively even though she couldn't see me.

"Tsk, it's not a naked retreat," she added quietly. "At least not this time."

"You know I can still hear you," I muttered as I climbed the staircase leading to the dorm I was assigned.

"I know what you're trying to do, turning this on me, but you should have allowed me to come along."

I pictured her with her long flowy skirt, tie-dye top, and her arms loaded with bangles too many to count, trying to read people's palms. I shook my head a bit as a smile crossed my lips.

"Welcome to Halestone College, fresh blood," a voice yelled across the lawn, bringing me back to reality.

Parents and their struggling children, cranky toddlers in tow and overstressed volunteers all paused. Standing in the middle of the lawn was a figure wearing a Darth Vader costume.

Just as the ridiculousness of the situation was setting in, he began to take the costume off. On his chest, "hellcats rules" was written boldly in red.

I had stared long enough for the security guards to recollect from their shock and move into action.

"Stop right there," one of the guards yelled at the stranger.

He put two middle fingers up and bolted.

The freshmen around me burst into applause as the guards chased after him. Fathers scowled while trying to cover their daughters' eyes, and someone in the crowd started a thunderous chorus of "hellcats rule."

I chuckled under my breath as a father tried shoving his daughter back into the car, muttering something about going to a Christian college. I didn't realize how close the naked stranger had gotten to me until it was too late. His huge frame knocked me to the ground.

My phone clattered to the pavement as my wrist grazed the concrete.

"What the hell," I mumbled as I got up and picked up my bags.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," a shrill voice cut through the air. I tried to reach for my phone but she grabbed it first and handed it to me.

I looked up and took in her face. She was the most beautiful brunette I had ever seen, with doll-like features and minimal makeup. She wore a white blouse, light blue jeans and heels. What caught my eye was the purple and yellow cardigan she wore.

The Alpha Kappa sorority.

"Are you okay?" her high-pitched voice cut through my thoughts.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just a little graze," I mumbled as I dusted off my clothes.

A woman farther down the hall was remaking a bed that had clearly already been made. Her daughter looked like she wanted to die, whining about how embarrassing it was. I looked away before I could figure out which one I envied more.

"I'm so sorry again, I should really look where I'm going," she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly.

"That's fine, it's not your fault. I blame the naked psycho," I said as I picked up my bags and continued walking.

"Don't mind him, it's a Halestone tradition," she said with a light chuckle. "You get used to the craziness."

I let out a soft hum as I continued walking.

"It's just that trying to finish my pledge tasks has been so hard but I'm almost done," she chirped happily as she followed me.

I didn't know what to respond so I just kept my eyes forward and moved. I looked down at my phone and realized Aunt Mel was still on the line.

"Aunty Mel, I'll call you back when I get to my room."

"Chelley, what happened? What was that commotion? Did you fall? Are you okay?" she rambled on.

"I'm fine, Aunty. I just tripped. I have a little graze, that's all."

Before I could end the call, the brunette stepped closer.

"Hey, Aunty Mel," she said cheerily.

"Oh, you've made a friend already?" Aunty Mel asked happily.

"No, I—" The brunette snatched my phone from me.

"Yes she did. My name is Annalise," she winked at me as she continued to talk with my aunt for a minute.

She handed me back my phone with a smile.

"Okay, Chelley, I'll leave you to get settled. Call me when you're done," she added. "Oh, and send me Annalise's birth chart."

She cut the call before I could tell her there was no way in hell I was sending Annalise's birth chart.

Annalise grabbed one of my suitcases and started walking again.

"Thanks for helping me deal with my aunt, but you don't actually have to help me move in," I said as I tried to grab my suitcase back.

She pulled it to her side.

"No, no, I insist."

I gave up trying to take it back and followed her. It didn't take long to get to my room since it was on the first floor.

Annalise had talked the entire way, yapping about the tasks they had given the pledges. They had started with forty girls but were down to just eight, and how they were harsher to the girls that weren't legacies.

"So you're a nepo soror," I found myself saying out loud before I could stop myself.

"Shit, I didn't mean to say that out loud," I tried to cover up.

Annalise let out a short laugh.

"No, no, you're good," she continued. "I guess you could call it that. My mom was a Kappa in '93."

"That's cool," I gave a half-hearted smile.

"Room 210B," she announced as we got to my room door.

"Thank you so much again," I let out a huge sigh of relief.

Every part of my body was aching. I had been carrying the bags for a while. The trolley for carrying students' luggage had run out before I could get one.

Just my luck, I thought bitterly.

"You know, if you want to thank me," she mused out loud, "you can come to the costume party at the Kappas."

I felt my stomach drop. My hands tightened around the handle of the luggage I was still holding.

Flashes of the first party in senior year flooded my head. People were laughing and pointing at me as I stood in just my bra.

I shook my head trying to get the memory out.

"I—"

"No, no, don't reject my offer yet. Think about it," she said as she walked away fast before I could reject her invitation.

I watched her retreating figure. When she turned the corner I let out a sigh I didn't know I had been holding.

I opened my door and went into my room. The room was bare except for two twin beds, matching desks and wardrobes.

I smiled when I realized my roommate hadn't shown up yet. At least I got first dibs.

"Finally, something is going my way," I said out loud as I plopped onto the bed on the left, away from the door.

My phone chimed. I picked it up expecting a call or text from Aunt Mel. Instead it was an Instagram notification. Katlyn Moore had just posted.

My hand hovered above the notification. I debated opening it but eventually lost to my curiosity.

I clicked on the notification.

A picture of my ex-best friend kissing my ex-boyfriend looked back at me.

The caption read: First day of college with my boo.

I clutched my phone tightly as I looked at the picture for a long time. Then I threw my phone on the bed and decided, fuck it.

No one knew me here. The whole reason I came to Halestone was for a fresh start, and I wasn't going to let Katlyn and Marcus backstabbing me stop me from having fun again.