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VERONICA

THE CAMPUS MAP ON MY phone finally makes sense, and I can get to the history department now without checking every little sign along the path. After a whole week of getting lost and ending up at the wrong lecture hall twice, I think I’m finally figuring out where things are.

As I wander past the library, I slow down to look up at the tall windows and the students spread out on the front steps, and I love it. I really do. Part of me still can’t believe I actually made it in.

My phone buzzes in my hand, and my mom’s name lights up the screen, so I get to a bench under one of the big trees before I answer.

“Hi, baby!” she says. “Your dad and I are both here. You’re on speaker.”

“Hey.” I lean back against the bench. “Can you actually hear me okay?”

“Perfectly,” Dad says. “So? How’s it going? Tell us everything.”

I let out a little laugh, because they’ve been waiting all week for this call, and I kept putting it off until I had something good to say. “It’s going really well. Better than I hoped, actually.”

Mom makes a happy little sound. “I knew it. Didn’t I say it would be wonderful?”

“You did. The intro classes are great. One of my professors already knows my name, and the readings are exactly the stuff I was hoping we’d get into. We’re doing this whole thing from the beginning, and I could talk about it for hours, so don’t get me started.”

“Too late. You got yourself started,” Dad says.

“Right.” I tuck my hair behind my ear. “But it’s good. A professor asked a question on the first day that no one wanted to answer, so I just went for it, and later she stopped me on my way out and said she liked my answer and hoped I’d speak up more. I’ve been kind of floating ever since. Even other students have been really nice, which I wasn’t so sure about, you know? I kept waiting for it to be like in the movies, with mean girls and creepy sororities, but it’s nothing like that.”

“Of course it isn’t,” Mom says. “Who wouldn’t want to be your friend?”

I roll my eyes, even though she can’t see me, but the grin won’t leave my face. “Anyway, my roommate’s the best thing that’s happened to me so far. Her name’s Aniyah. She basically adopted me the first day and showed me where everything is.”

Dad laughs at that. “She sounds like a keeper.”

“She really is. We were up way too late last night just talking about nothing, and it’s only been a week, but it kind of feels as if I’ve known her forever already. It all feels almost too good.”

“There’s no catch,” Dad says firmly. “You earned this. We’re so proud of you.”

My throat goes a little tight, so I glance up at the branches over my head and take a deep breath. “Thanks, Dad.”

We talk for a bit, and I tell them about the trip that’s planned for later this semester, and about the little café that serves amazing coffee. My mom warns me about spoiling my appetite as if I’m still a kid. Once we finally hang up, I linger on the bench for a moment, watching people pass by.

I’m excited about all the classes, friends I haven’t made yet, and everything that’s coming next. I don’t know if I should be, but for now, I’m happy.

ANIYAH’S SPRAWLED OUT on her bed when I get to our dorm, and she lowers her phone onto her chest the second the door closes behind me.

“Hey,” I say. “My parents say hi. I just told them all about you and how awesome you are.”

“Aw, nice.” She rolls onto her side and props her head up on her hand, watching me. “Okay, don’t make any plans for tonight.”

“I won’t. I never do. Why?” I furrow my brow.

A grin spreads over her face. “There’s a party tonight. Off campus. Some house a few of the older guys rent out. Half the college’s gonna be there.”

“A party.” I arch my eyebrows.

“Don’t say it like that.” She grabs a pillow and throws it at me, and I catch it against my chest. “It’s one of those things you don’t skip, trust me. The start of the year is when everybody actually shows up. It’s how you meet people who aren’t in your classes. After this, everyone will already have friends or be buried in homework and stuff.”

I’ve never really been a party person, and a part of me would honestly rather curl up with the reading I’m already behind on. But I promised myself college would be the perfect time to experience and try something different.

“Okay,” I say. “Yeah. Let’s go. Why not?”

“Yes!” She pumps her fist in the air. “Okay, but first we have to figure out what we’re wearing.”