Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“What? When?” Chase asks.
Lightning zigzags across the sky as I inspect the state of my laptop. I need to be quick before it starts raining.
This newfound knowledge triggers panic from the keg party girl, and that panic spreads like a bad rumor as the fire truck pulls up. I’m more worried about being able to check my fanfic updates than I am the state of my clothes. Wet things dry. Unless they’re electronic. I heave a sigh of relief when my laptop screen comes to life. I quickly close it, slide it into its protective sleeve, and put it in my backpack. I check a few of my fanfics on my phone, none of which have updated in the past two hours. I huddle into my damp hoodie and wish I’d thought to bring my pillow. Then at least I could curl up on this bench.
We’ve been out here for a freaking hour in the drizzling rain when I notice Colby, the RA, talking to one of the firefighters and a few other older adults. They’re all frowning. Eventually one of them takes the megaphone, but their grim expression is not reassuring. “Attention, everyone! I need your attention!” He shouts three times before everyone finally shuts up.
I just want to go back to bed. I don’t even care if it’s wet.
“As I’m sure you know, there was a fire in the common area on the third floor that triggered the sprinkler system. Unfortunately, there was a technical issue with the sprinklers.” He clears his throat. “And uh…it looks like it will be a couple of days before we’re able to get everyone from the first three floors back into your rooms.”
Angry chatter bursts from the crowd.
The guy with the megaphone has to ask for silence five times.
“I understand this is inconvenient, however, we’ve made arrangements with the hotel down the street to accommodate all of you.”
That incites more questions about getting things out of rooms. A girl breaks down in tears. Some guy makes a joke about needing his condoms. I sigh and really wish I’d brought my pillow, because hotel ones are way too poofy and they give me a neck crick.
Megaphone man moves to the front of the pack and we shamble as a herd down the street to the hotel, which is located at the edge of campus. We’re halfway there when another bolt of lightning streaks across the sky. A sonic boom of thunder follows, and then the sky opens up. Within seconds, I’m completely drenched. And really freaking glad I put my laptop in its protective, water-resistant case.
CHAPTER 4
CHASE
“Dry clothes have been provided for you and are already in the room. They tried to make sure the sizes were accurate.” Colby tips his head back and pushes his glasses up his nose. “Steele, you’re in room 606 with Stiles.”
Brody and Gage high-five.
Colby points at them and gives them his disapproving dad face. It would be a lot more convincing if he were less like a character from the set of The Big Bang Theory. He’s a good guy, though, and he’s just trying to maintain some order when there isn’t any. “If I get so much as one noise complaint from your room, I’ll tell your coach.”
“We’ll be on our best behavior. Scout’s honor.” Brody holds up two fingers.
Colby rolls his eyes and scans his clipboard. “Lovett, you’re with…Lovelock in room 420.”
“Who?”
“Cameron Lovelock.”
I look to the guys. Brody is focused on his phone. Gage just shrugs.
“Never heard of him,” I say.
Colby passes me the key. “Same goes for you about the noise complaints.”
I salute him. “Sir, yes, sir.”
He gives me an unimpressed look.
“We have practice in the morning,” I remind him. We have practice almost every morning.
“I’ve heard that before.”
We head for the elevators and wait with the other students who have been assigned rooms. We all look like a bunch of drowned rats. And I probably look like a colossal douche since I’m shirtless. But I’d literally just gotten out of the shower when the alarm went off. I hope Colby wasn’t lying about the pajamas or I’ll be turning a sheet into a toga until I get some clothes.
We cram ourselves into the elevator. Every button gets pushed. We should have taken the stairs. Two girls are huddled in the corner giggling behind their hands as they eye us from the side.
“You ask,” one whispers.
“No, you.”
“Yes. His brother plays for the Terror,” I say helpfully.
“That’s, like, so, so cool. And you all play for the school team, right?” one girl asks.
The elevator doors open, and they shuffle out onto the second floor.
Brody pulls his hood up and leans against the wall, avoiding eye contact with everyone.
We lose a few more people on the third floor.
“You wanna come up to our room for a bit and hang out?” Gage asks.