Chosen by Sarah Swan Read Free Book Online

only a little bit of a struggle, I managed to get everything up to the front door.  I looked around, noting again how quiet everything was over here, and put my hand on the main door to pull it open.
    It didn’t budge.
    I frowned and tried again, pulling with more force.  Nothing happened. 
    Maybe it was locked?  I looked around for a keyhole, conscious of the fact that I had only been given the single key, presumably to my room.  But maybe it unlocked the front door to the building as well?  That, at least, would make some sense—if there had been a keyhole anywhere!  I looked up and down the entire face of the door, and the frame as well, and, not finding anything, repeated the examination.  Again, I didn’t spot a keyhole.  An uncomfortable feeling blossomed in the pit of my stomach.  Maybe the dorms weren’t open yet?  I hoped that wasn’t the case.  But, if the other students weren’t due to arrive until tomorrow…
    Suddenly, the door burst open, nearly smacking me square in the face.  Only the fact that I had already started turning away saved me from a return trip to the clinic.  In the doorway stood a boy about my age, looking at me in surprise.  I stared back, equally unnerved.  I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here yet.
    “Having trouble with the door?” His quick smile erased the look of surprise on his face.
    “Uh… yeah,” I managed, trying to regain my composure.  The boy in front of me wasn’t particularly good looking.  A clump of dark hair perched atop his head.  His nose was too small for his slanted face.  But, there was something very disarming about his smile.  It made me feel welcome; at ease, even.  I smiled back at him, and at the same time ran a hand self-consciously through my tousled hair.  “I was trying to figure it out before you burst out of there.”
    “I know,” he said, “I saw you through the camera.”
    “Camera?  What are you talking about?”
    He pointed up to a darkened corner, and I realized there was a small security camera aimed right at the door.  But how did he have access to it?
    “The security guard asked me to keep watch while he went off to lunch,” the boy explained as if reading my mind.  “He said he was expecting someone, but I didn’t think it’d be a girl as pretty as you.”  His eyes went wide, and color crept into his cheeks.  He broke eye contact with me and stared at the floor.  “I mean… err… sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” 
    “Don’t worry,” I laughed, “that’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me since I got here.”
    “Really?” he sneaked a glance up, and then looked back down.  He was still blushing wildly.
    “Really,” I said, and laughed.  “Thank you, in fact.  I haven’t heard anyone say something like that for… well, let’s just say it’s been a long time.”  I stuck my hand out.  “My name’s Tracy.”
    He looked up again, and, seeing that I was being sincere, quickly smiled and took my hand.  “I’m Chris,” he said.  “I take it you’re new here?”
    “How’d you know?” I asked coyly.
    “Well, the luggage was a dead giveaway.  Anyone who’s been here before has learned to store most of their things in the basements over the summer.  And, of course, the whole fiasco with the door didn’t help.”
    “ Very observant,” I deadpanned.  He laughed, and instantly the color in his cheeks was gone. 
    “That’s okay,” he said. “I was new here once, too.”
    “I’d bet.”
    “Anyway, the reason you couldn’t open the door was because you didn’t use your student card.”
    I frowned “Student card?”
    “You mean you don’t have one yet?”
    “I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “Hmm.  Well, no worries.  We can fix that later.  Everyone here has a student card.  It’s the only way to get around.  There’s a small chip in the back of it that interfaces with all the buildings on campus.  It’s some type of new