Page 1 of Quarterback Sneak
Chapter 1
Evie
I stare up at the large building looming in front of me and clutch the strap of my bag. I will some sort of inspiration to come. When nothing does, I take a deep breath and unstick my feet from the pavement. Dragging my suitcase behind me, I walk towards the front door of what will be my home for the next ten months. Before I can open the front door, somebody opens it for me. “Thanks.”
The girl nods, even as she continues talking to her friend and moves past me. I step into the lobby and glance around briefly. There are girls everywhere in all stages of moving-in. Some are laughing with their friends; others, like myself, are focused on dragging their heavy bags through the packed lobby. I paste on what I hope is a polite smile and start making my way through the hazardous lobby, doing my best not to trip over random boxes. Somebody laughs shrilly behind me, but I ignore it and keep going. I need to find Room 212. I start up the stairs, moving closer to the wall as a group of girls come trailing down, laughing as they go. Once they pass, I start up again. The hallway is just as hazardous as the downstairs lobby with boxes and bags and suitcases everywhere, making it almost impossible to navigate.
I finally make it to Room 212, my new home away from home. I pause a moment, trying to decide if I should knock or just walk in. The decision is made for me when the door opens a moment later. A girl stares at me a moment, and it gives me a chance to take her in. She’s not exactly what I was expecting with her short black hair, that’s as short as a guy’s cut, black earrings, black nail polish, black leather jacket and boots and askirt that’s shorter than anything I’d ever be able to pull off. “You my roomie?”
Her voice startles me out of my thoughts. “Yes.” She eyes me a moment and then steps back and holds the door open for me. “Thanks.” I step inside and take in the room. It’s smaller than I thought it would be. There are two single beds, one against each wall with a single desk in the middle. I guess we’re supposed to share it. The bed on the left is already made, so I drop my bag onto the bed on the right.
“I’m Sam.”
“I’m Evie,” I tell her in return.
“Welcome to FMU, Evie,” she says somewhat sarcastically. “Let me guess. Freshman?”
“How’d you guess?” I ask dryly.
She shrugs and eyes my outfit once again. I don’t have to glance down at my black leggings, gray t-shirt, and sneakers to know it looks nothing like what she’s wearing. It doesn’t bother me, though. I’m not here to win any fashion awards; I’m here to get a degree. I push my bangs out of my eyes and grab an elastic band off my wrist to tie my long dark hair back. I haven’t done that much yet, and I’m already sweating. “It’s the humidity,” my roommate says, waving a hand at me. “The reason your hair is all frizzy.”
I resist the urge to run my hand over said frizzy hair. I mean, she’s not wrong. I’m definitely not used to the humidity. I’m a Colorado girl, where the humidity is blessedly mostly nonexistent. Well, at least I was until we made the move across the country. Now, I’m a Florida girl apparently, and my hair is already cursing me for it. “Do you have more stuff?” My roommate’s voice snaps my attention to her.
“Yes.” When I stand there a moment longer, she nods towards the door.
“Let’s go get it.” Her offer to help surprises me, but I’ll take all the help I can get. I head back out into the chaos and expect to have to push my way through the hallway again, but the Red Sea parts as my roommate walks down the hallway. I’m not really sure if it’s out of fear or respect, but I’ll take it either way. When we step back out into the bright sun, I blink and realize I forgot my sunglasses up in my room. “Where to?”
“This way.” I head towards the parking lot where my mom’s beat-up truck sits. When I get close, she steps out from behind the wheel. “Hey, Sweetie, did you find your room?” I nod and watch as she notices my roommate for the first time. “You already made a friend?”
“This is my roommate, Sam.” I turn to my mom and watch as her eyes flare just a moment, and I give her my sternest look, hoping she’ll not make a big deal of it.
“Is that short for something?” she asks. I barely resist the urge to groan out loud.
“Does it need to be?” Sam asks in return.
I don’t let my mom get a chance to answer. “Nope. Mom, I’m going to grab the rest of my stuff.”
My mom turns to me, and my eyes plead with her to be normal. She must catch something, because she smiles. “Okay, Sweetie.”
I head to the back of the truck and slide a box out. “Want help with that,Sweetie?” Sam asks.
I turn and place a box in her waiting hands. “Sure. Thanks.” She starts towards the dorm, and I grab a large box.
“What can I grab?” my mom asks.
“You don’t have to,” I try.
“I want to see your room and help you get settled.”
“Okay, just don’t be weird.”
Her eyes widen dramatically. “Me? Weird? I’m the antithesis of weird.”
I look at her pointedly. “Is that short for something?” I ask in a high-pitched voice after glancing to make sure my roommate is gone.
She frowns. “Well, you have to admit, it’s normally a boy’s name.”
“Mom, you can’t say stuff like that.” I stop in front of her, halting her progress. “You have to promise that you won’t say anything offensive.”
