Chapter Four

The next few days flew by with work going smoothly and listening to Doc grunt and sigh a lot but he seems less annoyed by my presence since we don’t talk and I bring coffee for him and Linc. I walked in tonight and had a caramel blended with a shot of espresso and Linc's face was priceless because he just couldn’t understand how someone could like black coffee and ice mochas much less frozen caramel with espresso. I told him that I have a vast coffee plate and he just shook his head and walked out of the office while Doc went into talking about what clients he has scheduled to come into the clinic. I went to my desk and printed out the patient list for the night and then went and unlocked the file cabinet before I walked up to Lincoln to accompany me outside for some fresh air. Soon as I stepped outside I felt like something was about to change and for the better maybe?, I don’t know. I went back in and finished my third night in a row shift with a couple of regular Doc clients of Doc. One was looking to control her heat. I have no idea what that means so I do what I always do just check her in and give her file over to doc. I file that information for future Embyrson problems. Soon after Mrs. Rogers brought her husband in for the second time this week for fighting, it was time to close up and head home.

I woke up at noon like I have the last few days after a night at work, but the only thing different today is that I am not alone. I hear noises that jerk me awake but I don’t open my eyes. Well, there goes my solitude and my peace & peace & quiet. Soon after I realized I can’t go back to sleep I opened my eyes and there is a girl my age, beautiful dark mocha skin with natural light brown and black short hair with coffee shade eyes staring straight at me.

“Hello”, I said as I was awake enough to speak a simple greeting without my usual angry snark of someone not a morning person.

She jumped off her bed after putting her laptop down and said in a hurried but soft voice, “finally you're awake. I have been waiting to meet you. Did you know you talk in your sleep very fascinating oh where my manners my name is Tearis Herven nice to meet you.”

I lay there with my eyes open and set up just stunned at how cheerful and full of energy she is. She goes back to her bed and puts her laptop on her desk before going to her closet and getting a jack before heading to the door to leave. She turns back toward me and tells me like I need to know her every move.

“Okay I’m going to check out the campus, see you later Embyrson. You know the TA warned me not to wake you because you're grumpy, but I don’t think you're so bad. I grunted and rolled over in bed hoping she would leave so I woke up in “dark” quietness. She must have sensed it thank goodness because I am not a morning person. I need loads of coffee and alone time before I meet people. I’m still alone when I finally get out of bed, head to take a shower and dress in skinny jeans, white t-shirt, and my black moto leather jacket after I’m dressed and search the map of the school so I can find the cafe so I venture out at about 2:00 pm. The dining hall is finally open today, so I decided to go and see what food options they have available. I find that it has round tables and a buffet style line for what they offer where you serve yourself. It is located off the main building at the back and has an outdoor setting area but it was too cold out and decided to sit inside. This school is elite and hard to get into and it lives up to that status because they have a chef who prepares the meal as you order on the other side of the cash out station. The menu is elite, so I decided to go with sushi and just grab the California roll and a piece of crème brulee cheesecake.

The lady at the checkout counter takes my order and hands me a ticket for the table. I go find an empty table and take out my book from my bag while I wait for my food. While I’m in the middle of reading someone taps me on the shoulder. I jump a little and turn around to see Tearis Herven, my roommate with some weird guy who feels like I know him. What is with all of these weird feelings near people lately I think I am losing my mind. Oh well, one of those freaky things you think when you move so much.

“Can we sit with you?” the guy with Tea asks as he goes to one of the empty seats and sits before I can answer. So, I just shrug my shoulders and then Tearis sits in the seat next to since her friend sat on the other side of me. The guy puts his hand out to me and says, “My name is Dew greenwhisk, It is nice to meet you, Embyrson.”

“You as well Dew, so how long have you known Tea?” I ask while the lady at the counter brings my order and takes her table ticket with her as she leaves.

“I have known her all my life”, he says as he grabs a fry off of her plate.

We are eating in silence for a moment when a group of people comes up to our table and Tearis goes into interdictions until she gets to a girl who sat on her right side. “Em” this is Jade Mathis. I met her in the library, and we were reaching for the same book, Tearis explains with a blush on her face like that explains the weird energy between them. “She is a first year student as well and is on the first year 1st floor of the dorm rooms.” I just smile and nod my head in understanding.

I face Jade with a smile and say, “Hi, nice to meet y’all so I include her as I move to look at others as I say it. Jade looks at me with a smile that says she finds me interesting. “Oh, you're from the south, Jade exclaims.

“Well kind of all-over but spent the last few years in the south.

“That is awesome!! She bounces but then a sad expression crosses her face. “I feel so alone away from my family for the first time.

“Well, if you want to talk, I’m in the hall of Lilith room 501 come see me or text me anytime”. I said as I gave her my number so she could enter it in her phone. Which leads to Dew also wanting to swap numbers. He has that goofy gay best friend vibe. I found out he was definitely into guys when he kept gushing over some guy in his class from last year.

Me and Jade talked some more about missing home until Dew and Tea chimed in about a party tonight. “You have to come tonight, Embyrson, it's going to be epic. They have this every year and they even let first years in.” Tearis says with so much excitement.

“I wish I could but I have to work tonight”, I say with a sad sigh since I was going to miss my first college party. I have never been to a party since I moved so much and now I want to make some friends and do normal college things since I will be here for the next four years. I do prefer quiet and a good book over drunk people my age who are full of raging hormones. I still want to try to be normal for once. The smell of lust and alcohol is so overwhelming lately. I don’t understand how I have been able to have such a strong sense of smell these last couple of months.

I said I would go if I could get off early but I definitely preferred the job I have over any idea of a party since I just started and don’t want to lose it. After I finished eating and talking with the group, I left to go to the business center that housed the library and bookstore. I needed to get the books and other supplies required to get that was specified in the syllabus that was emailed to me yesterday after orientation. I decided to get some reading done for tomorrow for my first day of class so I could be prepared for anything. I have not met my professors yet, but they all emailed me early to ensure I was prepared. I believe that was my mother doing. She always made sure I was ahead of the curve and the teacher fawned over me because they loved my mother. After reading I took a nap and then got up and showered. When I came out Tearis was in her closet trying to decide what to wear to the party while I got dressed in one of my clean black scrubs.

“Damn girl I didn’t know you worked at the night clinic. You should stop by the party. It will be in the basketball court off the corridor of the clinic.”

I looked at her like she had to head. “Um, how do you know about the night clinic?”

“Everyone who was born and lived here forever knows about the night clinic. It is said the night queen owns it, which makes it neutral territory.”

“Night queen,” I ask because I am confused. This place is so strange.

“Yes, the night queen is the one who owns the neutral territory of this county and all the warring clans in the area can not fight or cause any trouble in those off-limits areas.”

“When you say clans, you mean like gangs?” I ask while my head is spinning from the off feeling I get when she is explaining.

“Yes, you can consider them gangs but that is not what they are really more like in this are bikers and socialites.”

“Well, now that makes more sense why couldn’t you just say that, I swear you act like you're speaking another language.“ I say while grabbing my phone and keys and wallet to head out.