Quinn made it up to the desk and got her class info and campus map including her locker code then was filed into a large auditorium to listen to the welcoming address. She noticed the security was high at this campus, but the students seemed relaxed and quite nonchalant about it. No individual security was allowed on campus, certainly no weapons so she guessed everyone felt safe within the closed gates.
When Augusto had told her that this special college was off the map but formally a branch of Columbia University, an Ivy League college it had made her happy to attend this forced enrolment. It also meant students had an opportunity to compete as normal in any sports or activities as long as their own parents were aware and allowed them to attend team practice over at the actual university grounds. It was featured that the football team, the Lions and their cheerleader squad would both be speaking today for any freshmen interested in joining up.
She looked around the auditorium with curiosity. There were only a small number of them entering this secret campus and maybe two looked like football players.
A girl nudged her elbow and sat down next to her.
“Hey there, my name’s Vanessa, I’m co-leader of the cheerleaders of the Lions, you look like what we’re looking for?”
Quinn pursed her lips together looking over the bleached blond in her short flared skirt and tight blouse with a judging glare. “Ah…no offense but…”
“You look like the type…” Vanessa rudely interrupted Quinn’s rejection. “Are you a dancer or something?”
“Used to do a bit, yeah.”
“Perfect, you’ll enjoy hanging with us.” Vanessa gave Quinn a worldly look. “So, who’s your family?”
Quinn’s mouth pressed into a hard line. “I really don’t think…”
“Oh, are they that serious? Say no more…” She interrupted again. “…well, anyway, I saw you enter and knew that body type was what we’re looking for, you’re a good height and you have a great face too, so come along to our first casual meet up and audition…if we like what we see then we’ll organize going over to Columbia for a proper audition with the coach.”
“No thanks.” Quinn said in a rude tone, standing up and pushing passed Vanessa’s knees to get out. “I have to go find my locker.”
“Rude…” Vanessa stated, tossing her hair back.
Quinn grit her teeth to stop the words that wanted to come out. She didn’t want to make enemies of the clearly popular cliques in any college, but if that girl had interrupted her one more time!
She breathed in a calming breath and looked at her map orientating herself before heading off in hopefully the right direction. She had a couple of the recommended text books in her bag and it was getting heavy. She was glad when she finally found her locker and it unlocked with little effort just as the tone sounded for first hour, although classes on day one were more about just orientation and meeting the professors, TA’s and other teachers, they were still expected to find their way to class on time.
She fiddled with the key pad lock, changing the code to one of her own as instructed to do and put her books into the locker, pulled out a lollipop, stuck it in her mouth and closed the locker door.
She startled as she found a face staring at her from behind it, smiling roguishly at her, his beautiful blue eyes twinkling brightly. He was handsome, clearly a footballer and she wondered if he had followed her from the auditorium.
“Hi, I’m Cory.” He declared as he leaned on the lockers and folded his arms without a single care to anyone else trying to get into those lockers. He was clearly beyond reproach.
Quinn appraised him silently, one eyebrow slowly arching as her eyes went to his feet and slowly rose to his face. She twirled her lollipop around her mouth with her tongue, clicking it off her teeth. By the time her eyes met his once more he was actually blushing. She slowly took the lollipop out of her mouth and smiled at him. She pressed the lollipop against his lips making him open his mouth startled, his eyes widening in surprise. She let go of the lollipop and turned away.
Cory frowned confused as he took the lollipop out of his mouth. “Huh? What the fuck!”
She glanced back at him with a lazy smirk. “That’s as close as your lips will ever get to mine, blue eyes.” She purred and sauntered off to find her first class.
“Damn!” Reese laughed, clapping Cory on the back as he quickly came over from where he had witnessed the rather amusing scene.
“That cheeky bitch!” Cory stared at the lollipop, grinned then put it back in his mouth.
“I told you she would eat you alive!”
“Well, if that wasn’t a challenge to prove her wrong, I don’t know what is…?” Cory grinned like a loon around the lollipop sticking out of his mouth. “She’s so fucking hot and her lollipop is delicious.”
“What’s it taste like?” Reese laughed, shaking his head.
“Strawberries and the promise of great sex.” Cory mused.
“Still dreaming then…” Reese scoffed, walking off.
Quinn was left wondering what that guy was all about getting up in her face only an hour into her first day. He was clearly a senior. She had got the feeling from the other people in the hall that he was one of those untouchable types, obviously a powerful father and as part of the football team probably ruled campus, so she didn’t want to piss him off.
He was cute, really cute, not that she could have anything to do with cute thanks to Antonio. She stepped into her first class, a small lecture hall and was handed a leaflet from a cheerful looking girl with strawberry blond hair.
“Hey, this is an invite to a special meeting put together by a few of us freshman girls to get together to get to know each other. Girls looking out for girls and all…”
“An invite to what?” Quinn asked, looking at the paper.
“It’s just a fun night ten pin bowling…we just want us girls to all get along and know who each other is.”
“So who are you?”
“Oh, sorry, I’m Lizzy.” She beamed a cute smile. “Daughter of Logistix Conglomerate, based in Ontario, responsible for data protection of some pretty major companies and government departments worldwide.”
“Right…” Quinn wasn’t used to people introducing themselves in such a fashion.
“And you?”
“Ah…Quinn.”
Lizzy gave her a patient look waiting for the rest.
“Um…of Zortex Industries and Construction, I guess…” That was the legitimate business of the Ferrante family.
Lizzy’s eyes went a little wide. “Oh, wow…they’re big, government contracts big.”
“Are they?” Quinn didn’t know. “How do you know this stuff?”
Lizzy frowned at her. “It’s important to know this stuff.”
“Huh, okay…well I might actually go, thanks…” Quinn waved the paper invite at her and wandered off to find a seat.
Lizzy gave her a wave and stepped out of the room, making her way up the hall. A tall dark haired Adonis stepped out in front of her making her halt her steps with a flinch to avoid bumping into him.
Her eyes widened at the sight of him. “Reese O’Shea?”
“You know me, freshman?” He smirked at her.
“Of course, my sister goes here…Lila Waterman, Logistix Conglomerate. I’m Lizzy.”
Lila and Lizzy…of course, you look alike too, both cute.”
She blushed and dropped her gaze making Reese chuckle. “Do me a favor, Lizzy?”
She looked back up at him. “What is it?”
“Tell me what you found out talking to that girl just now?”
“Girl…just now? Which one?”
“The last one at lecture room four, with the long red ponytail and the combat pants.”
“Oh! Her…Quinn. She said she was from Zortex, can you believe that?”
“Zortex?” Reese frowned darkly. “Thanks…” He wandered off leaving Lizzy blinking in confusion.
“Quinn, eh…cute name. Rich too, uber rich, although you don’t look or act like it?” Reese mused to himself.
