Chapter 2Aurelia The lobby was chaos. Students everywhere, parents everywhere, boxes and suitcases and laughter and conversations that all blended together into overwhelming noise. I kept my head down and moved toward the check-in desk, trying to make myself as small as possible.No one noticed me. That was good. Invisible was safe.I checked in with a student worker who barely looked at me, got my room key, and headed toward the elevators. I was assigned to the third floor, room 304. I'd specifically requested a single room, and my parents had paid extra to make sure I got it. I couldn't handle a roommate, couldn't handle someone constantly watching me, judging me, seeing all the ways I was wrong.The elevator was packed with students and parents, all of them talking and laughing. I squeezed into a corner and stared at the floor, counting my breaths, trying to stay calm. Three floors. Just three floors and then I could be alone.When the doors opened on the third floor, I prac
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