The fear of sleeping through my alarm kept me up almost the entire night. I couldn't stop picturing myself running late for my first day of class and getting harassed by my Biology teacher for my tardiness. I was up and in the showers before the bathroom became flooded with other early risers and was lucky to have ample counter space to apply my makeup.

I slip on the black Jimmy Choo flats I purchased in Beverly Hills with Lily and Harper and grab my backpack off the floor. I pause in the floor-length mirror I had Liam install on the wall and inspect my outfit. I have a short but tasteful black mini skirt on paired with a simple white tee and a long silver necklace. I was excited that I didn't have to grab a cardigan since there is no longer a dress code at school. I can wear whatever I want.

I glance at a sleeping Zoe before I close the door behind me and am jealous that her first class doesn't start until 11:00.

I make the long walk across campus and am pleased that it's not too hot or too cold out on my commute. It's a perfect warm August morning with bright blue skies welcoming the new school year. Swarms of students spill out of the dorms and I walk along the masses up the hill and over to the main side of campus. I had practiced my walk between my dorm and my first class several times over the last few days so I knew how much time to give myself in the mornings. I notice a number of students riding long boards across the sidewalks and see a few fashionable girls peddling their beach rider bicycles to class. I'm noticing that I blend in with the sea of bleach-blonde girls and I want to laugh when I think back to how I thought I was oh-so original going platinum my senior year of high school. There is nothing original about being blonde and busty in Malibu. I notice how many different walks of life roam the campus and it is weird to feel like one of the youngest faces after ruling high school for four years.

Everyone also seems to be engrossed in texting or listening to music but I am too focused on finding my way to class to have any distractions on the way. Gone are the days of the morning fashion shows in the cafeteria of Highland Park High and no one even gives me a second glance as we all flood the campus. I feel my phone buzz in my hand and see that Liam sent me a text. Have a good first day love. Call me after your classes so I can hear all about it. Love you. Warmth spreads through me and I appreciate that Liam was up early enough to wish me luck on my first day.

I pull the heavy door to the Science building open and follow a group of students down the crowded hallway. There are three floors and a number of staircases, so I was glad when I discovered that my class sat on the first floor not too far from the entrance. About half of the students have their schedules out to check the classroom numbers on the doors and the other half are roaming the halls by memory. Whispers swirl around me and it's comforting to know that I am not the only one mentally freaking out about the first day. Everyone does a good job of looking calm, cool, and collected with the exception of a few students darting around, looking out of breath from their commute. I am glad I am not one of these students visibly panicking.

I round the last corner and see students filing into the classroom that is my Biology class. A large bright rectangular room awaits me and rows and rows of black desks fill the back of the room. Tall stools are placed by the tables and for a moment, I almost walk to the front desk to check for a seating chart. I realize my mistake, knowing there aren't seating charts in college, and head for a table in the middle of the room. The classroom fills quickly and I see that I am one of about seventy-five other students. A small Hispanic-looking woman in a lab coat follows in behind the last of the students and she closes the door to the lab behind her. She dumps her messenger bag on the middle of the empty desk and the room falls quiet.

"Hello everyone, welcome to Intro to Biology with me, Professor Jimenez. This is an entry-level course, so everyone please check your schedules to make sure you are in fact, in the right classroom."

The sound of rustling papers spreads around the classroom as students check their schedules and even though I am positive I am in the right place, I check my schedule anyway. I see a few students pop up off their chairs and exit the front doors and a few late students meander in with no hassle from the professor. She starts by giving everyone a syllabus and taking roll call. I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until I let out a long exhale after my name is called, relieved that everything is going right so far.

After she reads all of the students' names aloud, she tears pieces of paper with our names on them into a hat and randomly pulls them out again to call out our lab partners. She gives us a minute to find our partners and I am glad to be paired with a pretty olive-skinned girl wearing a cream crochet dress.

"Hi I'm Mischa," she says without a hint of shyness and I give a short wave to her, "I'm Ellie, nice to meet you." We settle into our new chairs and pull out our new stiff lab notebooks.

"Were you good at biology in high school?" She asks me as she pulls her long, wavy jet-black hair around her neck so it sits off her shoulder.

"Science has never really been my thing, to be honest. I hope I'm not a shitty lab partner," I joke and her grin reveals a perfect bright white smile.

"That's totally fine. I'm planning on majoring in general biology so maybe I'll be able to help you out then," she replies with a friendly smile, and inside, I burst with excitement. I thank my lucky stars that I got a bio major for a lab partner as I heavily relied on Derek in high school.

"That would be much appreciated! This is the only science credit I have to take, so I'm hoping it won't be brutal," I confess as I flip open to our assignment and we continue to get to know each other as we make our way down the introductory questions.

"So you only need to take one science credit? What is your major then?" She asks me in between writing.

"I'm actually hoping to major in law. I think I want to study criminal law," I answer and her eyes go wide as she nods her head I so did not picture this girl as a law major.

"Oh, that's intense! You have a lot of schooling ahead of you then," she says and I nod my head in response. People are always reminding me how much school I'll have to go through before I can even start practicing law. It will be worth it though when I am always on the winning side. People won't be able to hide their lies from me.

We close our lab notebooks when class comes to an end and mention grabbing lunch one day after class as we could both tell we clicked instantly. I grab her phone number and we quickly part ways at the end of the science hall.

I was almost giddy that I managed to make a friend on my first day and quickly walk to my next class across campus. I've been glued to Lily and Harper for so long that I was terrified that making new friends was going to be brutal. Harper kept our group small and close, so I don't have a ton of experience mingling on my own.

The Business building is the newest building at Pepperdine and it is almost intimidating to walk into. It's modern and bright with sunshine splashing around the hallways from the clear walls made up of windows. I could immediately tell the majority of the students in this building are older than I am from the calmness that sets in as soon as I walk inside. These students have clearly been on this campus or another for a few years and most of them know this building well since this building mostly consists of upper-level classes. There's not a feeling of panic among them as they know exactly where they are going and who their teachers are.

I climb the see-through staircase up to the second floor and swing into my classroom which sits at the top of the stairs. This classroom is drastically different from my bio class as the entire back wall is covered with rows of seats, making up what looks like a small stadium. I trot up the thin steps to the third row and climb over other students until I am in the center. This classroom probably holds close to two hundred students and feels incredibly impersonal. I love that I will just be another plain face in a sea of students.

I dump myself into a small plastic blue chair and my notebook takes up the entire space of the tiny white desk. I watch all of the other students file in and watch as a man in a smart gray blazer and jeans walks to the front of the two whiteboards that cover the front wall of the room. This is another sign the building is newer, every classroom has whiteboards and a sleek projector instead of the old screechy black chalkboards.

The professor grabs a green marker from his messenger bag and scribbles Professor Christopher Greysor, Business 101, Room 2203 on the board for all of us to see. Under his name, he writes out his school email and office hours. I am eagerly jotting down the information in my notebook and glance up to see the email address when I almost drop my pen in horror.

Professor Greysor now faces his full class and I have to stop myself from gasping. Liam's dark brown hair and ocean blue eyes aren't the only things I immediately notice about the man's appearance. He glances around the classroom before checking his watch and I dip my head low to avoid any kind of eye contact with him.

I can't ignore the fact that Professor Greysor has the same square jaw as Liam and is probably the same height too. There is no way that his last name is just a coincidence. I rack my brain to try and remember all of the information Liam has given me about his dad but I don't remember his name being Christopher. Maybe this is just a relative from his dad's side? Except the only relative Liam has any sort of communication with is Colin and his mom is Liam's mom's sister. So this Greysor couldn't be related to Colin. Who the hell is Christopher Greysor and why does he look like an older Liam?

Professor Greysor clears his throat and quickly goes over the information on the board. I can't help but notice how attractive he is for an older man and listening to the thoughts around me proves that I am not alone in that observation. I want to text Liam and tell him about the uncanny resemblance of the man in front of me, but I realize if it is in fact Liam's uncle or maybe even his dad, that this isn't something I want to tell him over a text.

I realize I missed the spiel he's giving about late assignments and glance around to see everyone taking notes. I flick my head to the front of the classroom and watch Professor Greysor move in front of the whiteboard. Something on the board catches my attention and when I realize what caught my eye, it makes my blood run cold.

The way the Professor is standing in front of the board only allows me to see half of his writing. All I can see to the right of his head is "topher Greysor." He's blocking the "Chris" part and I freeze when I put it together. As Harper would say, what the actual fuck?

The guy's name that Liam was looking for this summer was Topher. That's all he knows other than the fact that Topher is looking for a woman. Topher is short for Christopher, Christopher does happen to be Liam's middle name, so the man before me has to be Liam's relative. Most likely, his father.

My internal panic made me unaware that Professor Greysor has stopped talking. I dart my eyes in his direction and I realize his eyes are locked on me. He takes a silent moment in his speech to stare at me, which causes other students to start looking in my direction. I feel the red starting to color my cheeks from embarrassment and I quickly flit my eyes away from him. He shakes his head after realizing how awkward it was to have him staring at me and continues on about his expectations for the class. After his speech, he takes out a packet of papers from his bag and starts to call roll to ensure everyone is registered for his class. When he calls my name I quickly reply, "Here!" without a glance in his direction.

My phone is practically burning a hole in my backpack from the temptation to text Liam all through class. I am praying that my mind is closed as I do not want Professor Greysor to hear my thoughts if he is indeed Topher. I remember Ryan telling us at the coffee shop this summer that Topher took a job around here and was last seen in the Malibu area. How has Liam not had a vision of Topher being my business professor?

I glance at the small clock above the door and realize there are only five minutes of class left. I have completely blocked out the lecture that has been going on in front of me and I know I can't have this problem all semester. I'll never be able to focus if he is connected to Liam' and I can't afford to fail any classes.

Another difference in college is there are no bell systems dismissing classes. Students just start packing up their belongings when the clock hits the top of the hour and everyone pops up out of the chairs and rushes out the door. I regret choosing the middle seat in the middle row now that I have to wait for everyone to move before I can exit my row. I can feel Professor Greysor watching me out of the corner of my eye and I am terrified he'll try and corner me after class- especially after the weird stare-down in the middle of his sentence. I keep focusing on keeping my mind closed and am annoyed with how slowly students are filing out of here. I try and stay in the middle of the pack, with my head down knowing I won't feel safe until I get outside. I am just about to reach the door frame when I hear Professor Greysor to the left of me.

"Eleanor Adler, can I see you for a moment please?"