Emerson Jenkins

Unlike a lot of people at this school, I was waking up for the hundredth time at Havenpoint this morning. Summer break had just come to an end so everyone was moving in or moving back in. If you weren't staying for the summer, you weren't allowed to return to HP - short for HavenPoint- until the first day of classes.

Yeah. Stupid miserable rule.

Waking up here every day was a routine for me. I would rather be here than at home. Either way, I'd be alone but at Havenpoint I'm free. Somewhat at least.

Today I got up with a purpose. It was the first day back and while I dreaded continuing my studies, this meant she was back.

With nothing but jammies and slippers on, I ran toward the courtyard where every student was being dropped off by their family. I didn't care how crazy I looked. My eyes searched for my other half rapidly. It was like the world stopped when I spotted her platinum-blonde hair from afar. "MINA!" I shouted. Her head spun toward me quickly and she grew the biggest smile.

Ugh. I missed that smile.

Running toward her again, we met in the middle. She embraced me and we squealed like school girls. "I missed you so much," I breathed, never wanting to let go. My summers were never easy without her. "I'm here now," she spoke, knowing her words would calm something in me. They did.

I wanted to cry.

This summer had truly been the worst couple of months of my life. Not being able to have my best friend with me absolutely sucked. If my world was going to shit, I knew I could count on Mina to have my back. Without her, it felt like the whole world was against me. She was the sunshine to my dark cloud. When she was with me, everything was okay.

"Hello, Emerson. How are you, darling?" Mina's mother's voice caught my attention. I tried my best not to scowl at the lady. Her dark hair is slicked back into a bun, she's dressed like a chic businesswoman, and her strong accent makes her sound and look like the baddest bitch in the city. Well, she wasn't.

I disliked the woman for more than one reason but Mina kept it nice meaning so would I. "Good, thank you, Mrs. Zheng," I replied, giving her a clipped nod. "I'd recognize the back of that head anywhere!" A voice called out. Mina's head turned almost as instantly as it did when I called out for her earlier. She smiled wide, searching for the face of that voice.

Gross. My day went from starting off amazing to... this.

When she finally caught his eye, she gasped and squealed as the boy made his way over. Mina jumped and Kai caught her with one arm, spinning her around for a second. "Missed you," he told her as he placed her down. "Kai, honey! We missed you in France. How was Singapore?" Mrs. Zheng had a huge smile on her face now as she admired the boy.

He gave her the same response I did. Short and respectful. "Fine. Thank you." His attention then turned over to me and he lost that little light he had in his eyes. "Emmy," he greeted, not bothering to look at me longer than two seconds. I didn't think he was going to stop hating me over the summer. For what it's worth, I didn't like him much either.

The tension could be cut with a knife and everyone felt it. Mina said goodbye to her mother and the three of us retreated inside. I went my own way when Kai offered to help Mina up to her dorm. As much as I wish we could be roommates, we weren't. The school assigns us roommates by last name.

I'll have the same roommate as last semester. Cora Jefferies. She was a nice girl but we didn't really talk much.

I stormed into my room and closed the door behind me. Cora hadn't arrived yet so I changed into my school uniform and platforms. Classes weren't starting for another hour but seeing Kai had put me in a mood so I decided to make a pit stop to my stress reliever before my first class began. Fixing my hair in the mirror one more time, I grabbed my school bag and started the trek across the school to the boy's dormitories.

The door was ajar when I arrived. Slowly opening it up, I peeked my head inside. Asher sat in his bed using his phone. "Why is your door open?" I questioned. He looked up when he heard my voice. "I'm getting a new roomie, 'member?" He stood up as I closed and locked the door behind me. "Right. Roscoe finally escaped this hell," I added, remembering his old roommate.

Dropping my backpack by his bed, I pushed him back so he sat on the edge of his bed again. "See Mina yet?" he asked but I cut him off with my lips. There was no need for talking. I needed a distraction. He didn't stop me, pulling me onto his lap and grabbing my ass immediately. Perv. Asher and I made out for what seemed like an hour. Eventually, he laid on his back in bed and I grinded on his hips. He tried to undress me multiple times but I stayed fully clothed.

His hand slipped under my skirt the second his door opened up. "Oh Jesus, my bad!" A voice came and I hid my face by turning toward the wall. My hips fell down onto Ash. "No, roomie! Come back! Nothing r-rated happening here," Asher called out and I giggled. I could hear footsteps meaning his new roommate had stayed. Ash smirked at me as I got off his lap and picked my school bag up.

Without even glancing at his new roommate, I began to slide out of the room. "See you later, Ash." My hair was tousled so I fixed it and pulled up the tights under my skirt. It was almost nine-thirty so my first class was about to start. I sighed to myself as I walked back toward the main part of campus. The first days of classes were always the worst. Our professors were always stricter to scare the new kids joining this year.

Those of us who had been here for multiple semesters always saw through their bullshit. After a month, they wouldn't give a fuck anymore. Neither would the students. It was interesting to me that parents sent their kids to this school thinking they'll be taught a lesson when in reality, Havenpoint is just like any other college in London.

Besides the guards at every entrance of course.

"Not going to say hi to your bestie, Emmy?" I stop in my steps at the deep voice behind me. Turning slowly, a tall, smiley, blonde-headed boy stared back at me with his arms out. With people around us, hugging him wasn't something I was comfortable doing. Instead, I tapped his head, standing on my tip-toes to reach the top of his blonde locks. "Missed you, Cal."

He furrowed his brows. Yeah, I know. We cuddled during the summer and now I don't even want to greet him with a hug. I'm just not a big fan of PDA.

Callum Matthews was one of my best friends. We'd always been friends but it wasn't until this summer that we became close. He was there for me after... everything. There wasn't a day we didn't go without speaking to each other now. He left a little over a month ago, later than the others. Still, his contagious smile was a comforting sight.

If Cal was here that meant the other two idiots didn't fall far behind. "And that's why it happened to you! Ya prick." Rowan slurred, his arm wrapped around Kai's shoulder. Great. "He's drunk already? It's ten in the morning," I whispered to Callum. He rolled his blue eyes. "Are we surprised?" he replied quickly before Kai and Rowan appeared at his side.

"Emmy Jenkins! Looking smashing today." Rowan wagged his brows and Kai rolled his eyes. Ro is always more chipper when he's drunk. It pisses Kai off because he's moody all the time. They get along more when Ro's sober and laid-back. "Why are you drunk at ten a.m., Ro?" I questioned. He chuckled. "You think I'm going to class sober? There's no way."

Makes sense. I guess.

No. No, it doesn't.

I looked over at Cal, saying 'save me' with my eyes. He seemed to get the message because he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and smiled at the boys one last time. "See you idiots later. I'm going to walk Emmy to class," Cal announced, not giving them a second to reply before turning us around.

"Is Kai being an arsehole to you now? Want me to knock some sense into him?" My best friend asked, turning his head to look at our friend. "No..." I replied honestly. "Just feels weird being around him again." The events of last year were still hanging over our heads. It was obvious that Kai wasn't over what happened which is why he was giving me the cold shoulder.

Callum pulls me in tighter as we squeeze through the packed halls of Haven. "Ignore him, okay? It's our sixth year we can't start it off bad." He pulls me off to the side of the hallway and places both hands on my shoulders. "Speaking of." His face lights up with mischief and I already know what he's going to say. "Gypsy Fish tonight. All seven of us!" I made a face and he hopped on his feet, putting a finger over my lips.

"No complaints. We do it every year on the first day. It's tradition!" Callum protested. "Seven? Imani's coming?" I questioned. Even though the day just started, I had yet to see her. Imani is our most introverted friend. She gets along with Mina the most. Who in our friend group doesn't though? Everyone loves my best friend. Anyway, Imani distances herself a lot and sometimes I don't even think she likes us.

Cal scoffed, placing his hands on his hips. "Of course she's coming." My brow lifted at his response. "Is she really coming or are you going to convince her to go?" I added. He smirked. "The latter, obviously. Oh and am I excited to see her." He rubs his hand like a fly. The boy can't stay still for a second as he starts looking around us.

"She'd be in the library for sure, right? Wait, no we have first class in," he looks down at the expensive watch on his wrist, "five minutes. Shit, I don't know her schedule for this year. I'll have to find out." My blonde friend grabs my arm then and tugs me toward my first class. "C'mon then, Emmy. Don't want to be late on our first day." His strides are much bigger than mine, making it hard to keep up.

"Emmy! Cal!" Another familiar voice touches my ears and I turn to find the voice. A tiny blonde waves at us from across the hallway but Cal doesn't make any move to stop. "Hi, Lace," I greeted but don't know if she caught it. "Looking beautiful as always, we'll catch up later, blondie!" Callum shouted, not caring about who else heard him. Social anxiety is scared of my friend. Not the other way around.

"There's Lacey. Imani's the only ghost I haven't seen," I said as we reached my first class. Mrs. Richmond wasn't the strictest professor but she still wasn't the best. I never dreaded a class more. "I'll find that little cat. Have fun in class, see you soon!" Cal pinches my cheek, like he always does, before scurrying off. I rub my cheek before taking a deep breath and entering class.

Upon entrance, I notice a couple of familiar faces. For starters, Asher who has pretty much the same schedule as me this year. His two little friends sit next to him too. In the far back right, my eyes land on a pair of big brown ones. My mood instantly shifts from worse to way worse. Her smile fades once she notices I'm looking at her and she looks away. Good riddance. The little minion to her right rolls her eyes at me more boldly than her leader.

"Emerson, come sit over here," Asher's voice shifts my attention to him. As much as I don't want to, the only other available seat is next to those girls. I'll take my chances. Hopefully, Mrs. Richmond doesn't participate in the alphabetical seating order this year. That'll plant my ass right next to her and I don't want to be near her.

Lord, please help me get through this hour and half next to this prick though.