Chapter 332
Kaylee: Let’s meet at the school gate and wait for you there.
“Who texted you?” Connor asked as he finished making the bed and thoughtfully hung up the bed curtains. Noticing Flora replying to a message on her phone, he added, “Was it Kaylee?”
“Yeah, she and Dane want to grab dinner together.”
“We’re pretty much done here. Let’s go eat and see if we need anything else,” Henrik suggested.
They all left and headed to the school gate, where Kaylee and Dane were already waiting.
Kaylee and Dane greeted Raul, Henrik, and Connor with shy smiles.
“Let’s head to the second cafeteria. There’s a great skillet place there. And here’s a tip: the chef at the second cafeteria is way better than the ones at the first and third. It’s a bit far across the lake, but totally worth it,” Henrik, a long–time student at the University of Maple Grove, informed them.
The group began their trek to the second cafeteria when Kaylee’s phone rang.
“Hey, senior. My friends and I were just about to eat… Can it wait until after dinner? Does it have to be now? But…” Kaylee’s expression turned helpless as the call ended abruptly.
“Flora, I can’t join you for dinner; something came up,” she explained.
“What could be so urgent for a freshman?” Dane frowned.
Kaylee tightened her grip on her phone. “A senior assistant from my major called. There are too many people at orientation, and she asked me to help.”
In mid–August, her major had set up a group chat. Although she rarely spoke, the senior assistant reached out and explained a lot about the major, which Kaylee appreciated.
“Why do they need a freshman with so many people around?” Dane’s frown deepened. “Kaylee, don’t be as accommodating as you were in high school. The more you say yes, the more they’ll take advantage of you. University relationships aren’t that crucial.”
Maple Grove College of Physical Education started the semester early, and the school had been heavily promoting the student council, the federation of societies, and various clubs, which Dane had researched a bit.
“Okay.” Kaylee obediently nodded. “You guys go ahead to dinner. I’ll grab something later.”
“Stay sharp,” Flora advised, pulling down the brim of her sun hat.
“Sure.” Kaylee smiled and ran off.
Chapter 332
After dinner and some shopping, Flora returned to her dormitory alone. Raul, Henrik, and Connor, despite their reluctance, couldn’t stay with her at school forever.
As soon as Flora reached the dorm entrance, she received a text from Connor.
Connor: Did you get there safe?
Flora: Reporting in, safe and sound! She added a salute emoji.
Flora fished out her keys and opened the door. Inside, three girls were chatting and laughing, but they stopped when she entered.
A girl in a bunny–patterned nightgown with a pink headband stood up and smiled. “You must be the roommate for bed number two! I’m Chloe, seventeen, and a local from Maple Grove.”
Chloe was a bit chubby, and when she smiled, her eyes crinkled into her cheeks, revealing cute dimples.
“I’m Emily, eighteen, also a local from Maple Grove. We went to the same high school,” said another girl with a bob cut, placing her hand on Chloe’s shoulder in a somewhat leader–like manner.
“And I’m Jillian, pure as white,” said a girl in a yellow dress with delicate makeup. She briefly scanned Flora, her eyes slightly downcast, making it hard to read her expression.
Flora nodded and greeted them. “Nice to meet you all. I’m Flora, from Cedarvale, and I’m nineteen.”