I climb down from the truck without saying a word and slam the door for good measure before starting up the pathway toward the entrance to the building. People walk in and out, some carrying boxes, and the energy is happy and upbeat. Even though class doesn’t start for another few days, today was the first day we were allowed to move in. To think, all these people were finishing last-minute stuff before moving in while I spent the day dreading having my ass fucked.

I take the elevator to the third floor and walk down to room 312. I’m still holding the key in my palm, my fingers closed tight around it. Is this for real? If I try this key and it doesn’t work, that might be what breaks me. I might finally fall to pieces here in this hallway with a bunch of strangers wandering back and forth.

But it does fit, and it turns in the lock, and the door opens to reveal a room that’s actually a hell of a lot nicer than I ever would have expected. There are two beds, one on the left-hand wall and one on the right, two dressers, and two nightstands. There’s plenty of space, lots of room in the closets, and the windows overlook the campus.

There are also two desks; on one sits a new laptop and a new phone. I can’t believe I forgot my old laptop. Luckily, everything is saved on my cloud.

Since the other side of the room contains no items—the closet’s empty, and nothing is in the dresser—I’m assuming it’s supposed to be mine.

Is it really over? Did they really let me go and make sure I’m set up comfortably here? There are even clothes in the dresser and hanging from the rod in the closet. All of it is new, with the tags still attached. Like whoever bought it went by the sizes of the clothes in my room. But which one of them would be that thoughtful?

It’s almost too much to be believed, but the evidence kind of speaks for itself. I’m still waiting for somebody to jump out and yell Gotcha and laugh themselves sick while I fall to pieces, but that’s not happening. The bed even has clean sheets on it, the whole nine yards.

I think this is it. I want this to be it.

But instead of releasing the breath I’m holding and letting myself relax, all I can do is sit down on the bed and stare at the new computer and wonder if this is all part of their fucked-up game.

CHAPTER 35