Angelo shakes his head and sighs. “Girl, you take the bus to get here, walk your ass through the gates, and now you’re running on your own in the middle of the night. It might seem like it should be safe on a campus with kids this rich, but it’s not. These people think that the laws don’t apply to them, you need to use that pretty little head of yours.”

“I’m more than aware of how the type of kids that go here think,” I say, bitterness lacing my tone. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine.”

“Well, I kind of have to disagree, you’re heading out onto the street in the dark, without a light in dark colors. You’re an invisible target.”

Dropping my gaze down to my black bra and shorts, I shrug a little sheepishly. “Yeah, that’s probably not a great idea. No worries, I’ll head around the buildings and do a circuit back to my house.”

“Where’s your suite?”

“Collinwood.”

His eyes widen and he jolts back a little. “Collinwood?”

“Yep, I asked if it was a mistake too. There’s been a bit of confusion over my name and I’m still pretty much convinced I’m in the wrong room, but student services insist I’m not. Anyway, I should get moving before I cramp up. Thanks for stopping me from ending up as roadkill,” I say, smiling as I wave and set off.

Traversing the admin buildings and the gymnasium, I do a loop around the library and science block and end up panting and gasping for a drink in front of the cafeteria. The kitchens are in darkness, but the vending machines are working and I grab myself a bottle of water, loving that my key card can be used as a cashless payment card as well.

Checking my smartwatch, I’m impressed to find that I’ve already done five miles and my legs still feel fresh, or at least strong enough to get me home again. Opening the water, I take an eager pull, moaning in pleasure when the cool liquid soothes my throat and quenches my thirst. The feeling of being watched again prickles across my skin and I lower my drink and slowly look around, trying to find the identity of the voyeur, but just like at the house, I’m alone.

Being this close to Green Acres must be messing with my mind, add in Evan’s unwarranted trick with my name, and apparently paranoia is my new best friend. Shaking away the feeling, I take another pull from my water and then push off back toward the house as the sun starts to rise.

I get a little lost on the way back and by the time I press my card against the small foot gate I hadn’t noticed at the side of the huge double gates, I’ve run nearly twelve miles. My legs are heavy and my breathing is labored, but my mind is clear and I’m smiling. Until I started running, I’d always scoffed at those annoying athletic people who say you get endorphins from exercise, but it’s true. After a run I’m always happy and even here in this school I don’t want to attend, with my stepbrother who is apparently still holding a grudge, I’m still excited for the rest of the day and the start of my college experience.