Hey everyone! Sorry that this took long, I just had some trouble with my computer. Enjoy this chapter and please review!

Chapter 1: Campus Tour

Almost every one of the colleges I visited were either filthy, filled with drug addicts, ill-populated or had way too high standards. I even spotted a ghost in the ladies room of one, which immediately ruled it out, of course.

One day, I dragged Jesse along to a college that seemed perfect. It was not far from the mission, actually, and had nice and serene surroundings. Sure, some freshmen were jumping around on their skateboards or throwing stuff at their friends, but what student doesn't do that, right?

"I don't know if I feel good about you going here," Jesse said, staring intently at some students circling a well-defined blonde girl. They were laughing and she was appearing creeped out, and then one of them put his arm around her. She tried to pull away, but his buddy kept her close. I tried to ignore it, but I really felt bad about the poor girl.

"It'll be okay," I said, patting his back, calming him down. "That girl obviously never fought any ghosts in her life, see. She's just standing there. I would have kicked that guy's groin ages ago."

"But, Querida—"

"End of story. There's nothing to worry about."

We walked in the lobby. It was as nice-looking as it was inside as it was outside. Outside, it was filled with exotic trees and hibiscus plants, and it even had a fountain at the front. Inside, the walls were painted gentle pastels, and little plants were set all around the lobby, and some pictures of their 'Over-achieving, clever, proud graduates'. One of them was a pop star. How over-achieving.

"Are you here to see the university?" the lady at the reception desk, a pretty African-American woman in an Armani white blouse, tucked into tight blue-jeans and a stylish belt, asked, flashing some pearly whites, that matched her pearl necklace exactly.

"Yes. Actually, I am. Is there someone who's supposed to do a tour, or something?" The reception lady smiled again and showed us to a side room, also painted prettily and had some diplomas at the wall. In the desk, sat a guy, his hair exactly the same color as me, cut very properly and his tie tied perfectly, hung at his white, plain collar. "This is Pete. He can show you around," the lady said, then returned to her desk at the front. The guy grinned and stood up, pushing his hand toward us. He'd just been eating Mexican food, and had sauce all over his hands. This made shaking his hand pretty gross. Jesse didn't seem to mind, though. It was how dear old Pete was staring at me that made all the difference for him. He couldn't help but wrap his arm around my waist as we stood in front of Pete, as if telling him 'Um, dude, this is my girl, so you better watch it'. Obviously, Jesse never talks like that, but I never saw a gentleman ever say anything close.

"Welcome to Sunrise University," he said, smiling widely, not showing nice, white teeth like the lady at the reception, that I saw by her name tag was called Alyson, but big, dirty teeth, all filthy because of the sauce. He even had a little piece of pepper stuck between his front teeth, but I didn't breathe a word about it.

"Hi, I'm considering applying," I said, seeming as polite as I could. Jesse was already in college, and when he applied, and got to know the people at his college, he said it's best to be as lovely and sweet as possible, and show the most knowledge you can come up with, even if it's just about something like a state poll about drugs or a new invention threatening to take over our lives, but seems too pricy. I didn't know anything about any of that stuff, but I could always pretend I did, right?

"Welcome," he said again, and started toward the door to his office. When I walked out, I took a peek at what it said on the door. 'A. Residence Hall Director, Pete Wilbur'. I wondered, why wasn't the Residence Hall Director sent to do help us? Why only his assistant? Why does a Residence Hall Director even need an assistant, anyway?

"That there, that's the entrance to the campus dorm," Pete said, pointing at a big gate, outside the large lobby. "That's some of the classes, and there's also a professor residence. That's the cafeteria, right up that hallway…"

I wasn't really listening to Pete. Sure, I was taking the info in. You know, cafeteria here, residence there. But I didn't really care. I was looking out the window.

Those students, the ones who were bothering the blonde girl, were getting yelled at by some guy and a younger guy standing by him. The blonde girl was crying, and she was sitting on the bench by where they were standing. The students were talking back, waving their arms around, not seeming to care whatever that can happen to them. I mean, if that guy yelling at them had authority, they could get kicked out the dorm, or maybe even the school itself. They weren't being very bright, ya' know.

Pete followed my gaze and laughed. "Oh, those are the frat boys. They've been up to some trouble it seems, probably with that girl. That's the Dean, by them. And that guy, next to the Dean, it's the Residence Hall Director. They have to get to those crazy kids almost every day. It's a surprise they still even live here."

I looked at the girl. She was crying pretty hard, and at some point, started pointing her finger at this guy with a baseball cap, the same guy that embraced her earlier, and shouting stuff at him. I had no idea what she said, but it sure wasn't praises. She seemed really disturbed.

Pete showed us some more of the campus, and then guided us to the exit. As we left, Jesse said, "I don't know if I want you to study here. I mean, those students… Maybe you should apply to my school—"

"Jesse. Don't worry. I'm gonna be fine."

--

"Sunrise? Oh, yeah. I checked it out. But I didn't like how their Residence Hall Director guy was leering at my chest. It was frightening. I liked that other place… Um, I think it's called… Benjamin Franklin. You know, that one just outside Carmel." CeeCee was whispering to me from her desk, in Mr. Walden's classroom. He was talking to Father Dominic outside and Mr. Walden gave us something to copy from the chalkboard, but we were both done already. Which gave us full chatting privilege.

"That's where Jesse goes. I don't know if I can get in there, but they'll take you in like that."

CeeCee seemed like she remembered something, something weird, and asked, "Hey, when you were in Sunrise, did you see these guys, a bunch of them, getting in trouble with the Dean? They were really creepy. And they were half the reason I didn't apply. I didn't want them getting anywhere near me."

I immediately remembered those guys, with the blonde girl. "Yeah. There were some fraternity guys there… They were messing around with this blonde girl outside the dorm. She really didn't like that."

"Yeah. I think that are the same guys I saw. Only, they were getting in trouble for doing drugs, not molesting a girl."

"Can't say I'm surprised, either way" was my reply. Mr. Walden then returned in the class, and announced it was just two weeks away from prom. Most of the girls squealed with joy and some of the guys were making cutting gestures at their throats. I just sat there silently while CeeCee was talking to Adam, thinking if Jesse would agree to go to the prom with me. I loved seeing him in his tux.

Thanks, everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I'm sorry these chapters are so short, but it's just the beginning – they'll get longer, and, hopefully, more interesting. Please review, love, Dana.