Ember's P.O.V

The flight was much longer than expected. Dorothy called us a few times giving us updates about what's going on in the castle. Apparently, after five hours have passed, mother sent out guards to look for us. Thankfully, Benson arrived at the castle before that, so he was in the clear. However, they found the drugged guards and now they're searching the country for us. Too bad we're landing in Chicago in three minutes.

The adrenaline pumping through my veins made me feel like I was at the top of the roller coaster ready to experience the adventure. Its making me feel unstoppable. I feel like I'm on the top of the world and I could do anything.

"This is your pilot speaking, we have landed in Chicago. You may take your luggage and board off the plane," we heard through the speakers. "well this is it," said Olivia while eyeing James and I.

We each got up, got our backpacks and boarded off the plane. I immediately noticed that we were the only plane in the lot, which means that this must be some kind of top secret airport for royalty and people of power.

"Princess Ember, Prince James, Duchess Olivia. Follow me this way," a young man wearing a suit and sunglasses told us as we followed him to a black car. "I will escort you to the Loyola University Campus where you can sign in and get into your dorms," he told us and we nodded at him.

Once we arrived, I remembered to look at my fake ID to know who I was supposed to portray. 'Natalie Smith,' it said on my ID. Natalie Smith, the babysitter? No, it didn't sound right. Natalie Smith, the intern? Nahhh. Natalie Smith, the Starbucks barista? Maybe? 

"Are you ready for this?" asked James while putting his arm around me reassuringly. I smiled at him and nodded walking through the campus to the main office. 

The campus looked beautiful. It was a flawless mixture of nature and modernization. There were trees everywhere with teens sitting under them chatting and laughing. 

Oh, the location was also PERFECT. Right behind the main office was the university's private beach. It was a dream come true. I have always loved swimming. Growing up, I would always go to the beach whenever I was feeling alone, disappointed, distressed or just feeling bad in general. 

I feel as if the water is just so calming and reassuring. Like it is telling me, "don't worry. We got you, you'll float. Just drown all your sorrows and keep on swimming." 

Especially in the ocean, knowing that there are other creatures living in that environment surrounding me, it takes away that feeling of being alone.

I looked around the campus more examining the area and trying to memorize it. From my point of view, there's around eight buildings in total. I assume that two of them are for dorms, one for males and the other for females. Of course, one is the main office, and five other different buildings with hundreds of classrooms each, which I could only assume are divided by department. 

 Once we went into the main office, Olivia and I got our keys to our dorm and we found out that James is sharing a dorm with a guy called Dylan Jones. From the books I've read and the movies I've watched, that is a generic name for a guy who means trouble, but who knows, right? You can't judge a book by its cover. 

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James's P.O.V

I unlocked the door to my dorm and slowly opened the door. I was nervous to see what kind of room it is going to be or who is going to be sitting inside of it. Is my roommate, Dylan Jones, an academic, a joke, a trashbag?  Do we have similar interests or are we going to rip each other's heads off. We will find out soon enough.

When I opened the door completely, I was in shock. The sight in front of me was repulsive. I wanted to throw up in my mouth. There were two guys smoking what I could only assume was weed on a bed with black covers on it and a guy and a girl making out on top of a mattress. Wait. My Mattress!

I coughed out loud interrupting whatever everyone was doing. They looked up at me for a second taking in my appearance. Clearly I stand out among this crowd. They're all wearing similar attire. As if they have some kind of uniform: ripped jeans, jean or leather jacket and a tank top. To "normal people" they looked intimidating, I've got to admit. But to me they just seemed lame. Ridiculous even, I almost laughed out loud thinking about how scary they must think they look.

In the meantime, I was wearing brown pants and a red polo shirt with a black pullover on top of it. I looked preppy; I've got to admit. But I am sure that its appropriate for college and doesn't make me any less "cool" or "popular". I hope that's not how it works at least.

One of the guys who was smoking weed walked up to me, eyed me from head to toe and said, "may I help you?" His breath was probably the nastiest thing I've ever smelt in my life. It was like if a cow ate raw mint plants and then ate its own shit.

Alright, maybe I'm being just being a TAD over dramatic. 

"This is my dorm?" I replied raising one eyebrow at him while walking past him and putting my backpack on my mattress. The half naked girl and the guy scoffed at me and got off of the bed, getting dressed in the process. 

"Ah a British man I see. Would you fancy some weed sir?" He asked me in the worst British accent I've ever heard. It didn't even sound British, it just sounded Australian. How could he get those two mixed up? They sound nothing  alike. 

"A) I'm Scottish. B) No thank you, I don't want any of your disgusting weed. What are you doing smoking at ten in the morning anyway?," I replied back to him while unpacking my small bag in the process. 

He came over to me, put his arm around my shoulder and took a blow of his poorly wrapped joint. "Enlightenment my friend, has no hour," he said releasing the smoke he inhaled into my face.

I rolled my eyes and took his arms off my shoulder angrily, "Dude you are high out of your fucking mind. Don't blow that shit in my face, and clean your shit," I said through gritted teeth gesturing to the bottles of beer and newspaper on the floor. 

"Oh yeah, or what?" He spat at my face challengingly while pointing a finger at my chest. I flared through my nostrils, pushed him back and said, "Or I swe-" I got interrupted by the soft, angelic voice calming me down. The voice belonging to the girl I love with all my heart. 

"Hey babe, why is your dorm room door ope- woah, what the fuck," she said once her eyes landed on the mess in the room and the half naked people smoking. I looked over Dylan's shoulder and she immediately took my breath away. Even at times like this, she still manages to make me feel like I'm the luckiest man on the planet.  

She was wearing a pair of white jeans and a floral off the shoulder top. She looked like a deer in the middle of a pack of wolves. Dylan turned away from me and eyed Ember from head to toe. This motherfucker better keep his hands and his eyes to himself. No one, no one comes near my princess. 

"Roomie look your princess is here. Well hello princess," Dylan said while curtsying in front of Ember as what I for once hope is a form of ridicule. I felt my heart beat stop and my body stiffen. Not only about the fact that he might be onto us, but also because he called my girl princess. 

I would normally be fine with it considering her position, but hearing it come out of his mouth makes it vile and filthy. I looked up at Ember noticing that she was already staring at me; the fear in her eyes just as evident as mine. 

I nodded at her reassuringly hoping to calm her down, and hoping that she is thinking the same way I am thinking. "P-p-princess? wha-what? why would you say that?" Ember stuttered back at him. 

He burst out in laughter and I felt fire in my throat at that moment. I wanted to go up to him and push him and ask him what the hell is wrong with him. "What's so funny?" I asked him folding my arms on my chest. 

"Nothing, it's just so funny how innocent your little doll here is," he said in the middle of laughter twirling a piece of her hair around his finger. Oh no, he did not just touch her. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not the possessive type, but something about him makes me feel uneasy.  

"Alright listen buddy don't touch her," I shouted at him while grabbing the collars of his leather jacket and pushing him towards the wall. I could feel Ember's tiny hands on my biceps trying to calm me down right now and the hands of the two other guys in the room pulling me back. 

"Alright I won't touch her as long as you two prudes get out of here," he put his hand up in defeat. I ignored his remark about us being prudes just for the sake of Ember being here. "You do realize I live here right," I replied letting go of his jacket and smirking. 

"Oh right, shit," he whispered under his breath and I tried holding back a laugh. "Well leave for now, you're ruining the party," he said while turning on the music and gesturing to the three other people in the room. Wow, what a party!

I grabbed Ember's hand and started walking out the door, "bye doll," I heard Dylan shout and we both looked at him in return. He winked at Ember and I gave him the finger. What a revolting guy. 

"What's his problem?" asked Ember. "Who knows?" I replied and we both chuckled at how stupid his whole act was. "We better go pick up Olivia, we need to go to a nearby mall to buy clothes since we were only able to bring about three outfits, not including what we're wearing right now." 

"Four outfits! Sweet, that should do," I joked back and she nudged my shoulder. Damn, I love this girl. "Who are you supposed to be by the way," she asked me reaching for my wallet and pulling out my ID. "Collin Frey?" she raised an eyebrow at me and I nodded. "Yeah, you could pull off being a Collin." 

"AH, my two favorite lovebirds," we heard a voice from behind us which of course was Olivia's. She squished herself between us and wrapped her arms around both of our shoulders. "Well, James's roommate is an absolute trashbag," Ember said and I nodded. 

"His name sounds HOT. Dylan Jones," said Olivia and both, Ember and I cringed in disgust. "Ewww, bro don't say that," replied Ember and I agreed with a simple, "yeah." 

"Fine fine I won't make any more dirty jokes I promise," said Olivia and Ember scoffed, "I doubt that." 

"Yo do you guys wanna know my fake name," Olivia said while pulling out her ID from her pocket. "Becky Martinez," both, Ember and I read out loud and then erupted in laughter.

"What? Do I not look hispanic to you," said Olivia while trying to speak Spanish afterwards. "Umm no? You're the whitest person on the planet Olivia. You have fiery red hair, there are foundation shades that are supposed to be the lightest shades in the collection, but they're too dark for you. You just look Scottish."

"Hey!" both the girls exclaimed at the same time. Olivia went first, "I am from Gandovia sir! And I can always dye my hair darker and say that I am first generation Spanish-British. Easy Fix. You're just racist."

"Yeah, baby, that was really racist, I think at least. That's a very sensitive topic and we don't want to offend anyone on just our first day here," Ember said and I could understand where she's coming from so I decided that from now on I should keep my remarks to myself. 

We hailed a cab and spent our entire day at a mall. After around nine hours of being at the mall, we decided to head back to our dorms. We each had around four thousand dollars left, but we knew that we were going to run out eventually and here in America, we are on our own. 

So, we each got jobs in nearby locations at the mall. Ember fulfilled her dream of becoming a Starbucks barista, Olivia became a salesperson at some shoe store, and I became a cashier at target. 

When we arrived back at campus, we grabbed some dinner at the university cafe and then, said our goodbyes. The girls headed to their dorm while I headed to mine. I wonder what sight I'm going to find in front of me this time.

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HEY THERE!

Okay before anyone gets mad, I am addressing this here. I do not mean to offend anyone. I made sure that I addressed it in the chapter that its not okay to assume someone's race and that also goes for sexuality and all that other good stuff. If you for some reason got offended by this, I am incredibly sorry and you could message me and we could talk about it :) On a lighter note, what do you guys think of Dylan? Is he too obnoxious? Let me know in the comments!

Vote, comment, tell all your friends about this book and all this other fun stuff.

xx, BYEEE