Page 13 of Fighting Fate

I just nod, not trusting my voice, and wipe the blood from my lip.

"Deserved it, man," Luke mutters, shaking his head. "Now, get out of here, Milli, before I decide to tell Mom and Dad."

This is escalating fast.

Milli glares at Luke, her frustration evident. "You will not," she asserts, then helps me to my feet, her eyes briefly lingering on the blood on my lips.

Whirling to face Luke again, she jabs a finger into his chest. "I'm not a kid, Luke! I can have a night out without you going all caveman on me!" Her hands fly up in exasperation, frustrated by his overbearing behavior.

With her back to me, she mutters, "I'm going home."

"I'll drive you," I offer quickly, reaching for her arm.

"YOU," Luke snaps, pointing a finger at my chest, "are not driving her anywhere. I've got it. You've done enough for tonight. Just go back to campus, man."

Defeated and filled with self-reproach, I watch as Milli and Luke vanish into the club's shadows.

"Damn it, Chasen," I mutter under my breath, raking a hand through my hair in frustration. "What the fuck were you thinking?"

SIX MONTHS LATER . . .

"Isn't this just a blast, Milli? God, look at how big this room is! Makes me wish we had this kinda space back in my college days." Mom laughs, her eyes taking in every inch of my new dorm.

Here I am, standing smack in the middle of my very own college room. As a dance student, I got the early bird special—on campus two weeks before classes kick off. The jocks in football and hockey, they get hauled in a month early. But for dance? Just a fortnight. So, here I am, about to live the real NorthRidge student life, not just as someone's little sister tagging along. I've got two whole weeks to wander around this campus, make this place my own, you know?

The room radiates a sleek, contemporary feel—two beds, a desk, a super comfy couch, and even a mini-fridge. I'm already plotting it out in my head: my little corner with a cozy bookshelf overflowing with all my go-to romance reads, my bed looking all inviting with a fluffy white comforter, and the perfect egg chair for kicking back with a tea and a great book. And right there on my desk, a snapshot of me in full dance mode, like my own little pep squad for those marathon study nights.

I grin ear to ear, turning to my Mom. "Yeah, it's awesome. Can't believe this is actually happening."

I always knew I'd head off to college, but picking the right one? That was a headache. UC Irvine was top-notch for dance, perfect for my post-college dreams. Then there was USC's Glorya Kaufman School of Dance—solid program, big on performance and choreography. Both amazing but no scholarships, and I didn't want Mom and Dad breaking the bank for me. I wanted to do this on my terms, financially and all.

Then bam! NorthRidge University comes outta nowhere with a full ride for dance. Wasn't my first pick, especially with Luke already there. But a full ride? Couldn't just ignore that. Still, the thought of being around Luke again—should I stay or try my luck elsewhere?

Relax, Milli. You've got your two ride-or-dies right here with you.

And it's the truth. I'm thrilled at the prospect of having Brooke and Payson nearby. From the get-go, they both aimed to end up here—a common path for Stoneton High alums. Ultimately, it comes down to the financial backing your family can provide, the scholarships you manage to secure, and matters like that.

Mom whirls around, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "I swear, Milli, this is a dream come true! You're going to adore it here!" she exclaims, barely containing her joy.

I muster the brightest smile I can.

Easy there, Mom.

I had this picture in my head—quick hug, peck on the cheek, Mom darts off to Luke's football stuff. But nope, I guessed wrong. Here she is, fawning over my room like it's her first college visit. I mean, it's not, but I'm not about to burst her bubble. I appreciate her dropping me off before rushing to hover over Luke. He doesn't need it; he's a big boy. But Mom loves her "favorite" child visits.

Living in Luke's shadow has been my life story. His football wins were my cues to knock something out of the park—acing a test, nailing a dance. Don't get me wrong, I love English and dance, always have. But there's always been this itch to one-up Luke, just once.

So, here I stand, on the threshold of college life—my spotlight moment, my opportunity to truly discover and express myself. Within the confines of my dorm room, a surge of exhilaration and liberation washes over me. This is it—my turn to make a mark, to be who I really am.

I wander over to my bed, flop down, and soak in the sun pouring through the window. I stretch out, taking a deep breath, feeling the bed give a little as Mom sits down, clearing her throat.

"Milli," she begins, her voice tinged with hesitation. "Um," she pauses briefly, then continues, "You know college is about finding yourself, exploring new horizons, right?"

Oh man, not this chat...not again. We almost dove into this whole spiel back home, but my phone buzzed, and bam, conversation over. Dodged a bullet there. Seriously, this is more cringe than the talk we had when I got my first period, and trust me, that was a whole saga...

I'm half-looking at my mom, trying to figure out how deep she's gonna dive this time. I know when parents say "exploring," they're usually hinting at, you know, sex stuff. And here's Mom, bringing it up again. Seriously?

"Uh, yeah, Mom, I get it," I say, trying to sound nonchalant about it.