Sudden Orientation
an excerpt

“You can’t ignore destiny.”
Claire Stern dropped her old tan suitcase (the one without wheels) on her foot and let out a yelp. She kicked the suitcase over, freeing her foot, and twisted her head to the left to see who had startled her. A skinny redhead in a ratty yellow t-shirt and grey cargo shorts grinned at her from behind his sunglasses, his outstretched hand waving a bright orange piece of paper.
“What did you just say?” she asked, shifting her very long and very heavy duffle bag to her other shoulder. Her backpack got in the way, and she struggled with both bags for another moment until they were once again balanced. She pushed her long blonde hair out of her face and focused on the skinny guy, who shoved the orange paper at her again.
“Destiny. It’s Zeta Kappa Alpha’s Orientation Week party. You shouldn’t miss it. It’s the party of the week.”
Claire took the orange paper and looked it over briefly before stuffing it into the side pocket of her duffle with a dozen others. “Thanks,” she said, bending toward the ground to retrieve the suitcase. The bags on her back started to tip, and she straightened quickly to regain her balance.
“Here, let me help you.” Skinny Guy jumped forward and pulled the suitcase into a vertical position. “Sheesh, that thing weighs a ton. Have you been carrying it long?”
“Oh…since yesterday.”
“What?” Skinny Guy tipped his glasses up on his forehead. Claire blinked at him a moment. His eyes were the palest blue she had ever seen, the color you might imagine ice to be at the South Pole. For a moment, her mind went blank…or it was more that it just stopped, thoughts immobilized. Then the moment passed.
She shook her head. “Nothing.” She started to pick up the suitcase, and then turned back to Skinny Guy. “Hey, I’m trying to find Harold Hall. Can you point me in the right direction? And is it really far?”
Skinny Guy shook his head. “You’re nearly there. You see that archway straight ahead?” When Claire nodded, he continued. “Go straight through there and turn left on the path. You’ll go past a bunch of trees and then you’ll see it off to the right. There’s a crazy metal statue right in front.”
“Thanks.” Claire stood awkwardly, jiggled her ankle. Skinny Guy was grinning at her again. Guys – the ones she grew up with – never grinned at her, and she didn’t know exactly how to react. Remember your promise, she thought, and forced herself to smile back and keep her ankle still. Skinny Guy stuck out his hand, this time free of paper.
“I’m Marshall,” he said. “Marshall Ingram. Zeta Kappa Alpha. But you know that, already.”
“Hi.” Claire shook Marshall’s hand hesitantly, resisted the urge for another ankle jiggle. “I’m Claire Stern. First-year. But you know that already too.”
Marshall laughed. “Well, Claire Stern, First-year, think about coming to Destiny on Saturday. You won’t be disappointed.”
“I will. Think about it, I mean. Thanks for the directions.”
“No problem.” With a wink, Marshall slid his sunglasses back over those crazy blue eyes and turned, waving orange flyers, to accost another group of first-years.