The nerve Stensby has, I think to myself as I make my way through campus. I'M SORRY EV. YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN TODAY. I WILL BE ACCEPTING YOUR NOTES LATER ON THOUGH. Stensby texted a few minutes ago. We had Emerson's class today and even though I usually don't give him a minute of my time during the lecture he always helped me endure her voice for the entire hour by passing me funny sticky notes. I replied to my backstabbing best-friend with KEEP DREAMING CAMERON STENSBY.

Luckily I wasn't running late today, I actually got up once I heard that the alarm on my phone went off (after hitting the snooze button three times but that's way besides the point). And I dressed up pretty decent for class today (cue the applause). I received a very exciting call whist I was driving back from the taco place with Connery a few days ago. I landed the internship and I started working at the firm today. That was the reason as to why I was walking into class with a cream turtleneck sweater, white jeans and a pair of way too expensive loafers. I might've gone on a little shopping spree after receiving that call because my closet isn't exactly internship material either.

I walked into the already crowded auditorium and I took a seat in my usual spot. Prof. Emerson wasn't even here yet, she was running late. I wonder what type of excuse she was going to come up with for being late, she never shuts up about the importance of being on time and says that no excuses are valid for being late. Except when the boys from the swim team come in late, of course. I don't blame her, have you seen those guys?

"Is this seat taken?" A very familiar voice asked. Yes. I thought to myself. Then I realized I wasn't thinking to myself, I had actually spit it out.

"Yes." I turned my gaze from my phone to the tall figure standing next to me. Connery? How embarrassing. My cheeks instantly turn into a light shade of pink and I mentally slapped myself. "I mean no. I'm sorry."

Connery laughs and sits down in the empty seat beside me. Kudos to you Everest you really know your way (not) around boys. I really have to stop embarrassing myself in front of Connery. "Did you get to see Dressel's meet last night?"

It took me a second to realize that Connery was trying to make conversation and this situation a little less awkward. I still wasn't used to seeing him around that much, less talking to him. I wondered why Connery decided to sit with me when he could've sat in his usual spot with all of his friends. I wasn't going to ask, but it left me with a big question mark. "I couldn't, I was studying for an Economics exam I have tomorrow. I did catch the highlights this morning on ESPN. He was a beast, no surprise there."

"He was more than a whole-body behind Kingsley and he still managed to pull away with the win. It was insane."

I was about to continue making conversation with Connery but Prof. Emerson walked in and she did not look happy at all. "Good morning students,"

"Somebody's not in a good mood today," Connery whispered making me chuckle.

"You'll have to excuse my tardiness today, I had to deal with the incompetence of this institution and your chauvinist chancellor this morning before class." Prof. Emerson sighs. "Before we start today's class, I want to discuss with you the details of a very important essay you will be handing in at the end of the semester."

Oh, brother, what essay? Prof. Emerson is also known for her famous assignments, if I'm not mistaken that essay costs 25% of your final grade, and most of her students flunk her class because of it. "The essay will be based on the following question: What does it mean to be a woman? It will be a free written essay but the catch is that you can't use information from the internet."

Then how I'm I supposed to write the essay? "You will write your essay based on the knowledge you acquire throughout the semester. Everything we discuss in this class is admissible. I hope you have been taking notes and if you haven't started taking them because this essay will be 25% of your final grade."

Thank God I have been taking notes since the semester started. Throughout our lecture, I paid close attention to Emerson but my thoughts drifted off to the essay question. I thought about it over and over again but I still didn't know how I was going to write that essay. The fifty-minute lecture ended earlier than usual and both Connery and I were surprised. It usually ends up being the other way around.

I started to shove all of my things into my backpack and Connery did the same. "Hey Everest, are we still on for tomorrow?"

Connery asked and I nodded whilst I sling my backpack on my shoulder. "Tomorrow at seven at your place after practice."

"Yes, thank you again for agreeing to help me out with the class. I wouldn't have asked if I didn't really need your help." Connery says and I reassure him it's fine. "I'll see you later at practice then."

I nod and we both walk out of the aisle going our separate ways. Connery shot his shot as Peyton worded it when I told her I had agreed to tutor Connery. I thought about a million ways on how to decline but I came up empty-handed. He willingly decided to help me out even though he could've just straight up refused so what kind of person would I be if I just refused to help him out. Besides, I took political science with Jefferson last year and it wasn't that hard, to be honest. I had my notes and graded quizzes lying around in a box somewhere in my room that I could use to help Connery out. I must admit, Jefferson's exams are challenging but if you put in the work it's an easy A.

I'M WAITING FOR YOU NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF THE BUILDING EV. Peyton texted as I walked out of the auditorium. I quickly replied. JUST GOT OUT OF CLASS. OMW. Before driving to the firm for my first day of the internship, Peyton was driving me to the dealer to pick up my new car. I took out a loan and with what I earned from my internship I would use it to make my monthly payments. I needed a car to drive there and Peyton wouldn't be available to lend me her car the five days of the week so I had to make a decision. Aunt Claire and my grandparents wanted to help me out but they've already done so much for me I didn't want them to worry about paying for a car.

"You look strangely happy after having a class with Emerson," Peyton says as I get in the passenger seat. "Did you run into Connery?"

"I did, he actually sat beside me in class, but it doesn't have anything to do with him, Peyton Sawyer." I roll my eyes at my best friend. "I'm just excited about my first day at the firm. Why do you insist on Connery so much these days?"

"Because you're in desperate need of a boyfriend or a friend with benefits. Whichever you prefer to spice up your life a little Ev. And I think Connery is the perfect candidate."

"Wrong, wrong, and wrong." I express to my best friend in frustration. Peyton has always been a meddler and she loves playing cupid. She has the wrong candidate. Her sorority sisters might be interested but I have no interest in letting my best friend play cupid with me. "I don't need to spice up my life a little Peyton, my life is perfectly fine the way it is."

"Fine?" Peyton questions as she gives me a look. "In fact, I would argue that it's quite the opposite. You're always locked up in your room studying and watching Friends. Don't you get tired of watching that show over and over again?"

No. "What do you have against it?"

"Nothing. I just think The Office is the better show, but that's beside the point of what I'm trying to make here." Peyton shrugs and I pretended like I wasn't offended by her jab at Friends.

"I do go out with you and Stensby on occasion, so I don't why you're complaining." I scoff. I speak nothing, but truth and she knows it. "Or is it just that you want to play cupid?"

"Is there something wrong with wanting your best friend to have someone to share her life with other than her two best friends?" Yes. "Carson has been trying since freshman year and you don't give that poor guy a chance Ev. It's just a date."

"One date turns into a one night stand and that one night stand turns into a two month fuck fest. It doesn't take long before he dumps you and moves on to the next because he can't take you seriously anymore." I express in frustration. That's how things work around here and I don't want any part in it. "That is what dating in BGU is like. And you know that better than anyone."

Before Nathan, Peyton "dated" a guy from the football team and after a month he dumped her and told the whole football team in explicit detail what they did during that one month they were together. For the rest of freshman year, Peyton was labeled a slut while he on the other hand was a champ for doing her and sharing all the details with everyone on campus.

Now, I'm not assuming that Carson or Connery act and think the same way as that asshole but what can you expect from athletes that have girls throwing themselves every second? They're probably not ready to give up their bachelor lifestyle and I won't throw myself at the first guy that thinks I'm pretty. I have standards. Period.

"You're just saying that because of Peter, and yes he was a major asshole but not everyone on campus is Peter." She had a point but I still wasn't going to change my mind on the subject. Like I said before, I've steered clear of trouble these past three years and I'm planning on keeping it that way.

Peyton dropped me off at the dealership shortly after our little discussion. I had already been here yesterday to settle everything with the papers and everything was up to speed. They didn't have the exact model I was asking for so I had to wait until today to pick up the car. I didn't pick anything fancy, I just needed a car that would get me places.

The drive to the firm was a little bit longer than last time, before heading to the firm I made a pit stop at Starbucks. I had to fuel up with coffee for my first day, I was a little tired from last night. My economics exam was giving me major headaches, but thankfully I already knew most of the material for our first exam.

The firm was more crowded than the last time I was here, once I walked inside of the building Jared's secretary received me with a big smile and led me straight to his office. "Mr. Baron, Everest Green, your new intern just arrived for her first day."

"Ah yes, please let her in," Jared responded and I walked inside past his secretary. "Laura, before you go, can you please set up a meeting with Mrs. Walker? I want to go over the details of the case one more time before our court date tomorrow."

"Yes, I will get to that right away. I'll write down in your schedule what time works for you both best to meet." Jared nodded and Laura gave him a quick smile before she walked away closing the door behind her.

"Good morning Everest," Jared greeted warmly. "I'm very pleased to have you work with us this semester. You're an excellent student."

I smile and sit in the chair in front of his desk. "Thank you, Mr. Baron, it's a pleasure to me as well to have the opportunity to work with you and your law firm."

"You can call me Jared Everest, Mr. Baron makes me feel a bit old coming from you." I let out a laugh. "I bet you're eager to start working on your first day so I will get straight to the details. Laura will show you later on your own desk, it's a small space but you will have the privacy and peace to concentrate on your work. You will be working next to Laura in case you need anything."

I already know I'm going to love working here. "I'm going to be handing you a few files, I just want you to go over them. Take as many notes as you need, by the end of the day you can come by my office and we'll discuss the details of each case to figure out if we're missing something."

Jared hands me over a stack of ten case files. I'm supposed to go over all ten by the end of the day? Each file must have more than twenty pages. "I'll be stuck in a few with different meetings with some of our clients but I'm available after that if you want to discuss anything about the cases prior to our discussion we will be having at the end of the day."

"Welcome to our firm Everest." I nod and I stand up from the chair with the case files in hand.

I walk out of Jared's office and I head over to Laura's desk and she kindly shows me to the place I will be working from for the next few months. It was a small space as Jared mention but it was just the perfect space for me. I placed my bag on the floor next to my chair and I started to work on going over the case files. These ten case files weren't going to read themselves and I wanted to make a good impression on Jared on my first day.

After a good hour and a half of going over the case files and reading every single detail, I turned my gaze to a very distressed girl that looked around my age. Her eyes were bloodshed red and it seemed like she was looking for someone. I turned to my right to see if Laura was in her desk but she wasn't. Instead of continuing with my work, I walked over to the girl to see if she needed help.

"Hi, I'm Everest, is there something I can help you with?" I kindly ask the girl and she jumped a little once she heard my voice. Something was definitely not right.

"I'm looking for Mr. Baron, one of my friends told me I could find him here."

"Yes, Mr. Baron is currently in a meeting, is there something I can do for you while his secretary gets back?" I asked hoping I could get her to calm down a little bit.

"I was raped."

A/N

Hi everyone! I'm so excited for what comes next, I finally get to dive in the overall plot as for the prior chapters were filler chapters so you guys could get to know the characters a little bit better.

I can't wait to start reading your theories on the future chapters. Thank you again for all of your support, it never goes unnoticed and I'm so grateful every day for every single one of you!

Before I leave, I wanted to share with you guys that I made an Instagram account where I will try to be more active and give you guys sneak peeks of future chapters. My Instagram handle is right below the title of the book at the end of each chapter. My DMS are always open if you want to talk!