Determinant -Guardians of Vesturon [3] Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    At nine o’clock on a sultry August morning, after hugging and thanking Seth and Lynn, I backed my Toyota out of the Campbell’s driveway and began my journey to Cullowhee, North Carolina. I was moving to Western North Carolina University to begin stage two of my life. Stage one hadn’t been so hot so I was tentative in my hopes for this one.
    Seth and Lynn offered to accompany me, and although they had been nothing but kind to me and I don’t know how I would have made it without them, I wanted to escape everything that was Spartanburg, South Carolina. One of my roommates was also from here, but she wasn’t heading up until the week after next. I was going early to search for employment. I’d been granted an excellent academic scholarship, but since I had no financial means, I’d have to work and earn as much money as possible. Medical school was my ultimate goal, and the debt accompanying that would be mountainous.
    I don’t think excited could aptly describe my frame of mind. Anxious was more like it. I was ready to start phase two and was looking forward to meeting new people who were disconnected from my past. I wanted to give the former part of my life a speedy burial and be reincarnated into a new January. Now was that time.
    My forever sweaty palms latched onto the steering wheel and navigated my Toyota up the mountains to college town. I normally enjoyed this drive as I was surrounded by the beauty and mystery of the mountains. However, since graduation night, I had existed in a perennial state of anxiety and my thoughts were clouded with worry that day. My jumbled and twisted nerves made it impossible for me to eat much as my stomach was on a continuous carnival ride of loop-t-loops, and as a result, I had lost weight. My clothing resembled sacks more than anything but unfortunately, they would have to do since buying new ones wasn’t in my budget. I was hoping that my nonexistent appetite would reappear and claim my body once again.
    It only took about two and a half hours to get to my destination. I’d rented a room for two weeks in one of those efficiency-type motels, as I couldn’t move into my dorm yet. It was reasonably priced and Seth had checked it out through his police network to ensure I’d be safe. It was bare bones but it was clean and conveniently located. I missed my room at the Campbell’s and all their warm chatter, but it wouldn’t do for me to dwell on it.
    I carted in my clothes and toiletries and then the job hunt began. Luckily, I landed two jobs by the second day. One was a waitress position at the Purple Onion, a restaurant in Waynesville, which was about a 35-minute drive from Cullowhee. My second job was at the university bookstore. This was a real coup, as I’d be getting a twenty percent discount on all my textbooks. So far so good!
    I loaded up on my work hours to get as much in beforehand as possible. I knew when classes started I’d be forced to cut back. Besides, I didn’t know anyone so I didn’t have anything else to do. The ever present clenching of my stomach eased a bit, due to the jobs and the fact that I would be earning some money.
    The restaurant owner was awesome. His name was Lou and he was so accommodating with my schedule. He was a large, balding, grey haired man in his early fifties and he sort of treated me like a daughter...or at least what I thought a daughter would be treated like. I got along famously with all my coworkers and the chef kept telling me he was going to fatten me up. The food was scrumptious. The menu was higher end with a variety of seafood, chicken, beef and vegetarian dishes.
    My favorite was the seared tuna. It was mouth-watering sashimi grade tuna seared with sesame seeds on the outside. I balked at trying it at first. I’d never eaten tuna other than from a can. Everyone laughed at me when I said that. It was true, however. I didn’t know tuna fish actually came fresh like that. The first time I placed that tiny morsel in my