Life After Life

•C h a p t e r O n e•

Someone once told me that second chances were like comets. It was spectacular, destined to be there at a certain time and place. It was difficult to see and difficult to come by. I always kept that thought close to my heart.

The wind brushed past my face, caressing the strands of my hair as I expertly weaved my motorcycle between the heavy volume of Los Angelos traffic.

I was exposed, outside of the confining box of a car. Cigarette smoke and car exhaust from the vehicles next to me drifted up my nose. The heat from the sun soaked my skin, comforting me like a warm blanket. In the moment, it was just myself and my thoughts.

I turned into the university parking lot, sliding my motorcycle smoothly into the first lot I laid my eyes on. Conveniently, it was directly in front of the school.

I shut off the ignition and slipped my leather gloves off, shoving it into the compartment under my seat.  My nose crinkled in slight disgust as I rubbed my clammy palms over my jeans and headed into the school. Thankfully, the law building was just next to the parking lot. Other students were not so fortunate.

I was greeted by the familiar sight of the dark marble tiles, polished white walls and the couches and tables that lined sides of the hall. I was glad the school never rearranged anything since orientation a couple months back.

The hall was bustling, full of students who were half asleep, dragging themselves and their twenty pound backpacks to their lectures.

It was a different scene than what I was used to in high school. I had spent the whole summer imagining what university would be like, but the only explanation I got was along the lines of 'I had to experience it myself to understand.' There were no familiar faces in the hall, and I liked it.

"You forgot the helmet, Thalia," a voice from behind caught my attention. I didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"That's unfortunate," my hands found their way to my head, and sure enough they brushed past the hard plastic of my motorcycle helmet. I slid it off my head, tucking it under my arm.

I turned around to face my best friend, Avery. Immediately, I recognized her long black hair and soft smile. Her cheeks were flushed, complementing her pink lips. We met way back when we started first grade. Our parents both enrolled us into a boarding school, one of the most prestigious apparently.

My parents were adamant that I stayed home for university and Avery decided to stay with me. I was surprised we'd both managed to make it into the same competitive faculty.

"Do I have helmet hair?" I asked her as I ran my hand over my dark hair. She shook her head in response, suppressing a smile. Avery was usually painfully honest, but even if she lied this once to make me feel better, I couldn't do anything about my hair now.

"You look amazing as always," she said as she glanced at her watch. "We still have time, wanna get coffee?"

I gasped as a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist. When Avery rolled her eyes, I knew who it was.

"Hey babe," it was my boyfriend, Hunter. "You never called to tell me you came."

I turned around to face him and was greeted with the familiar sight of his neatly combed blond hair. He had dressed up today, sporting a white collared shirt and a pair of khaki shorts.