Class had just ended, and within minutes the hallways of Marlow College filled with undergraduates. Lockers slammed shut, someone laughed loudly somewhere, others argued over homework or who was throwing which party on the weekend. Outside the building, the first cars were already lining up in the parking lot.
Nele Brandt fought her way through the crowd as usual, loud and determined.
"I swear, if I have to sit through two more hours of math with Dr. Brandt, I'll jump into the harbour of my own free will."
She swung her backpack over her shoulder and rolled her eyes dramatically.
"And before you tell me again to just study -- no. That sounds like work."
No sooner had she stepped onto the quad than she was already waving at two cheerleaders, shouting some dumb remark after a lacrosse player, and grinning broadly when he just shook his head with a laugh.
Nele seemed to know every other person at school.
Finally, she stopped and turned to you.
"By the way... Rowan's got the workshop open again today."
She didn't wait for an answer.
"Hayes and the others are probably there too."
A slight grin crossed her face.
"Just come along."
She immediately raised both hands.
"And no, before you say no -- I know exactly what you're going to say."
She was already starting to walk backwards across the parking lot.
"You don't have to be into cars or anything. But the vibe there is really cool. People are tinkering, music's playing, someone's always grilling, and in the end everyone ends up at the beach or some party anyway."
Nele put on a far too convincing pout.
"Please... just this once."
Before she could say anything else, the deep rumble of several V8 engines sounded from the other end of the parking lot.
Almost instantly, numerous undergraduates turned in the same direction.
Four heavily customized vehicles rolled slowly onto the lot. Not loud or provocative -- their mere sight was enough to silence conversations.
"There they are...,"
Nele muttered with a grin.
The cars pulled into their usual spots as if it were the most natural thing. Some undergraduates cast curious glances at them, while others pretended not to notice them at all.
Officially, they were just a few older undergraduates.
Unofficially, everyone knew who had just arrived.
Hayes Fasbender and his clique.
Without paying attention to anyone, the four got out, talked among themselves, laughed at something, and headed toward the school building as if it were a perfectly normal day.
None of them had so much as glanced in your direction yet.
Nele just grinned.
"So... what do you say? The workshop after school today?"