The Billionaire Boys Club (Billionaire Romance Series Book 1) (5 page)

Although Kelsey knew this as well, she really hadn’t thought of the starkness of this rule. Some law schools made the first year pass/fail or even gradeless. They wanted students to stay. Darrow wanted them out.
 

“This one simple system is the reason that Darrow graduates are so prized in the legal community. If you have the resume of a Darrow graduate,
 
you know that you have one of the best.”

It was true. Kelsey knew that Darrow students often had their choice of internships and jobs, while other law graduates had to settle.

“Every 1L will take the following classes this fall: Civil Procedure, Property, and Torts. These are of course in addition to your Legal Writing class. Professor Weber is resting from the flu, so I’ve asked Professor Eliot to sit in. We’ll discuss a bit about the day-to-day process, then we’ll be happy to take some questions.”

Darrow used the Socratic method, where a professor calls on a student and asks questions until the professor decides to call on a different student. At Darrow, a student might find that they were answering questions all day, or even all week. Or they might never be called at all. It depended on the professor.
 

“Let’s demonstrate, shall we?” Professor Eliot said. “You, the blonde up front. I can’t see your name.”
 

Kelsey gulped. “Kelsey,” she replied.

“Fine, Kelsey,” Professor Eliot said dismissively. “Why did you want to attend Darrow?”

“It’s the best,” Kelsey said simply.

“Why?”
 

“It’s known for producing some of the best lawyers in the country.”
 

“So are a dozen schools, Kelsey. Why here?”

Kelsey paused. She knew why she wanted to attend Darrow, but she wasn’t sure which answer would satisfy Professor Eliot.

“Darrow graduates get some of the best jobs in the country.”
 

“And everyone else gets the rest. Go on.”
 

“It has an excellent reputation?”

“Says who? A bunch of non-lawyers who write ‘Best Law School’ books?”

This comment got a few quiet snickers. Kelsey was getting flustered.
 

“It just seemed like the right choice for me.”
 

This time Professor Eliot laughed.
 

“I’m sure you’ll change your mind after final exams,” she said unkindly. “Alright, you in the dark green shirt. Tyler. Why did you pick Darrow?”

The tall, good-looking boy smiled at Professor Eliot. “Because I want to have the best legal education that money can buy. I believe the recommendation of two Supreme Court Justices is reason enough for me.”
 

“Interesting,” replied Professor Eliot. “All right, that is an example of the Socratic method for you all, and what you can expect in most of your first-year classes at Darrow. Different professors use different means of calling on students. Sometimes alphabetically, sometimes just because they want to talk to you today. You may be on the hot seat for hours, minutes or days. It’s up to the professor. So make sure that you’re always prepared.” She glanced at Kelsey. “You don’t want to look stupid in front of your peers.”
 

Kelsey seethed.
 

For the next hour and a half, the Dean and three professors discussed some of the ends and outs of the Darrow experience. Some of the things that they mentioned were in the student guide which had been sent to everyone’s home over the summer, and which Kelsey had read cover to cover three times.
 

“If that’s all,” Dean Miller said, looking at the professors, “let’s get a few questions. We’ll get everyone out of here by three. Okay, you in the red. Sam? What would you like to know?”

“Can we ask questions in class? When the professor is questioning us, I mean?”

Professor Eliot spoke. “It depends on the professor. Some professors, like Professor Weber, encourage it in their classes. Others don’t. Often the professor is trying to get the class to understand a specific point in the law, and an irrelevant question can throw that off track. Personally, I don’t encourage it. But if you have a question, you can and should take advantage of your professor’s office hours. We all have them, and we all want to support students who care enough about their success to be proactive.”
 

“Josh,” said Dean Miller, pointing at him.
 

“Do you recommend study groups?”
 

Professor Dudley stroked his clean-shaven chin thoughtfully.
 

“I think it depends,” he finally said. “Study groups can be a real advantage when everyone is of the same mindset and is focused on the group doing their best. But since we grade on a curve, sometimes study groups become very competitive, both within the group as well as toward other groups. Choose your study partners wisely.”
 

“Let’s take one more. How about you, Andrea?”
 

“Who’s the most difficult professor in the school?” The students laughed.

“Oh, come on.” Professor Eliot smiled. “You were all thinking it.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “I can honestly say that it depends. Since we all grade on the same curve here at Darrow, it probably isn’t something that you need to worry about too much. Usually law students have varying views about the subject, since some people do much better in a small group, while others prefer classes where all of the 1L’s are together. It really comes down to you, and your studying style. Do you work better alone, or do you need the constant attention of the professor to improve? Are you unafraid to go to office hours and ask questions, or would you prefer your ignorance to come through on your final exam?
 
Remember, in almost every class, you get one chance for a grade, and that’s your final exam. You need to do everything in your power to make sure that you’re ready, prepared and awake on that day. Because in life, there are usually no second chances. And at Darrow, there never are.”

Dean Miller smiled. “That’s it for now. On your way out, please get your class schedule and check to see if you need to head back to your dorm. All of you will be heading to the bookstore with your dorm group this afternoon or evening. If you aren’t due to go soon, you have a short break. Use it wisely. Good luck and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
 

The professors stood to polite applause and left the room. The dean followed them. Kelsey put on her jacket and headed to the door. She stood in the line as students got their schedules from a girl with a curly ponytail who stood just inside the door.
 

“Name?” she asked, when Kelsey got to her.

“Kelsey North.”
 

“Here you go,” the girl said brightly, giving Kelsey her schedule. Kelsey looked at it and walked away as the girl asked the boy behind her his name.

Civil Procedure with Professor Dudley, Torts with Professor Wadsworth and Property Law with Professor Weber. Well, at least she had seen two of her professors today. And she wouldn’t be taking Professor Eliot’s Contracts course. At least not now.
 

Kelsey walked out of the building, and saw that her dorm floor was scheduled to go to the bookstore at 3:30. Just enough time to grab her wallet and give a quick brush to her hair. She wondered if Jessica was back.

She was. Jessica was putting on lipstick as Kelsey walked in.
 

“Tonight, I’m getting a fleece. Seriously, I was so hot in that room. No wonder no one wears coats here.”

“Fleeces are more versatile,” Kelsey agreed, picking up her hairbrush.
 

“Can I buy one on Madison?” Jessica asked.

“I think so. You can borrow one of mine.”
 

“It’s ok. I wonder if the bookstore sells them.”
 

“Probably,” Kelsey said. “Ready? We’re supposed to get downstairs at 3:25.”

“Let me get my wallet. I’m going to need it.”
 

“How much do you think it will cost? I read anywhere from four hundred to eight hundred dollars for books.”

“No way. We’re only taking three classes this semester,” Jessica said dismissively.

“I hope you’re right. I really don’t want to spend more than 250,” Kelsey replied.

“I’m confident,” Jessica said. They left the room and walked downstairs to the lobby of the entry. Several people were standing around, and a young woman with a Darrow t-shirt came up to them.
 

“Names?”
 

“Kelsey North and Jessica Hunter.”
 

“Room eight,” the woman said. “We’re only waiting for the boys from room five. Then we can go.”
 

“I’m here, we can go!” a loud voice boomed. Kelsey looked around. The boy from last night named Matthew strode into the room. Dylan walked into the front door as the young woman took Matthew’s name. He walked over to Kelsey.
 

“My roommate. Pray for me,” he said to her.

“You’re rooming with that idiot?” Jessica said. “I’ll pray for you too.”
 

“What I want to know is how all of his friends ended up on the same floor. There’s five of them.”

“There’s five? We’ve had the non-pleasure of meeting two of them last night,” Kelsey said.

“Let’s go,” the young woman said, waving the clipboard. She left as the students followed behind her.
 
The group of students walked across the quad on the damp pavement.
 

“Who do you have?” Kelsey asked Jessica and Dylan.
 
They all looked at their schedules as they walked along.
 

“Civ Pro with Dudley, Property with Maclellan, and Torts with Wadsworth,” Dylan said.
 

“I have Dudley and Wadsworth too,” Jessica said in surprise. The three of them stepped to the side and looked at each other’s schedules.
 

“Civ Pro and Torts must be the entire 1L class,” Kelsey concluded.
 

“Cool! We’ll be together,” Dylan said.
 

The trio resumed walking at the end of the pack.
 

“It’s going to be hard this year, Kels,” Dylan said, as they reached the student center.
 

“You always say that, Dylan.”
 

“And it always is,” Dylan said as he held the door for the two girls. He followed them into the student center and they joined their classmates in the bookstore.

“Now I see why they made us come as a group,” Jessica said as they walked past two lone cashiers at the front.
 

“Yeah, this is much better,” Dylan said, handing both of them baskets. “At most we’ll only have nine people in front of us.”

“Everyone, when you’re done getting your books, you’re free for the day. Dinner begins at 5:30 at the dining hall, so just remember to bring your ID with you. We begin again tomorrow at 9 a.m., Darrow Hall.” The young woman waved with her clipboard and left the store, as the students began milling around.
 

“Let’s see how much books are,” Kelsey said.
 

“Don’t let me forget my fleece,” Jessica replied.
 

“I’ll see you in a minute,” Dylan said. He was looking at a Darrow Law School case for his iPhone.

Kelsey and Jessica walked to the books. They passed students browsing through shirts, notebooks, and the small Legal Nutshell selection.
 

“Are you going to buy any nutshells?” Jessica asked, referring to the small books which gave a simple overview of many legal subjects.
 

“Probably,” Kelsey said. “Maybe we can split them.”
 

“Sounds good,” Jessica said. They walked to the almost-empty book section.
 

“Why isn’t anyone here?” Jessica asked.
 

“Buying them last. Books are heavy so no one wants to drag them around the store.”

“True. Okay, what’s the damage?” Jessica said, picking up one of the textbooks. “Heavy,” she noted. She glanced at the back. “Oh, no way!” she said.

“What?” Kelsey asked, glancing over her shoulder.
 

“Two hundred and fifty dollars! And this is only one of the two books we need for Civil Procedure.”

“You must be kidding,” Kelsey said in disbelief.
 

“I wish I was, Kels.” Jessica said, passing the book to her. Kelsey looked at the sticker in amazement. If every book was this much, she’d be looking at $1500 for the semester, $4500 for the school year.
 

“You two need one of these,” Matthew said, pushing past them and flashing his gold card. He picked up the books for Civil Procedure.
 

“Need any help, girls?” his friend asked them.

“Sticker shock, Brandon,” Matthew said.
 

“You’re not in junior college any more, ladies. You’re playing with the big boys.”
 

Ignoring the boys, Jessica flipped her hair and turned to Kelsey. “No way. That’s it,” Jessica said. “I’m renting mine from Amazon.”

“They might be marked up,” Kelsey said doubtfully.
 

“I don’t care. They don’t sell used books here, so I don’t have a choice. No way am I spending $1500.” Kelsey nodded in agreement. $1500 would clean her out for the semester as well.
 

“Let’s write down the names and editions and head back. I don’t want anyone else getting them before we do.” Jessica pulled two pens out of her purse and she and Kelsey flipped over their schedules. They wrote down the books they needed.
 

“Ready?”
 

“Your fleece.”
 

“Right,” Jessica said. “Super quick.” The girls headed over to the apparel section and Jessica located a navy blue fleece jacket.
 

“Fifty bucks,” Jessica said in relief as she looked at the price tag. “At least I can afford something around here.” The girls headed for the cashier line, where only one student was in front of them. Dylan walked over.
 

“Where are your books?” he asked.