Badass in Disguise (Shadow) novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76

The hotel room was pristine but forgettable–neutral tones, standard furnishings, and that peculiar non–smell of industrial cleaning products. I’d chosen to stay here rather than go straight to campus.

Standing at the window, I gazed at the darkening New Jersey skyline. My phone buzzed with a text from Night: “All clear on surveillance. Shadow Organization activity minimal in Princeton area. Stay

alert.”

I replied with a simple thumbs–up emoji. Even Night had adapted to my new cover identity–careful communication, nothing traceable. The whiskey he’d sent me sat half–empty on the desk, a reminder of who I really was beneath this college student facade.

Morning came too quickly. I packed my minimal belongings, checked out, and took a cab to campus. The driver dropped me at the main entrance, where Princeton’s imposing gothic architecture rose against the clear blue sky.

I stood before the ornate wrought–iron gates, momentarily frozen by the weight of what this moment represented. The original Jade Morgan never made it here. In her timeline, high school graduation led straight to the factory floor, standing beside Linda for ten–hour shifts until her body broke down. Then a loveless marriage to escape, trading one prison for another.

Now her life had been completely rewritten. I’d given her–given us–a different destiny.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my suitcase and walked through the gates into my new reality.

The campus bustled with orientation activity. Upperclassmen in brightly colored T–shirts representing different departments greeted incoming freshmen, handing out water bottles and offering to help with luggage. Engineering students in orange shirts were enthusiastically directing newcomers. English department representatives in purple were reciting Shakespeare while distributing campus maps.

Then I spotted the Computer Science welcome point. Unlike the other stations, the CS upperclassmen looked distinctly unenthusiastic. One lanky student slouched in his chair, barely looking up from his phone as he gestured vaguely toward a building.

“Just go straight for three hundred yards, then right for two hundred, then left…” he mumbled to a confused–looking freshman.

“Come on, Leo,” said the student beside him, trying to salvage the situation. “The least you could do

is walk them there.”

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The freshman looked between them hesitantly. “Um, the other departments have upperclassmen girls showing people around. Doesn’t Computer Science have any?”

Leo snorted, finally looking up from his phone. “Dude, we barely have twenty female students in the entire CS program. They’re practically treated like royalty around here. You think they’re gonna stand in the sun carrying luggage? Dream on.”

The freshman muttered something under his breath, looking disappointed.

“You can still switch majors if you want,” Leo called after him. “More resources for the rest of us!”

A well–dressed student with perfectly styled hair shot Leo a disapproving look. “Leo, would you

please try to be professional? You’re representing the department.”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Student Body President,” Leo replied with a mock salute. “Just having a bit of fun,

Julian.”

I approached their table, pulling my suitcase behind me. “New student check–in. What’s the procedure?”

Leo’s head snapped up so fast I thought he might get whiplash. His eyes widened as he took me in,

and in his haste to stand, he knocked into the table, nearly toppling it over. Julian, standing nearby,

stumbled backward from the impact.

Without thinking, I reached out and steadied Julian with one hand, my grip firm enough to prevent

his fall but controlled enough not to hurt him. The movement was pure reflex–quick, precise, and

betraying years of training.

Leo stared open–mouthed between Julian and me, while Julian looked at my hand on his shoulder with surprise.

“Thanks,” Julian said, straightening his posture. “That was quite a save.”

I withdrew my hand immediately, mentally cursing myself for the slip. “No problem.”

By now, several other CS upperclassmen had noticed the commotion and were gathering around, their previous indifference completely forgotten as they stared at me.

Leo scrambled to check the registration list. “Name?” he asked, his voice cracking slightly.

“Jade Morgan.”

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The effect was immediate. Leo’s eyes bulged, and excited whispers spread among the group.

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“Wait, you’re Jade Morgan?” Leo blurted out. “The one who didn’t write the essay part of the SAT but still scored 1400? The one Thornton personally went to recruit?”

“That’s me,” I replied coolly.

Suddenly, every male upperclassman was offering to carry my luggage, show me around, get me coffee, or help me find my dorm. Their eagerness was almost comical.

“I don’t need help,” I said firmly. “Just tell me the check–in process.”

Julian stepped forward. “I’ll show you to the registration office. It’s on the way to the CS building

anyway.”

I gave him a slight nod, ignoring the disappointed looks from the others. As we walked away, I could

hear them still whispering about me.

*Thank you again for the save back there,” Julian said as we walked across the leafy quad. “I’m Julian Sheldon, by the way. Student body president, junior year. If you need anything at all, just let me

know.”

“Julian!”

We both turned to see a well–dressed young man striding toward us.

“Edward,” Julian acknowledged. “I thought you’d left already.”

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