The bus to the conference was loud and packed with excited students. I sat near the front with the tablet Aaron gave me on my lap. Silver was near the back, laughing with some engineering students. I felt weirdly alone and checked my phone.
Cameron: On the bus. Should be there by 4.
Aaron: My last meeting ends at 4:30. I'll meet you in your room at 5 to check your presentation. Dinner is at 7:30.
It was like a schedule, not a conversation. I put my phone away and stared out the window as the bus drove from the city to the highway.
When we arrived at the conference center, everything was chaos… checking in, finding our presentation halls, getting lost. My phone buzzed with my hotel room code. A black car was already waiting for me when I dragged my bag outside.
"Mr. Sterling? For The Lafayette?" the driver confirmed.
