What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful (SYTYCW Top 25) (professional edit)

Chapter Two

Chapter Two 

Rosalind stood in her dorm room, looking at the empty bed beside her. Her father had dropped her off earlier in the day, helped her unpack her bedding and clothes, and she had spent the afternoon tacking up a few magazine clippings and inspirational quotes she had found online. When she arrived, she was greeted by a senior, who had showed them the way to Collins Hall where her residence was. Already, Rosalind had started to feel anxious about socializing with new students and making friends. She was very shy, almost too shy, and the idea of being left alone, not knowing anyone, pretty much terrified her. She could have chosen to stay home and go to the local university, but she needed an escape from her mother.  

"Hello," a soulful, resounding voice echoed through the room, and Rosalind turned to find a beautiful Southern belle holding matching red suitcases, smiling broadly. "I'm Julie. Rosalind?"  

"Hi," she smiled as her roommate dropped her suitcases and went over to hug her. Rosalind could already tell Julie had an infectious personality.  

"Rosalind? No nickname, honey?" Julie asked, and Rosalind shook her head. "My real name is Julissa-Rae Sampson, but I told my mama when I was three, she'd better starting calling me Julie, because Julissa-Rae was not going to work."  

"That's cute," she smiled at her.  

"Well, Julissa-Rae worked well for all the pageants Mama entered me in when I was younger," Julie giggled. "Did y'all do pageants where you are from?"  

"No," Rosalind almost burst out laughing at the thought of her doing a pageant, but didn't want to hurt Julie's feelings. "My body type really isn't structured for pageants."  

"Aww come on now, sweetie," Julie shook her head. "You're beautiful! Let's not be sourpuss about your appearance, girl! I hate that!" Rosalind managed a small smile, remembering how many lectures Natalie had given her about not allowing her low self-esteem to creep into her new university life she was making for herself.  

"I'm going to go to the bookstore," Rosalind stood up, grabbing her purse, as she saw a man appear in their room. Julie started kissing him, so Rosalind left them alone. She dodged, danced and swayed her way through her dorm hall, and out the front doors, as all the freshmen moved in. She walked across campus to the bookstore and looked over to see a familiar face sitting on a bench. It couldn't be, but it was.  

"Rosalind," he spoke self-assuredly as he smiled at her. He was wearing a pair of black pants, a light blue dress shirt and dark black dress shoes. He had a leather messenger bag, and he was glancing over the schedule of events, which she had also received when she arrived on campus.  

"Hi," she managed to say as he glanced up at her, into her soft hazel eyes.  

"I am a transfer," he informed her, smiling. "Have a seat." Rosalind sat down obediently, not sure what to do or say. The only interaction she had with men, besides her family, was her brother Fabian's friends, who pretty much ignored her anyway.  

"Transfer from where?" she asked quickly, unsure of what to say or even think.  

"Columbia," he smiled, and she nodded. "Have you settled in well?"  

"Yes," she answered shyly, as she noticed a few college female and male students checking out the handsome stranger she was speaking with. They were probably wondering why in the world was he wasting his time with her. "Well, I'm off to the bookstore. Good luck."  

"Wait a moment," he stopped her, and she blushed. "I don't believe we have been formerly introduced. I am Lincoln Ainsworth."  

"Ainsworth, as in Lexie Ainsworth?" Rosalind's eyes widened, thinking of the most popular girl from their high school. Natalie wasn't going to believe this one.