I wake up with my head pounding and covers on the floor next to me. I sit up and stretch, then reach over and turn on my phone, revealing that I am in fact running late. I stand up so quick I loose my vision for a couple seconds, then sprint to my window and peer out.
I see mom and dad standing behind the family van with the trunk popped as they work together to shove a bag into it. Dad is in his work clothes having just returned from his bike shop. I run downstairs, disregarding the fact that I'm in the shortest short to ever be and a sports bra.
I run outside on the cool, dewy grass, the august sun burning down on the 3 of us. Wet puddles turn the side walk dark grey, and Dad leans on the warm red of the car's hood. Mom is head first in the trunk, only legs visible.
"Mom?" I snicker, walked over to where the two stand.
Mom pops back out of the trunk and smiles at me, curls frizzin around her small face, flannel unbuttoned at the top, "Hey Av. You better get ready. You gotta get on the road within the hour if you want to make it your orientation on time."
Dad walks up behind me, "I remember your kindergarten orientation. You were so nervous, you walked up, said hello to your teachers, and yacked on their fancy shoes."
I make a face at him, conveying my annoyance that he brought up that lovely memory. He laughs, wiping the car with a rag. Besides me and his motorcycle, the family fan is his third child. He makes sure it always sparkles.
I run inside, hopping up onto the kitchen island, left hand gripping the black leather of the stool, right reaching for a banana. I usually would opt for something a little less..less, but I am in a very big hurry.
I eat the banana in record time before running upstairs, tearing my closet apart. I land on a grey tube top with white design, big chunky brown belt, and jean shorts, barely shorter than the prior pajama ones. I slide on some big combat boots and tease my heart up into a big fluffy mess, just how I like it. My phone chimes with texts from Loretta, letting me know she's leaving now.
Oh my God. Loretta being more time efficient than me. Am I dead? This can't be.
I sit down at my vanity station, and throw on some make up, not really caring about anything other than getting out the door.
I run downstairs and out the front door, letting it loudly sling shut behind me. I give my parents the most rushed goodbye kisses and a quick princess wave before zig-zagging past the family van to get to my tiny little beetle. I jump in, adjust my mirror, and start 'er up.
I blast some music, and tell Siri to text Loretta that I'm on my way.
Going to university in New York City was never something I planned.
I thought I'd skip university all together and find some jackpot shortcut, cutting past all the hardships of the journey and being pushed right to the destination, but that's not how life works.
I did however take a gap year, which was also not in the blueprint, but it ended up being a good decision, as it gave me time to cool off fromt he excitement of graduation (which I barely did) and make a clear-minded decision.
Which was to go to university in New York city for Criminal Justice and hope to be a world-renound and go-to detective for cold cases in a few years time. I only chose the school I did because Loretta started there 2 years back, then so did most of our friendgroup, and whatever Loretta does, I do. She's a bad influence usually, but an influence nonetheless.
I'll probably end up working some boring office job, but it's worth a shot.
After a 2 hour drive, complete with 8 texts from my Mom checking up on me, and a huge banner saying welcome to the big apple, I pull up the building. A huge structure, mostly glass, which is showing it's age. Families walk in and out of the huge doors, couples walk in pairs, and there is more than an inch of sidewalk space.
I get out of the car, throwing my bag on and approaching the big steps. I take a moment to look up at the dream-builder of a building I'm about to enter, to thrust myself into the endeavors of university. I walk up the steep front steps, my brain flashing images of me falling just to taunt me.
My combats clack against marble as I enter the main area, a big map on a smart screen in the middle, with 2 desks on either side. There is a huge staircase to my right, and 2 elevators to my left. I know which I'll be using. I step farther into the place, all kinds of people bustle past, and It's nothing like the half-deserted mall I spend most of my days in.
I approach one of the desks, unsure of what to expect. A woman in a pink blazer turns around, giving me a warm smile.
"Hey sugar, are you one of our freshman?" She picks up a questionare and sets it on the desk Infront of me, not giving me time to answer before handing me a pen.
"Uh, yes," I say, picking up the clip board.
"Name?" She says, her voice cheery and a nice contrast to the pit of worries in my stomach.
"Averen Hart." My voice suddenly sounds hoarse, and I pray I don't lose it. I did kareoke with the Vera, Vicky, Janey, and Loretta last night, and may have went overbaord with the belting.
"Okay, so fill out that questionnaire, it will help you plan your classes. Would you like to set up and appointment with an advisor?"
I freeze for a second, my brain overloading with the question she just asked me and stimuli surrounding me, thoughts piling up too fast to be processed, like a malfunctioning factory.
"Uhhhh....sure?" I say, taking the questionnaire.
After me blurting out absent-minded answers, I have an appointment on Monday and 5% less dignity. I sit down on a blue couch in the lobby, filling out the questionnaire about my courses. I check off a good amount, trying to pick class times with the least amount of people, and trying to enter a few of the classes Janey and Vera said they joined online.
I return the questionnaire to the friendly desk lady and she shoots me a sweet grin, "Alright honey, you are all set to explore. I'll send you an email later. I'm Cheryl, by the way. You can always come to me if you have any questions about where anything is or what to do."
I nod, "Thanks."
I turn around, looking around the place, taking in all the doors and rooms and fancy ceilings. I feel totally out of my element as I wander like a toddler in a toy store. I realize that I need to go to the bathroom, so I circle back around to the map. I tap on the bathroom icon and it shows me which way to go.
I pass many fellow scholars as I walk down a long hallway, lined with different classrooms, labeled with different numbers and signs I don't quite understand yet. I reach the area of the community bathrooms, which is very nice. The walls are lined with rennaissance era paintings, detailed benches greet me on either side of the white boarding on the walls, golden cushions top them. Light fixtures shaped like balloons hang from the ceiling.
I put my hand on the knob of the gender nuetral bathroom, being it was the first one I saw, and get pushed backwards by someone exiting it. I stumble back to the other wall, and plop myself down on the bench, trying to act like that was my intention.
The mysterious stumble causer looks down at me and scoffs. I meet their eyes, and what do you know. The devil is real.
God's leftovers looks down at me, his chunky glasses having slid down to the end of his nose like a librarian, brown fluffy hair looking a mess. He is in a sweater vest and brown courderoys, a messenger bag slung over his shoulder.
"..you?" I mumble, still in shock that the universe crossed my path with someone who's mere point of existance is to judge.
He raises an eyebrow, studying me, unable to put his finger on where he's seen me before. He finally puts 2 and 2 together. "I see you didn't take my advice."
"Huh?" I stand up, hands on my hips. He's blocking the bathroom door with his blocky torso, so there's no escape. Damn it.
"That." He points his annoying little finger at my tube top.
I scoff and draw back, furrowing my eyebrows. "Excuse me? And what are you doing here?"
"What do you think I'm doing?" He tries to push past me but I throw myself Infront of him. He stops with a screech of his shoes.
My brain comes to the realization that we both are here. Getting our schedules. And touring our campusus. We are both attending this place. Which means I may very well see this ruthless, good-smelling jerk on the regular.
"What's your major?" I say, my voice coming out as more of a whine then a question.
"Criminal justice,"
No.
No.
No.
"What about you?" He continues, raises an eyebrow once again. "I'm suprised you ever leave Hot Topic."
I show him my schedule, and he then looks at his own. He mumbles under his breath before stomping away down the hall towards two middle-aged people I can assume are his parents.
"Bye Simon the chipmunk." I yell after him, before entering the bathroom, finally.
As I stare at myself in the mirror and give myself a very lackluster pep talk, I run over the list of pros in my life, trying to not let this big fat annoying handsome con ruin them.
I open my text thread with loretts and just text her: I feel like dying this fine afternoon, how about you?
I try to distract myself as I go back to wandering the halls, seeing where I will soon spend my days.
God, I hate to say it, but I'm starting to miss that damn mall.
Hey, so what are we thinking? I'm not happy with this chapter, but I hope you are!
You may not have thought much about the desk lady, but she's actually a very special character to me so I may sneak her back in a couple of times.
What would you guys want to major in? I'm still conflicted.
Love ya manatees