1.
1673 Words
Bethany's POV:
1 month later...
It's the official move-in day to campus, I'm so excited and mom is here also to help me move. We had a blast in Europe and visited many famous sites.
My classes start on Monday, since I haven't decided on what major I want to do, I'll just do an introductory course until I choose. Darcy is in one of the classes. It's compulsory for all freshmen students, no matter their major.
They mail out my class schedule to me.
"Are you ready?" Mom asks me.
I've packed up my stuff that was in my bedroom. The things I don't need are going with mom and the rest to my dorm.
I nod.
I'll check out the clubs and sports tents when I get there, I'm thinking between track and field and soccer to join.
"Mom maybe I should get a job to maintain my own expenditures like buying food and clothing or going out", I state.
"Once it's not coming between your classes and extracurricular activity", she replies.
We get into the car after I hand over the keys to the real estate agent, she'll be helping us put the house on the market after it's been cleaned and whatnot.
"I'll keep in touch", she waves.
I want to get to campus early so I can spend the evening walking around, getting familiar with where my class's building is, and checking out stalls.
Darcy is coming on campus to collect some things and meet her tennis coach, all the freshman has to meet the coach before tryouts. Jace is at Princeton University now, but Darcy couldn't stop talking about their Hawaii trip.
She'll start her job this Monday coming after her class, from 1 pm until 6 pm I think.
When we get to campus it's busy and has a lot more people than during orientation.
"It's like a busy street Monday afternoon in New York", mom comments.
I hope to see Damon, he told me he's on the soccer team.
I spot Dahlia with her parents I'm assuming, she has two large suitcases.
"Did you get your room number and key?" Mom asks.
"I'll have to go to the administration building to collect it", I point to the building.
"I'll wait here."
I get out of the car and head toward the building.
"Hey, you were in orientation last month, right?" A guy approaches me.
I nod.
"Great, I'm trying to keep track of who I saw so I can make new friends, my name is Marc", he states.
"Bethany", I shake his hand.
"See you at the get-together at a frat house tonight."
"Get together?"
"Like an icebreaker for freshmen to be welcome into university like in those movies."
I nod.
I enter the administration building and tell the secretary my name and in a few minutes, I get my package.
My dorm has three bedrooms with a small kitchen area to make food to eat whenever we're there and not feeling like eating out.
I return to the parking lot and mom gets out of the car.
"Where is your dorm?"
After getting my stuff out of the trunk, I lead the way to my dorm building.
"Hey Bethany", Dahlia waves when I enter the building, she's alone.
"Hey, where is your room?"
"Second floor, this is the lounge area and we even have a study room on the first floor", she explains.
This is a three-story building so it has an elevator to get to the two floors.
I nod.
"This is my mother."
"Hello, I'm Dahlia", she shakes mom's hand.
Mom smiles, "nice to meet you, you're such a lovely young lady."
"Thank you."
We go to the elevator and to the second floor, my room is 10 that's down the corridor.
I open the door to the room, it's very spacious with a small living room, kitchen area, and another door probably leading to the bedroom.
"Hello?" I call we enter.
"Hey", a girl pops up from behind the counter, she has sandy brown hair and green eyes.
"Hey, I'm Bethany."
"I know, I saw your name on the paper, I'm Alex, and I'm making welcome cookies for you and Stacy who isn't here yet", she replies.
"It does smell good", mom states, "I'll take my leave now Beth, have a good semester, and please have some fun, I'll see you Thanksgiving", mom kisses my cheek and leaves.
"Wow your mother dropped you off, I wish my parents gave me that type of attention", she scoffs.
"Oh."
"It's okay, they got their hands full raising two kids younger than me that are teenagers", she shrugs.
I enter the bedroom which had three beds, two windows, and three study desks facing a wall.
"I already took that one", she points to the left and the desk closest to it.
I go to the bed on the right and the desk that is close to the other window. None of the desks has lamps.
"Do we have to buy our own lamp?" I frown.
She nods.
"It's a good thing I packed my own from home then."
"Are are going to the housewarming party tonight?"
"Someone from the orientation invited me, I got no choice but to show up", I answer.
"Is it a guy? Is he hot?" She grins.
I open the closet and put my suitcase on the bed to unzip it.
"He's alright."
Carter is way hotter than him.
"Do you have a boyfriend? University is swarming with hot guys", she swoons.
"No, I'm single", I shake my head.
"Good, I'll be your wing woman in case you do catch yourself, someone, tonight", she winks and leaves the room.
I'm just here to get my degree and make a few memories, that's it. I doubt any guy will attract me here not with that stupid mate bond I have, Carter will feel if I do go with someone physically. I don't need him coming all the way here with his possessiveness.
After I unpack most of my stuff, Alex enters with the freshly baked cookies.
"Thanks", I take one.
"Are you hungry? I say we go to the campus cafe, have lunch and check out some stalls around the campus", she suggests.
It's a bit after 12 pm now.
"Are you here on scholarship?" I ask her.
"No, I can't play a sport to save my life", she laughs.
I laugh.
"Let me get my purse and we can go have lunch."
Since I didn't have Damon's number I emailed him this morning informing him I'll be moving on campus today.
_______
"Hey Bethany", I see Marc wave at me as Alex and I enter the cafe.
He's sitting in a booth with two other guys.
"Oh my, is that him?" She gasps, "he's handsome."
"That's Marc."
"We should totally go sit there", she grins.
"I'm sitting at my own booth", I dismiss her and head to another booth, I sit down and pick up the menu.
A waiter comes to me, "what will you like to have?"
"The chicken special with a glass of lemonade."
"Any dessert?"
"Brownies to go."
He leaves.
Alex joins my booth with Marc.
"Are you ignoring me Bethany", he grins.
"No, just avoiding", I shrug.
Alex put in her order when a waitress walks by.
"Should I get a job? I'm already here on nonscholarship, my parents are paying tuition and dormitory fees but no other expenses", Alex sighs.
"If your schedule permits it go ahead, here isn't cheap to afford, which is why your finances have to be stable or else you're forced to drop out within the first year", Marc explains.
Yeah, they do have a high dropout rate in freshmen.
My food arrives a few minutes later and I begin to eat.
"Are you joining any clubs?" Marc asks.
"A sport actually, soccer or track and field."
"Sign-ups are today and tryout begins sometime during this upcoming week", he informs me, "I'm on the hockey team, full scholarship."
"Where do you live?"
"North Carolina."
"I'm from Minnesota", Alex adds.
"Washinton DC."
"Oh, why are you staying on campus then?" She frowns.
"I want to experience my first year good, plus the house is up for sale, my mother moved", I answer.
Alex's food arrives and she begins eating immediately.
Wow, she's hungry.
***
I'm walking around campus looking at different groups with their advisement. I spot the track and field tent and make a beeline straight to it.
"Hey, I'm interested", I stand in front of the table.
"Welcome, put your name down", the woman smiles.
I write down my name on it.
"See you at tryouts on Monday", she hands me a T-shirt with the university logo on it.
"Thanks", I take it.
I spot Dahlia signing up for some physic group that's totally her style.
I go to the art stall and sign up for that group as well since they only meet once a week, I like painting maybe there I can get my downtime and just paint.
"Hey stranger, you blend in good with the crowd", someone says behind me I turn around.
It's Damon.
I squeal and hug him tightly.
"I missed you too Duffus", he chuckles wrapping his arms around me.
We hug for a few more seconds then I let go.
I punch his arm, "how long have you spot me?"
"Since you came into the area, I saw you sign up for track and field, good luck."
"Thanks."
"I saw Darcy earlier at the administration building, happy to see her get in on scholarship."
"Yeah, I'm staying on campus as well."
"I'll see you at the party tonight then?"
I nod.
"Are you seeing anyone?"
"Why? Do you have someone for me?" He grins.
I shake my head and he laughs.
"Just kidding, I started seeing someone over the summer, he's working in the city."
"Nice."
"Yeah, we met at a club."
"So cliche."
"Just the way I like it."
I laugh.
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- Writer
