Starting over

Chapter 1 Nova My steps echo loudly in the corridor as I stomp my heels on the floor. I walk towards the room I've been assigned. It's my first day in college. USC. University of Southern California. It's all the way in California, as far away as you can come from the hellhole, I used to live in. And when I say hellhole, I mean hellhole. I shake my head. No. I'm not going think of that awful place and the awful memories it brings with it. I'm just not. Room 404. That's what it says on the paper I got. I look at the door I pass, 400. And 401 is on the other side of the corridor. I walk a few more steps and see room 404. I see that the door is already opened. I think it's a dorm room that fits like three or four students. I open the door more and spot something red run around in the room. I walk in and see that it's a red-haired girl, and she runs around putting stuff everywhere. Puts stuff on one of the three desks, in and out of the bathroom. I stand there watching her for I don't know how long, but it's actually quite amusing. When she runs out of the bathroom for the seventh time (yes, I counted) she stumbles over her suitcase and falls with her face straight onto the floor. "Oww", she whines. I drop all my things on the floor. "Oh my god, are you okay?!" I ask as I run up to her to help her up on her feet. "I think so, how long you've been here?" She asks. "About ten minutes", I giggle. "Oh god I'm sorry", she says, and puts two fingers to her nose. "I was just so caught up in making this boring room as homey as possible". "I think it's working pretty good", I say and look at the posters. I nod towards the biggest one that covers almost a whole wall. "I see you like Little Mix". "Oh, that's an understatement", she says. I giggle. "I love them too", I say. The girl smiles so big at me. "I'm Paisley, Paisley Ward", she says. "I'm Nova, Nova Summers", I say. "And I'm Bond, James Bond!" A voice behind us says. I turn around and see a blond girl, she has her hair set up in a light blue ribbon and a light pink dress. "Okay I'm totally kidding", she laughs and come into the room. "Really?" I ask amazed. "And here I thought you were actually James Bond". The girl starts laughing. Me and Paisley as well. "But seriously, what's your name?" Paisley asks, catching her breath. "Katie, Katie Miller", she says. We start unpacking and I put Paisley's suitcase on her bed, to avoid anyone else tripping over it. When I told Katie about it, she started laughing. Who wouldn't though? Even Paisley laughs about it. It’s funny. I feel like I can finally start my life over. This is a fresh restart and it's going to do me good. I hope to become good friends with Paisley and Katie. If they knew about me, they would want to change room though. But a rule I made before entering the campus, is to leave the past in the past. I will not mention what happened and I won't think of it. The point with all of this was to just forget it. To get a fresh start, being someone else completely. I don't know if it's possible to forget it entirely, but partly. I don't have to think about it and that's the important thing. I make my bed when we've finished decorating. The walls look like a rainbow with all the colors and posters we've put up. Turns out that Katie is also a big fan of Little Mix. When I'm done, I put my photo of my little sister and I on my nightstand. I also put a candle and my alarm clock there. I put my clothes in my drawer and then I'm done. I sit down onto my bed when I'm done. "Finally", I sigh. "Ooo who's that Nova?" Paisley asks pointing at the photo. "My little sister Isabel", I say. "She's really cute, how old is she?" Katie asks. "She really is", I smile. "And she's fourteen, but she was ten when that photo was taken". I take up my phone. And look for the most recent photo. "Here she is now", I say showing them a photo of Issy, with her hair still in two braids, but older and with a little makeup. "She's beautiful", Paisley says. I nod. "I love her more than anything", I say. "Anyone can see that, the way you look at the photo", Katie smiles. "So, do you have siblings?" I ask. "One big sister Sandrine and one younger brother Danny", Katie answers. "And I have a younger sister named Alison, but she's called Ali", Paisley says. We talk for a long while. I've never talked to girls my age like this in a very long time. Okay truth to be told, I've not talked a lot with girls at all, or boys. I like that no one here knows who I am, that they don't know about my past. That I can finally just be myself and show myself that I'm not anything of what everyone told me I was. "Do you think that there are any hot boys here?" Katie asks after a while. "Yeah well, it is college, I'm sure there are", I say. "No one that would be interested in me though, I'm too boring and I don't look good". "Oh no, don't you start", Paisley argues. "Every morning when you wake up watch yourself in the mirror and say, 'I'm Nova Summers, I'm beautiful and funny'". This makes me laugh. "I can try", I say. It’s not like I can lose something for trying. I start yawning. I need caffeine pronto! I stand up quickly. "Anyone want join me for a latte?" I ask. "I want to!" Paisley says. "Me too!" Katie says. “Caffeine is very much needed I would like to say!” And so we leave our dorm room to look for the café.