Part one

All I could think about was Spadeville. I couldn’t eat a thing this morning as I travelled from my home to this beautiful college. I haven’t quite gotten there, but I was insanely anxious as to what to expect when I actually got there.

 I looked out of the window, and was mesmerised by the sparse vegetation. It was so beautiful, and the wind tussled my hair in all the right places, making me constantly slide it across my face, to the back of my earlobe. It bounced back each time like the troublesome strands it was.

 A smile touched my lips, as I watched a couple of bubbly people going around their works. It looked just like home, with its rush hour soaring through the skies.

 “How far are we heading towards Spadeville?” I asked the designated driver.

 The radio was lowered slightly, which I hadn’t been ardently listening to. “We are almost there, Ma’am,” he shouted.

 I nodded as I may gaze transfixed on a young woman scolding a girl of about 8. The cute pumpkin had a soft pout on her chubby face. I could imagine that she was literally telling her mom that she would not do anything she says. I’d been there once, and I knew how it goes.

 I imagined that I could actually stop my car, and go to that young girl, making her smile as big as I was, thinking about my new school, but we were moving quickly past them. They will have to make do by themselves.

 Pretty soon, we swerved a corner, gliding through a main road that was filled with grass, and barely any sign of life. But, I couldn’t help a smile as I thought about the contrast of the whole community. I was going to fit in here just right. If I wanted the rush hour, I could always go into town, and if I wanted the peace and quiet, this is where I belonged.

 “Ma’am, we are here,” the driver announced calmly.

 I pulled my gaze from the window, and looked right in front of me. He had being right. Through the sticker glass window, I could see the signboard, glaring right at me. 

 SPADEVILLE COLLEGE

 I was here now, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I opened my door, and stepped out into the cook morning breeze, enjoying how it wiped my hair around my face. This time, I didn’t brush my hair off my face. It needed to be as wild as me right now.

 The door slammed, and I turned reluctantly towards the sound. It was the driver. He fused with somethings, and before I knew it, my bags were deposited right in front of me. I looked from the bag to the driver and sighed. It was on tip of my tongue to ask him to help me with it, but I clipped my mouth shut.

 “Thank you,” I said instead.

 He nodded once. “Have the best year ahead!” He said softly.

 I smiled wildly. I was going to have just that. It’s going to take some adjusting to do, but I was completely sure that I was going to have it all figured out. This was going to be the best moment in my life, and I’m so sure I could do it.

 “I will,” I said truthfully.

I pulled out my phone from my purse which I had been clutching the whole time. I checked the Uber app, noting the fare, and then paid with my P****l. I gave the driver a thumbs up, and he smiled walking away from me, and then into his car.

 I shifted my gaze to him. Now, I was in front of it, I wanted to savour everything. I needed to see it all through fresh eyes. The freshly painted gate pulled my attention. It had two eagles sculpted into them, and making its mark to anyone who looked at it. 

 Walking through these walls will mean one thing, stepping into a whole new world. A world filled with opportunities. I’m reminded of this at every moment of my life. It was time to go in and take my life by the stems.

 I grabbed my bags, one, at each hand, and then walked towards the gate. I pulled the door open, and then stepped into the compound.

 A mirage of colours greeted my eyes. The girls dressed in such bright colours, gliding through the whole place, laughing, infused in a book, and chattering without pause. It was simply magical or more importantly, breathtaking.

 Soon, I will also be a part of the flock. 

 “Hey, the reception is over there,” someone offered as she side-stepped me to the gate. 

 I hadn’t even asked. “Thanks,” I said quickly.

 There was a grunt, and then, her brown coils bounced out of site. That was quite something. I walked into the direction of the reception. It read, female hostel in bold letters. The building was small, and stepping in proved it more.

 There was no air-condition. And, I soon felt the icy hands of sweat fluids glide down my back. The receptionist was quite easy to spot. She was dressed in monochrome colours, and didn’t smile. Ok, that’s a bit judgmental, but she wasn’t smiling.

 I made a move to pull my bags, but a smartly dressed man stopped me. He offered to help me with them, and I would settle him for 3 dollars. I agreed. My hands were aching carrying those bags, and I needed a relief.

 I walked over to the lady. She was typing furiously on the hp laptop, not even sparing me a glance.

 “Excuse me,” I said quietly.

 The lady pushed her thin glasses, up the bridge of her nose, and then scowled at me. “Yes?” She queried.

 “I’m Maya Fields. I just got transferred, and I would like to know my room number, so I can settle in,” I said softly.

 She nodded. After typing another set of things on the gadget for a full minute, she pulled a drawer open, and brought out a bunch of keys.

 “You’re welcome to this hostel. Everyone is treated as one here, and you will have no problems. You will be squatting with Chloe Miller in room 200. She’s a freshman like you, so, you better hit that friendship cord, so you don’t get lost. And, this isn’t high-school kid.” She informed me tersely, as she handed over the keys.

 I took it from her, with a smile. “Thank you.” I said firmly.

 “You’re welcome,” she grunted as she looked back at her laptop.

 Before leaving, I took a look at her name tag. Caroline Theodore was scribbled right in front of it. It suited her just right. She was a tailored mess. I turned my attention to the man by my side, and signalled for him to follow me, using my index finger.

 We stepped out of the room, and then walked round the building, a huge two-storey building stood at its full height peering up at me. 

 “Thanks, I will take it up from here,” I told the man.

 He squinted his eye in the sun, “No, let me help you. Your room is quite a long way up, not really worth the stress.” He said calmly.

 I shrugged. “All right then, let’s go.”

 We took the stairs that led us to room 200. I remember thinking that the elevator I had seen would be a bit more convenient, but safety first. I didn’t know this man, what if he hit me with something. Don’t be ridiculous, Maya.

 Up the rows of room labeled 100’s, I found my room. The man dropped the items, and it wasn’t after he was long gone, that I remembered I hadn’t asked of his name. That was so rude of me.

 I slid the key into the hole, and it bounced it back out. Someone was in there, apparently my room-mate. I knocked at the door, and she swung it open.

 “I was wondering when you’d get fed up of trying the key,” she said with a laugh.

 I smiled right back. “I didn’t believe I was so dumb,” I said softly, pushing into the room, with my bags on both hands.

 The room smelt faintly of lavender and spice. It was already homey, and so sweet-scented. Looking around, I loved the bunk beds at the opposite side of the room, and a small door attached in a bid to create a false sense of privacy.

 “We’re going to have so much fun as room-mates. I literally adore your energy,” Chloe said.

 I turned to her, and smiled. Unlike the girls out there, Chloe had on a plan T-shirt, on a jumper. Her was clipped short, making the browns stand-out unpretentiously. I like her instantly too.

 “Yes, we are. I absolutely adore your energy. When did you get in?” I asked.

 A lazy hand dug into the pocket of her shirt. “I believe this is where I come from, so it’s literally so easy to walk in here.” She informed me.

 I pouted slightly. “That’s so bad.”

 “Really?”

 “Yes, I mean, I was out for so long on the windy trails, and all you did was walk to the hostel.” 

 She laughed, and then grabbed a bag from her many sets of bags. “I didn’t walk. I hitched a ride. Look at all these, I couldn’t trek with them even if I wanted to.”

 We both shared a good laugh over that. “Ok, that’s literally true. You have so many things,” I said in awe.

 She grinned wildly at me. “They are mostly unnecessary, but sentimental. I couldn’t part without them, so I pretty much dragged them along,” she said calmly.

 I placed a hand on the fake door-post. “Cool.”

 There was a bit of silence, and I simply watched her fuss with her bag bringing out things quickly, and hiding them off in the locker close to her. Then, she stopped, and turned to look at me.

 I rose my brow at her curiously, and she simply shrugged. 

 “I was thinking that since we’re new here, it would be nice to make more friends. What do you say?” She queried.

 I bobbed my head repeatedly. “That’s a good idea. I love to mingle too, but where could we do that without looking obtentions?” I queried.

 She snapped her fingers. “The bonfire! There is a bonfire that was organised to welcome the undergraduates. I think it would be swell to go there,” she said.

 Man! She had everything figured out. I could look around, there might be someone that could ignite my interest, especially if they were as bubbly as Chloe.

 “I will come,” I said softly.