First Steps Into New Beginnings

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. Today was the day—the first day of college. It still felt surreal. Eighteen years old and finally stepping into a new chapter of my life.

Shaking off my nerves, I rushed into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the lingering drowsiness. The steady stream pounded against my skin, grounding me in the reality of the day ahead—my first day of college. It still felt surreal.

After drying off, I pulled on a pair of light-wash jeans and my favorite oversized anime T-shirt, its once vibrant design now faded from years of love. The familiar fabric brought a small sense of comfort. To fight off the morning chill, I wrapped myself in my cozy, oversized cardigan before slipping on my well-worn sneakers.

Pausing in front of the mirror, I adjusted my thin-rimmed glasses, making sure they sat just right on my nose. Finally satisfied, I grabbed my book bag, its straps slightly worn from overuse, the fabric decorated with enamel pins of my favorite anime and video game characters.

With a deep breath, I turned toward the door. It was time to face the day.

I sighed dramatically, dropping my book bag onto the couch. “I see you took all morning to get ready.”

Abigail smirked, twirling a strand of golden hair between her fingers. “And I see you just rolled out of bed and threw on the nerdiest thing you own.”

I clutched my cardigan in mock offense. “Excuse you, this is peak comfort and self-expression.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “You’ll never change.”

“Never.” I grinned.

After saying a quick goodbye to my mom, we stepped outside. The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of dewy grass and coffee from a neighbor’s porch. The streets buzzed with life—cars passing, students walking, the occasional bark of a dog in the distance.

We made our way to the bus stop, our footsteps falling into an easy rhythm. The bus arrived moments later, and we hopped on, finding seats toward the middle. The ride was a blur of chatter, nervous energy, and Abigail obsessing over potential college romances.

“You do realize we’re here to study, right?” I teased, raising an eyebrow as I clutched my book bag.

“Pfft, says the girl who watches anime until three in the morning.” She flipped her curls over her shoulder, grinning. “Besides, college isn’t just about studying. It’s about experiences! Meeting new people! Finding potential boyfriends!”

I rolled my eyes. “And yet, you’ll still be single by the end of the semester.”

She gasped in mock offense. “Wow. Betrayal. I’ll have you know I plan to be very proactive about my love life.”

I laughed as the bus pulled to a stop in front of the campus. The moment I stepped off, my breath caught in my throat.

The college campus stretched before us, massive and full of life. Students swarmed the walkways, chatting, rushing to class, lounging under trees with open books or earbuds plugged in. Some looked lost, gripping maps or checking their phones, while others moved with the confidence of people who had done this a million times.

Abigail linked her arm through mine. “Come on, Watson. We’ve got this.”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “Yeah. We’ve got this.”

After grabbing our schedules from the office, I immediately noticed something that made my stomach drop.

“We’re not in the same classes,” I muttered, staring at the paper in my hand.

Abigail frowned. “Oh, come on! We planned this! How did this even happen?”

“I don’t know,” I sighed, disappointment settling in. “Guess we’ll just have to meet up between classes.”

She pouted but nodded. “Fine. But we’re definitely having lunch together.”

“Obviously.”

We hugged quickly before heading off in separate directions. As I approached my building, my nerves crept back in. What if I got lost? What if I sat in the wrong spot? What if people thought I was weird?

I shook my head. No, stop it. You can do this.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door to my first class.

The moment I stepped inside, all eyes turned toward me.

My stomach flipped. Oh no.

“Ah, you must be our new student.” The professor looked up from his notes. “Julia Watson, right?”

I swallowed hard and nodded.

“Great. Welcome. Go ahead and take a seat anywhere.”

I scanned the room, my heart racing. Most seats were already taken. Some students looked friendly enough, while others barely glanced at me. But then there were a few who gave me that who’s-the-new-girl? kind of stare.

And then… there were his eyes.

A pair of deep, unreadable eyes locked onto mine from across the room. Unlike the others, his gaze wasn’t indifferent or judgmental. It was curious. Calculating.

Something about him made my heart skip a beat.

Who was he?