Settling in.

Sally’s POV.

We pulled up in front of the dorms.

I honestly didn’t think I would get it this late; I had initially applied, and the rooms were completely filled up.

I then applied for the students' waitlist, and apparently someone cancelled their housing contract.

Yaaay.

We took all the boxes out of the car and placed them on the floor.

Dad leaned on the car with his hands in his pocket.

He hasn’t aged a bit. I could see why Mom chose him.

“Mom, Dad... thank you." I clasped my hands together. "We can take it from here.”

Moms' face dropped. "You don’t want us to get you settled in?”

I flashed a smile. "Don't worry about that; Micheal and Nora would take it from here.”

“Oh…I was thinking…"

“Let it be Olivia.”

Dad finally spoke. An awkward silence settled over us for a moment.

"Okayyy... we would be heading in now..." He glanced at Nora and picked up a box. “Nora?”

Nora did likewise.

“Take care of yourself, honey… and if you need anything… you know where to find us.”

“Mum…relax, it’s not like I am never coming back…"

“It just… feels like it.”

I wrapped my arms around her and stayed that way for a few minutes.

Then I turned to Dad and gave him a humongous hug. He planted a kiss on my forehead. Just like how he always did when I was little and had just woken up from a bad dream.

I watched them get into the car. Mom waved at me one last time before the car sped off.

I stood long after they had gone, hugging a box to myself. People walked along the pavement, probably wondering what’s up with me.

I finally exhaled and headed into the building.

I finally found the room number and pushed the door open.

Michael was already inside, sitting on what I assumed was my bed.

Nora was beside him, talking to a girl I had never seen before.

I stopped at the doorway.

She was probably my roommate.

She had bright red hair that fell past her shoulders, a few silver piercings along one ear and another small one on her nose. She was on the thicker side, wearing a loose black top and ripped jeans.

She looked nothing like the kind of person I imagined I’d end up sharing a room with.

The moment she noticed me, her entire face lit up.

She practically jumped off the bed.

“You must be my new roommate!”

Before I could even answer, she rushed toward me and wrapped her arms around me.

I froze.

She pulled away, smiling.

“Sorry. I get excited.”

I blinked at her.

“Oh… it’s okay.”

She laughed.

“I’m Ava.”

“Sally.”

“I know.”

My eyebrows lifted.

“You do?”

She pointed at Michael.

“He’s been talking about you for the last ten minutes.”

I slowly turned toward my brother.

“Michael.”

He grinned.

“What? I was introducing you.”

Nora laughed from behind him.

Ava looked at the boxes scattered around the room.

“So this is all yours?”

I nodded.

“Unfortunately.”

She laughed again.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

She grabbed one of the boxes before I could protest.

“I’ll help you unpack.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Come on," she flapped her fingers in the air. "Don't be civil; I want to."

“Oh Ava, I might be falling in love already.”

Everyone laughed, except Nora.

Something was definitely wrong with her. I made a mental note to ask her about it when we are finally alone.

I watched Ava move around the room, and the tension in my chest slowly eased.

She had done a very decent thing with the room. A large speaker sat at the corner. Then a mirror and a table with a whole lot of makeup items.

She must really take skincare seriously.

I took in a deep breath. Things were looking up already.

*****

Nora and Micheal walked out of the room a few minutes ago with some weird energy between them, but that’s not something I wanted to dwell on.

Ava had also stepped out because she had a class; apparently she was studying marketing and communications.

Sitting here, alone. The reality of something new dawned on me. I took an excuse from all my classes today just for this…

I exhaled and glanced at the time.

I had to meet up with Justin in a few minutes. I wouldn’t miss our usual Wednesday lunch for anything.

I slipped on jeans and a little top and slacked my hair back in the tightest ponytail. Mom had always said my hair was what they call too thick.

So I always preferred packing it into a bun so it’s not all over place.

The sun was extremely hot when I stepped out; I clutched my bag tighter and made my way to the cafeteria.

Justin was already seated at the far end of the room with his head bent, laughing over something on his phone. His hair fell loosely across his forehead, slightly messy in a way that somehow made him look even better.

The sunlight coming through the windows caught the side of his face, highlighting his sharp jaw and the faint smile still playing on his lips. He looked effortlessly handsome, like he didn’t even have to try.

I slowed down without meaning to.

There he was.

Justin.

The boy who could make my heart forget how to beat properly with nothing more than a smile.

I walked straight to his table and pulled a seat back.

He looked up when I sat slowly, a wide grin on my face.

I couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.

“Sally,” he narrowed his eyes at me, “you have been scarce these days..."

“Mmhmm.” I grabbed his spoon and plunged a forkful of fries and ketchup into my mouth. “I have been extremely busy.”

He laughed.

“With what?”

“Things.”

“Things?”

“Yhup.”

“Okayy.”

He fed himself a little more fries and then looked at me.

I reached for my cup of water.

“I actually wanted to talk to you about something.”

I paused.

“What?”

He leaned back in his chair.

“It’s about a girl.”

I nearly choked on my water.

I coughed violently, covering my mouth with my hand.

Justin’s eyes widened.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded quickly, still coughing.

He grabbed a napkin from the table and handed it to me.

“Here.”

I took it, wiping my mouth.

“Thanks.”

He watched me for another second.

“You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I cleared my throat.

“So…” I tried to sound casual. “What about this girl?”

Justin sighed.

“I don’t even know where to start.”

My stomach twisted.

“She’s… different.”

I forced a smile.

“Different how?”

“I don’t know. She just is.”

He looked down at the table for a moment.

“I feel like she’s way out of my league.”

I arched a brow.

“Your league?”

He nodded.

“Yeah.”

I almost laughed.

Justin? Out of someone’s league?

“You’re Justin,” I said before I could stop myself.

He chuckled.

“That’s exactly why I’m confused.”

He ran a hand through his hair.

“She’s just… perfect.”

My smile slowly disappeared.

“Perfect?”

“Yeah. Smart. Pretty. Confident. Everyone likes her.” He pouted. A cute habit of his he does when he is seriously trying to think.

“And I can’t tell if she actually likes me or if she’s just playing games.”

Oh no. I wasn’t going to sit here listening to him ram on about some girl. I suddenly remembered I had news.

“I just moved into the dorms!”

He stopped mid-sentence, "Wait, what?”

His expression changed. I couldn’t tell if he was happy for me, surprised or both.

“I moved into the dorms," I repeated.

“When?”

Today!”

He leaned back in his seat. “And whose idea was that, Sally?”