Flight Risk

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My first couple of days in this town flew by like time didn't exist.

It was a blur of new faces and names, unknown places and traditions, and markets; and before I knew it, it was the first day of classes. There was something strangely exhilarating about being the new girl; everyone is always interested in your back story and getting to know you and greeting you as you pass them in the halls and having you sit with them during lunch. Throw in being a foreign exchange student, and you're top of the social hierarchy. The glamour fades pretty quickly after they unravel the mystery behind the new girl, but until then, I'm going to enjoy my second of fame.

My clock had frozen sometime during the night, and having to navigate a strange environment did not help my case of being late. I stormed into my first class with a note excusing my tardiness and my class schedule waving above my head like a white flag. Every head turned simultaneously towards me as the door slammed loudly behind me and I struggled to catch my breath. My cheeks burned as I waved awkwardly.

I wasn't used to the classes being this big. Several hundreds of eyes were trained on me, and as the administrator had mentioned earlier, it was because a few different degrees had overlapping modules.

"There's always that one, isn't there?" Everyone chuckled as the professor smiled at me, several students sniggering at my embarrassment as I avoided their mocking stares.

"Ms. Jackson, I presume?"

I nodded slightly as I tried catching my breath, cheeks burning as I turned to watch the class's reaction. Luckily, several of them had returned their attention to their books.

"Sorry I'm late. Got lost." My hand twirled in a sloppy circle above my head as I motioned to the halls outside.

"Didn't you get assigned a guide?"

"I'm sure I did, sir." I shrugged slightly, readjusting my backpack, wishing he'd just let me take a seat. "I was too busy rushing through the two hundred foreign exchange forms to notice."

"I'm sure everyone's excited to get to know you. We haven't had an exchange student in ages." He handed me a pile of textbooks, and I nodded my head in silent thanks. "Australia, I presume?"

"South Africa, actually, but I've been told we sound similar."

He nodded his head in confirmation, as if that explained everything to him, and motioned for me to take a seat at the back of the class. There were only a few seats available in the large hall, but even fewer where I wouldn't disrupt anyone by having them need to get up to let me pass. My eyes flitted through the rows, frowning as I tried to find an easily acceptable seat. There was one right at the back, but a guy quickly moved his bag onto it when he caught me eyeing it. I avoided the front rows, already seeing the students itching to raise their hands to answer the questions on the board. Somewhere in the middle of the room was a seat in between two guys who were leaning over the empty space between them, whispering to keep their conversation hushed as they both laughed. It was the only seat available close to the steps. I silently encouraged myself not to make a fool of myself, quickly making my way over with purposeful strides, my backpack swinging from one shoulder as I smiled at everyone that made eye contact as I passed them.

Confidence is the key to fitting in, and I'm faking the hell out of this shit until it comes naturally.

I cleared my throat slightly as I waited for the blonde guy to move over. He smiled apologetically, moving back into his seat as I settled down in the uncomfortable chair. His friend, whose dark curly hair hung over his forehead, leaned closer with a lopsided grin on his face.