I go through six different outfits, desperate to find the perfect one for my first day back at university. I spent my first year studying for an art degree, but decided that I wanted to switch to journalism instead.
I second guess my decision everday.
I get a tad bit of anxiety going into new situations like this, so dressing nicely will give me one less thing to worry about. Hopefully.
On my way to class, I stop at a little coffee shop around the corner from the campus. I go here all the time since it's so close to my apartment, and I'm obsessed with the glazed donuts they have every morning. It's run by a very old woman and all of her grandkids, who I've gotten to know over the past year of coming here.
"Good morning Iris." Lucie, the eldest of the grandchildren smiles as I walk in the store. She's eighteen, and loves gossip maybe a bit too much, which is why we're such good friends. She's definitely my favorite of the three of course. "Morning Lucie, just the usual.", I say and she nods.
"First day of classes, you feeling okay?" She asks.
"I have to admit, I'm excited to be switched over to journalism, but I'm nervous all the other students are going to be snobby and rude", I laugh. I don't know why, but when I think of journalism, my brain instantly just goes to thinking everyone will be arrogant and competitive.
"We're not all that bad." I turn towards the light cheery voice, seeing a boy with dark brown hair and the brightest blue eyes ever seen. He sits at a table, a charming smile on his face. "I'll be honest, some of them are, but not all of us".
"Let me guess, a journalism major?" I say with a small laugh. "Well how'd you manage to guess that?" He asks sarcastically, smirking slightly. Lucie hands me the bag with the donut in it, and I thank her. "Seriously though, it's not that bad. Besides most of our classes are taught by Professor Adams and he's awesome".
The boy says, standing to his feet. "Well I guess I'll take your word for it..." I trail off, hinting that he should give me his name. "Nicolas. But you can call me Nick", He introduces himself.
"Iris Rivers".
"Well Iris, why don't I give you a proper escort to your first class." Nick offers, and I see Lucie behind the counter wiggling her brows at me, smiling widely. "I'm walking back down there now anyways".
"Sure", I nod.
We leave the bakery, and head down the street to campus as he tells me a little more about the classes and the teachers. He's making it sound really great, I just hope it actually lives up to my now high expectations. We get to school, and he shows me to my first class.
"Hey Professor Adams", Nick says as we walk into the practically empty classroom. "I am not scheduled to be bothered by you until ten Nicolas ." The professor says and I laugh behind my hand. "He's just kidding. I'm his favourite", Nick says. "You've got a newbie. This is Iris. I found her scared and alone so I became her guide".
"How unfortunate for her." Adams mutters, moving some papers around on his desk as he gets ready for class. I look to the blue eyed boy with amusement. He was right, this teacher is pretty great but I don't think he's as fond of Nick and Nick thinks he is. "Well you have fun, I've got to get to class." He says. "Oh here! Put your number in my phone". He juts his phone out to me, and I make note of the fact that Nick is very friendly and outgoing. I take the phone, and put my number in for him.
My first day hasn't even started and I already made a friend, maybe this won't be so bad after all. I hand his phone back and he flashes me a bright toothy smile. "Bye Mr. Adams, see you at ten." Nick waves. "I look forward to it Nicolas." Professor Adams says with a less than enthusiastic tone.
As my first class passes, and then my second one, I come to realize I'm so much happier here than I was in my other major. This just feels like what I'm supposed to do. I walk down the hallway, and my phone dings. I pull it out of my bag and see it's from an unknown number, so probably Nick.
Unknown: food? Are you more of a sushi girl or a taco girl?
I laugh at the text, yeah that sounds like Nicolas.
Iris: tacos. Always tacos.
Nick:): meet me outside of the humanities building.
I walk around, soon finding the humanities building, I guess you could say I got a little lost. I see Nick standing outside with another guy, identical to him. twins? I thought it was just going to be us.. I'm not a very social person. I go up to them, and shyly say a hello. "Oh cool you actually came!" Nick says, I guess I should have texted him back and let him know I was coming. "This is Matt".
"Hi, I'm Iris", I introduce myself. He simply smiles at me. Oh, he's beautiful. He's wearing a green and black varsity jacket with khaki cargos , silver rings on his fingers. I look up at him, considering the fact that he's a few inches taller, his hair looks so soft, healthy even. His eyes are the same as Nicks', bright blue, ocean- like. I let my eyes trail down his build, tall, thin but clearly muscular. He seems to be looking at me also, deep in thought, surveying me from head to toe. Then he meets my eyes, catching me staring at him, to which he flashes his teeth in a pretty smile.
"Well should we go get some Chinese food?", Nick asks and I take my eyes off of Matt to look at him. I nod. "Scarlett!" Matt calls. A girl with long, strawberry blonde hair and a jacket very similar to Matt's walks over, and kisses him on the cheek. Must be his girlfriend. "Want to come get Chinese with us?" He asks. "Yeah!", She smiles cheerily, but her smile fades quickly when her gaze lands on me. "And you are?", She says in a less than friendly tone, pointing her neon yellow fake nails at me. "Hi, I'm Iris." I smile, putting out my hand to shake hers, but she simply looks down to my hand, snickering a little.
I slowly lower my hand, wondering what her problem is. Guess she's just not very nice. Nick takes notice of the tension, clearing his throat. "Iris, you can ride with me." He says, pulling me away from the couple. "So your friends seem... uh.." I trail off and he laughs. "First of all, Scarlett is not my friend. I can't stand her, and Matt is one of my brothers, we're triplets", He says as we reach a ridiculously nice car.
"This is yours?" I ask in awe. "All mine." He nods. "You a car girl?", he asks. "My dad used to be an F1 driver", I state. "He drives a Hennessy Venom GT". Nick's eyes grow wide, his jaw dropped practically to the floor. I laugh, loving that someone finally understands how cool it is that my dad has that car. "Have you ridden in it?" He asks. "Please." I scoff. "I've driven it on the track". Now he looks even more shocked. "That's so fucking sick. That's my dream". I smile at him, "Well maybe you can come down to the raceway with me sometime", I offer. "Is it too soon to say you're my best friend?", He asks and I laugh. "Because seriously, you may have just taken Matts spot".
"Don't worry. I won't tell him", I joke. We get in the car, and head to the restaurant. My phone dings over and over, and I know exactly who it is. I just don't want to answer because if he hears another guys voice he will freak out for no reason. We meet Matt and Scarlett at the restaurant, sitting down at a table, and now my phone starts ringing. Nick looks over to me, nodding to my phone. "Shouldn't you get that?" He asks. "Yeah.. probably." I answer, putting the phone to my ear.
"Hey Fred", I say.
"Why are you ignoring me? Where are you?" He asks.
"Sorry my phone was on silent- ." I lie and Nick looks amused by my statement, smirking. "-And I'm at a restaurant with some new friends from school."
"You scared me. Keep your ringer on." He says. "Yeah, sorry. I'll talk to you later, okay? Love you." I say.
"Yeah bye." He hangs up, and I slowly lower the phone from my ear. "Psychotic boyfriend?" Nick asks.
"He definitely can be at times." I nod. "Ah- so does he go to our school or?.." "No, he's in law school." I say and Scarlett laughs. "Fitting", She says and I lift my brow. "I'm sorry?", I say, waiting for her to explain.
"The dress, the pony tail, the overboard of pink." She says.
"Was there a point you were trying to make or are you trying to prove that you have eyes and can see what I look like?" I say sarcastically, making Nick's hand hit his mouth, desperately trying to hold in his laugh. Yeah bitch, I can have an attitude too. "I think I just lost my appetite." She says.
She gets up from the table, walking away and out the door. "I should probably go before she rips my head off". Matt mutters, standing from his seat. "Sorry she can be a little.. outspoken. I'll see you guys later", Matt leaves the table, and Nick still looks completely shocked by what just happened. Everyone always underestimates me and treats me like shit because I'm nice, but I don't put up with it for long. That girl had it coming.
