Bloom

Chapter-3

Stella

I'm wide awake prior to when my alarm goes off, filled with zeal and exhilaration as I get out of bed. My outfit is already laid, neatly ironed, splayed across a chair in my room. It's a lilac dress that hits the middle of my thighs, it reminds me of my sister, she would love it.

However, like I had planned today was a new beginning and I promised myself to leave my past where it belonged- in the past and not think of anything that would ruin today for me. I stop wondering about the stuff that would nag me all day and head for the bathroom to freshen up.

After brushing my teeth, showering and peeing, I knot myself into a robe and eat cereal for breakfast. The kitchen counter is a white marble with grey swirls fading in all over it, I'm sitting across it on the island with a bowl of cornflakes and juice. Sometimes it's depressing and exhausting to sit alone or to watch TV by yourself, even in this huge alluring apartment I feel lonely.

Later, I sit in front of the dresser curling my out of control hair into soft knots at the ends and apply a little makeup which I'd rather not use but since it's a big day I decide otherwise and get dressed.

I have practically planned this day in my head since I was thirteen, I prepared myself to be eligible enough to get into my dream college and here I am grinning so hard, only a small race against time and I would be living my ambitions.

Living in a world where your education determines your identity and worth, it was my key concern to make a name for myself; homeless and hungry all I thought was to pursue studies and it became my primary focus. Studying kept me from drowning in the swirls of my past, it gave me a distraction from my sad life and because I understood how hard life on streets is, it gave an even stronger purpose for me to at least be able to have a decent meal with my own money, which I could only earn if was qualified.

After years in a shabby-shallow life of poverty and living like a jungle freak, I put in all my time and hard work to reach here, and for that I'm beyond proud. Cherry and chirpy, I claim myself to be looking very elegant, staring at the pretty dress that fits wonderfully on me.

I pick to tidy up my apartment in the little spare time before I have to leave. Once the clock strikes 7:45, I grab my car keys from the hook and my bag from the table, winking at myself as I take one last glance at myself in the mirror before locking the door behind me.

***

The ride to college is fast as I park my new Impala in the lot. I sling my bag around my shoulders and head to English class, which will be my first class of this semester.

I know every nook and cranny of this maze called UCLA, since I have taken the tour countless times. I had fallen in love with the massive campus when I saw it for the first time and ever since I adore its beauty. Everything around me is moving, the corridors are so fast and busy, the sound of people chatting is deafening. I feel alive somehow, in the middle of this frantic and fussy vicinity of a university-maybe I finally found where I belong. Euphoria gushes through me as I scramble through the swarms of people to my classroom.

Reading books is not my suit but I still opted for Literature because it's just something I always wanted to do; talk and learn more about the roots which drive the world- words. I just felt genuinely connected and happy when I first read Pride and Prejudice, it reminds me of something I will never have and someone I will never be, however I lived to be that person as I fled through the pages.

Imagination was my hope at a dark point in life, where I would believe myself to be a different person who would find the meaning of life, search for love and chase after my dreams but that is not me, I was always and still am grounded. I guess I will never let go off that imaginary me, since it gives me some hope still and holding on to it makes me want to change into a better version of me, a happier and freer Stella.

I'm exactly on time when Mr. Greene greets everyone with a warm smile as I take a seat in the third row. The feeling of jitters is gone and I'm as elated as a dog with two tails would be discussing Hardy, still the fact that I have no one to share my joy with, stirs a hole in me.

Art class was fun and boring at the same time, Mrs. May told me that I have a wonderful hand in painting which made me blush. Walking through the dorm section where I have to deliver some stuff to my partner in the upcoming art project, I hunt for number 34 when this drunk dude appears from nowhere.

I freeze where I am, looking at his deep brown eyes. He has a face which no one could forget, a perfectly chiseled jaw and beautiful features; full, sculpted, pink lips, a defined nose and thick eyebrows, his hair are jet black, unruly and covering his eyes. His body is toned and the part of his arms visible below his sleeves is thick and muscular, he is wearing black jeans and a matching black t-shirt.

He stops in front of me and I can tell by sniffing alcohol on his breath about how drunk he might be right now. His head lowers close to me as he says in my ear "Like what you see?" I shrug- his words, his essence, it's so overwhelming. I'm unsure of how to reply to that but there is no doubt that I like what I'm seeing, how can a person be not mesmerized by him? I bite my lower lip.

"I bet you'll be great in bed." He abruptly throws himself at me, trying to get a kiss but I manage to shove him away from me. He stumbles back at a distance and pouts but just as he is going to do what he just did a few seconds ago again, he latches on to me. Having the advantage of perfectly alcohol-free working brain I take a few steps back, dodging him before he can pry on me, with the lack of someone to brace him he loses his balance and collapses on the floor.

"Asswipe!" I murmur to myself and leave the scum lying alone on the floor.

***

I'm sitting in my living room later that night and think of how I made a fool of myself by thinking that the guy was handsome, he was a desperate son of a bitch with a face of an angel. He doesn't deserve the attention of any girl after what he did, I swear if I see him again his head won't be where it was before.

I found exactly what I feared would happen once I get into college- douchebags hitting on innocent girls. These guys think all girls are whores, always ready to fuck. Sorry to break it to them, I'm not one of those girls- who would serve themselves to unknown horny men on a silver platter.

Other than that, I had a blast, my first day of college was as I always dreamed of. Perfect. I learnt a few new things and Maya, my partner in the art project was nice to me, she might be the only friend I've made in a decade. It was the slightest sense of independence and determination I felt that gave me a sign college was good news.

Change was always something I feared, every change I have had since I was child never ended up being good. The topic of change was always sensitive and emotional for me, but I could already see that college was going to be the death of darkness and the best change I would be having till yet for me.

I don't feel like getting up so I lie down on the living room sofa, its eleven when I end another episode of How I met your mother since. I close my eyes and before drifting off to sleep, I make a mental note to avoid any contact with idiots like that guy and focus and devote as much as I can on studies.

What is his name? Maybe what happened had an explanation? It could be a misunderstanding, couldn't it? But he was so hot and beautiful. My subconscious echoes between my dreams.