Twenty-First Century Twilight; A Fanfic

Chapter 1 Day One

I studied the map of campus that they'd sent me in the mail and tried to orient myself. It seemed I was near the biology lab, not near the English room. I hurried down the darkened sidewalk as a light drizzle slowly seeped into my clothes. It had been raining all weekend, into Monday and my first day of college. Of course it was raining, it always rained here.

Finally making it to class, with minutes to spare, I found an empty spot and set up my laptop, though I kept it closed because I doubted we'd use it on day one. My nerves began to settle as I sat there, waiting for the professor to begin. More and more students filtered in and I felt better about almost being late. This wasn't so bad. I could do this.

I was acutely aware of the fact most of my fellow students were probably fresh out of high school, while I was in my late twenties. I tried not to judge myself because I felt anyone could go back to school, no matter the age, but when it came to myself, I felt out of place.

"Pst!"

I looked around and found a blonde guy leaning toward me from two seats back. No one sat between us.

"Wanna be friends?" He whispered loudly.

I blinked at him, taken aback.

He got up and weaved between desks until he sat beside me, to my left. "I'm Mike."

"Uh, Bella." I said, wondering what was happening.

"Today's my first day, you?" He asked as he pulled out a notebook and set it on his desk.

Wasn't this a freshman class? "Yeah, me too."

Another guy, this one with jet black hair and large headphones over his ears. "Hey,"

"Hey, Eric." Mike said as his friend sat. "This is Bella."

"Cool." He said, giving me a friendly smile. "You from around here?"

I shrugged, not sure how to answer. "I grew up here, but I've lived out in Arizona for the last little while."

Mike seemed extra interested, while Eric looked down at his phone. "What's Arizona like? I've been here my whole life."

"Hot. Dry. Everything's dead." I explained, though right then I was missing the heat. "Here, everything is so green and alive."

Right then the professor began his lecture and we faced forward, eager to start our first day of college.

At Eleven, I found myself in Psych, sitting beside a woman with pretty curls and a busty chest, which she revealed with a deep V'd blouse.

Taking a note out of Mike's handbook, I made the first move. "Hi, I'm Bella."

She looked over and smiled, curls bouncing. "Hi, I'm Jessica. I love your hair."

"Thanks, your eyes are nice too." I said, referring to her elaborate eye shadow.

Her face lit up. "Thanks, I worked like really hard on it."

"It shows."

We chatted until the professor began and then paid attention, at least I did. Jessica kept looking down at her phone. I wondered who she was texting, but it was none of my business so I didn't spy.

"Hey," Jess said, catching me as I packed my laptop up after class. "a few friends are getting together this weekend, if you want to come?"

I tried not to look as excited as I felt. "Yes, definitely."

We exchanged numbers and I couldn't have been more elated. I'd left exactly zero friends behind back home- well, back in Arizona. I'd spent too much time taking care of my childish mother. All I'd done was work and sleep, but now that she had Phil to take care of her and keep her in line, I was off the hook.