Outcasts in Love

This Is Me Trying

I arrived at my new home, the college, around 6pm. All the buildings were made of classic red brick, all in unison, all identical. Heading straight to get the keys from the office, I juggled my many bags of luggage around the campus, scanning each sign in sight, hoping to spot the correct building, my building... or for the next few years at least. The campus was completely deserted, after all it was summer break. Eventually, as I turned to face the campus grocery shop, I spotted in my peripheral vision a sign that stated 'Dorms 124-180'... I'm dorm 126!  After half a dozen trips up and down the winding wooden stairs, I made it. I flung open the door, throwing all my bags into the entry way without a care in the world, before making my way to the raised bed in which I lay until morning. 

The summer had flown by in the blink of an eye. After just under 2 months of doing nothing more than setting up decorations, making the dorm feel more homely, and working my ass off in 3 jobs to provide for the baby,  the first day of school had rolled around. My regular routine of working on the tills in Walmart through the day, being a waitress at night, and on Sunday's babysitting for one of the church families had come to a halt. I kept my waitress and babysitting job of course but it was time to replace scanning barcodes for highlighting textbooks... and my god it was stressful... 

Firstly, to kick things off, today was the day my fellow students would move in. These were complete strangers in which I didn't know anything more than their name and what they were going to study. Two girls, Harley and Kate, are studying art. They'd arrive whilst I was in class as my lecture times are different to theirs. I hope we get on. The other girl, Dorothea, was studying English Literature too. I was very nervous to meet her. What if she doesn't like me? What if our opinions clash? So many questions, so many nerves. I couldn't sleep at all that night, leading me to the next issue off the day...

I HAD OVERSLEPT!!!

I could have sworn I set my alarm for 7am... surely I had. But no, either Alexa misheard me or I said the wrong thing. It was set for 7pm. My lecture started at 8:30am and I didn't wake up until just gone 8! Typical! I knew I should have double-checked but oh well, it was too late now and I had to get up and ready. 

In a mad rush I swiftly brushed my hair and pinned it in a bun with the claw clip I had abandoned on my side table. Trying to avoid making a mess, I dabbed concealer under my eyes and brushed a light coating of mascara onto my lashes, attempting to look more awake. I threw my covers over my bed, presenting them neatly, quickly ran the hoover round the apartment, and grabbed a croissant from the kitchen on my way out. As I made my way to the lecture hall, I knew I was going to be late.

I stumbled in, clutching my books and binders to my chest, hoping that class hadn't yet begun...

"... My name is Professor Knox but you can call me Anna-"

... it had.