Close Quarters

Room key

The dormitory building never seemed as intimidating to Juno as it did at this moment. She gulped down a breath of anxiety, letting out a sigh.

"This is it... I'm really here..."

...No. This was definitely something to be more excited about.

"...I'm really here!..."

Her mood began to lift, a smile creeping onto her face as she puffed her chest in confidence. She smiled excitedly, her tail wagging behind her as she stepped out of her car and grabbed her bags. She now had a backpack over her shoulder and a duffle bag in her hand. She turned to face the building, looking up at it with a firmer smile as she tried to stay confident and optimistic.

"I can do this. Of course I can... All I need to do is go collect my key and head on up. Just gotta make a good impression."

She nodded firmly, adjusting the backpack on her shoulders and lifting her duffle bag off of the ground by its handles. She took a step... and then another... and, soon enough, made her way to the front door of the dormitory building. 

With a small squeak of the hinges, Juno took the handle of the door and pulled it open, stepping inside. The main lobby had welcomed her with the smell of lemon-scented cleaner and shiny, polished tile floors. To her left was a counter, a canine woman sitting on the other side of it, typing away on a keyboard. She looked up at Juno and gave a welcoming smile, lifting her posture to greet her.

"Hello, I can help you over here," The woman at the counter beamed, folding her hands together on the desk's surface.

Juno approached, setting her duffle bag on the floor as she smiled back at the woman.

"I'm assuming you're here to move into your dorm?" The woman tilted her head a bit, a friendly demeanor to her expression.

"Yes, ma'am," Juno nodded politely, a smile on her face at the uplifting mood, "I've come here previously to decorate my room a little over the summer, but I'm here to stay now."

The woman gave an understanding nod, turning her head to her desktop and clicking a couple of things before returning her gaze to Juno.

"May I get your name?" The woman questioned, her fingertips hovering over the keys as she prepared to search the database for Juno's information.

"Juno Maverick."

...

"Thank you," Juno beamed, taking the small key into her palm and giving the woman a nod.

"Of course. Come see me if you need anything, yes?" The woman at the counter replied.

Juno found a sort of comfort in the way the woman spoke. It made Juno feel comforted, like she belonged here; like everything would be okay.

"Yes, ma'am," Juno agreed, her tail giving a small wag. She grabbed the handles of her duffle bag and lifted it off of the floor, turning to walk towards the stairs.

"Have a good day."

Juno felt uplifted, confident this was going to be her best year yet.