A First for Everything

Chapter 1: A Beginning

Looking up at the campus dorm building my heart begins to race. The fact that I am here finally sinking in. My long, light brown hair whipping in the wind. Taking a deep breath to relax my nerves I pull the folded piece of paper out of my hoodie pocket. Looking down at the sheet I read my dorm number, 302.
Taking another look up at the looming building I harden my resolve. Holding my head up high I head for the door. Inside is quite nice for a college dorm building. Complete with an office, small study hall, and commons. Down a hallway to my right are the elevators and stairs that go up to the dorms. There are only a few people milling about as I head for the stairs. Counting myself lucky for only having one suit case I climb the three flights of stairs to my floor. Opening the door out of the stairwell I keep my gaze down at the floor. Which is way I don't notice the person coming out of the elevator. Taking a step into the hallway we collide. Dropping my bag, the piece of paper, and my cellphone in the process.
"Shit. sorry." I say reaching to pick up all my things.
"Its okay I wasn't paying attention either." A guys voice says from beside me. Looking up I see a tall, good looking guy. Short, styled brown hair. Friendly green eyes and a small smile.
"The names Hunter."
"Oh ah Hi Hunter. I am Ava." I reply unsure how to really react.
"Sorry again. I was so focused on trying to find my dorm." I defend,
"No worries! To make it even let me help you find it." Hunter offers and I just nod. Grabbing my phone and my piece of paper off the floor I hold out the paper. Hunter eagerly grabs the paper and reads it.
"Your not that far actually just down the main hallway and then take right and the first door on your left in that hallway." Hunter explains and I just nod again. Making friends is not on my agenda. To be honest I would prefer to make it through college without making a fuss at all.
"Thank you Hunter." I state to be polite before I start down the hallway again. As I go I notice a set of footsteps behind me. Sneaking a glance back I see Hunter.
"I am heading the same direction." He says with a sheepish smile. Rolling my eyes with a smile I turn around and continue. Turning right I stop at the first door on the left. Just to be sure I knock. I hear a voice and then some shuffling before the door flings open. Standing there is a girl just a little taller than me. Her platinum blonde hair is up in a bun. Her glasses halfway down her nose exposing her chocolate colored eyes.
"Are you my new roomie?"
"Yes I am Ava." I reply with a smile. The girl looks me up and down then gives me a big smile.
"Good you are perfect. Names Victoria, Tori for short. Come on in I put new sheets on your bed and cleaned everything. I also made a spot in our bathroom for your stuff." At these moment Tori notices my very tall,dark and handsome shadow.
"Oh Tori this Hunter, Hunter this is my new roommate Tori." I introduce them and very gracefully sneak past Tori. Dropping my suit case on my bed I look around my new home. Two twin beds, two shelves, two desks, two dressers, and the on suite bathroom. Small but cozy and manageable. Looking back to the Tori I find she has meandered into the hallway with Hunter. Happy to have avoided the drama I pull my phone out. Checking the time I find its about 4:30. Great I still have to stop by the campus book store to rent my books for the semester. Being as its the Friday before the semester starts its now or never. Opening my suit case I unzip my secret pocket and check how much cash I have left. Just enough for tuition and that is it, credit card it is then. Pulling out my small backpack purse combo I toss my phone, wallet, and dorm key inside.

Taking a peak out the door I see Tori and Hunter still hard at it farther down the hallway. Quietly I sneak around the door and hurry down the hallway. As much as I want to get to know the both of them better I don't want to be a third wheel. Heading for the stairs I speed walk to the door and rush down them. Getting back out onto the sidewalk in record time. Pulling my schedule that conveniently doubles as a map of campus I am off to find the book store. I make it to the fountain in front of the main entrance when I see a cafeteria. Looking down at my map I search for the cafeteria. Finding I see that the bookstore is in the cafeteria. Happy I finally found it I rush inside. Getting in the door I see tables everywhere full of people roughly my age. I look around and see the large sign for the bookstore near the far back wall past the food counter. Starting that way I zone in on my destination, worried about not making it in time. Half way across the cafeteria a commotion starts on my right. The sudden loud noise throwing me off guard making turn my attention to said commotion. It is a group of people all getting loud about something one of them said. Now it is escalating to a shoving match between some of the members of the group. Annoyed I got sucked into something so childish I turn away to keep going for the bookstore. As I move past the large rowdy group something shoves into me hard from their direction. Colliding with the chair to my left I got down hard reaching out my arm to catch myself. As I land a stabbing pain shoots through my wrist and I curse the grandchildren of whoever just shoved me. Turning to unleash  all of the nasty words I have in my arsenal I freeze. Standing there with eyebrows crinkled in concern is a Grecian statue made of true beauty. Tall and toned in all the right places, hiding only enough to keep you guessing. His hair somewhere between liquid sunlight and fresh wheat. Long on top, buzzed everywhere else, and kept in a neat bun at the back of his head. His eyes the same color as the afternoon sky on a summer's day. His face full of concern as he extends his arm out to help me. Standing up without help I turn to him.

"Are you okay?" He asks and his voice moves through me in  wave. Deep and smooth I want to hear him to talk to me all day.

"Yes I am fine." I say and then abruptly turn and rush towards the bookstore hoping to avoid more social contact. Shoving my bad wrist into my kangaroo pocket on my hoodie I make it to the counter in the book store. The attendant looks at me with concern as I rush in but she does not ask me any questions.

"I was told I could rent the books for my classes here?" I ask her.

"Do you have your schedule?" She asks in a monotone voice. Pulling my schedule out my pocket I hand it to her. Taking it out of my hands she starts clicking on the computer on the counter. Then after a few seconds she walks off with my schedule. Assuming she is grabbing the books I turn and look around the book store. They have a decent variety but I rather go to the nearby library. Thinking about all my classes and what I still need to get done before classes start I bit my lip in thought. Standing there zoning out I don't notice the attendant come back. She clears her throat and come out of my thoughts,

"Sorry about that."
"It will be $430 to rent all of the books you need for the semester." She states. Yikes definitely more than I thought it would be. However there is no way around it I need the books. Pulling my wallet out of my purse I grab my card and swipe the charge. While the attendant puts the books in a bag for me I inwardly groan. I really need to find a part time job quickly or I am going to be in debt fast.

"When you return the books bring your receipt or we will not take them and you will have to buy them." 
"How does that make sense?" I ask and she just walks away. Completely stunned at her attitude I turn around and walk absently out of the book store.

"Ava!" I hear someone yell. Searching in the direction of the yell I find Hunter and Tori in the middle of the cafeteria heading my way. Shoving everything in my small backpack I meet them halfway.

"I am sorry I ran off on you guys I just really needed to get these books before class on Monday." I say with a small smile.

"Its okay we all had our chance to get the books you didn't. Anyway Hunter invited us to their dorm party tonight." Tori says with a large smile on her face. 
"Well I wanted to get settled-"
"Oh come on you can't stay in on your first night on campus. Unpack tomorrow, tonight we party." Hunter pouts  and Tori gives me what seems to be her best attempt at puppy eyes. The tightness begins in my chest thinking about being at a party.

"If its your first day on campus we insist you come to the party." I hear another familiar voice say. Turning to my left I see the Grecian statue from before. Seeing  him now he is nearly a foot taller than me and somehow hotter. He joins our little group in the middle of the busy cafeteria.

"Plus I owe you for before." He says with a small smirk.

"Oh no really I just want to-"
"Rowan use puppy eyes!" Hunter jumps in with. Rowan immediately understands and shifts from a smirk to puppy eyes. My heart sinks when I see it. I recognize it, the true sadness that makes the look work so well. Looking into his eyes I find they are now a deep ocean blue, darkening with the shift in his face.

"okay" I blurt out my mouth moving faster than my brain. Inwardly face palming myself I nod in confirmation. What do we not get about no friends, no drama, just school?  Getting lost in thought again I think about all the ways tonight could go wrong. 

"It is settled then, see you tonight," Rowan says with a small smirk before turning and leaving our little group to join his original one. Hunter and Tori chit chat behind me as they search for an empty table  to sit at. Rubbing my thumb over my sore wrist I follow them not knowing what else to do. As I sit down Tori says,

"That is Rowan Meyers by the way, like you started a year late. Despite that he is one of the most popular Sophomores despite his asshole demeanor."

"He is really nice once you get to know him I hear." Hunter defends,

"Well I don't know him therefore he is an asshole, on that note be careful around him." Tori states and I could not agree more. He is the exact visual representation of trouble and exactly what I do not need at the moment.

Note: Avoid hot Grecian statute at all costs Ava! I add to my inner to do list with a nod of my head. It is the only way we are making it through college in one piece. 

"Well Ava tell me about yourself!" Tori asks,

Only half paying attention I give her all the basics. The other half still solely trained on a certain blonde two tables away.