𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜 | 𝚓𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚗 𝚙𝚘𝚘𝚕𝚎

✩

7 Years Ago...
University of Michigan
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𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐯.

I was a bundle of stress,confusion, and nerves as I hopelessly navigated the campus in search of my Chemistry building. Despite my desperate attempts to follow the campus map, I found myself walking in circles, utterly lost.

My irritation deepened as I observed other students effortlessly finding their way, their memories of orientation guiding them with ease—a luxury I seemingly missed out on. Though I attended orientation, I lacked the help of a roommate or friend who could have made this transition smoother.

My attempts to communicate with my roommate were met with silence; her blank stares and quick departures left me to fend for myself in this brand new environment. The clock's relentless march only added to my irritation, transforming my tardiness from bad to worse. As the minutes ticked away, the realization that I was now not just late but extremely late for my 10:30 class at 11:19 weighed on me like a 100 pound weight.

Fuck my life.

"What a way to start my first week..." I mumbled to myself.

Suddenly, a voice broke through my thoughts. "You need some help?"

Startled, I turned to find a tall, light-skinned boy standing beside me. His appearance was striking, from the unique curl and dye of his hair to his almond-shaped brown eyes. His physique hinted at strength yet was complemented by the softness of his smile, which, thanks to braces, seemed on the verge of perfection. And those dimples only accentuated his friendly demeanor.

I blinked a few times, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment, as I nodded in response to the boy's offer of help. "Uh, yes, please," I managed, my nerves evident in my voice. "I can't find the Chemistry building..."

He smirked, correcting my mistake. "Chemistry building? You mean the LS&A building?"

"Huh?" I replied, confused.

He clarified, "There is no chemistry building. Our science, literature, and arts classes are all in one building."My cheeks flushed with embarrassment as I glanced down at the map. "B-But the map—."

"Here's a piece of advice I got during orientation," he interjected. "Never trust the campus map. It's always out of date due to renovations and changes."

"Oh..." I murmured, feeling foolish. "So, where is the building I'm looking for..."

"In the LS&A building," he replied, pointing to the structure right in front of us.I felt a wave of discouragement wash over me as I realized I had been standing right in front of the building I needed all along. How could I have missed it?

"I feel so stupid," I mumbled, hiding my face behind the map in embarrassment.

He chuckled reassuringly. "Don't feel that way," he said kindly. "Trust me, it happens to the best of us. I'm Jordan, by the way. Jordan Poole."

I managed a shy smile as I shook his outstretched hand. "I'm Arielle."

"Nice to meet you, Arielle," he said warmly. "If you need any more help..."

Jordan took my map, scribbling something down with a pencil before handing it back to me. "Either stop by or send me a text, whichever is best for you."

I glanced at the paper he gave me, seeing his number and dorm room address written down. Flattered by his kindness, I nodded. "Okay, thank you."

As Jordan walked away, his parting smile lingered in my mind, somehow lifting my spirits despite my earlier frustration. With a newfound sense of determination, I continued on my path, eventually reaching my class. Surprisingly, as I settled into my seat, a smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

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𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞