la campanella

one

      accompanying music for this chapter: plus tot - alexandra streliski

I had always been awful at pumping myself up. You'd think with all my experience moving I would have found a way to squash my anxiety about meeting new people. But it never gets any easier - it almost always got harder, each new place just a renewed struggle to make friends and present myself in the best way possible.

Standing on the stone steps of Fox Hall, I felt all at once unprepared - and a bit queasy.

"So, you're the new girl?" A leering voice brought me out of my head and I whipped around to face them.

Languidly, an olive-skinned goddess was both sun tanning and judging me from the front lawn. Her legs, that seemed to stretch on for miles, were perfectly bronzed and her skin seemed to be soaking up every ray of sunlight twinkling off of her. She wore a bathing suit in bright obnoxious orange that lent itself perfectly to her complexion.

I don't understand how she's sunbathing in the fall. Although it was admittedly hot for September, there was still a faint chill in the undercurrent of the air. I don't dare question her.

I realized suddenly that I still hadn't answered her question, "... Yes?"

She sat up from her beach towel, crossed her long legs and stared at me the same way a cat might.

I stared back at her for a moment, although it became quite obvious she wasn't going to jump up and give me a warm welcome, I was still expecting some sort of an introduction – even if not a friendly one.

"I'm November." I offered after a long moment of silence, attempting to spark some sort of reaction from her.

"Great. You don't have to bother me, just go on ahead. I'm sure you can manage to find Dan inside." Her tone wasn't completely rude, just decidedly impassive.

My brows furrowed despite myself as I turned back to the door. Her words left me feeling a bit stung.

Yet, despite my roommate's icy introduction, the house itself made me feel more welcomed. The building was laced with bright green ivy that contrasted nicely against the turn-of-the-century brown and white brickwork of the house. The front lawn was lined with short, well-maintained hedges, and large patches of green grass on either side of the entry pathway. From the front of the building, it was also obvious that there was a rooftop patio.

It was extremely charming.

My anxieties seemed to shrink as I admired the aesthetic characteristics of the building. Until the girl spoke again, "Are you waiting for the door to open itself? Don't they have door handles where you're from?"

I couldn't help but snap out, "I'm Friday Harbor."

The girl stood from her beach towel with an exasperated sigh. Once standing, I could better see how tall and well-proportioned she was. As a fashion student, I couldn't help but picture her gliding down a runway. She had the physique for it. She nimbly brushed past me and pushed open the front door with a bang.

"New girl is here. She's got a weird calendar name and she's from Washington."

Instantly my body flushed with heat and I rushed through the open door after her. My suitcases followed behind me, banging loudly as I tried to hurry up the remaining porch steps.

Before I could even get my bearings, a young man was bounding to greet me at the bottom of the stairs. He outstretched a hand and wore a large friendly smile. I accepted the handshake, attempting to muster the same energy and enthusiasm.