City Lights

Chapter 1

College is supposed to be fun.

It is supposed to be a new beginning , another chance.

Having lived all my life in a small family where change was unacceptable and the people were too rigid just didn't budge well with me.

My parents always expected me to be the perfect child, you know, the same old thing as others but I was nowhere near their expectations.

No I wasn't a wild child , I didn't party every weekend.
Hell I didn't party at all but I wasn't a nerd either.

I mean I loved to read books but that was different. Fiction had always fascinated me, how the human mind could work to create complex characters, each having their own lives and still affecting others, it was all so exciting for me.
I guess this-

"Ouch" , the sudden pinch of pain in my right arm brought me back to reality .
I looked around and saw my dearest friend Anna shooting daggers at me.

"What?" I asked feeling annoyed.
"You're thinking about him again, aren't you ?"
"No" having said that I turned my head away , not wanting to get caught talking in between the lecture.

I started drawing random shapes and symbols on the back of my textbook, not at all interested in what was going on in the class.

Class seemed to be going on forever .

When I had taken up psychology as my major in university, I hadn't expected it to be this boring.

I loved psychology and human behavior had always fascinated me but somehow Mr. Smithers had managed to make it all a headache for me .

Mr. Smithers was our psychology professor.
He was in his mid 50's and had little to no hair on his scalp.

He was babbling on about 'bipolar disorder & its effects'.

Just as I was about to bang my head on the table, I felt my phone vibrate and quickly grabbed it before Anna could.

"EARLY SHIFT TODAY , COME BY AT 7:00"

Great.
Just what I needed to make my day better.
I groaned and finally hit my head against the table.

I worked in a local coffee shop, just across the street from my apartment.

I loved my job and Mrs. Reed, my employer was quite generous with the money but sometimes it was all such a drag.

"Renee" someone whispered .
I turned my head to the right to see Arthur grinning at me .

Oh god, not again please .

"Will you please please go on a date with me ? "

Okay, so don't get me wrong .
Arthur was quite a looker alright. He could get any girl he wanted with his grey eyes and dazzling smile but I was just not interested .

This was the third time this month he'd asked me out and it'll be the third time I was going to refuse .

I sighed.

"Look Arthur , you're really nice and all but I'm just not interested"

"I know , but I'm not asking you to be my girlfriend, all I'm asking for is a date.
Is it too much to ask ?" He said , running his hands through his dark hair.

I gave him a blank look, not at all sure until Anna nudged me and nodded her head at me and giving me a look as if challenging me to deny.
She'd been trying for a long time to get me a boyfriend.

I sighed again.

I guess one time won't hurt.

"Okay" I said and I swear his eyes lit up like fireworks on the Fourth of July.