[minor editing done on jan 21st '19]
xx
9:50am
los angeles, CA
xx
The trunk closes with a heavy slam and my father stalks up beside me, slinging a heavy arm around my shoulder.
"I guess I'm finally going to have to let you go, huh?" His voice sounds sad, but I turn to see a smile form on his creased face.
"I guess so, dad."
" I love you a lot. Momma loves you too, you know that." He pulls me into that one hug. The warm and suffocating one. The one that indicates we won't see eachother for a while.
I feel like eight-year-old me bidding my dad goodbye before he left for the World Cup all over again. Except it's me leaving this time, and I'm not going international, just leaving for university.
"Yeah, I know." I say silently into his chest, ''Wish mom could've come.''
''Me too, sugar.'' he sighs.
Mom has chronic back pains, a result of overworking herself in her younger years. This morning we left really early and it was a long drive. She was still in bed, so a kiss on the forehead had to suffice.
"And when you come back for Christmas I want to see gold, you hear me? Let me brag about you to them freshman kids."
I laugh, gently pulling out of my dad's embrace. ''You... already do that, a lot.''
''Alright then make me brag some more!''
Dad was my coach back in high school, but before that, he played soccer professionally. I was too young to remember seeing my mom compete but I do remember being at my dad's practices a lot when I was younger.
At the beginning of senior year, I was scouted by an LA Prodigy University representative at one of my track meets and I was offered a full scholarship to join their athletic force.
This university had always topped my list, most major athletes attended this school. But I knew I couldn't afford it. Aside from that, the admission procedure is really hard to get through, so I had to consider myself incredibly lucky.
"I won't hold you up any longer. Be safe, Niobé."
I smile a little to reassure him, "You and mom stay healthy, okay?"
He looks at me with warm eyes, nodding at last. The car engine starts and I keep waving until I can't see his car anymore.
Pebbles screech under the wheels of my suitcase as I walk off the parking lot. I stop in front of the enormous building, heart hammering inside my chest.
I push through the rolling doors. The interior is chic and clean. Beige marble floors, spotless cream walls, and a sickeningly high ceiling. I walk to the student center, vaguely remembering something about having to check myself in at a desk.
"Good morning, How can I help you?"
"I'm – a new student?"
She nods and begins clicking away on her computer.
"Your name, please?"
"Niobé Sadu." There's a pregnant pause and she gives me a puzzled look.
I suppress the urge to sigh, spelling out my name for her instead.
"Sports department?"
"Yes."
I idly let my eyes roam the building again. This sure is a prestigious school. I had been here before, to sign some papers, but I hadn't really looked around then. It smells like fresh paint and something warm and bergamot-ish.
My thoughts are halted by the mechanic noise of a printing machine. I turn back to the desk and the lady hands me a small sheet of paper.
"Here are the directions to your dorm, and here is your card." She also hands me a pass with my name and ID picture.
"This is your student ID. It's for access to your room and certain places in the building such as the gym, so try to be careful with it. If you have any more questions, you can always come back to the student center. We'll be glad to help."
"Okay, thank you," I nod, hoping all this new information would stick.
Mere moments later I wander through the hallways, looking for room B23. More fresh paint and clean carpeting.
After a short while of searching, I find my room. I fumble with my student ID, swiping it across the handle. The door gives a harsh click and swings open.
Okay. Definitely not your average dorm.
I push my suitcase forward, and the further I go inside, the more it starts to resemble a luxury apartment studio rather than a strange-looking dorm.
"Hi?"
I turn to a blonde girl regarding me carefully, she carries a blow dryer and wears a pink robe. Her blonde hair sits flat on her head.
"Oh. I'm sorry, are you my roommate? This is B23, right?"
"Yeah, it is. You're Niobé, then?" She asks, with very accurate pronunciation.
"Yeah, that's me. Hi." I smiled, taking her extended hand with glee.
"I'm Alessandra. Or Alessa. I prefer Alessa." says Alessa, "Oh! You should get settled, the opening ceremony starts in an hour." she beams, making to skip back to wherever she came from.
"Wait, wait–" she stops in her tracks, looking at me questioningly. "When did you get here?"
"Pretty early. I'm not a new student. I transferred from Arts to Sports this semester. So I was able to change rooms early this morning."
"Oh, okay." She's already familiar here, that's good. I have a strong feeling that the first few weeks are going to be a headache. "I'll get settled, then."
Alessa disappears in the bathroom, and I try to unpack some of my stuff until I grow tired of it. We have huge ceiling-to-floor windows that let in tons of sunlight, so I got up to watch the view. Our room had the most perfect view of the track field.
Alessa comes walking back, her hair is now dry and straight and she's wearing a purple sundress.
"Yellow looks good on you. Your skin makes it look like gold. " she compliments very casually. ''When I wear yellow I literally look sick.''
"Wow that's so sweet, thank you, " I smile, "You look really pretty in that dress, and purple is a bit odd on me so I feel like we're even.''
''Vivienne Westwood sales rack girl,'' she chuckles, stroking the fabric down her sides.
"What was your major before? If you don't mind me asking.''
"Make-up arts. I did runway makeup for MiuMiu for a while, but that was really just a lucky accident. The creative director was happy to write a letter of recommendation for me, but I don't think I want to make make-up my career. I'm more interested in sports so I requested a transfer for this semester."
"Oh, so you're a professional professional? You have to teach me your ways, I can't do anything other than all-over the lid eyeshadow.''
"I got you girl." she giggles. "I'm already so glad to have you as my roommate. It was so awkward sharing dorms with my ex-girlfriend."
"Your ex-girlfriend?"
"She cheated.''
''Oh... I'm sorry.''
''Don't be.'' she breaks into a true smile this time, ''That dick must've been out of this world if she decides to let all this go.''
I can't help but laugh. She has very familiar energy, it's difficult not to like her. ''Anyways, let's get going, we've got fifteen minutes to get there and it's a long walk.''
''Okay.''
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