Rumors [H.S. FANFICTION]

Chapter 1 - Orientation

"Connie? Are you home?" I heard Brielle say through my front door. "In here!" I yell back.

I hear Brielle's feet run down the hall and toward my bedroom. "You're not even ready?! We have to go!" She said angrily. Shit. It's 10:00 am.

"Con, freshman orientation starts at 10:45! You have 5 minutes to get ready or I'm leaving," Brielle threatened. If she left, I'd have no way of getting there. My car isn't starting, so I'd miss it.

I jump out of bed, and walk to my bathroom as fast as possible. I just need to brush my teeth, throw me hair into a top knot, and throw on some clothes. Once I do what I needed to in the bathroom, I rush to my closet and grab a pair of Nike leggings, and my University of Maine t-shirt. I run downstairs, grab a banana, and signal to Brielle who is sitting on my couch staring at her phone that I'm ready to go.

"Finally! You need to start waking up at a decent time or you'll never get through college," she stated.
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College starts in two weeks and I'm not even near ready. Brielle and I just moved into apartments parallel to one another about a month ago, and she seems to be my safe haven. The only reason I'm not extremely homesick. Graduating high school in a small, homey town and moving to a university is a big change, especially for somebody like me with anxiety and all. Life is hard when you constantly worry about every little detail in your life.

My anxiety worsened after my dad passed away three years ago. A part of me feels like I could have saved him, and that everlasting guilt constantly puddles in my heart. Alcoholism can be prevented, and treated and I feel as if I was never a key motivator for him to recover. Instead, i lost my best friend to a heart attack after 7 years of suffering from alcoholism and congestive heart failure. He's always on my mind. Everything I do, I do for my papa.

My life will continue to be as hard as it was the moment I walked into my house to find my father, lifeless in his recliner. I know I will have struggles and anxiety during my college career, but I hope that success will come my way, and guide me toward a happy life.

Anyways, enough blabbering. Here's a little about myself.

My name is Constance Juniper and I'm 18 years old. I come from a family of religious, but very accepting people and I am one of 3 girls. My sisters Delilah, 26, Molly, 14, and I. My mother, Tammy, remarried about one year ago to a man named Paul. Paul is kind, but I'm too old to take him in as a father figure. I had 15 years with my dad, and nobody will replace Will Juniper. He was one of a kind.
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Connie:

As we pull into the parking lot at the admissions office, I feel myself getting nervous. College is so close.

"Bri, can't you just get the paperwork and bring it to me after the orientation?.." the thought of meeting new people terrified me. The anxiety was pulsing through my veins, and I had to calm myself down. Breathe Connie. Breathe.

"No Connie, you've got this. We've already driven all this way, and I'm sure as hell not walking into this without my best friend." She's right. You're going to be fine! You need to be brave. Other people can do this with no problem.
I smile at Brielle as she grabs my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. "Now let's go before they start without us!"
There's a long line of freshman entering the office doors, and Brielle and I had to wait for almost 45 minutes. During that time, I scoped out the misfits in the crowd, wondering what their life stories were like. A girl with purple hair and cuts on her arms. Her story could be anything from physical abuse to wanting attention. You never know.
Finally we enter into the chilled building and find an advisor to speak with. Her glasses were way too large for her small, bony face. "Hello girls, who shall I get started with first?" The kind eyed woman said. Brielle and I make eye contact as she says, "Connie can go first," in an encouraging voice.
"Very well," the woman said. "What is your name dear?"

"Um.. my name.. It's Constance. Constance Juniper." That wasn't so bad. The advisor begins typing my name into her desktop and smiles when she finds my name. "Wow, a full ride scholarship. Well done Constance!" She smiles. Straight A's all through high school really did me justice. My mom wouldn't have been able to afford to put me through college out of state, and if she couldn't pay, I'd be up to my shoulders in student loan debt.
The advisor hands me some paperwork to sign, as well as a complimentary lanyard for attending orientation. "As soon as you fill this out, you can make your way into the northern auditorium for the freshman presentation. Are you planning on living in dorms?" She asks. "No, thank you." I smile. She nods her head and I stand up to start walking to the auditorium. Brielle still had to fill out her paperwork for meal plans and what not, so I decided to use the restroom while I waited.
As I walk into the restroom, a red headed girl bumps into me. "Watch where you're going!" She snaps at me. Oops. She decides to brush past me harshly as she exits the bathroom.

What a rude, rude girl. Have your parents not taught you anything about manners?

When I finish using the restroom and make my way out the door, Brielle is standing there waiting for me.
"Ready?" Brielle asks in a soft voice. "As ready as I'll ever be," I joke back.
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The presentation wasn't long, but I had a hard time keeping my eyes open. Bri and I decided to get some Chinese take out and head to my place for a movie. "B, are we going in? Or are you just going to go order and take it to go?" I ask out of curiosity. "You're going to go in and order our food. I'll be right out here," she scandalously smiles. Damn it Brielle, you know I hate interacting with people.
I roll my eyes and get out of the car as my heart starts to pick up it's pace. I was never like this before my dad passed away. I loved people, but ever since he left me, I can't help but fear them.
Just order, and get out of there... I think to myself.

As I walk in, the smell of delicious food hits my nose. There are many people sitting at tables enjoying their meal as I walk through the carpeted aisle to reach the front register. "Hello," a young girl proceeds. "What you order today?" She says in her noticeable accent. I smile and say," uh.. j-just a moment please.."
I'm nervous. Why? This is so easy! After a whole minute of trying to get the words out of my mouth, a young man behind me taps me on the shoulder. "I usually go for the #3. The curry chicken is delicious," he says kindly as he shoots me a dimply smile. "Yeah.. yeah I'll take that.." I smile back at him nervously. As soon as I see the number come up on the screen, I dig through my wallet for my debit card. As I look up, I notice the young man behind me reach his arm around me to hand the worker his card. "No, really I can pay!" I say to him in a shocked voice. "It's no problem, erm-" he says in his lovely accent implying that he does not yet know my name. "Connie." I say. "It's no problem Connie." He grins. I graciously smile and walk to the side to wait for my order to be called. "Order for Connie," I hear and rush to the counter. I take my bag and walk out of the restaurant as fast as possible.
"Looks like everything went well in there," Brielle says as she smirks. "Did you get his number? I could see him pay for our food through the window."
"No.." I quickly say.
He was so kind. So handsome, and so kind.

After daydreaming on the way home, I realize that I had forgotten to order Brielle's food.
"Brielle! I forgot your food!" I gasp.
Brielle starts cracking up as she tries to say "it's- it- it's okay." I'm a horrible person
"We can go back," I say to Brielle in an emotionless voice. She quickly replies, "you've had enough interaction for one day. You need to take and nap and dream about your lover boy," she says as she winks at me.

I didn't even get his name......