Evelyn

Evelyn - Chapter One

8.00

That was the time.

The time where the sun had already began to peak over the houses on the opposite side of the street. The time where I helped my dad carry my suitcases to my car. The time where as I went to my room to collect the last box, I looked back and realised how much I'd miss my home. The time where my sister, Olivia wrapped her arms around my mum in an attempt to comfort her. The time where my mother stood at the end of the drive, tears

running down her face, blowing her nose with an old hanky.

"Mum calm down I'm only going to Uni." I reasured her, cupping her face in my hands and brushing her tears with my thumbs. I'd like to say that I had to bend down so she didn't have to crane her neck to look at me, but sadly I hadn't grown much yet, and I was still a measly 5"6. She didn't reply but only nodded and continued to sob as I embraced her in a hug. I pulled away and saw Olivia open her arms out to me. As I gave her a weird look she just said, 'Come here loser!!" and tackled me into a short cuddle.

We all turned as my dad closed the boot of my car, causing it to make a loud slamming noise which travelled around the whole street. He walked towards me and patted my back. I tried to prevent the tears errupting from my eyes, and smiled whilst jumping into the front seat of my Mini Van. I started the ignition and waved my last goodbye to my family.

"Remember..." my dad started. "No drugs, alcohol or smoking. Okay?"

I nodded in response.

"Behave yourself Charlie!" Olivia taunted laughing throught the open window.

"Oh, I will!" I replied through gritted teeth. I had no plans to be expelled from university anytime soon.

I gripped the wheel and reversed out of our driveway, the humming of the engine calming me and putting me in a relaxed frame of mind. I tried to forget about leaving my family, for real this time. I had been on plenty of school trips away from home, but only for 4 days at the most, this was a trip on a whole larger scale. As well as dwelling on my past I started to think about all the new memories I would make, and how although I would dearly miss my parents and Olivia, this would be a great new start. All I needed to do was actually make some friends that weren't the teachers unlike in primary school. My street was so long that I watched the house numbers go from 34 to 127 in less than a few minutes. I pushed a button on the dashboard and sound filled the small vehicle, lightening my mood instantly. I sang along trying to pass the time as quickly as possible.

"'Cause it's too cold, for you here and now, so let me hold, both your hands in the holes of my sweater".

Although the ride from London to Southend -on-sea was only an hour long, I wanted to get there early to unpack my things and explore the campus, which much to my dismay, ended up taking a lot longer than expected due to a car crash. I watched sadly as the oddly coloured cars crept along the motorway, observing the unlucky escapees of the battered metal disaster. Two small girls, no younger than 5, no older than 12 stood with there father as people in yellow hiviz jackets which read 'Ambulance Service' on the back, carried out what looked like their female guardian on a stretcher, into an ambulance.

***

I pulled up to Warmsmede University and parked in the student car park. I got out of my burgandy mini van and closed the door, careful not to make an obnoxious sound while locking the doors.

A girl with short dark brown hair approached me, she was wearing a white polo shirt with the letters WU in large capitals in the right of her chest. She wore a pair of navy blue shorts and white trainers. She looked like the universities mascot, only less hairy.

"Hi, welcome to Warmsmede University. My names Maddie and I'm helping everyone move into their dorms today. What numbers your dorm?" she asked. She came across very welcoming, but extremely hyperactive.

"Uh, 308" I replied, trying to sound as polite as possible, although I was itching to see my room and meet my room mate, everything else seemed boring.

She exclaimed in delight once she found my name on a long list of 'new students' she had on a clip board as if she was a bouncer at an A-list party. "Your dorm is over there" she explained whilst pointing to a block of what looked like apartments. "First floor, head straight ahead and it's on your left!"

"Thanks" I said sincerely, following the directions the brunette gave me.

The room was very minimilistic, and small was an understatemement. There was a bunk bed on the opposite side of the door and a couch next to it, which looked like it had been bought at car boot sale. A large suitcase occupied the bottom bunk and some energy drinks stood on the, what could almost be called, kitchen counter. I closed the door and stared at my own reflection. Whoever was here before me had already hung up a cheap full length mirror. It looked freshly cleaned, so I could clearly see my white three-quarter shorts and navy blue polo shirt hugging my small, wimpy frame on the other side. A quiet 'bang' ricocheted through the cardboard thin walls as the bathroom door behind me slammed shut.

"Ay-up mate, how are ya?" Asked a guy around my age. He had blond hair and was about half a foot taller than me. His green shorts rode a lot higher than mine and he sported a white vest top that high lighted his highly toned arms. His accent made me assume he was Australian.

"I'm good thanks. You must be my room mate?" I replied.

"Jonah." he answered holding out a hand. "You must be Charlie, correct?"

"Correct!" I confirmed, taking his hand and giving it a timid shake. I immediately started unpacking my suitcase and organising my clothes into the three drawers we has been supplied with.

"Not much space is there?" Jonah asked, noticing I was having a little trouble cramming everything into the small spaces. "Had a lil' trouble myself but I got there eventually!"

I smiled and grabbed my keys. "I'm just going to fetch some off my boxes."

He nodded and I made my way through the door, leaving the stuffy dorm and my room mate behind.

By the time I reached my car, there was a lot of students pulling into the car park creating a small traffic jam whilst there was a large queue forming around the tables where people got there dorm keys. The boot popped open and I picked out two boxes full of random belongings. Making my way to my room was a lot harder than before, I had to knock on the door with my foot to prevent dropping the boxes and breaking everything inside.

"Hey, again!" He greeted.

I put them down on the counter and sighed in relief. "Hey!" I replied, swinging round to see my room mate and a strange girl sat on his bed. She had long dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

"Hi I'm Evelyn! I've heard a lot about you, you know the five minutes I've been here!" Her white vest top flowed freely at she stood up.

"Hey! Jonah didn't really mention anything about you." I replied. Shaking her outstretched hand.

She turned to face him with furrowed eyebrows. "May I ask why our little friend here hasn't heard anything about me?"

"He was only here for five minutes!" He protested. "We barely had time to talk!"

"Well. Let's get to know each other then, shall we?" she suggested.