Keeping Memories

Chaper 1- The Arrival

Gazing at the piles and piles of cardboard boxes, I begin to panic. It's been less than an hour since I arrived at the uni halls and already, I wish I was back home in Manchester with dad, watching 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' whilst he flicks carelessly from page to page in the newspaper. Since mums death, he's took up the roles of both parents. He's good at it too, he knows how to keep me calm when things got rough and helps me tackle every obstacle that comes my way... well right now I feel like I've ran head first into a wall. I didn't want to leave him, and I know he didn't want me to leave either.

I enjoyed living in Manchester, I could walk out of the front door and already I would be able to see my school, the corner store and Liam's house. Luckily, the university halls I am moving into have a spare dorm room just next door to me, meaning I will be seeing Liam even more than I used to. He's tall, with hazel coloured hair always combed back into a perfect, gelled quiff and a good strong build. Despite the fact that he was my first kiss, I've never looked at him as more than a best friend. Don't get me wrong, he's a catch but he's also a player. He has this aura of mischief which hangs in the air whenever he's around, which seems to attract women from left, right and centre .

Shaking my head, I snap back to reality. He will be here in about half an hour to go out for lunch and I haven't even began to unpack yet. Both of Liam's parents left at the same time my dad did and as soon as we'd said all of our goodbyes, we both separated off into our dorms to investigate our living arrangements for university.

My halls of residence are just like I had expected them, on each floor there's a medium sized kitchen with 2 big refrigerators and 6 cupboards. I intend to keep most of my snacks etc. in my room as it's the one thing my older cousin warned me about. Riley is 23 in a few weeks and she attended Uni in Leeds when she was my age, so when I got offered a place here, in York she's the first person I went to for advice. The actual halls are quite long, and the one on my floor has 3 rooms on either side so I'm guessing there's 6 students moving in today. Much to my displeasure, my room is in the middle of the halls and therefore right in the centre of the commotion. The room itself is amazing. I have a double bed, a desk, 2 shelves and a small window overlooking the whole campus. Originally I had planned to move into the cheaper halls where there was a shared bathroom but despite the extra cost, my father had insisted that I moved into the ones where I get my own bathroom and a small walk-in wardrobe.

Tearing the bubble wrap to pieces, I unwrap the large full-length mirror that is leant up against the mass amount of belongings I have brought. I look a mess. After a 2 hour drive, I look absolutely bedraggled. My hair was carelessly tied into a messy bun this morning, so as I pull out the bobble, waves of chestnut coloured hair gather around my shoulders. I've never liked the way the colour of my hair makes my eyes look even greyer and duller than normal. My lips look pale and my skin looks dry but I don't have the energy to find my makeup bag.

Earlier, I had the caretaker drill a nail next to the desks and shelves where I plan to hang the mirror. I wish I had put more time into my outfit this morning, as I suddenly feel quite self conscious about my plain black leggings and baggy grey jumper. Maybe I can make a better impression tomorrow. I shake my head at myself, and slip into my favourite brown boots before grabbing my keys and leaving the room.

Half an hour later ..

It's been half an hour since I was supposed to meet Liam in the kitchen to head out for lunch but there's still no sign of him. I came here first and waited a while but when he didn't arrive, I decided to check his room which was unlocked. I enter to find all of his boxes unpacked and him missing. Nobody else has arrived at the dorms yet and I can feel the anxiety kick in the minute I hear the door handle turning.  My heart starts hammering and I clutch my sweaty palms together, in my head I mutter a quick prayer to myself.