Accidental Always

Chapter 3

The first day of school arrived quicker than Ashley had anticipated. She had awoken at what she thought was early, only to discover that her alarm hasn't gone off, and she had less than an hour to be to orientation, and get to class.

Throwing on her clothes and grabbing the backpack she'd luckily had the foresight to pack and set out the night before, Ashley put her hair in a low bun. Snatching a cardboard box off her easy chair that held her tools and other random parts, she was able to rush out the door, and fortunately caught a cab.

"SanFransokyoInstituteofTechnologyplease!" Ashley rushed out as she ran/climbed into the vehicle, making the driver, an older Hispanic gentleman, chuckle.

"Right away. Is this your first year?"

"Yeah," she answered, watching out the widow as they pulled away from the curb.

"Nervous?"

"No..........okay, maybe a little," she admitted.

"Dont worry mija, you'll do fine. My daughter went to school there, and was so anxious, but after her first day, she loved it. Even met her sweetheart there. "

" Aww.What did she major in?" Ashley smiled, some of her tension draining away with the easy flow of the conversation.

"Hm, cyber security and software programming I think it was."

"Wow, congratulations. What's she do now?"

"She works for the FBI, one of their top agents." He said proudly. "What are you majoring in?"

"Um....biochemical engineering and robotics."

"Wow, well...." he said, driving up to the school and parking. "Buena suerte, mija."

Ashley began pulling out her purse, but he stopped her. "No, no, you owe me nothing mija," he insisted.

"Are you sure?" She asked, searching his caramel eyes, hand frozen in her backpack, clutching her wallet.

"Si. Just get out there and be extraordinary."

Ashley was easily able to find her way to the front desk, giving them her papers, and anxiously waiting as she tried really hard not to tap her foot.

Finally the woman emerged from behind the desk, giving her directions to the robotics lab, where she was supposed to find her professor, who would help Ashley find her lab space.

It wasn't that hard to find, considering, but her heart was pounding, anxiety skyrocketing. She was able to locate Professor Callahan, who greeted her with a pleasant expression, but with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Ashley could relate. She knew what losing someone felt like.

Professor Callaghan led they way through the robotics lab, where several other students were chatting, as they worked on a variety of projects.

"Most of the students share lab room in here," the professor gestured to the purposeful but disorganized pandemonium, "but for some of them, we can make accommodations. Reading your file, I recommended for you to have your own lab space."

They went through a door on the opposite side of the room, and then down a hall, where professor Callaghan stopped in front of a door. Unlocking it, he pushed it open.

"This will be your lab. I will be by occasionally to check your progress, and your projects will be graded at the end of each term." He stuck out his hand for Ashley to shake. She adjusted the box in her arms, and shook it.

"Welcome to San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, Miss Shields."