Starting Fresh (On Hold)

Chapter 2: Destination

Have you ever felt like a little fish in a big pond? Because right now, I feel as though my heart is going to explode as I get out of the taxi, whilst clutching my suitcases. There are about 1000 or more students bustling around with their parents and siblings, going to their residence halls.

"McKinley Residence Hall, 6th floor, Room 625," I whisper to myself as though I have not read this sheet of paper over and over again.

My mom and sister could not afford to fly with me, so here I am standing here, unable to move.

"Excuse me! Earth to girl?" A girl with short blond hair with red streaks exclaims, waving her hand in my face. I snap out of my trance and focus my attention on her. She's about 5'4, wearing an off the shoulder tie-dye crop top and jean shorts. She has a nose ring and Ray Ban sunglasses on.

"Oh, um I...I can't move," I say, wanting to burrow my hand into the ground. She's the first person I meet and I am staring at her like a deer in the headlights.

"The first step is always the hardest but anyway...where are you rooming?" She asks smiling slightly.

"McKinley, I don't even know where to begin, all of the buildings look the same!" I say nervously, trying to calm myself.

The girl grabs my arm and I aimlessly follow her, weaving through groups of incoming students. We finally reach a brick building with white columns that resembles Ancient Greek architecture.

"Here we are, frosh. Go through the right door and the elevator will be straight ahead!" She exclaims and walks away before I can thank her.

She seemed nice I guess, except for calling me frosh. I wish colleges would come with a better name like F-men or something.

Anyway, after walking up and down the 6th floor, I find room 625 as well as two names scribbled on flower post-its. The first one says Rebekah and the second one says, Gemma. I opened the door and see a girl with sleek straight strawberry blond hair, she's probably about 5'8 and looks as though she stepped out of Teen Vogue magazine.

The room is pretty spacious for a dorm room for three people, one bed is against the wall behind the window, the second bed is parallel to it, and the third bed is on the other side of the room against a wall, facing the window.

"Oh hey! I didn't see you standing there, my name is Rebekah, but everyone calls me Rebe (pronounced Ree-bee). You must be Gemma or Elise?" She asks, extending her bright pink manicured hand to me.

"I'm Elise and It's nice to meet you," I say, shaking her hand and putting my bags on the second bed.

There are mini dressers under each bed and a built-in closet that takes up most of the room. It is separated into three sections. I start to unpack and hang my clothes in the closet.

"Where are you from? I'm from New York City" Rebe asks, organizing her clothes by color, in an orderly fashion.

"I'm from San Diego, CA," I say, continuing to get my clothes and toiletries unpacked.

"Oh, my gee! That is so awesome! You must love the warm weather! What possessed you to move so far?" She exclaims, jumping up and down.

"I like the weather but I wanted to get away far away from my family as possible? How do you like New York?" I ask eagerly to find out more about this girl.

Before she can answer, the door bursts open and a girl with the auburn curly hair and tan skin walks in. She has so many suitcases and bags; I'm surprised she could carry it all.

"Hey! Could you help me with these?" The girl says, huffing and puffing her way through the room. Rebe and I take as many items as we can and put them on her side of the room. She plops down onto her bed and rubs her arms.