Theories of Insanity

2 | Orientation

2 | Orientation

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

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Insanity:

Expecting to enjoy myself more leaving New Student Orientation to go back to an apartment with a surprise guest.

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The next day began three days of New Student Orientation, and to be honest, I skipped everything after lunch on Tuesday. I was more interested in finding my own classes and making sure I could get from one end of campus to the other without actually dying than in learning the background of every single building and statue at the entirety of Legered University.

            Also, 'university' is a hard word (1) to type. I've tried like eight times now and I have to think about every letter every time I type it. What a rip off.

            Anyways.

            After lunch on Tuesday I decided to head back to my apartment, which was a nice long 15-minute walk from where my little NSO (7) group had been eating. There were two flights of stairs to even get to my building in the first place, so I was pretty much dead by the time I swiped my ID in the card reader and opened the door.

            Ashley was in the kitchen setting up her gluten-free toaster—something I never knew gluten-free people needed, so you learn something new every day—and I walked in and smiled politely. The weird thing about meeting new people is that I was never sure exactly how close we are after something embarrassing happens—like, are we cool with each other? Are we cordial? Do we automatically have permission to ask invasive questions and act like we're siblings? I had no idea.

            I was about to put a bagel in my own (non-gluten-free) toaster when I felt a buzz in my pocket and got out my phone, feeling my heart skip a beat as I looked at the message.

            "Who's that?" Ashley asked, smirking as she saw my expression. "Do you already have a boy lined up?"

            I rolled my eyes.

            "Not exactly. This guy named Peter was on a mission trip to my city back home and he's going to Legered this year, so he's just asking me about NSO."

            "What did he ask you?" Ashley asked, "I have to live vicariously through this until I find a cute guy to ask me about NSO."

            I laughed and read the Instagram message out loud.

            "'Hey, what group were you in? I was in green but I think I'm ditching after this. Are you going to the party on Thursday night?'" I couldn't help but blush slightly. "Is he asking if I'm going because he wants me to go?"

            "Definitely." Ashley replied eagerly, "He so wants you to go. Tell him that you're going! I'll even go with you if you don't want to be too weird."

            "That would be great." I replied, starting to type. "Thanks!"

            "Anytime," She grinned, "And be warned, there's a guy in your room right now."

            I raised my eyebrows.

            "What? I thought that was against the little rules that they sent us a letter about."

            Ashley shrugged.

            "Technically guys are allowed to help us move things into and out of our rooms during move-in and move-out weeks, but he's been in there with Madison for at least two hours, so I doubt there's a ton left to move in." (3)