A Piece of Haven

6 - "Ich bin sehr glücklich, hier zu sein."

     I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I walked down the corridor of Kidder Hall.  My first ever college class was to start in fifteen minutes and I was all but prepared.  I had finally made it to college.

     I reached my classroom quickly and found a seat in the second row.  It wasn't one of those god awful lecture halls, of which I was thankful.  The room was of medium size and decorated with a few posters on the walls with german sayings. 

     Only a few others were already in the room and they paid me no attention as I took out a pen and notebook, still smiling from ear to ear.  That might actually be why they were ignoring me.  I probably looked like a furless version of the cheshire cat.

     A woman in her early forties walked into the room not long after me and started to write on the white board behind her.  She was obviously of german descent, with light blond hair piled on top of her head, blue eyes, and sharp facial features.  She was wearing a white ruffled blouse tucked into a bright red skirt.  She was beautiful.

     Soon the room was filled and the clock on the left side of the room struck eleven.  The professor turned around from the board and clapped her hands together a few times to get everyones attention.

     "Hallo, everyone.  And welcome to my beginner's German class.  I am Ms. Brauer.  It is a tradition in this classroom to introduce yourselves as well.  We will start with you, sir.  Ich heisse ..."

     Around the room it went.  Some introduce themselves with smiles and others with a roll of the eye.

     "Ich heisse Haven," I said on my turn, then added, "Ich bin sehr glücklich, hier zu sein."

     Ms. Brauer looked impressed, but said nothing as she nodded her head for the student behind me to speak.  I was still smiling like a fool.

- - - -

     I was starving by the time class ended.  My stomach actually growled during the professor's speech on course requirements.  That sent more stares my way than my introduction did.

     Hiking my backpack over my shoulders, I journeyed toward the cafeteria which was unfortunately nowhere near me.  Going to my car first would only take longer with traffic and parking.

     I only just got out of the building when I heard shouts.  Turning my head, a girl with honey brown hair and carmel skin bounded toward me waving her arms around like a swarm of bees were after her.  I stopped in my trek toward food and waited, curious.

     "Oi!  Hold up!" the girl shouted twenty feet from me.  I hadn't moved.  A closer look revealed she had been in class, towards the back.

     She finally reached me and rested her hands on her hips, breathing hard.  Her cheeks were flushed pink from exertion.  I raised my brow at her in question.

     "Buggar!  You're fast, you know that?" she exclaimed, still catching her breath.  I was hungry, so yeah.  Nonetheless I smiled at her.

     "Sorry.  What'd you need?"

     She reached into her back pocket and brought out a purple cell phone.  "You left this."

     Surprised, I patted down my pockets to find they were all empty.  I looked up at the girl again in gratitude as I reached for the phone.  "Thanks.  You just saved me a lot of trouble."

     The girl chuckled, finally breathing normally.  Her wavy hair fell around her round face, but she batted it away.  "I'm Jasmine."

     "Haven,"  I said with an awkward wave.  We both started to walk again.  "Thanks again."