Caught In Your Chaos ✓

Chapter One

After being in a shell for the entirety of my high school, I didn't know how to be a perfect freshman in college. On top of that, my writer's block had hit me hard. After months of trying to juggle writing, school, and college applications, it just didn't work out. But that wasn't the cause of my anxiety- It was the monstrous university we were pulling over that had my palms sweaty and brain working overtime to fit into the scenario.

The College Campus looked awkwardly silent, although the surrounding was as mentioned in the brochure. I joined a week late, nothing looked welcoming to me, and the butterflies in my stomach weren't helping either. My fellow freshers might have already made their connections, and I again had to go through everything alone. Maybe it was not bad, and no one would notice me, perks of being skinny. According to my mom, I might as well be invisible. I missed the orientation and all the necessary instructions given to the freshers. So, I was a little intimidated when I stepped through the big entry gate of the college.

"Amy! Have you checked the directions to your dorm?" My mom shouted from behind, dragging two trolleys towards the empty college pavement. It was a Sunday afternoon. Students might be either dozing off in their dorms or were outside the college campus.

"I think we are on the right track," I replied, checking in the campus map and trying my best to sound confident. I'm the ignorant type; my mom always puts up that characteristic of mine in public display. I looked at my dad, who gave me a knowing look.

My mom, by then, was anxious, and she was looking everywhere to assert my knowledge. "I hope you get a decent roommate. I don't want any negative influence in my sweetheart's life." she frowned. There she went again, the same overprotectiveness which sometimes drove me crazy.

"Mom, please! Can we not make it a big deal," I gave her an annoying look and walked ahead of her. "It's not like both are in the same building."

My dad knew when to handle the situation because he came soon trying to catch up with mom. I could see some sweat dripping down his temple. It was March, but the sun was not helping, and he was carrying the big trunk. I didn't have any idea what my mom put in that. Was she packing for my permanent settlement? As if I wasn't returning home after each semester.

"Honey, I think we should ask someone." My dad added, scanning the campus for possible help. Taking a few fleeting seconds, I observed the campus, and my mind lit up. I was finally going to start my college life, and California State University was where I always wanted to be. The thought excited me. There couldn't be a more eventful setting for my story to take place. I made a mental note to jot it down once my dorm was set up, which would go up till evening.

"I'm scared to leave you all by yourself, " mom said, frowning at me. She sometimes overdoes it. I saw my dad trying to wake up the guard who was sleeping. What could you expect from him on a Sunday afternoon?

"Yes, I can take you there," I was going to respond to her, but a voice grabbed my attention.

I saw the guy my dad had sought help. He was in simple blue jeans and a white polo t-shirt, walking in our direction. He had brown hair and wore spectacles; he looked more like a nerd but adorable with that not-so-build physique. He appeared friendly.

"Umm...Yeah," I replied hesitantly, not sure if he was a new joiner like me or a senior. I didn't want trouble right away, not when my parents were there. "Do you visit girls' dorms often?" This time my mom asked him.

"I'm also new here, but I took a tour of the campus," he said with the most genuine smile. Was he that well-behaved or pretending? My thoughts were back.

"So you do intend to visit the girls' dorm, maybe in the future." My mom commented, not forgetting to give hidden warnings to the tense guy beside me. I swear to god my mom should have been back home as soon as possible.

I gave him a sheepish smile, "Don't mind her, by the way, I'm Amy, freshman year." We started walking towards the dorm, led by the guy who suddenly looked happy.

"Elijah, freshman year." He responded with a wide grin, which soon turned into a hesitant frown with my mom's comments.

"So you both may have the same classes."

"Y-Yes, maybe." the poor guy stuttered.

"Mom, can you drop it already? He is also new here, and you don't have to say the obvious."

The rest of the walk was silent, only a few glances between poor Elijah and my parents. He gave a few highlights of campus and the other details he received during the orientation, only to receive my mom's calculative looks. He was having a tough time with us. And just as I thought everything got sorted, my eyes fell on him.

The fact that he wasn't alone didn't even cross my mind. Like a magnet, I got attracted to his dark raven curls that covered most of his forehead, and his sharp cheekbones with defined jawline were too tough to ignore. The way he was looking at the girl pressed up against the wall of my dorm- somehow heated up my face. One of his hands was beside the girl's head, and if his well-built body was not very visible due to the hoodie, then it very much was through the rolled-up sleeves. The way his veins popped out of his arms that were caging the girl had me captivated.

The girl was trying hard to gain more of his attention as he talked on the phone. But he was more into the conversation on his phone than the girl caged up against his body. I didn't know for how long my eyes were busy scanning his every feature and his every move. He had me charmed in a way I had never been before, and the possibility of experiencing something new thrilled me.

I could hear the muffled voices behind me, but all my mind zoomed in at that moment was the way his lips moved while he talked, and that smirk, that spine-chilling smirk- screamed of trouble.

"Amelia Swan Henderson! Can you come back to Earth?"

I was indeed in great trouble.