Chasing you | ✓

Chapter 2 - Advanced Engineering

The sun stood high in the sky when I walked through LAX to get to the baggage claim. My whole body felt sweaty, partly because of the heat but also because I was nervous. I had never been this far away from home before, at least not on my own. 

The nervous feeling was mixed with a lot of excitement. 

I looked around at the other people waiting at baggage claim. The airport was huge and there were people everywhere. I couldn't help but to watch all the people and wonder who they were and where they were going.

One girl standing close to me was taking selfies with her phone while wearing a huge sweater like a dress and a huge pair of sunglasses. I smiled and wondered if she was a famous influencer. Maybe she was just bored like the rest of us, but everything around me seemed glamorous. 

You would've loved it here, Cade, I found myself thinking more than once. 

When I finally got my baggage I headed toward the exit where the buses were. I already had a pre-paid ticket—it was a bit of a drive from the airport to the University campus and dorms. 

As soon as I exited the airport, the heat smacked against me like a wall. Despite myself, I started laughing. I couldn't believe I was actually here, despite everything that had happened. It felt absurd.

The bus ride wasn't too bad and it didn't take long until I saw the large campus with old brick buildings appear outside the stained window.  

After a quick welcoming on campus, which mostly consisted of me receiving a bunch of folders and brochures, I entered Fossmore Halls, one of the freshman dorms. To my dismay, my dorm room was on the third floor and there was no elevator in the old building.

After dragging my heavy suitcase all the way up, I finally found my room.

The room was much smaller than I had hoped. There was only one window, two small desks and two beds. 

"Oh, hello," I said, seeing the blonde girl plopped on one of the beds.

The girl I suspected was my roommate had already occupied the bed on the shadier side of the room. Not that it probably would make a difference: the whole room was hot like a sauna.

"Hi," the girl said quietly, looking up from her book. "I'm Leigh."

"I'm Allie," I replied.

I dragged my suitcase to my side of the room and sat down on the bare mattress of my bed. It was firmer than I had hoped. I looked at Leigh for a moment, but she seemed focused on her book.

"Have you been here long?" I asked, trying to initiate a conversation.

"Not really," Leigh mumbled. "Last night. We need to get a good curtain for the window. It's too hot and bright in the morning without one."

I smiled. "Definitely. It's really hot in here. Just let me know when you wanna go look for one."

"Not right now," she said, shooting me a glance. "I need to catch up on some reading."

I nodded and pressed out a smile. "Sure."

I wanted to keep talking to her, but she seemed busy and not too worried about us becoming friends. I finally noticed the book she was reading and my heart sank in my chest. The title read Advanced Engineering for Undergrads.

I couldn't see how we would have anything in common. But it didn't really matter if we became friends or not—I'd be out of here soon enough.

I started unpacking my things into the tiny closet in the wall. The storage space was severely limited and I would probably have to buy some sort of boxes or shelves after my mom had driven over the rest of my things. 

After a few minutes, I heard Leigh sigh behind me.

I spun around as she rose from her bed, grabbing her book and her purse.

"I'm gonna go to the library, see ya!"

I didn't even have a chance to reply before she was gone.