𝔸𝕕𝕦𝕝𝕥 𝔻𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 // Weston Koury

Class

I finished doing my eyeliner, leaning over the sink to look in the mirror.

It's my first day of college so I wanted to make a half decent impression. I adjusted my favourite top, grabbed my jacket and went out the door, walking to class.

Once I got there I sat down next to some guy with curly black and blonde hair and a nose ring.

"Hey, i'm Sam" he told me to my surprise as soon as I sat down, "I like your jacket."

"Thanks," I smiled, "Your hair is so cool."

He smiled back at me, "Thanks! I did the blonde bits myself, I-"

Our short interaction was cut off when the teacher told us to shut up.

"So, the introduction to this media course is gonna be pretty fast paced.." the teacher started, pacing around the classroom "... So you need to come to ALL your classes. A lot of people think college is a time to drink too much and skip your classes, but you WILL fall behind. Make sure-"

He was cut off by the sound of the door opening, and a guy stuck his head around the door to look in, before walking in.

I looked over to see it was the guy who pushed the door into my face yesterday. The guy from the gas station.

He looked skinny in his oversized green sweater, and I watched him walk across the room and sit down. He pushed his hair out of his face before opening his book and grabbing a pen from behind his ear.

I found it hard to peel my eyes away from him and back to the board, but I did. After a couple of seconds I looked back at him.

Suddenly he looked up and right back at me, and I turned my head away quickly, instinctively putting my hand infront of my face. It was like his sixth sense had told him someone was staring, and he knew to look right over at where the stare was coming from. Me, of course.

Fuck, he probably thought it was so weird I was staring. It wasn't in that way but he probably thought it was.

Another teacher walked in and started talking to ours, so the class started talking louder themselves.

"Hey, what did you say your name was again?" The guy next to me- Sam- asked.
"Oh, it's Anais." I told him, flashing a smile quickly.

"you met many people yet?" He asked me, tapping his pen on the desk.
"You're literally the first person I've met..." I told him "..how about you?"

"I'm pretty extroverted so i've met a handful of people..." He paused. "You mean, you haven't even met your flatmates yet?"
"..Uh no, guess I just haven't run into them.." I shrugged.

——-

As class ended Sam turned to me; "Hey, do you wanna come to my flat tonight? I'm gonna have a small party, just get to know some people more and stuff"

"Uh yeah, maybe." I told him.
"Sweet." He smiled at me, getting up.

"Hey, Weston," he called, walking ahead of me.
I saw that guy from earlier turn around and smile at Sam, saying something I couldn't make out as Sam slung his arm over Weston's shoulder.

So that was his name.

——

As I got back to my flat I heard some voices behind the other side of the door, and I took a deep breath before opening it.

The talking suddenly stopped.

"Hey!" Sam looked up at me from where he was sat on the couch.
I smiled at him; "Oh hey, wait, you live here?!" I asked.

"No, no, my friend Weston does," He replied, gesturing across the room.

I looked over to see that guy from earlier leaning on the counter.
"It's you!" He said excitedly as soon as he saw me. "Hey, we've met right?"

"Oh, no, I just have one of those faces." I laughed nervously. "A common one, or something."

"Familiar, yeah," Weston replied, looking at me with his head turned a little. "Common? nah."

The way Weston looked at me made me want to disappear into a hole in the ground. Pretty boys always made me feel that way, but it was amplified with Weston as he was the first to really look at me.

Sam got up to get a coke from the fridge, whistling as he tuned out of the conversation.

"Well, what's your name?" Weston asked, walking over and standing what felt like pretty close to me. Something about the way he asked that felt rude and invasive but I just couldn't put my finger on why.

"Anais," I said, wishing I didn't feel so nervous. "I uh, yeah I think you're in my media class..". The worst part about feeling anxious, is the fear that other people could tell how anxious you were. As if nervousness had a stench that everyone else could smell, and that stuck on you exactly when you wanted it not too.

"Yeah but, it's not just that.." He said, squinting at me. Suddenly he felt even closer.

Why didn't I put on my perfume today? Then i'd smell of vanilla, not anxiety.

"Yeah... well.. I need to go so, i'll see you guys later.." I said quickly, turning and walking out of the room to my bedroom before they could reply.

Once I got to my room I locked my door and slid my back down it.

How was it day two here and I was already feeling this socially anxious around someone? I thought I would be leaving behind all my feelings like that when I moved here and started a new chapter in my life...