A New Beginning

Chapter 1

ATHENA PARKS

I was sitting on a bench nearby the deserted campus. The warm autumn breeze caressing my cheeks, the soothing sound of the rustling leaves, the smell of fresh and unpolluted air and damp soil was all so harmoniously well blended with what was in front of me. The simple and yet fabulous view was too wonderful to even exist on earth. The lake, almost full of red, orange and yellow leaves was indescribable. It was as if I was seeing autumn for the first time...but I was, wasn't I? I looked up to the brown golden branches; it all seemed so symmetrical and perfect. Maybe I was giving it too much credit but this was definitely one of my favourite places on the campus now. This place was like a window to my comfort bubble, peace and quiet.

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath as I tried to relax. I turned my attention to the large bluish door of the university. To be honest, I was scared to get in. It was as if the sooner I got in, the sooner I would be back to reality. Goodbye to this imaginary world I felt so comfortable in. I wasn't brave enough and I just stared at the door for a while. A voice in my head whispered, "You wanted to come alone...they were begging you to let them accompany you at the airport. Why didn't you accept? Look at you now...pathetic on a bench...too terrified to get through a door." I shook my head in response to the voice. The only reason I didn't let my parents come with me was only because I had to do this alone. Get some independence. Was that too much to ask? I made it to the unknown airport and managed to get a cab to the campus. I was already proud of myself.

A few more steps...a sudden cry interrupted my chain of thoughts. A beautiful girl, tall and with brown and softly curled hair. She had gorgeous green eyes, which matched her lovely dress. She was with her mother, was beauty normal here? I wondered as I looked down to my jeans and comic con shirt. Better not look at my feet...my old, favourite baskets were nowhere close to those boots the young girl was wearing.

-Let me go mom! She wailed.

"Don't envy her now..." said the voice back in my head. "It's your fault you came here alone."

-I have to do this myself. I gritted my teeth as I focused back my attention on the girl.

Her mother muttered something, which was incomprehensible to me. However, the young girl's

reaction could already make me guess.

-Thank you mom! I love you! See you this weekend! I'll be fine, I promise.

She kissed her mother's cheek and skipped to the door, her suitcase rolling behind her, her bag on her shoulders. If only I could get a shot! That girl had the perfect main character appearance, so typical! It felt like living in a movie but this was only the first few seconds. By the time I would have reached for my camera to snatch this moment, it would have been too late...

With a sigh, I got up from the bench, took a last look at the majestic sight and I followed the girl behind the door. "You got this! Remember, new is always better!" said another voice and I smiled. Pushing the door, I entered and I suddenly realised why I had been hesitating to come in for such a long time. The place resembled the administration in my high school...bringing back some painful memories. I shuddered.

The walls were of the same beige colour with a few chairs along the side. In the front was a large desk divided into two parts, each one had a receptionist. I looked around; it was crowded with students, like me. I recognised none of them and I was grateful. Fortunately, I would find no one from my high school to spread gossip. "A new beginning." I thought, releasing a breath I wasn't even aware I was holding.

I inspected the crowd, as I queued up behind the green dressed girl to the administration. Behind me had just entered a tall blond boy, again, was handsomeness something usual around here? I could feel heat creeping up my cheeks as I quickly turned away from him. In the corner of the room was another boy. He was tall with dark brown eyes; he was dressed simply compared to his high class parents with whom he was talking. It was as if they were planning a battlefield. Feeling my gaze, he turned around and smiled at me. Was it at me though? I looked at him incredulously, the girl in front of me smiled nervously back at him. "Ah..." said the voice in my head, "That looks about right."

I looked down to my feet, playing with the wheels of my suitcase waiting for the receptionist to call out my name. When she did, I was too dreamy to even hear her. She called me several times and it took me a while to realise that I was the one she was calling. I ran to the office table. She was the kind of person who looked nice but was mean. I was used to it as my luck was always priceless. The green dressed girl, as predicted, got a much sweeter receptionist whom I heard her ask, "Are you stressed honey? Don't worry, everything will be fine. First years are always..." and I stopped listening. The receptionist in front of me didn't say a word and just gave me a map and the key to my assigned student house before shouting out loud, "Next!"

I got out of the administrative office and opened the map to find my way to the house. Thanks to my amazing orientation skills, I managed to get lost a few times. It felt like I was turning in circles. In my defence, all I could say was that all the buildings looked the same! Wandering a bit more around, I finally found the house! On the outside, it was less scary than I thought it would be...it was clean and well maintained...no clothes hanging or drunks around, like my dear mother had specifically warned me about. The structure of the building was somehow welcoming. There were large windows and a big white front door. It was more stressful to get in than the administrative office. I climbed up the stairs...did I have to knock and wait outside? It was easier not to, so I just got in. The door was already open.

Inside...was not what I had expected at all. Nothing my sweet loving mother had described. It was strangely clean...The kitchen was luminous and with blue green cabinets and table island. The different rooms were open, there were no doors separating them. It looked exactly like movies, which made my heart thump with excitement. On the extreme left was a large brown couch and a small coffee table facing a gigantic tv. It was a huge black screen, which seemed larger than the dark brown dining table. I looked up and saw the most beautiful diamond chandelier ever. Was I in the right house? I wondered.

The sound of high heels footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts as I saw a young woman coming towards me. She seemed like a second year student. One thing for sure, she was absolutely fabulous! She looked like a model...and somehow like Barbie. Typical Barbie features; blond hair, blue eyes, glossy pink lips...even her clothes said so, with her pink and purple skinny dress and high heels so high that I would have fallen countless times before making it to the door. Before she could say something, a knock came from behind me and I realised that I was frozen by the doorstep. I got in the house to get out of the way.

Then I realised that it was the tall brown-eyed boy I had seen at the office. He went to the Barbie girl and pecked her on her lips, ignoring me completely. I smiled to myself remembering a few lines from "The Big Bang Theory" " Sheldon: Woman, you're dealing with forces beyond your ken. Penny: Well your Ken can kiss my Barbie." However, the guy didn't have "Ken" features at all with his dark hair. Nevertheless, he looked at his girlfriend the same way some jumpy girls would crave for. His girlfriend however paid no attention. I pitied the boy, I guess he hadn't realised that he was just a pawn out of the large seafood bowl of his girlfriend's world. Her eyes focused on me, she snapped,

-Athena Parks?

-Yes that's me.

-Great, here is your room key; your roommate is already settled.

She said, giving me a bright key with a huge number five printed on it.

I didn't even thank her, she seemed like a nightmare dressed as a daydream. I went upstairs searching for my room, finally a silvery number five nailed on a dark blue door caught my attention. "Please...not her, not her..." I said to myself several times. As usual, I was rewarded by my unfortunate luck; the green dressed girl in the office was already unpacking her clothes.

-Hi! She said, I'm Bree Cooper.

-Athena Parks. Nice to meet you. I replied, shaking her hand.

Thanks for reading! 

Until next time!