Scarlett
I have a love-hate relationship with freshmen orientations. On one hand they're helpful because you get to learn about the campus, and not look like an idiot on the first day by walking into CHEM 100 when you're supposed to be in PSYCH 100, but on the other hand, it cements the idea that classes are really starting. Like in two days I'm really about to be sitting in thousands of dollar classes in order to get a piece of paper without a real guarantee of a job.
Freshman orientation is almost over. So far I've seen the chemistry building, music hall, School of Business, the main library, the student center, and a whole slew of other buildings that I really don't know the purpose of, but were important enough to be included on our student-led tour. It seems like everyone in my small group already knows each other because they haven't stopped conversing. I'm not one who craves attention but I also hate being ignored, and that's exactly what they have been doing to me since this tour started.
"Okay, guys that's the end of the tour. Feel free to continue looking around campus, and good luck to everyone on Wednesday." Our tour guide waves us off and leaves. The group of old buddies all walk off in the opposite direction, leaving me alone under a sad looking willow tree. I pull out my phone and pretend to be texting someone so I don't look as pathetic as I feel.
"Hey, Scarlett, what's up? I haven't seen you since the party." Lauryn says while jogging up to me. I quickly put my phone away, so she can't see my black screen.
"Hey, nothing much....just texting...my friends because I have those." Damn, could it be any more obvious that I'm currently friendless?
"Well that's fun I guess."
"Yep," Awkwardness hangs in the air.
"Let's see if we have any classes together. That would fun." She takes the schedule that I've been holding since I got it and compares them. A disapproving frown forms on her face.
"Damn no classes, not even PSYCH 100." She passes the schedule back to me. Her phone dings and after looking at it, she says, "Hey I have to go. The family needs me. You know how it is. See you later Scarlett." And with that Lauryn leaves, leaving me standing alone under the weeping willow.
I could head back to the dorm and lay in bed eating pop tarts like I've been doing almost every day since I got to Everett or I could stay under this tree. Either way, both options are depressing and frankly way more pathetic than I'm used to.
I'm better than this.
I decide to just leave the campus altogether and explore Boston a little more. The city is beautiful and I should probably learn more about the place I'm going to be calling home for the next nine months.
As I'm walking to my car, a guy stops me. My serial killer senses are on high alert, but they quickly settle when I get a good look at him. He's tall, dark skin with a low fade and some of the whitest teeth I've seen besides Lauryn's brother. He's talking to me and I realize that I've just been staring at him instead of listening to him. It's not because he's super attractive and I don't know how to act around fine specimens of men (which is 100% true), but it's because he's the only other black human being I have seen on this campus thus far. I am ecstatic. I feel like I just met a mythical creature. He is a beacon of hope (read: black) in this blizzard.
He's handing me a sheet of paper and I take it still not listening to a word he's saying, but I should probably try to listen.
"The first one is in about half an hour. I know it's short notice but I saw you and knew you had to come."
"So this is going to sound really bad but I have no clue what you're talking about. Where am I going?" I'd follow this man into hell if need be.
Tall, Dark and Handsome laughs. "Basically a black student get together at Marshall Hall."
