(First Day)
•••••
Melanie pov
Today is my first day at Boston University. I walk along the corridor of my new campus, feeling slightly nervous about the new atmosphere, but mostly excited about this new chapter of life. Jake left earlier in the morning because he had football practice. I can't wait to watch his team plays.
Already liking the air here, I inhale a deep breath, a smile touching my lips. Being a college student brings a new sense of freedom I haven't experienced before. It's like I'm not , entirely under my parents' radar anymore.
Stepping into my first calculus class, I notice that some students are already taking their seats in the lecture hall. I decide to take one of the front rows. Right. I don't want to miss my first lecture. My other classmates may be way more brilliant than I am.
Chill, Melanie. Damn. You're becoming a freak again.
I can't help it. It's normal to become nervous on my first day in college, right?
While I'm putting out my notebook from my backpack, a girl flops herself on the seat next to me. She has a bob-styled short brown hair and a pair of grey eyes, with cute freckles on her nose and cheeks. My new classmate.
She huffs before taking out her books from her backpack. When she opens her pencil case, she looks surprised that she can't find anything she can use to take notes.
"Here." I smile, lending her one of my pens.
She looks up at me with an expression I can't describe, but more like astonishment.
"Thanks." She grins.
"Anytime," I say as the lecturer enters the class, shifting our attention and leaving us nc choice but to drop our first conversation.
~~
The class goes on more smoothly than I expected. The lecturer is good at explaining the module that it's easier to understand but not boring. It finishes after about two hours.
I'm tucking my files back into my backpack when the girl next to me hands me back my pen. "You saved my first lecture," she jokes. "I was such in a hurry that I forgot a couple of things. Been quite nervous, since it's the first day. Didn't want to be late."
I laugh. "Been there." I can't agree more.
She smiles. "I'm Stacey, by the way." She stretches her hand, and I shake hands with her.
"I'm Melanie. Nice to meet you, Stacey."
"Pleasure to meet you too." She breaks into a large grin, and I already like her bubbly attitude. "I'm from Washington, just moved into the dorm. Have you got yours?"
"Actually -" I stumble upon my words, feeling slightly embarrassed to say that my parents actually bought a house here just to accommodate their kids. "I live in a house here, with my brother."
She looks surprised. "That's cool." J just shake my head.
"What are you doing after this?" she asks. "Have you looked into the community clubs?
"Have you looked into the community clubs? They're promoting their booths in Hall B."
"No, I haven't," I say, feeling excited to explore. "Been wanting to join one of them but haven't decided which one is the best."
"Would you like to come with me, then?" she asks.
"Absolutely." I giggle as we slowly make our way out of the lecture hall.
"I've been dying to join the orchestra." She sighs as we walk along the corridor.
My eyes widen. "They have an orchestra?" Excitement builds up inside me. I didn't
join any music club in high school because I focused too much on my studies — but screw that now. I want to make my life to the fullest now that I've made it into the college of my dream.
"Yes, we do have it here," she says, sounding like she didn't expect my reaction. "Do you play any musical instrument?"
"I play the piano," I tell her the truth, and she gasps, making us halt.
"Seriously?" She beams with delight. "That's nice. I play the violin. I didn't expect that from you."
I raise my brow, and she quickly corrects her point. "Sorry. I mean, you look like the cheerleader type. Not the classical music lover," she says, resuming steps again.
"Please don't be offended. You're just so barbie-doll-like gorgeous that people can make such assumption. Have you noticed how many people turned their heads when they saw you? And this comes from me, who just started walking with you a few minutes ago."
I snort, laughing as I walk beside her. I always wonder why people tend to exaggerate it when they call me pretty. Seriously, I've seen many girls prettier than me.
When we arrive in the hall, I gawk at the surrounding. The hall is huge and filled with booths, new students scattered around the place.
We pass some art and literature booths where the seniors are busy explaining the club to the freshmen, and one particular booth catches my attention. It seems that it gives the same effect to Stacey too, because she also stops beside me.
It's the dance club. The thing that makes our heads turn is the video playing on the projector screen. It's one of their dance performances, and what makes it eyes catching is the brunette in the video. She is so enchanting, moving delicately and effortlessly beautiful in what seems to be a combination of ballet and contemporary dance.
She emits an aura that accentuates not only sexiness and sultriness but also elegance. I don't know what they call the dance is, but she makes me want to learn it.
I look around and notice that some male freshmen are already drooling over her, even | the female population. Including me.
In short, I didn't expect that this university had an Adriana Lima who can dance.
"She's Camila," one the sophomore girls who run the booth explains to me, who obviously has been star struck. "She's one of our best dancers. We conduct training and practices every week. Are you interested to join?"
I laugh in disbelief, shaking my head. There's no way that I can become a pro like her. Dancing isn't one of my best abilities.
After politely refusing the offer, Stacey and I continue exploring, passing the booth of the football team. I look for Jake and Vaughn, but they're not around. I haven't seen Vaughn for a week, since he hasn't come to our house again. The football practices have made the guys quite busy.
I turn on my heels to leave the spot, earning a protest from Stacey.
"Geez, Melanie. Can you give me some more time to look at those eye candies?" she jokes, and I laugh. "Are you not interested to know about our football team?"
"I know enough to tell you a novel about them. My brother is the captain," I blurt out, making Stacey abruptly stop in her tracks.
She gasps wildly and grabs my hand to make me stop walking. "Are you saying that Jake Spencer is your brother?"
I turn around to face her. Wow. Jake must be very famous that even Stacey - who just stepped into this university knows about him.
"Hi, Melanie," someone calls before I can respond to Stacey.
I turn my head and find a guy standing before us. He's tall, skinny, and has a messy curly dark brown hair, his bangs almost covering his eyes. He looks nervous, scratching the back . of his head as he smiles at me.
"I saw you earlier and couldn't help but talk to you. We went to the same calculus class this morning," he says. "I'm Derek." He stretches his hand to shake hands with me, and I accept , it.
"Hi, Derek." I smile, being polite, but wonder how he knows my name. "Have we met before?"
"We actually went to the same high school back in New York."
That surprises me. I feel guilty for not recognizing him, while he obviously remembers. "I'm sorry. I should have reali--"
"No, it's okay," he cuts me off. "Do you still have classes after this? I mean... We could you know... Grab some lunch together. If you don't | mind..." Then he looks down.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out from it. I turn my head towards Stacey, and we both look at each other with a lost expression.
"I still have one more class after this, which starts in..." Stacey looks at her watch. "15 minutes." She laughs half-heartedly. "I don't think I can join you guys." She gives me an apologetic look.
That leaves me in a dilemma. I feel bad if I have to reject Derek. I honestly don't have any classes after this, and I never feel comfortable _ telling lies. Just a lunch won't hurt, will it?
"Tl don't have—"
"Sorry, dude. She'll have lunch with me." A voice suddenly interrupts us, and I snap my head.
Jake appears beside me, pulling me closer to him. The colour drains from Derek's face as he sees Jake, and he has no choice but to back off without saying a word.
"That was mean, Jake." I glare at him, his eyes _ still not leaving Derek's back.
Stacey clears her throat, making me turn to her. She gulps as Jake shifts his attention to her.
"Jake, this is my friend, Stacey." I introduce her. "Stacey, Jake."
"Hi, Stacey." Jake smiles at her, and Stacey blushes crimson.
"Hi," Stacey says, looking shy all of a sudden before turning to me. "It's really nice to meet your brother, Melanie." I wonder what's going through her mind now because she looks flustered. "I have another class to prepare, soI , gotta go." She laughs. "Enjoy your lunch."
"See you." I smile, waving my hand, watching her go.
"You see, that's exactly why I need to look out for you," Jake mutters as we walk. "Can't you see that guy is a creep?"
"He was just being friendly. He went to our high school," I argue. "That wasn't nice, Jake." This is my first day in college, and I want to make friends.
"I don't like him."
"Jake," I warn him. There he goes, again.
"I'm a guy, Mel. I have intuition. That guy was weird. And he looked like he wanted to eat
you instead of eating lunch together—"
"Jacob!" I shout. If he keeps acting like this, the cycle will repeat itself. I will have no chance of luck with guys and stay single for the rest of my life.
"Okay, okay." Jake laughs and slings his arm around my shoulders.
"When will I get a boyfriend?" I ask myself, sighing desperately. "You won't let any guy."
"I will let someone who deserves you," he says casually, and I roll my eyes.