First day in college

JESSICA

Slowly, I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding until breathing became necessary. 

I must have been gawking at the huge brown gate which protected the building for too long because a student shoved me out of the way.

Swirling, I winced whilst rubbing my shoulder at the pressure he had exerted in nudging me. Moreover, he didn't bother to apologize for what he did.

Perhaps, it was my fault for obstructing the entrance. Still, he should have been more courteous and asked me to step away rather than shoving me.

I watched as he stuck his hands into the side pocket of the black leather pants he donned. I could make out Auburn locks in the cap he was sporting on.

More so, two buff men who were on steel grey suits, checkered tie, and sunglasses were flagged by his side, and he swaggered like he owned the school and everyone in it.

Reluctantly, I peeled my eyes off the jerk and I strolled in.

"Wow," I mumbled, whilst observing my new environment.

The school looked even better than what I had seen in the brochure. 

Several low-rise buildings were in between two high-rise buildings. Bluestones adorned their walls, and I noticed each had the name of the department and faculty it was representing. 

As I passed by the vast fountain that stood in the centre of the school, the different fragrance of flowers that surrounded it wafted into my nostrils.

"Hey."

Lurching, I snapped out of my reverie and swirled as I felt a tap on my shoulder. My eyes latched on a pair of crystal blue ones. 

He grinned and extended his hands to me, "I'm Alan." 

Instantly I took a liking to him. Moreover, he spoke with an accent, which was perhaps, British or American. Whichever he was, I didn't mind. 

I was ready to make new friends as I had promised, and it was one of my reasons for applying to a school that was far away from my country.

A lot of schools present back home in Nigeria had offered me a scholarship as well, but I had declined all because I wanted to experience something different. A new culture, and meet a lot of new faces.

"Jessica." I returned the smile whilst gripping his extended hand.

I noticed how soft and pale the flesh of his palms was, and how easily it enveloped my hand.

"I see you are new here as well." He said.

"Am I that obvious?" I murmured, feeling my skin flushed.

"Of course, you were." He chuckled.

His smile was infectious, and his blue eyes twinkled.

"Since I'm new here too, how about we exchange schedules?" He lifted a brow as he continued to stare at me.

I wasn't used to boys gazing at me for long. Further, the way he stared at me wasn't in the perverted way I was used to.

"Sure," I muttered, handing him my schedule.

"Wow," He exclaimed, "we are majoring in the same thing!"

I grinned as my eyes travelled to his schedule. "That is awesome!"

"Well, I didn't know you find History quite interesting." He eyed me.

I rolled my eyes at his assertion. "Because I'm a girl?"

"Don't get me wrong, I don't mean it that way." He laughed.

"You better not," I said, handing him back his schedule. "I can be mean if I want to, and I don't care if we just met or not."

"Feisty," He chuckled.

I was starting to see his smile as one of my favourite things. It might be strange, but I like how it lit up his face. How his thin lips curved, and how the corner of his mouth crinkled.

Okay, Jessica quit thinking about how cute this stranger was, I chide myself.

"I'm sorry I annoyed you, M'lady." He bowed briefly, then winked.

I rolled my eyes for the umpteenth time, then shook my head at his playfulness.

He glanced at the silver watch on his wrist, "I think we should get to class now."

I nodded, and we went to our first class together.

The classroom was spacious and could contain at least fifty students. However, only sixteen seats were present and luckily two seats were vacant. Alan moved to the one at the end of the room, and I stepped towards the one in between a blonde, and a boy whom I recognized instantly.

His cap gave him away, and I noticed he was on his cell phone rather than listening to what the teacher was saying. 

Moreover, the most annoying thing was, his vans clad feet were on the chair I was about to sit on. 

I tapped on his table gently and murmured. "Could you move your feet, please?"

Briefly, he glanced at me. 

My breath hitched at how stunning he looked.

His face was oval, with high cheekbones and pouty lips. His hazel eyes bored into mine, and his bushy brows furrowed. He wrinkled his button nostrils, and his lips curled up.

I sniffed the air to see if anything smelt awful, then glanced back at him.

"Move your legs." This time around, I stated firmly to see if he would comply.

Still, he didn't. His gaze drifted back to his phone like I hadn't said anything to him.

I could feel my patience wearing thin, and I wonder what would happen to me if I made a scene on my first day in this school.

I had learnt it was prohibited to fight in Charline College. But, I didn't know the punishment for doing so.

Despite how furious I was at the jerk, I didn't want my name to be on the school blacklist.

"Just move your stupid leg off my seat." I gritted. 

Further, I smashed it, and he yelped with the pressure I asserted on it.

Served him right.

He did the same thing to me whilst at the gate, and I wonder if he had forgotten about it.

 I noticed some of the students watching me but I didn't mind. Slowly, I sat down on the seat after wiping out the dust on it.

The teacher was oblivious of what had happened, and I was glad he didn't notice.

The rest of the day went by in a blur, my bum was sore from sitting for a long while, and I was happy when the final bell for the day rang.

"Jessica." Alan waved, beckoning me over.

I stepped to where he was, then watched as he carefully arranged his notes inside the brown messenger bag with him.

"You've got a ride home?" He asked.

"No," I replied. "My house is just thirty minutes away from school. I'll manage."

"That distance is still quite long." Alan pointed out. "I'll drive you home."

"Really?" My eyes widened.

"Really." He affirmed.

"Thank you." I grinned. My eyes shone with gratitude. 

"It's nothing." He shrugged, slinging the bag across his shoulder.

We were the last to step out of the classroom, and I was happy today wasn't as worthless as I thought it would be after encountering the jerk.

I was glad I met Alan.