C4

“It's not necessary," I excused myself to the boy.

“No, let me," he smiled and took my bags.

“You wouldn't have bothered," I said a little embarrassed.

“It's no bother, tell me which room are you going to?

“Well... “I took the paper and read the directions I had written down last night after the date with Noah... it says here that it's in one hundred and four.

“I know where it is," he motioned with his head for me to follow him. So I followed him. There were lots and lots of students arriving. I felt a little nervous underneath, but it was completely normal.

“Are you new here? “I wanted to know. We walked into the dorms and up some stairs. The university was so big.

“No, it's my second year. “He smiled at me.

“Ah. That's nice," I looked around, I didn't want to miss anything at all.

“Here it is," the boy stopped in front of a door. It had the number one hundred and four on the door. I knocked twice to make sure there was no one there, but there was. A girl opened the door. Her hair was completely blue and she had some piercings.

“Hello," she greeted, "do you need anything?

I could hear murmuring inside so I figured she wouldn't be alone.

“Hey, I'll stay in this room," I let him know. It would be my room after all.

“Ah... Isabella? “She finished opening the door and smiled.

“Isa," I corrected, putting my lips in a single line.

“Of course, come in. We've been waiting for you.

The boy and I walked into the room. There was one more girl and one more boy. I was a little surprised to see a boy here. And I think he was in what would be my bed. There were only two. The room was more or less big. Enough for two beds, closets and desks for studying. I was grateful there weren't so many people, I liked my privacy.

I cleared my throat to get him off my bed. The boy was serious, wore a leather jacket and seemed to like to piss people off.

“Trevor, please get off the bed," said the girl who had just opened the door for us.

The guy named Trevor watched us with a bit of amusement. I was really starting to get exasperated by this guy with his bullshit. I'm really tired from the trip and I just want to leave everything in order to start studying. Classes would start on Monday and today was Saturday. Counting also on the fact that I have to get a job.

“It's okay," Trevor stood up, putting his hands in the form of peace. He was taller than me, looked at me funny from head to toe and then licked his lips, "Here's your bed, miss.

I looked him in the eyes for a few more seconds then walked around him and put my bag on top of the bed. It was already a little crumpled.

“Thank you for helping me," I said to the boy who put the suitcases on the floor.

“It's nothing. “He said goodbye, "I'll see you around, Isa," he gave us all a last look and then left my room. The other girl who was white and yellow hair was just looking at a magazine on my roommate's bed.

“Welcome to your new room," said the girl who had just opened the door, "I'm Piper, this is Trisha and you've already met Trevor.

“Of course, nice to meet you," I said and then opened my bags. I would have to arrange my clothes over there.

“And this will be your closet," she pointed to a closet next to my bed. I noticed she had hers next to hers. At least we'd have separate clothes.

“Thank you.

“Today there will be a pool party at the university to welcome the newcomers. You're invited," Trisha stands up, "It's at eight.

“Hmm thanks for the tip, but I don't think I'll go.

“Why not? “Trevor leaned against the wall near the door.

“Because I have to get my stuff together.

“All right, if you change your mind the pool is on the north side of the university, down some stairs. Shall we go, guys? We have a class due now. See you, Isa.

I half smiled at them in goodbye mode, the Trevor guy just stared at me before leaving behind his friends. I found him a bit intimidating. I hurried to close the door after they left and sat on my bed. That had been a little strange.

I pulled out all my clothes and set about tidying them up.

“

An hour later I was all ready, my bed was tidy again and my things too. I needed a bath. I took my towel and my bath stuff and left the room. Bathrooms have to be close to the bedrooms, I figured. What I didn't like was that the bathrooms were shared.

“Oh my goodness, Harry Lee is really coming to give the lecture to the third graders. I can't believe it. “said a girl.

“Let's hurry so we won't be late," replied the other girl. After that they both ran off. Who is Harry Lee and why does he make them so crazy? I rolled my eyes and walked into the bathrooms. There were a few showers open, maybe some girls bathing. I headed to the last one, it was empty, and walked in.

I took off all my clothes and let the hot water run all over my body. I thought about my family, I thought about Noah, I thought about finding a job. What if I don't find one? What if everything goes wrong for me as usual? I'd have to go back to Lewiston with my head down and I'd have to go back to the horrible job I had. That's what I'll live on.

I shook my head to get those bad thoughts away from me and decided not to think. Sometimes my thoughts filled me with fear, sometimes I believed the things I thought. The worst thing is that I only thought bad things. I always believed the bad things but not the good things. I hated being like that. I hated being prey to my mind. Sometimes I just wanted to free myself.

After the shower I wrapped the towel around my body, grabbed my things and went out. I could see myself in the huge mirror in the shower. I looked healthy. There was nothing to worry about. I stepped out of the shower into the hallway. That's what I didn't like. There were guys walking by. Great. I quickened my pace until I turned down a hallway, I could hear a boy's voice behind me so I turned my head as I walked forward, but it was a bad idea because at that I collided with someone else causing some of my dirty clothes to fall to the floor.

“Shit," I cursed, looking up. He was quite a handsome guy actually. He was wearing a suit and was very well groomed.

“Excuse me," the boy bent down to pick up my clothes, but my face turned red with embarrassment as the boy grabbed my panties.

“Don't worry," I took off his clothes immediately, "It was my fault.

I wanted to push past him and get to my room once and for all, but he intercepted me.

“Excuse me? Do you know where the third grade classroom is? I'm a little confused," he adjusted his suit, I don't know why I thought that was so sexy of him. His bearing, his smell... that man was quite attractive, to tell you the truth. He looked like one of those models I always saw in magazines. The moment I licked my lips unconsciously he looked at him.

“I don't know, I just came to the first year today. I still don't know where the classrooms are," I shrugged a little embarrassed.

“Well, I guess I'll have to look for it myself," he smiled at me.

“Sure, I have to go," I turned on my heels and started walking down the long hallway feeling the man's gaze on me. When I heard more voices I turned around and the guy was surrounded by some girls already. I wasn't surprised.

“It's Harry, come “two more girls walked past me and hurried to the boy whose name was Harry.

When I got to my room I opened the door and went inside. I felt safe in here. I left my dirty clothes in the wastebasket and looked for clean clothes. I chose a pair of pants that clung to my legs, a shirt that reached below my belly button and some converse. I combed my hair leaving it loose, put some makeup on my face just so I wouldn't look pale. I grabbed my laptop, sat down at the desk by the window and turned it on.

I needed to find a job, one. In the search engine I typed in jobs near the university. I got babysitting, in restaurants, in hotels, in bars. But none of that worked for me. I needed something steady and that paid well. The prices were too low. I kept looking and looking, but there was nothing that convinced me. My stomach began to growl because I was so hungry. I looked at the clock and it was five o'clock in the afternoon. It's almost dinner. I closed the laptop, grabbed some money and my cell phone and left the room.

Classes would be ending right now. I went downstairs in search of the cafeteria.

“Excuse me," I stopped a girl, "do you know where the cafeteria is?

“You go out to the courtyard and head to the backyard," she said.

“Thank you.

I went out to the courtyard as she told me and walked to the courtyard to bring it. When I got there I could see it. It was a very big place, it had glass windows where you could see inside with the tables and everything. I went inside, asked what there was to eat and took some of it. With my tray I sat down at a corner table and got ready to eat.

In the distance I could see the guy from a moment ago, the one named Harry, coming out of the university. There was a very fancy car parked there. Harry walked around it and got into the front seat. He was followed by girls who wouldn't leave him alone for a moment. Apparently he had already finished his lecture with the third”year students. Lecture about what?

Harry's car started up and left the place.

I continued to eat quietly until I finished my meal. I felt satisfied and full. I drank some more of my juice and then stood up and took the tray to where the dirty dishes were placed. I was surprised to see an advertisement on the wall. It was an ad for a job. There was no price, no name of the person or the place. It just said if you wanted a job call this number. It said the phone number.

I took one of the papers and left the cafeteria. I couldn't waste any more time. I looked for a bench near some trees and sat down. I took out my cell phone and dialed the number on the ad. It seemed that no one paid any attention to that poor ad, everyone ignored it. I think I was the only one who had taken the first paper. Besides, there weren't many, maybe about five.

One, two rings until someone answered.

“Hello?

“Hello, I'm calling about the job posting," I answered a little nervously, I was nervous about talking on the phone to people I didn't know. I don't know, it was just me.

“Where are you talking about?

“From Stanford University," I answered.

“And what's your name?

“Isabella Fox. Is she still available?

“She's still available. Can you come first thing Monday morning to the address that's texting you right now? “The man's voice sounded a little familiar but I couldn't figure out where I'd heard it from before. Or maybe I was just hallucinating a bit. My cell phone vibrated at that moment with the address the guy gave me.

“Monday? “My classes started at nine in the morning. If I get there at seven in the morning, maybe I'll have time not to miss class.

“That's right, do you have a problem with that?

“No, not at all. I'll be there at seven in the morning.

“That's fine. I'll wait for you then.

“Same. “I hung up. “What do you mean, the same? What an idiot I am, as if I would wait for the boy. I'm definitely clumsy, what is that guy thinking about me? I sighed deeply and calmed down.

Ugh, what nerves. Now I had the appointment to my first choice of job, I just hope the pay was good and that my trip would not be one of pleasure. I stood up, put my cell phone and the paper in my pants pockets and headed back to the university. It was getting dark and apparently everyone was looking for their wardrobe for the big pool party. I guess the party is illegal and the teachers don't know about it. I know because they would never allow a late night party at a college like this.