01. The chapter of the first day

Rose 

My gaze was fixed on the series of chess pieces resting on a sideboard next to my drawing easel while my hand instinctively moved with the pencil on the paper.

I was trying to command my hand to replicate every detail of that scene, even though I knew that when I finally looked at the sheet of paper at the end of the blind drawing exercise, it would be impossible to recognize the little pawn.

" Excuse me, Miss... " The voice of Philip Black, our art teacher, made me turn my attention away from the pawn.

He was standing a few meters away, drawing the attention of another girl.

" Ramirez, Susan Ramirez " she introduced herself.

" Miss Ramirez, your drawing is perfect," he complimented.

" Thank you," a smile broke out on her face.

" It's not a compliment, what part of the blind drawing exercise didn't you understand? " he crossed his arms, scowling at her.

" What? " she stammered, looking back down at her paper.

" I asked for a blind drawing, not an observation drawing, erase and start again," he muttered, coming toward me.

I went back to drawing, trying not to make eye contact with the man, but that didn't stop him from stopping beside me, looking at the paper.

" Now that is blind drawing. Too bad it looks like it's being done by a slug," he muttered "You haven't finished even a peon, your classmates have done three times as much as you.”

It was our first day of class, and our art drawing teacher thought it would be good to pass a little exercise to evaluate us better.

I swallowed all the answers that came into my mind, trying not to make a fuss on the very first day.

" I am sorry, Mr. Black. I was just trying.”

" Then stop trying and do it," he muttered, not allowing me to finish my thought. 

He walked away, causing me to take a deep breath, already electing the professor I would hate for the rest of my academic life.

Actually, I felt exhausted; unlike most of the other freshmen who arrived on campus last Friday, I had only come late yesterday afternoon, as I was "enjoying" the last few days with my parents in Rochester, a city in upstate New York.

So I knew that in the end, I would have to leave class and go back to clean up my side of the room, which was still a mess of suitcases and boxes.

With a sigh I went back to drawing, taking a brief look at the disconnected strokes that represented the chess pawn I was trying to illustrate.

Some time later, I was walking through the halls of the art department building, where I had most of my classes, when my cell phone vibrated.

"Meet me in the second dining hall, I want to introduce you to some people" 

My roommate sent me a message. 

She was one of those lucky enough to get to campus early, so her side of the room was perfectly organized, contrasting with the chaos that dominated my side.

"I'm on my way"

I replied before putting my cell phone away. Walking in an unassuming manner through the bustling halls of the building.

Alicia Waldorf was the typical girl who won everyone over with her sweet smile and gentle manner. We had both studied in the same school since elementary school, but we had never been close, quite the contrary. At least, until we found out that we were accepted by the same college.

This inspired us to ignore our differences and try to get closer so that we would not be alone in this new phase of our lives.

We were complete opposites, Allie was considered the most popular girl in school, was on all the important teams, dated the captain of the football team, and had a group of inseparable friends.

As for me... I can't say that I was an outcast and had no friends. I was surrounded by people, and I loved parties. I think that in the end, we just belonged to a different social nucleus that made it impossible for us to be friends. 

But, we left all those differences in Rochester and assumed that getting closer in Grayfox Mills, the small town in upstate New York where the Dalton University campus was located, would be the right thing to do.

I walked quickly and a few minutes later I was arriving at the place where I had arranged to meet her. 

It didn't take me long to spot Allie's long red hair among the freshmen heading towards the Dining hall. She was standing near the door talking to a guy with black hair and blue eyes. 

I slowed my steps, finding this interaction strange. Not that he was some kind of weirdo, or anything like that, in fact he was very handsome, very handsome indeed, but he was very different from the guys she used to date in high school.

It was really easy to see the difference between the two, while Allie wore a perfectly aligned set of plaid skirt and white shirt, with a pair of shoes that certainly cost more than any piece I have in my closet, he wore a navy blue t-shirt, dark wash jeans and carried what looked like a leather jacket, which was strange, since it was a sunny day.

But, that was far from my business, I decided to go into the cafeteria and wait for her inside, but Allie noticed my approach, saying goodbye to the guy. 

" Hey, you got here fast," she wrapped her arm around me enthusiastically.

" If I had known you had company, I would have taken longer," I teased her.

I looked back and my gaze crossed with that of the guy who was watching us as we walked away.

" Ahhh, that's Chris. He lives in the same residence hall as us and he helped me with my boxes on Friday," she explained, following my gaze, nodding to the boy.

I looked back one last time, watching him walk away, before entering the already crowded dining hall.

" You said you wanted to introduce me to someone and I doubt it's him," I commented, getting in line at one of the kiosks spread around the place that looked like a shopping mall food court.

" It's my cousin, he's a senior here and he promised my parents that he would introduce everything to us," she explained.

On the one hand, she was lucky to have someone to guide her, but on the other, I'm not sure I would like to have someone from my family controlling my every step.

It didn't take long before we were carrying trays of food between the crowded tables. 

Allie settled down at a table where a small group was, one of the guys, who had emerald eyes and carefully messy brown hair, let out a sigh as soon as he saw us, showing his displeasure at having to take care of his fledgling cousin.

Next to her, a blonde girl who looked about our age was watching us with amusement. Her features were delicate and her almost golden eyes gave her an almost unique charm, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, revealing a beautiful red lily tattooed there.

" I thought you'd given up on lunch, cousin," he sneered before his gaze focused on me, offering me a gallant smile, "and you are our new friend?” 

" Rosemarie Miller-Campbell, but I prefer just Rose Campbell.” I took the lead, introducing myself to the boy.

The girl was quicker to introduce herself, taking the focus off him.

" Skyller Baker. It's a pleasure to meet you, Rose. Are you also a pre-med freshman? " she quoted Allie's future major.

" Medicine? No way, I hate blood. I'm a freshman in Visual Arts," I explained.

" Theo Peterson. We're practically in the same field, Rose. Sky and I are in our second year of architecture," the other guy smiled. 

It felt good to meet other people from my field. Deep down I thought Allie would try to get me in with her pre-med group, but as I looked at her, I knew that my newest friend was the one who felt out of place there.

" Liam Van Der Waal. I'm in my third year of Visual Arts," he held out his hand to me, bringing mine to his lips when I returned the gesture.

" Why didn't I get a reception like this? " Allie complained beside me.

" Because we've met, and although you’re a pretty girl, I think it would be very inappropriate to flirt with a cousin I've already changed diapers for.” He assured.

I looked at Allie, amused by their interaction.

" I don't want you flirting with me, gross, and you've never changed my diapers, you're only three years older than me.”

" Well, I was present while they were changing, so it's the same thing," he assured her. 

I decided to intervene in this confrontation while the other two members of the group watched them with amusement.

" Wait, is that you flirting with me?”

That remark made Theo laugh while Liam gave me another of his lazy smiles, keeping a frown on his face.

" If you're having second thoughts about this, I need to try harder," he scoffed, causing Skyller to roll her eyes at his side.

" Oh Liam, just leave her alone," she sighed.

A smile came to my lips as I stared at him, I knew how to handle this guy, and I knew he wouldn't give me any peace if I didn't play along.

" And what is your proposal, Liam Van Der Waal? " I stared at him.

Allie's eyes widened at my statement, while Liam continued to stare into my eyes, not caring about the presence of the others.

" I'm offering you the best casual sex of your life, and if you're as good as I think you are, we can do it again," he winked at me.

" Liam! " Allie exclaimed in horror.

" Man, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, Rose, don't listen to it. " Theo muttered, looking annoyed at his friend's manner.

But I didn't allow him to finish his sentence.

" First of all, I'm much better than your imagination can stretch, I'm just not sure you can deliver what you promise," I didn't look away from him as I spoke.

His smile only widened at my response, encouraging me to continue.

" And secondly?”

" Your offer is really worth it, but I'll have to decline. Maybe you'll get lucky when I'm drunk, or extremely desperate," I winked at him, causing him to laugh.

" I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not the kind of guy who gets involved with drunk girls, and in any case I'll give you my phone number and my room number.” He took a napkin, scribbling something on it before handing it to me “if one day you are bored with nothing to watch on TV, or depressed after being dumped…”

I couldn't help but laugh as I accepted the napkin. I might have been offended by his directness, but something about his sincerity amused me.

" After being dumped? " I raised both eyebrows, trying to look offended.

" It happens to even the prettiest girls, and know that I'm an expert on the subject, I'm a great source of consolation," he winked at me.

I put the napkin in the pocket of my jeans, still laughing at the boy's direct and unusual manner, but as I turned around, Allie was staring at me with both eyebrows raised in a questioning expression.

" What? It was a valid proposal," I shrugged, popping a French fry into my mouth.

" Really? Because I can give you my number, I'm also a great source of comfort," Theo stared at me.

" Sorry, he beat me to it," I pouted, getting a giggle in return.

Allie seemed uncomfortable with the interaction, but before she could show any reaction, Skyller stood up.

" Don't bother with this, you'll get used to this sort of thing happening when you're around him," she warned Allie, pointing at Liam, "I have to go, I have to stop by the library. Rose, we eat lunch here every day at this time, and meet at seven in the main dining hall for dinner.” 

" Thank you," I frowned as I noticed the plate of almost untouched potato French fries she had left behind without the slightest ceremony.

She gave Theo a small pat on the shoulder before ruffling Liam's hair, who tilted his head back, watching her walk away.

" I'll bring you some coffee later, Baker," he warned the girl, who nodded discreetly in response.

Liam stared at her for a few seconds before returning his attention to us, making me suspect that perhaps his heart was already committed.

" Where were we?”

" You should talk to her at once," Theo murmured, confirming my suspicions.

" So, cousin... what are your plans? Have you settled well into your room yet? " he ignored his friend's teasing, turning his attention to his cousin for the first time since we arrived.

Allie finally seemed to have relaxed, deciding to open up to her cousin about all the progress made in such a short time, a great contrast to the mess that all my things in my new academic life were still in.

At least that's what I hoped.