Steal His Heart: 1
I
“I hope you enjoy your stay at MTSU” The blonde girl, who had mentioned her name but I’d already forgotten, handed me the key to my room. I smiled and grabbed it from her hand. I turned my head and looked around the campus. It was big. This was all new to me though. I’ve never been to a university. In fact, back in New York I hadn’t visited a single college.
I felt uneasy. Oh great, I’m going to be sick on the first day.
Teenagers, and adults were scattered everywhere. Small groups formed, I could easily pick out the freshmen. I probably looked the same. I grabbed my bags and plugged in my headphones into my ear and headed towards my dorm.
_
My room wasn’t that bad, a girl by the name of Kate shared it with me. She seemed nice; she had well kept golden hair and bright blue eyes, the type that every girl dreamed of having. She seemed athletic, but had curves that anyone as skinny as me envied. Kate had a gentle accent, a Tennessee accent.
Kate already had her stuff out. She stood on her bed, trying to pin her band posters on the wall. Metric. Phoenix. Broken Social Scene. Well, I approve of her taste in Music. I had a feeling my time here was going to be just fine.
“So… Hayley, where are you from?” She asked, glancing slightly at me as she continued to put her posters up.
“Meridian. But I was living with my Mum in New York” I explained.
“Wish I was living in New York” She smiled, “Instead, I’m stuck living in Tennessee” she smiled, while rolling her eyes.
“Tennessee doesn’t look too bad” I mumbled, half lying.
“You’re a bad liar,” she laughed.
“Well, Hayles…” Hayles? Good. Nicknames are good. Means there’s a potential friendship. “How does a good ol’ Tennessee party sound?” I looked up at her, slowly putting a shirt back onto my bed.
“Uh, sure why not?” I said trying to sound like I’d been to many before. “I mean, it isn’t as good as a New York Party, but we do have some good BBQ” She grinned. I smiled, trying to seem like I knew exactly what she was talking about.
I didn’t have many experiences in New York. In fact, I spent my times inside strumming my guitar with Ben or reading. I wasn’t the party type. I guess there’s a first for everything…
Kate dragged me towards the bonfire. “Meghan!” She yelled, over the blasting music. I expected hip-hop but instead Indie Pop blasted from a jeep nearby. “Hayles this is Meg, we’ve been friends since forever” She smiled.
“Hayley, it’s nice to meet you. Here” She handed me a red cup full of who-knows-what. I took a whiff of it, definitely smelled like something strong… Then again, I wasn’t a drinker. “Thanks” I answered, nervously, as she watched me drink it.
They had a red couch out, a few feet away from the bonfire. People surrounded the fire with their drinks and guitars. They laughed loudly and spoke about things they’d done during their summers. A bunch of girls, and guys who looked like they belonged in a band surrounded one who talked like he was telling a magnificent story. He probably was, by the looks of each person, they all seemed so into whatever he was saying. I sat down at the couch and watched, as the fire grew stronger with each log thrown into it. Meghan and Kate had walked off to catch up. “Are you sure you don’t want to come along?” Kate had asked; I shook my head and told her to go along and that I’d be fine.
“You’re new” A tall bearded guy with a tattoo on his arm sat next to me. “Yeah…” I said a little shy. “I thought so, I know everyone here so I’m the first to notice who’s new,” He said with a sweet smile, “I’m Jeremy, by the way” I smiled back at him, “Hayley”
Jeremy was a nice guy, he chatted none stop. As if he knew me for years, and not in a flirty way but just as a friend. It was nice, I wasn’t good at flirting with guys, I guess I’m just too awkward. “So, who’s your roommate?” he asked, “Kate Whitmore.” His eyes looked around, “Awesome” He said, by his tone of voice I knew something happened between them.
“Yeah, what about you?” I asked, trying to avoid silent moments. “Oh, I don’t go here. I work in the school’s café” He took a sip of his drink; “So I’m always around” he smiled.
Behind him I could see Kate staring at us, her eyes seemed a little… angry? I wanted to avoid any trouble with her on account that she’s my roommate and all. “Well, I’m going to go talk to Kate” I said with a smile. “See you around?” He nodded and brought his cup up to mine. “Cheers” he said with a goofy smile.
“Hey” I said still holding the cup she had given me. “I want you to meet someone,” She said as she walked towards the group of people surrounding the one guy. “Come on” she waved at me. I followed.
