Chapter 1

Abbie's POV,

"Abigail!" My mother's voice calls out again, this time closer to my room and I can almost her breath out annoyance to the fact that I'm not up yet. I was excited a few hours ago about leaving for campus. The plane was leaving in three hours. We had been lucky to get a double room in a hotel in Nairobi-Kenya near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

I drag myself out as I groan loud for a third time now so that mom will stop pestering me.

She knocks loud at the door.

"I'm up." I squeal and literally jump into my flipflops and walk out scratching my eyes. I am lucky my eyes are never bugged from lack of sleep.

She, my brother, his wife, my cousin and my four year old niece _it's sort of tradition for family to see you off_ are fully dressed and my mouth falls. I mean did these people even sleep?

One and a half hours later, I'm fully dressed in a pair of black jeans, white tank top and a black cardigan, it's not that mom approved that but I didn't want to be overdressed during the flight. My hair was braided and neatly tugged into a burn just close to my forehead.

I looked at my mom for approval when I walked out with my bags and she smiled at me. I didn't need more to know I fit into her standards.

The airport was both exciting and scary. I was not used to a life on my own, I  mean I went through boarding school and all but this is nothing close to it . I didn't have to worry about how I'm gonna maintain myself, now I have to go to the end of the world _well it's not, but it felt like it_ and without any of them. I could not help as tears found their way when mom hugged me with the words,

"don't you let those crooked youths change you." I knew she was just being sweet but as the african mom she is, showing emotions to her children was a no, no.

"I love you too mom." I smile back at her and wave goodbye to the rest.

I had never been into a plane, but the thought of leaving the only family I knew could not let me survey the environment. I just take the seat on my ticket, next to the window and murmur a prayer, sort of something I was so tied to.

I hear the co-pilot or whoever was on speaker say something about gadgets and taking off and time of flight, I honestly didn't catch much, I was so distracted by my fears.

The hostesses are nice, smiles and all. It's the nature of their job and I feel sorry for them. Even if they got troubled, they had to cover their faces in make up and pretend to smile to everyone, even if they want to choke them whatsoever. A middle aged man seated behind me was so rude to one, and I appreciated the fact that she was a strong lady because honestly, I'd breakdown and cry in the bathroom.

Los Angeles International airport is bigger and stocked and wow, if I'm not scared to be here. And the exhausting process of clearing passports, how do rich people even love to travel all the time?

Excitement slowly comes back as I entered the gates of  University of California Los Angeles. It is late but the hallways are lit as day. I drag my bags and pass suspicious eyes as I look for my room. My eyes wander all over trying to trace the room number indicated on the small piece of paper I held in my arms yet dragging my bags cumbersomely behind me.

"Hey", I say to the white girl with blond hair and piercings on her face seated face up, phone on hand and ear plugs on, beside a table on her side of the room. She doesn't respond, maybe because she is so indulged to music to even notice I'm there or maybe she just ignored me because I'm black, mom said these people are far from friends and I had to get a straight white for a roommate. I flush at the thought and move to my side of the room to unpack. Well all I carried is, heavy jackets and cardigans, a few clothes and many, many more books and well, a laptop.

The closet was huge, made of wood and well polished.

"What the hell dude? Don't they teach you manners in whatever shithole you come from?" I am sure that voice came from the ring bearer across the room and well, my skin jumps from the tone and the harsh language but I compose myself _atleast I think I do_ and look back to face her.

"I'm... I'm sorry, I... You were," I swallow as she chuckles and I'm sure I've made a fool out of myself.

"You're African?" Well it's more of a statement than it is a question. "Ofcorse you are, relax, I don't eat people." She smiles, well it still looks like a grin but, that was easier than I thought really.

"Prudy". The heavy American accent made sure I did not understand that she was saying her name, or maybe I just did not expect her to.

"Uum, what?" I ask still unsure of what type of girl she is.

"P-ru-dy." She spells out and does some weird signs like I don't understand her language. "My- naaame." Well twas offensive but I created the picture so I do not complain.

"I understand English. " I say chewing my tongue. "Abbie." I add and turn to my closet. I'm not sure I want any more interaction with this girl today. She might spoil my very excited mood that I've been trying to maintain the whole time with people staring.

"Here on scholarship uuh." I hear her speak behind me and can't tell if it's genuine or judgemental.

"Yes." I simply say and begin to spread my bed.