01: A New Beginning

Boston. October 1998. MJ.

The sun beams through the windows over the thin cloth curtains. God, I really need new curtains. Is what I first thought. My eyes couldn't handle the sunlight anymore and so, I woke up.

I look over my bedside table, where my clock is. 

6:30 a.m.

Just enough time to prepare for my first lecture. I got up to my bed and started to do my routine. Headed first to my toilet, which is like 6 steps away from my bed. These university dorms are like prison cells to me, but hey! I guess I have my own privacy and I don't have a lousy roommate who smokes 24/7 and bring a hook-up on a random Tuesday night.

Well, that's college to you. Not much different from high school. I look in the mirror to make sure I look clean. I always make sure I am presentable. Except for this hair of mine, which are curly and refuse to cooperate. This is the second-hardest thing to do in the morning. The first one is waking up.

I roll my eyes in surrender, and just tied my hair in a bun. There! cuter and less much like a witch. I check each angles in front of the mirror, and I'm satisfied.

"Where's my makeup?" I got out of my bathroom and try to remember where I put my pouch. I first went to my backpack and ah, there is it.

Likewise, I decided to do my makeup in my study table, or vanity table, or dining table, or anything this table can be used of. It's flexible for anything, I mean, at least a broke college student has a table alright. This was also the table I cried on, when I failed for the first time, on a major assessment. I'm attached.

I did my everyday makeup that just take up 15 minutes of my time. Just making sure I did the necessities, and I'm ready to go. I always make sure to wear this pink lip gloss that my older sister, Tina, gave me as a send-off gift.

I look at the small mirror in front of me to check my final look. 

I'm so gorgeous.

I gave a final smile and go on to fix everything up. I glance back at my clock.

"I better be going." I said. It's 7:56 a.m., my first period starts at 8:15. I grab my bag and prepared what's needed for today.

Bag. Water. My coding notebook. Earrings. Necklace. Perfume on… and I'm set. I wear my white shoes on and grab my I.D. and keys, hanging in my front door's door knob. I lock my dorm, and I'm off to start my day.

I took the stairs all the way down from the fifth floor. A girl needs to exercise. I hurriedly exit my building and walk my way to university. Then all of a sudden, I heard a weird noise.

I'm hungry.

I decided to grab a meal on the way, and admire the view.

Oh, Boston. I've been here for more than 3 months, and I'm still not used to it. The ambiance, the people, the city, the buildings, the trees. Everything about this just makes me more homesick. I don't know why I keep comparing Boston to Sacramento.

Sacramento, California. My hometown.

It must be the climate. There's no snow in California. Suddenly, the wind blows, and a cold breeze follow after. Autumn is just right above the corner. But there's halloween first. What should I be this Halloween? Ugh, what am I thinking? I should be rushing or else I will be late.

I went to the nearest coffee shop, which is also my favorite. It's cheap and delicious for a broke student like me.

"Good morning MJ!" said by Joe, the barista of this coffee shop.

"Morning too, Joe. I'll be having the regular." I responded.

"Okay, coming right up!" He then went on to make my favorite breakfast of all time.

"Large iced green tea latte and a ham and cheese sandwich, and also… try that new red velvet cookie. I'm cooking up a new recipe." he gave me my drink and a paper bag with my sandwich and cookie in it.

"I see, you're getting creative again. I'll give you an honest review when I'm back."

"Hey! You're always welcome." I wave my goodbyes and head out. I took a sip of my drink and look at my watch.

"Shit! Now I'm really running late." I put the paper bag in my bag and sprinted my way to university.

MJ. Lecture Room 4. 8:37 a.m.

I open the door and the Professor Tucker was already teaching. His presentation is already in display and some students are already taking notes. I made my way to find Jess and Maddy. Some eyes we're on me while I walk. 

I'm late. I get that.

"MJ over here!" I heard a quiet shout. It's Jess and Maddy.

I skedaddle my way over there, with my head down, and say my excuses and seat in the middle of them. I put down my bag and latte to settle.

"What did I miss?" I ask the two girls.

"Not much. Mr. Tucker just went on his nerdy expeditions on why technologies will be our future" said Jess.

"Well, here's not clearly wrong. I mean, look what we have now, we all have cellphones. Unlike those silly walkie-talkies, my brother and I used to play." Maddy replied.

"Hey! I love playing with my walkie-talkies." Jess said

"Then, I guess, you should go and contact use with your walkie-talkie, Jess." Maddy replied.

"I'm offended." Jess rebutted. Me and Maddy laugh at her reaction.

"Maddy stop bullying our Jess, you don't want her flying back to Texas, aren't we?" I said to stop the two girls fighting over walkie-talkies.

"Not helping MJ… why we're you late? Daydreaming again?" Jess asked me.

"Please, I just thought I had more time." I replied and took a sip of my coffee and bite my sandwich. Perfect as ever. I'm telling you guys, this is the best breakfast ever.

"You know, the mind can get to us sometimes, we think we know what we're doing but we don't." Maddy said out of nowhere.

"Isn't that hallucinations?" I asked and bite again to my sandwich. I drink my latte to wash it all down.

"It can be, or in more sugar-coating term, daydreaming." She added.

"I guess that psychology electives of yours have taken an effect on you." Jess said with a judgy face.

"Hey, at least you have a therapist in here." Maddy replied.

We laugh at Maddy at her puppy face. She's so smart and funny at the same time. This girl is hilarious without trying.

I finished my sandwich and decided to grab the red velvet cookie that Joe gave me. I opened the packaging.

"You guys want to try? It's a new recipe Joe's tryonh to make." I ask the two girls beside me.

"Let me try!" Maddy said and took chunk of it.

"I have to pass. My teeth just got cleaned by my daddy and he'll make a huge fuss about it. I swear, I only ate a pack of oreo and he goes like, I'm going to start wearing dentures at 21!" Jess exclaimed.

Jess' father, Lucas Moore, is a dentist here in Boston. This girl keeps avoiding sugar like it's the plague. I guess that's the reason she's developing a sweet tooth.

I took a bite of the red velvet cookie. It's sweet and perfect. Joe is literally a master of his craft. Which is baking. I finished the cookie in satidfaction. I just have to tell Joe my feedback, when I came back.

Many hours has passed and I try to listen to the lesson as diligently as possible. Some students are listening, some on their phones, and some sleeping. Well, that's college for you. This is what considered normal in this world.

"Before, everyone leaves. Please do an advance reading in the history of computer and technologies. Additional grades will be added to students who can participate well in our next lecture." Our professor, Mr. Gordon Tucker, said.

Most of the students groans in disagreement, and some are eager to get that additional points. I'm one of the eager ones, better have something or nothing.

"Dismiss." and the students starting to leave one by one.

"Ugh! I hate reading. I don't want to study." Jess said while packing her stuff.

"I heard from the seniors that Mr. Tucker gives big additions if you answer one of his questions." I said while grabbing my bag.

The three of us headed out of the lecture room and made way to the halls.

"I say try reading, Jess. I also heard the Mr. Tucker gives remedial if we somehow fail." Maddy said. I won't let that happen to me ever. I hate studying the same thing over and over.

"Thanks for the motivation, guys. Now, I'm more pressured to study." Jess groans.

"Me too." I added. The time now is 10:23 a.m. I have more time to my next lesson at 1:05 p.m.

"Then, how about a big blowout before studying, huh?" A playful voice echo behind the three of us. We all look back.

"Jason." The three of us said in union.

Jason Reed, he's one of my classmates in one of my subjects.

At first I thought he's someone I would never talk to, he intimidates me at first. But one time, I was finding my classroom for my next class, I saw him and ask him if he knows where is it, turns out we're finding the same class. We both barely made it in time, and that's how I meet him.

He's really nice and kinda sweet. He's eyes are pretty too. It's so blue. Not only that, but he's cute when he smiles. I'll have to admit, I think I have a little crush on him.

"Hi girls! Y'all miss me?" he smiled. Damn, his smile.

"What do you want?" Maddy asked and we started walking again.

"Hey, why the rush?" he asked, tailing behind us. The blonde boy wearing a black jean and white shirt, with hands in his pockets, followed us.

"We're going to the university fields and have coffee. We're discussing important girl matters." Jess sarcastically said. Jason chuckles at Jess' attitudes and move in front of us.

"Look, there's a party at Melrose street. They said to bring in more people. I heard the house is a pretty big and has a hidden jacuzzi below." Jason whispers to the three of us.

"A frat party?" Maddy asks.

"With a jacuzzi?! Now that's what I'm talking about." Jess added.

Jason nods in pure excitement. Well, there goes my Friday night alone again. I look down with a confuse emotion, thinking if I, MJ, will attend a frat party, knowingly I will endanger myself. Jason seems to notice, cause I can feel his pretty blue eyes looking at me.

"MJ, you will come right?" he asked, and I look at him. God, those eyes.

"Nah ah! You know that frat parties are not MJ's line of interest." Jess said while trying to sound like my mother.

"Hey! It's college, we're all adults now here, are we? Besides, it's a Friday. There's nothing wrong with trying new stuff, right, MJ?" Jason explained and asked me.

This is terrible. He's looking at me with his blue eyes again. Suddenly, I'm pressured to answer. He's looking at me eagerly, like he's waiting for me to give a positive response.

"Okay, I'll try." I said lowly.

Jason said a yes, like he just won a ticket. While, Maddy and Jess are shocked. I am shocked, too. Me going to my first ever frat party. God knows what's about to happen.

"Awesome dude! Melrose, 8 o'clock. I heard there's gonna be a vintage booze up. In a house like that, I am very damn well sure it's true." Jason said to the three of us.

"See ya!" he said and made his way to his agenda. He walks to the other direction and I followed him with my eyes.

 "MJ, I can't believe you're going to a frat party. Are you sure?" Maddy asked me concerning.

I shook my head.

"I don't know. But Jason is right. We're all adults, and there's nothing wrong trying new things. Ever since I got here, all I do is locked up myself in my prison cell and study. I think it's time to explore more." I said, and they seem so shock to my response.

"I never thought you'd said that. You surprise me always." Maddy said.

"If you want to go, there's nothing wrong. But if you will go, just contact me or Maddy, for a meet up and the three of us can all party and enjoy." Jess said and Maddy agree.

"Okay… I'll think about it. I just want to finish all my classes today." I assured them, and they both understand. 

"Yeah, I want to drink some coffee and put caffiene in my systems now." Maddy exclaimed. The three of us laugh and headed to the fields.

Since the beginning of the first semester of my first year and college. They said this where all the fun begins and this where I should make new connections. But here am I, nothing thrilling ever happened to me.

I literally can count on my two hands of all the people I am friends with, in this campus. I'm always in my dorm studying, and watch Friends on my little TV.

Why am I so scared of risking? I know that my mom told me tom stay out of any trouble, but she trusts me enough to study far away from home.

I don't know. I should probably just focus on my classes today and made a decision later.