1 -Right At The Start-

Leaving your loved ones and many memories behind just as you step out of your bus. You bring your hand up to wave at the bus driver but realise that he had already left.

You start walking down the unfamiliar sidewalk, gazing around as you absorb your surroundings. It's definitely different from Manhattan, since it seems like no-one lives here.

"Where even is this building" you asked yourself as you dragged along your giant suitcase. You instantly regret putting all your stuff in there as you could've shipped them over. You were lucky enough to get that prized offer from your beloved college that you were about to attend to. Since you weren't so sure what you were going to study, STILL you had enough hope to find your dream along the way.

"506 Parnell Ave...." you trail off worried if you were at the right place. You were instantly welcomed by excessively flickering dim street light that just happened be right in-front of your apartment. Sighing you step in to the building, immediately noticing the "No Smoking" sign in plastered to the tinted glass window. Greeted by a doorman, you noticed that he had such a worn out uniform, so worn out that it looked like he had worn it from the 80's. You pry your eyes of the man and walk towards the counter.

A middle-aged woman standing behind the counter eyed you suspiciously.

She stared you down. Her large green eyes were outlined with a large amount of black chalk eyeliner along with the same black colour covering her eyelids. Her eyebrows were uncomfortably drawn, making it look like she drew them on with a black marker. Her blonde hair didn't necessarily match her eyebrows, but maybe there were different trends here then to what you were used to.

The large mole underneath her nose didn't make you feel anymore welcome. Her bigger physique made you believe that she was able to do anything that a man could, which could very well be true. Her bright yellow and white dress made her seem like a house cleaner, but that didn't stop her from looking intimidating.

You just stood there smiling like an idiot as you took it all in. Despite the 'No Smoking' sign behind the counter, the woman standing behind the counter inhaled at the end of her cigarette and blew out, the smoke invading your nostrils. You resisted the urge to cover up your nose with your finger and continued to smile at her.

"Hi there, I'm F/n L/n. I am assuming that you were the one I was talking to over the phone earlier this week?"

Her name was Mallory, which is a beautiful name. However not so fitting for her.

She looked at the tacky computer sitting in front of her, and poked at the keys individually. She chortled and looked back at you with the similar expression that she had before. She held out a set of keys and you gladly took them giving her a smile.

She looked at you in disgust and said "Room 5E, have fun".

You could't stand her attitude yet you had to brush it off since you were going to have to stay there for quite a long time. You would have taken the stairs, but frankly, your suitcase was starting to become heavier. Instead of bringing your entire closet with you, it was decided that you would just bring some of your favorites and essentials and buy the rest in L.A. after you sold everything. So, you had a fairly good amount of money to shop with, but to where? You thought of going to a thrift store on your way here, but you soon realized that flying five hours nonstop was quite tiring. Instead of thinking about negative things you start to think about the many things you can do in your city. You could go shopping, make new friends at college etc.

Entering the elevator, you click the chipped button labelled 5th and wait quietly for your floor to come out.

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Once you got out of the elevator, you noted that the letters descended from your right to your left. You walked a bit of ways down the open balcony before stopping at your room's door and turning the lock.

Everything was already furnished, so you didn't have to worry about that, but you would eventually refurnish, noting that other people have stayed here before you doing who knows what.

Snapping you out of your thoughts was a ring coming from your cell phone. Unfortunately, in this part of town, there seemed to be a difficulty in retrieving good service. You stopped where you stood and answered your phone, careful not to move.

"Hello?" You answered.

"Oh sweetie! I'm so glad that you made it off of the plane okay! Are you at your apartment-"

The call cut off surprisingly, allowing you to pull the device away from your ear and look down at the screen.

You laughed a little to yourself of your mother's anxiousness, but when you looked at the top left hand corner of your phone, it showed: 'No Service'. You glared at it for a moment before sighing and putting your phone back in your pocket. Luckily, this place came with a landline. You would just have to give that number to your mom after you unpacked.

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After about an hour, you were finished arranging your room how you wished it to look. Even in a run down place like this, you could make it work. It may take several trips to a store to get decorations, but it would work. How else would you get your studying done if your house wasn't pleasant?

You stood up and looked around the approvingly. It was a small change, but it helped you relaxed with the contracting shades.

A sudden knock came from your apartment's door, and you looked towards it, hesitation in your mind. Unless someone was paying you a surprise visit from halfway across the country, it was someone you didn't know. It may have been that receptionist, but you really doubted it. She didn't seem like the type to check to see if you were 'doing fine'. You hesitantly walked over to your door and looked through the peep-hole that it included. When you saw no one, you slowly opened the door, peering through the crack it created without opening it too widely.

Nothing but an empty hallway greeted your eyes. Cursing against the potential pranksters you have gained, you shut the door, leaning up against it for dramatic effect.

Slamming the door shut you tread back to wear you were sitting. Glancing at the rusty clock stuck to your wall, 4:10. You realise that you were supposed to meet one of your classmates at your supposedly new college.

Grabbing all of your things you rush down the hallway, hoping that there wouldn't be much traffic, to flag a taxi.