Off to College

(Celestina - Hands up in the air)

We gonna party all night into the light

We gonna party all night into the light

Hands up in the air, air, air, air, air

All night into the light

We gonna party all night into the light

Beep! Beep! Beep!

I was seriously jamming to one of my favorite songs, when I here a beeping sound.

I look for where it is coming from and I see its the fuel indicator.

Shit! I'm low on gas.

I quickly checked the map and saw that there was a gas station not too far ahead so, I just kept driving on till I got to it.

Parked beside a gas pump, I got out, put in some money and started refilling my car.

To kill time, I open my Instagram application and the first post I see is none other than a picture of Cherry posing in my car, which I took that very morning when I dropped by to say goodbye.

Amongst all my close friends, Cherry was my closest. She was my best friend and as hard as we all tried to apply for the same schools, somehow I was the only one that ended up in California.

While other schools which I had applied for, had only offered partial scholarships, Berkeley had offered me full on scholarship and I did not even apply.

I didn't want to go but my parents had convinced me to go and though I agreed, I felt alienated. I was going to a new place and I would not know a soul.

Now, I just felt worse because I probably would have been fine without the whole scholarship thingy, considering they could easily move things around like they said.

Gosh! I miss Cherry already.

I couldn't really control my fingers and before I know it, I'm dialing her number.

After three rings, she picks up...

"Hey girl" her voice came through.

"Hey you, how you doing?" I asked

"I'm good. Missing me already?" She asked

"Terribly. I'm still half way there and I'm already feeling all alone. It's not too late right? To accept any of the other offers?" I asked, knowing exactly what she would say.

"B, I know it sucks but you are very strong which is why I know that you are going to suck it up, get to that school and rule it. Besides, I'm gonna visit you and by the time I get there, you better be the queen bitch I know you can be!"

I couldn't help but laugh. In just a minute, she had managed to lighten up my mood. There was never a down moment with Cherry, which is why I loved her. She was my ride or die.

"You are gonna be okay though, I just know it and I miss you too" She said, trying to reassure me.

I took a deep breath, held it in for few seconds then let it out, my self confidence returning.

"Yeah, you are right. I can do this--"

"WHOA....COME TAKE A LOOK GUYS" I heard a guy shout and turned around to see three guys coming my way.

"I gotta go" I said into the phone then ended the call. Before they got to me, I had removed the gas nuzzle which had long finished refilling the car, then closed my gas tank just as the first guy got to me.

"What do we have here?" He more like said, whistling as his eyes inspected every inch of my car, taking it in.

I could see the adoration in his eyes.

Then his eyes switched to me, moving up and down in an evasive way. I could see a glint in his eyes as they perused my body.

By then the other two guys had gotten to us, their expression mirroring his. Not me though but my car.

I suddenly felt strange, something about them seemed off. I wasn't really sure, maybe it was because they were three guys and I was just one girl or the fact that I had already labelled the first one a douche bag in my head. Well whatever it was, I just wasn't feeling their vibes, frequency or whatever.

I opened the car door to get in and a hand blocked my way, belonging to none other than the douche bag himself.

"Where are you going pretty, leaving so soon? But we only just got here" he said in an annoying voice that scratched my ears. He was definitely a heavy smoker.

"Get out of my way, douche bag"

"Hmm... You got some mouth on you, don't you? Care to use it for something else?" He asked, smirking as he drew his face closer to mine.

I could smell the alcohol on his breath, it was revolting.

"Eww... Over your dead body" I said scrunching up my face in disgust. He burst out laughing, almost doubling over.

"I didn't know what I said was so funny" I said, turning to his two friends. "Can you tell your ass of a friend to get out of my way?" I asked them impatiently.

"Leave the girl alone". One of the other guys spoke up, he looked like he was bored.

"Well last I checked, I wasn't holding her" Douche bag shrugged and laughed again, all the while, snorting like a pig. Disgusting.

"So where are you headed?" He asked and I didn't fail to notice how his mute friend, who all along had simply been staring at me, rolled his eyes at him.

"Uhh... None of your damn business? Now out of my way" I shoved him aside, hard, which was of no use because he only staggered a bit.

Is he drunk or something?

"As you wish" he said, moving out of my way. Finally. I hissed then opened my car to get in and just as I was about to, I felt a smack on my ass.

Did he just? Oh no, fucker didn't just do that!!!

He was already walking away with a smug look on his face when I quietly walked up behind him, grabbed his right hand and twisted it in a position that I was sure would give him a hell of a pain. Probably sober him up if he was lucky.

"Ahhhh...." He screamed which wasn't even the best part. The best part was seeing that annoying smug look he had, get wiped off and replaced with the look of dread.

Firmly holding his hand in place, I eyed his friends suspiciously, keeping my guard up. I expected them to intervene but they just stood there, watching.

Sick right? Who does that?

Observing them carefully, I couldn't help but notice the look of admiration on the face of the mute one and the other one, I couldn't quite place it.

The way he started to look at me, gave me strange vibes. Like I had suddenly become interesting...

Shit just got weird, fast.

Shaking the feeling off, I let go of Mr. Douche bag and he slowly rolled to his side, cradling the hand I had twisted.

I got into my car and drove off, at full speed trying to put as much distance as I could between me and them.

I knew that with my car, they could never catch up with me but I still had that strange feeling that I felt around them.

So, every now and then, I would check my side mirror, just to make sure they weren't there.

I knew taekwando and lots of fighting techniques dad drilled into me and I could have easily handled them but I also knew how to avoid an unnecessary fight.

I'm tryna put you in the worst mood...ah

My phone ringer tune blasted through the car speakers, making me jump a little.

I checked and saw it was mom and I answered.

"Hi mom"

"Hi baby, everything going on okay?"

"Yes mom. Just stopped a little while back to refill. Map says I'm a little over three hours shy".

"That's good hunnie. Are you okay though? You are not at all tired right or sleepy? Do you need to take a little break, maybe find a motel? We shouldn't have let you driv--"

"MOM!!!" I had to stop her, before she spiraled further.

"I'm okay, you worry way to much. I'm not tired or sleepy, I don't need a break or a motel. I am fine. Moreover, I'm an adult now so you should trust that I can take care of myself". I said

"Technically, you are still 17, not yet 18 and even when you turn 50, I'll still worry my hair out!" She said firmly, making me smile.

"I know you will, you are the best mom ever. Where's Dad?" I asked, looking in my rearview mirror once more.

"He's just been called in for work, but he said to tell you he loves you and you be careful".

"I will mom, love you both"

"Love you too".

"Will let you know when I get there. Okay, bye" I was about to end the call when she stopped me...

"Wait Zie" I stopped, my hand paused midway.

"Had lunch yet? It's way past lunch time, I don't want you starving".

"Oh my god Mom, thought it was something serious. Of course, I ate while I refilled the car" I lied, briefly glancing at the untouched paper bag beside me.

"Oh, that's good. That's really good. Alright, be good".

We said our byes and it was just me again.

Strangely, the strange feeling from earlier was gone. Talking to mom always had a way of doing that, I was more relaxed now especially since I was sure they hadn't come after me.

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Almost four hours later, I drove into the school premises. I was completely tired and totally worn out, I could literally feel the lines on my face and the huge bags below my eyes.

The parking lot was packed but after a while, I managed to find somewhere to park.

Getting out of the car, I took off my jacket and tied it around my waist. Then I grabbed my bag and went in search of the dorm allocation office.

I just wanted to get my dorm assignment, as fast as I could.

Reading the Inscriptions on the doors, I literally dragged myself through the halls of the admin building, looking for the office.

After fifteen minutes of wondering, I had to admit I was lost. I mean, who wouldn't get lost? The school was massive.

I began to think that I may just have made the right decision accepting to go here, I would definitely meet a lot of people here and with more people comes more fun.

Looking around and admiring the architectural structure of the school I didn't know when I walked straight into someone, causing me to lose my balance and fall on my butt.

Ouch...hurts...

"I'm so sorry" I said immediately, looking up to see that I had collided with a girl who was looking very pissed off.

"Spacey much?" she asked sarcastically. Now I was getting pissed off.

"Uhh... I said I was sorry!" I said, getting off my butt and dusting off. Now that I was on my feet, we were standing eye to eye although I was a bit taller.

"Ya, whatever...". she said and walked past me, bumping my shoulder with hers.

"Rude much?" I shouted after her and she responded with flick of her hair.

Now I was full blown frustrated.

Exhausted, pissed off and now frustrated, I bent down and picked up my bag that had fallen along with me when someone touched my shoulder and asked...

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Get your hand off me" I said, slapping her hand away.

Startled at my response, she stepped back then apologised. She was about to leave when I place my hand on her arm, stopping her.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't really mean that. I'm sure you saw what happened, I'm just really very pissed off". I explained.

It was true that I didn't at all mean it, it was just reflex. Everything happened within a split second, and I just couldn't control my response.

"It's okay, I understand". She said with a smile.

"Thank you". I said.

"So, are you okay? You look really tired" she asked.

"Yeah. Had a long drive and I have been unable to locate the dorm allocation office and now, the rude chic. Yup, just peachy" I said sarcastically, giving her a toothy grin which made her laugh.

"Is that why you've walked through this exact hall several times now?". She asked, amused.

"Yeah. Wait, what?" I asked, shocked. Had I really gone through this same hall over and over again? How?

"I knew there was something familiar about the halls" I said tiredly.

"You were probably half asleep cause' you walked around like you were in a daze". She said chuckling.

"Anyway, I'm Kendra"

"I'm Ziela but call me Zie"

"I love your name, it's...fancy". She leaned in and whispered, "are you a princess or something?".

"I'm the last princess of a fairy kingdom, far far away. Shhh... no one must ever know. Tell of it and die..." I whispered and we both giggled.

"Common, I'll show you the way". She said and I followed her.

We talked all the way to the next building, she told me about the school and the student life in general.

Then we spoke about boys, and girls, and boys again. We were laughing our heads off when she stopped in front of an office.

"Here" she said, pointing at the door. "Just go in and give the lady your name and student number. Don't worry, she is super nice. Have classes right now so, see ya later?" She smiled and left.

I watched her walk away with a smile on my on m own face then I opened the door and walked in and like Kendra said, the lady behind the desk was so very nice.

She told me my dorm building and dorm number. Then she handed me my room key and also gave me directions to make it easier.

She even offered me a sweet which reminded me that I was starving.

According to her and the paper she handed me, I was rooming with a second year and I just hoped we would get along. I had no friends here and I was eager to make some.

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I stood in front of a door that said 'A & K'.

I had grabbed the stuff I could manage from the car, most definitely including my lunch. I needed food like asap, I was so hungry that people were beginning to look like food in my head.

Pushing the stuff to one side, I manage to put in my key and open the door. When I walked through, I felt like I was in paradise. I swear it was decorated to a T with expensive looking furniture and other stuff.

I dropped my stuff on the floor and looked around. Wow!!! Was all I could say.

Whoever I am rooming with must be someone really important. Too bad rich people sometimes come with bitchy manuals, I just hope this one has a different manual but if not, a reset button because I'm going to reset the hell out of her brain if she gives me crap!

I thought to myself jokingly but still not joking.

It wasn't hard to figure out which side was mine so I sorted out the little stuff I had brought up with me, then settled on the bed to have my lunch.

Sitting on the bed, I just knew that getting out of it in the mornings would be very difficult. It was super soft.

Done eating, I stood to go get more stuff from the car, when the door opened and none other than Kendra walked in.

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GENERAL

"Daniel. Status report"

"In position, Arrived safe and sound."

"Good. Stay sharp"

"Will do."

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Thank you all for reading and following Ziela on her adventure through discovery, more chapters coming soon.

Please, do leave your comments and vote, throw some light in here. Thank you.