The Upside of Falling

Millie felt a familiar buzz of excitement as she stepped onto the UCLA campus. This was it—college! A new chapter in her life, and the beginning of a journey that she had been looking forward to for months. She glanced around, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling campus, feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. But then she caught sight of a familiar figure, and her nerves settled. Seb. Her best friend since childhood, and someone she had always felt comfortable around. They had grown up together, attending the same schools and sharing countless memories. And now, they were both here at UCLA, embarking on their college journey together. "Hey," Seb said, as he caught up to her. He looked different, more mature and confident than she remembered, but the same warm smile was there. "You ready for this?" "As ready as I'll ever be," Millie replied, grinning back at him. They fell into step together, walking towards the freshman dorms. It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining bright and the breeze blowing softly through the trees. As they chatted about their summer vacations and the classes they were taking, Millie couldn't help but feel a little flutter of something in her chest. She had always been aware of how good-looking Seb was, with his sharp features and bright brown eyes, but now she was noticing things about him that she hadn't before. The way his smile lit up his face, or the way his broad shoulders looked in his t-shirt. It was a little confusing, and a little scary, but mostly... exciting. She tried to ignore the feeling, though, and focus on the moment. She and Seb had always been close, but there was something special about their bond that she couldn't quite explain. They just understood each other in a way that no one else did. When they reached the dorms, they were assigned to different dorms but in the same building which was the Hitch Residential Suites, but they promised to meet up later and explore the campus together. Millie couldn't wait to see what the next few years would bring, and she was grateful to have Seb by her side as she started this new chapter of her life. As she settled into her new room and started to unpack her things, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous. College was a big change, and there were so many unknowns. But then she remembered Seb's words from earlier, and she smiled to herself. "Hey, Millie," he had said, as they walked towards the dorms. "No matter what happens, we'll always have each other's backs. That's what best friends are for, right?" She felt a surge of gratitude for Seb, and for their friendship. Whatever the future held, she knew that they would face it together. That night, as she lay in bed, Millie couldn't stop thinking about Seb. She replayed their conversations in her mind, and tried to understand the strange, tingly feeling that had been growing inside her. Was it possible that she was starting to see Seb in a new light? As more than just a friend? She didn't know for sure, but as she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but feel excited for the journey that lay ahead. College was full of new beginnings, and who knew what surprises were in store? Millie woke up feeling refreshed and energized. She hopped out of bed and quickly got dressed. As she headed out of her dorm room, she noticed that the campus was already bustling with students heading to class or to grab breakfast at the dining hall. As Millie made her way to the dining hall, she saw Seb waiting for her at the entrance. He had a cup of coffee in his hand and a big smile on his face. "Good morning, Millie! How'd you sleep?" Seb asked. "I slept really well, thanks for asking. How about you?" Millie replied. "I slept like a baby. I always sleep well when I'm in my own bed," Seb said, grinning. As they made their way to the dining hall, Seb showed Millie around campus, pointing out important landmarks and buildings. Millie listened intently and marveled at the beauty of the campus. She could already tell that she was going to love it there. After breakfast, they continued their tour of the campus. They explored the library, the student center, and the various academic buildings. They stopped at the student union and picked up flyers for different clubs and organizations. As they walked, Millie couldn't help but notice how well Seb knew the campus. It was clear that he had spent a lot of time here and knew the ins and outs of the school. She felt lucky to have him as her guide. As the day went on, Millie and Seb attended their first few classes. They took notes and introduced themselves to their classmates. During a break between classes, they found a quiet spot on campus and sat down to chat. "So, what do you think of the school so far?" Seb asked. "I love it! The campus is beautiful, the classes seem interesting, and everyone seems really friendly," Millie said. "I'm glad you like it. I have a feeling we're going to have an amazing four years here," Seb said. As they continued to talk, Millie found herself getting lost in Seb's words. She had always loved how easy it was to talk to him, and how he always seemed to understand her. As she looked into his eyes, she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her stomach. Was it possible that she was developing feelings for Seb? She tried to push the thought aside, knowing that it could complicate their friendship, but the more time she spent with him, the harder it became to deny her feelings. As they walked around campus, Seb pointed out various landmarks and buildings, his knowledge of the school seeming to surpass that of a typical first-year student. "Have you been here before?" Millie asked, impressed by Seb's familiarity with the campus. Seb chuckled. "Yeah, my parents took me to visit a few times when I was younger. Plus, I did a lot of research on the school before applying. I wanted to make sure it was the right fit." Millie nodded, understanding the importance of finding the right school. As they walked, Seb's hand brushed against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. She quickly pulled away, feeling embarrassed. They soon arrived at their next class, and as they parted ways, Seb gave Millie a quick smile before disappearing into his own classroom. Millie couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, wishing they could have spent more time together. But she knew they had the whole year ahead of them, and she was excited to see where their friendship would go. After their last class for the day, they both decided to meet up at the dining hall to get their fill. While eating their dinner both ate while chatting about their day, seemingly updating each other about what their day looked like. Millie gushed about her program in Fine Arts at UCLA. She had always been passionate about painting and was thrilled to have the opportunity to study it at one of the best schools in the country. Seb listened intently, admiring her enthusiasm and dedication. He had always been impressed by Millie's talent and work ethic, and he knew that she was going to excel in her program. "That's amazing, Millie," Seb said with a smile. "I'm so excited for you. You're going to do great things." "Thanks, Seb," Millie replied, blushing at the compliment. "I'm really excited about it too. I can't wait to see what the next four years have in store for me." "Pretty." Seb said while looking at Millie, seemingly lost in her eyes. "Huh? What's pretty?" Millie retorted looking confused with what Seb said. "Nothing. Forget it, finish eating your food its gonna turn cold." He said while smiling innocently and continuing to eat his dinner as well. Millie acted like she had no clue about what Seb said. But, in reality she was about to faint from having her heart beat so fast and loud at that. She wonders if Seb could hear how loud her heartbeat is right now. Ah, how she wish he wouldn't notice how that one statement of his made her have butterflies in her stomach. After finishing their food, they decided to go back to their respective dorms. Seb has some business to attend to. Yes, business. Even though Seb was just a freshman, he was already making his name by having his own startup business together with a few close friends of his. His start-up business was focused on digital marketing for small and local businesses. With Seb's interest and inherent talent in entrepreneurship and marketing, he was able to realize his dream of starting his own business. Millie decided to turn in for the night. Excited as to what awaits her in the future. Seb woke up early the next day, as he always did. He got dressed and headed to the campus library, which he had grown to love since arriving at college. With his backpack filled with textbooks, notebooks, and his laptop, Seb walked towards the library. As he walked, he pulled out his phone and checked the status of his start-up business, a digital marketing agency that he had founded with a few close friends. They had started small, working on social media campaigns for local businesses in the area, but things had picked up quickly, and they were now working with clients all over the country. Despite his busy schedule, Seb was determined to succeed in his studies, and he spent the next few hours in the library, pouring over his textbooks and taking notes. He was studying business and marketing, and his classes were challenging, but he loved the subject matter. As he worked, he couldn't help but think about his business, and the ways in which he could apply his studies to help his clients grow their own businesses. After a few hours of studying, Seb decided to take a break and grab a coffee. As he sat in the café, sipping his latte, he pulled out his laptop and started working on some marketing strategies for a new client. He was in the zone, his fingers typing quickly across the keyboard, and he barely noticed the passing of time. It wasn't until he glanced up at the clock that he realized he was running late for his next class. Seb quickly gathered his things and headed out of the café, making his way across campus to his next lecture. Despite the rush, he felt energized and ready for whatever the day had in store for him. On Millie's side, she woke up pretty early, doing her morning routine and grabbing a food while on the move. She plans to do her daily sketch on her worn-out sketchpad. A gift given by Seb on her 18th birthday. Doing small sketches have become her habit ever since little. It started as her dad giving her her first-ever sketching pad and telling her to draw on it anything that catches her eye. And after that, every day, her dad would ask her what she draw and ask to see it. And every time he did, he made sure to let little Millie know that she did a good job with her art. He would buy her ice cream without her mom knowing. Because if her mom finds out about her dad and she would definitely hear an earful of how it's not good to eat ice cream so often. After sketching the view in front of her residential suite she made her way to her first class.