The Boy That stayed

Chapter fourteen - The Roommates ( I )

The familiar figure was gone.

I blinked once more and looked across the track, but there was no sign of him.

Maybe I had imagined it.

I shook my head and turned away.

There were still places I wanted to see.

The university was beginning to feel less like a maze, even though I knew I had barely scratched the surface.

My next stop was the administrative office.

I wanted to know exactly where my classes would be before the semester officially started. The last thing I needed was to wake up late on my first day and spend half the morning wandering around campus looking for a lecture hall.

Finding the administration building wasn't as difficult as finding the library had been.

Once I got there, I joined a short line of students waiting at the front desk.

When it was my turn, I handed over my student information.

"I'm trying to get my class schedule."

The woman behind the desk checked my details.

"Course?"

I told her.

She typed for a moment before printing out my schedule.

"Here you go."

I took the paper.

"Thank you."

I stepped aside and looked at it.

There were several courses listed, each with a different lecture hall.

I stared at the names.

Then at the campus map.

Then back at the schedule.

"Okay," I whispered. "Let's find these places before tomorrow."

The first lecture hall wasn't too far away.

I walked there and memorized the building.

The second one was on the other side of campus.

The third took me even longer to find.

By the time I located the final hall on my list, I was beginning to understand why students kept warning newcomers not to underestimate the size of the university.

I took pictures of the buildings on my phone so I wouldn't forget them.

At least tomorrow, I wouldn't have to panic.

After finishing that, I headed toward the student recreational center.

It was another large building, filled with spaces where students could relax, study, play games, or simply spend time between classes.

I walked through slowly.

There were couches arranged around a television.

A few students were playing board games.

Others sat with laptops open.

Music played softly somewhere in the background.

I found a quiet corner and sat down for a few minutes.

I watched everyone around me.

It was strange.

I had spent most of my life surrounded by people, yet I had never felt more alone than I did when I was surrounded by them.

I didn't know anyone here.

No one knew me.

There was something comforting about that.

Back home, my name carried memories I couldn't escape.

Here, I was just Maya.

A new student.

Nothing more.

Maybe that was what I needed.

I stayed there until the afternoon began slipping toward evening.

Eventually, I checked my phone.

I had been walking around for most of the day.

My feet hurt.

My stomach was beginning to complain again.

It was time to go back.

When I reached the dormitory, I noticed immediately that something had changed.

The door to my Room was wide open.

And there was noise coming from inside.

Lots of it.

Laughter.

Talking.

Someone seemed to be telling a story at full volume.

I stopped outside the door.

What happened here?

Then I remembered the two empty beds.

My other roommates must have arrived.

I pushed the door open.

Two girls immediately turned toward me.

One of them practically jumped off the bed.

"You're Maya!"

I blinked.

"Yes."

She rushed over with a huge smile.

"I'm Hannah!"

She pointed toward the other girl.

"And that's Grace."

Grace waved.

"Hi!"

"Hi."

"We've been waiting to meet you!"

I smiled politely.

"Nice to meet you."

Hannah looked at me from head to toe.

"You've been gone all day?"

"Yeah. I was exploring."

"Already?"

I nodded.

"I wanted to know where everything was before classes start."

Grace laughed.

"Girl, you're serious."

I smiled.

"A little."

They began talking almost immediately.

They told me about where they were from, their courses, how long they'd been at the university, and everything they'd already discovered about campus.

I listened.

Occasionally, I answered a question.

Sometimes I smiled.

But inside, I was exhausted.

Their excitement wasn't unpleasant.

It was simply a lot.

After spending most of the day walking around alone, I wasn't prepared for so much conversation.

Hannah asked me something, and I answered.

Grace asked another question.

I answered that too.

Eventually, I looked toward my bed.

"I think I'm going to lie down for a little while."

"Sure," Hannah said.

I smiled.

"I'll see you guys later."

I placed my phone beside my pillow and lay down.

For several minutes, I simply stared at the ceiling.

My stomach growled.

I sighed.

Rest would have to wait.

I needed dinner.

I eventually made my way back to the cafeteria.

It was less crowded than it had been earlier.

I bought dinner and found a quiet table.

As I ate, my mind wandered to something else.

Money.

My scholarship covered part of my tuition, but Mum couldn't handle every expense on her own.

I'd promised myself I'd find a part-time job.

Something that wouldn't interfere with my classes.

Something that could help me pay for food, transportation, books, and the little things I would need throughout the semester.

After dinner, I checked a few notice boards around campus.

Part-time positions.

Student assistant jobs.

Tutoring opportunities.

A few posters advertised temporary work.

I took pictures of two of them.

Nothing seemed suitable yet.

Still, it was a start.

I would keep looking.

I couldn't afford to give up.