ARADIAN

CHAPTER 2

Nora couldn't believe her ears when she heard Katie's voice calling out her name. She had trouble recognizing Katie at first, but as she got closer, Nora exclaimed, "Kate Anderson!" Overwhelmed with joy, Nora rushed towards Katie for a warm hug. Katie shared in the excitement and embraced Nora back. "How have you been, Kate?" Nora asked, only to be corrected by Katie, "It's Katie now." Nora couldn't contain her excitement, exclaiming, "Oh my days... it's been such a long time, girl! How have you been?" Raven and Ember stood there, stunned and curious, eagerly waiting for an explanation so they could join in on the excitement too.

"Oops, my bad, Nora! Let me introduce you to my best friends, Raven Williams and Ember Michaels. Girls, meet Nora Robert, my close friend from our kindergarten days back in Indiana," Katie introduced with a smile. "No way! Are we seriously going to be roommates?" Nora exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. They were all thrilled about starting their new college journey together. As they unpacked their luggage, they couldn't help but catch up on each other's lives. "You know, I used to have the biggest crush on Matthew, your cute older brother, back in the day. How's Matt doing, by the way?" Katie inquired. Nora replied with a smile, "Oh, Matt is doing great! He decided to pursue photography in the vibrant city of New York about three months ago." "New York?!" Katie exclaimed, a proud yet shy expression on her face. "I bet Matt is looking so handsome there. I wish I could see him again," she added wistfully. In response, Nora reached into her bag and pulled out her phone, saying, "Here, you can take a look at his i********: pictures." Katie eagerly glanced at Nora's phone, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed. Ember and Raven quickly joined in to take a look at Matt's i********: profile. "Damn! Hello, sir," Raven said, clearly impressed. "He looks charming," Ember added. Katie, feeling a rush of excitement, reached into her bag to grab her phone. "I'm gonna send him a follow request right now," she declared hastily. Nora couldn't help but smile and let out a soft laugh at the sight of Katie's enthusiasm. After finishing unpacking, they all decided to explore the school grounds. "I'm so happy to be here with you guys. I've been waiting for this day for so long," Nora expressed. "Oh,! I get it," Raven chimed in, her face filled with relief. They strolled through the school garden, marveling at its beauty. The vibrant colors of the meticulously arranged plants and flowers caught their attention. Ember, who had a deep love for nature and was quite knowledgeable, couldn't contain her excitement when she spotted some plants and flowers she had only read about before. "Oh my goodness, this is Aconitum, also known as Wolfsbane!" she exclaimed."Wait, you still believe in witches and werewolves?" Raven asked, sounding disappointed. Ember confidently responded, "Absolutely! I still believe in them, especially after learning all the spells my grandma taught me before she passed away." Katie let out a sigh of disappointment. Despite their differing beliefs, they continued walking with smiles on their faces, observing and enjoying the activities of others around them. Raven decided to grab a hotdog from one of the food stands, while the rest of the group settled on a pillar under a majestic tree. "Oh my gosh, I'm so hungry!" Raven exclaimed. "Four hotdogs, please," she added, placing her order. After getting some snacks for herself and her friends, she joined them under the shade of the tree. Katie's gaze shifted towards the gymnastics team, captivated by the girls gracefully performing forward rolls, handstands, and cartwheels. "Wow, they're so talented. I've always dreamed of being a gymnast, but ever since my dad left, I lost sight of that dream," Katie confided. Nora, surprised and saddened by the revelation, reached out and held Katie's hand, assuring her, "Everything will be okay, trust me. I think you should go back and practice more to become a professional gymnast." Katie looked at Nora, seeking confirmation, and asked, "Do you think so?" Raven and Ember chimed in, their voices filled with agreement, "Absolutely! You've got this, Katie!" Katie got up and approached the gymnastics team, hoping to make some new friends. She walked up to a girl who was in the middle of a cartwheel, wanting to introduce herself. However, the girl completely ignored Katie, leaving her with a sad and irritated expression. Just then, a friendly dark-skinned girl with curly brown hair approached Katie with a warm smile. "Don't mind Cassie, she's not very nice. Hey, I'm Lucy. Nice to meet you," she said, extending her hand for a handshake. "I'm Katie, Katie Anderson. Nice to meet you too! I love what you guys are doing here. It caught my attention. I've always been a fan of gymnastics," Katie exclaimed. Lucy became intrigued and joined Katie as they walked over to meet the rest of the group. Katie introduced Lucy to everyone, and then Lucy asked, "So, what are you guys studying in college?" Raven replied, "I'm studying Geology," and Katie added, "I'm studying History, while Ember is studying Psychology." Just as Katie was about to mention Nora's major, Nora interjected, "English!" "Awesome!" Lucy exclaimed. "I actually received a gymnastics scholarship here too, but I'm currently studying Engineering," she added with a proud smile. Just as Lucy was about to continue the conversation, Cassie called out to her, signaling her to join the team. "Well, it was nice meeting all of you," Lucy said as she walked away. The girls waved at Lucy with smiles on their faces and made their way back to their dorm to prepare the following day.

The following day, they had to sort out their class schedules and timetables. It was an exciting day for all of them as they were eager to make new friends. Katie, in particular, couldn't wait to find a special someone. It was going to be a fun day for sure. Raven couldn't contain her excitement as her birthday approached, even though she didn't want a big celebration. She thought it would be nice to have a small gathering with the girls and the new friends she planned to make. With a smile on her face, Raven entered her class, eager to meet new faces. As the lecturer began the class with a warm greeting, everyone settled down. Suddenly, a handsome young man walked in, apologizing for being late. Raven's eyes were immediately drawn to him - his dark hair, smooth skin, and broad shoulders. She couldn't help but stare at him until he sat down beside her. The class was in full swing when the lecturer posed a question: "What is the term for the process of rock fragments being transported and deposited by wind, water, or ice?" There was a brief silence until the late arrival, Hunter, decided to lend a hand. "It's erosion," he confidently answered. The lecturer acknowledged his correct response and asked a few more questions, all of which Hunter answered flawlessly. Raven couldn't help but be impressed. When Hunter caught her gaze, she quickly turned away, blushing with shyness.