Chapter 2: The scholarship girl
371 Words
The morning sun streamed through the windows of the freshman registration hall, bathing the room in a warm golden glow.
Students rushed from one desk to another, clutching documents and laughing excitedly as they searched for their names.
For many of them...
University was the beginning of freedom.
For Ava Bennett...
It was the beginning of responsibility.
She hugged her admission file to her chest, whispering a silent prayer before joining the queue.
"Mom... I won't let you down."
The line moved slowly.
An hour later, she finally collected her student ID.
She smiled.
The small plastic card wasn't just an ID.
It was proof that every sleepless night, every sacrifice, and every prayer had been worth it.
After completing her registration, Ava dragged her suitcase toward the girls' hostel.
Her room number...
B-214.
She knocked softly.
The door swung open almost immediately.
A girl with shoulder-length brown hair and bright eyes stared at her for a second before breaking into a wide grin.
"You must be my roommate!"
Before Ava could answer...
The girl wrapped her in a warm hug.
"I'm Chloe!"
Ava laughed nervously.
"I'm... Ava."
"Perfect!"
Chloe pulled her inside.
"I've been waiting forever."
The room wasn't huge.
Two beds.
Two study tables.
One shared wardrobe.
Simple...
But cozy.
For the first time that day...
Ava finally felt at home.
Later that evening...
The two girls wandered around campus together.
Chloe pointed out different buildings.
"That's the science block."
"That's the library."
"And over there..."
She suddenly stopped walking.
"...is the basketball arena."
Students crowded around the entrance.
Cheers echoed from inside.
Ava looked confused.
"What's happening?"
Chloe looked at her as though she'd asked why the sky was blue.
"Practice."
"So?"
"So?"
Chloe nearly gasped.
"Damon Hayes is practicing."
Ava sighed.
"Everyone keeps talking about him."
"You'll understand soon."
Just then...
A basketball flew out of the arena.
It bounced once.
Twice.
Then rolled across the pavement...
Stopping right in front of Ava's feet.
The crowd fell silent.
Every eye turned toward her.
A deep voice echoed from inside the arena.
"Bring it back."
Ava looked down at the ball.
Then toward the court.
Standing beneath the bright lights...
Damon Hayes.
Watching her.
End of Chapter Two.
- Writer
