Her Story

Chapter 3 : The Hectic First Year

A stout middle-aged lady with pixie haircut stood in front of them with a large smile on her face. Anna had held onto the nearest wall that she could find while Noel ran to hug the lady grinning at her ; she was almost scared to death for a second time in approximately three days with Noel Haringh(*GREAT START FOR FIRST YEAR OF UNI. DUH!!*) The two of them looked so normal hugging each other that Anna had started to feel dizzy so she just tried to regain her composure.

"Anna, this is Mrs. Elif Jones, my nanny and kinda best friend too", Noel said winking at Mrs. Jones as if everything was very normal(*WHICH IT DEFINITELY WASN'T*).

"Hello, Mrs. Jones, I am Anna Sanders, Noel's flatmate. Nice to meet you", Anna said shaking hands with the lady. Then she turned to glare at Noel for a massive five seconds before excusing herself.

She could hear the two of them talking animatedly but she was too mad at Noel about that whole event to find it fascinating. She just curled up into a little ball on the sofa in the corner of her bedroom with the lights still off. She was still shaken up but knew that she has to get back to normal as soon as possible before it happens again...

After about an hour, Noel asked Anna to come out for dinner which she reluctantly did because he just won't leave her alone. Mrs. Jones was a really nice lady and an awesome cook.

Anna and she soon bonded over Noel's love for food. Noel didn't protest about that, obviously, because he was too busy stuffing his mouth with food. Mrs. Jones was starting to get ready to leave the flat when Anna said, "Isn't it too late to leave? In fact, I thought you are going to stay with us and even if you want to go, you could go back tomorrow morning 'cause we will be attending lectures tomorrow onwards so we won't have time to have lunch here. "

"Oh no, dear, I will come back tomorrow morning again. Besides my home is not too far from here", Mrs. Jones replied smiling.

"It's not? ", Anna asked in confusion.

"No, in fact, it's quite close. I guess Noel forgot to tell you about it", Mrs. Jones said in an obvious tone.

" Oh, I am sure he did", Anna said glaring at Noel. She away still pretty mad at him for not warning her about Mrs. Jones arrival beforehand.

"Um, yeah, I guess I did", Noel replied while laughing as if it didn't matter and that only made Anna even more angrier.

"Okay, sweeties, bye now. See you tomorrow. Good night. ", said Mrs. Jones leaving the flat.

Noel and Anna said their goodbyes to her, and the moment she left, Anna turned to Noel and said, " So what did you forget to tell me now? Someone else appearing out of thin air tomorrow when we come back home?" in a rather menacing tone.

"Er, sorry about that, actually I forgot to tell you about Mrs. Jones because you were too busy with the Uni stuff", Noel said slumping onto the sofa.

" That's a terrible excuse, you know and what is the other that Mrs. Jones said I should have known about?", Anna asked glaring at Noel.

"Oh, that. Well, actually my Grandma's house is just a kilometer away from here and that is where Ryan and Mrs. Jones stay when they are not here. I was about to tell that to you..", Noel was saying when Anna cut him off saying "But obviously you forgot, right? I wonder when were you going to tell me about this. By the way, if you don't mind, may I know that this Grandma of yours is from which side of your parentage?"

"Yeah, sure. She is the mother of my late mother and we lost Grandpa two years ago. You would love him, he was a very nice person, the jolly type, you know", Noel said almost happily.

"Oh, I am so sorry I didn't want to hurt you. It's just that I am very bad at handling sudden apparitions, I get kinda....shocked and then I get a nervous breakdown", Anna said almost reluctantly.

"No, it's alright. I can understand and I will make sure that this does not happen again. Now, can we please watch TV or play games? I am bored af. Besides, Uni is starting tomorrow so we should celebrate our sanity today. Cheers to us!!", Noel said taking out a can of beer from the refrigerator. He can be really fast sometimes.

"Neither I drink nor I play games. We can watch TV though and it will be really nice of you , that warning me beforehand thing. ", Anna said grudgingly.

"Why, you are welcome, Miss Sanders but I must say you are a very good girl like you don't drink so I am assuming that you even don't smoke", Noel concluded.

"Thank you, Noel", Anna said dramatically and they watched TV for the next one hour before Anna suddenly realised that she had not called her family that day and it was already night so it was near about high time before her mother storms into the flat to check on her.

So she excused herself to go to her bedroom and then called on her mother's number, all the time mentally preparing herself for the backlash that she might be facing.

"Hello Anna, I had just started rejoicing the fact that you forgot about us but then here you are calling us again", her brother smirked from the other end of the line.

"Oh sorry for the disappointment, Addy but I have more important people to deal with right now, for instance, mom", Anna snapped at him.

"Here you go, mom", Addy said and this was exactly what Anna was mentally preparing herself for, her mom.

"Hi mom. How are you? "

"Where have you been all this time? I have been waiting for you to call since forever. "

"Er, I was just trying to figure out some things here. Besides it was just yesterday that you all dropped me here so I don't think it has been that long. Sorry, though, I should have called you earlier. "

"It's okay dear. You know how anxious I get when it comes to you. Not that I wanted to disturb you or something. So how is your flatmate? "

There you go, the flatmate..

"I know mom and there is no way that any of you could ever disturb me and far as my flatmate is concerned, well, he is pretty good."

"Wait, what do you mean he? Your flatmate is a boy? Why didn't I know about this?"

Anna's mom's voice was an octave or two higher now.

"Yeah mom, he's a boy but he is a nice person, like he is harmless, you know. Just a jolly lad from an over the top rich family and he also talks a lot."

Anna did not try to hide her distaste while saying what she said about Noel.

"But how do you know that he is good? I mean he could be cunning."

"C'mon mom don't you say that those who talk a lot are generally good people like they are truthful and all that. Besides I can take care of myself."

"Yeah but.. "

"Mom please.. Let's not drag that topic anymore, okay? How is dad and is Addy being notorious again? "

"Okay if you say so but you have to call me everyday so that I know that you are fine. Dad is his usual self, I mean, fine and Addy is trying to be less notorious. I really wish you were here. "

"Hey, mom please don't talk like that, I feel guilty when you say that. I can talk to dad if you want me to but until then try to be at peace with him, okay? "

"No it's okay I can handle him on my own. Don't worry about us; just focus on what you are there for. I don't want you to end up in a toxic household like you know.. what I mean. "

(*Toxic household? AN UNDERSTATEMENT.*)

"Yeah mom, I will try to do my best. I will be fine."

"Let me know if your flatmate is troublesome to you. "

"Okay mom. Bye now. Good night. Tomorrow is my first day of the first academic year in University and I don't want to be late. "

"Yeah fine, honey. We can talk tomorrow. Good night. Bye. Take care."

"Bye mom. You too take care. "

Anna just sat there for a minute or two trying to calm down her nerves. Then she walked out of her room while logging into i********: in her phone.

"Woah, how come you have a phone and I don't know about it", Noel asked her from the sofa, watching Spongebob? (*Seriously? Duh!*)

"What made you think I don't? ", she shot an eyebrow up at him.

"I never saw you using one", Noel said and shrugged.

"I don't stick to my phone like a leech, you know", she snapped at him.

"Okay but don't I get your number, like for emergencies and all? ", he asked.

"Yeah but that is as long as you don't call or text me unnecessarily", she replied.

"Yeah fine. I will try", he said happily.

Soon they had exchanged numbers and were heading to their bedrooms to get some sleep so that they don't look sleep-deprived on their first day.

Next morning, Anna again woke up to the sound of a guitar being played in the living room which she definitely did not like because she was used to waking up to the sound of birds chirping by her bedroom's window unlike here where there was no window let alone birds. She dressed up in the first set of clothes that she found in her wardrobe which was a black jeans and a light blue tank top, tied her hair into a ponytail and stuffed her backpack with the books she would be needing for the day before walking out of her room for breakfast only to find Noel sitting on a stool by the only window in the living room playing a tune on his guitar .

"Good morning Annie", Noel mused .

"Good morning Noel but please don't call me Annie."

Mrs. Jones was already preparing breakfast in the kitchen but Anna had no idea when did that happen because her sleep has never been deep.

"But I spent a whole night trying to figure out a good nickname for you. It's not fair", Noel protested.

"Hasn't anyone told you life isn't fair? As far as that nickname is concerned, it is nowhere close to good."

"That was poetic. Please let me call you 'Annie' . Trust me it's really nice . In fact, how about we take a second opinion ? Mrs. Jones can always help, ya know."

Noel winked at Anna while she rolled her eyes at him.

"I don't think I should interfere in this matter, Mr. Haringh ", Mrs. Jones said smiling at the duo.

"Now how many timesdo I have to tell you to call me Noel, Mrs. Jones ? You know you two are getting on my nerves now", Noel complained.

"Sorry... er, Noel, I will try to keep that in mind", Mrs. Jones replied.

"That still leaves us with another problem that is Anna's nickname. "

Anna glared at Noel for a minute before melting at his puppy face and said, "Fine you can call me 'Annie' but only when we are here, yeah?"

"That's fine by me. Yay!!"

"Okay enough celebration ; now can we get ready for our lectures?"

"Of course, I am always ready, you see."

"Um, well, I am afraid that what you are wearing is not the ideal dressing style for a fresher."

Mrs. Jones cracked up at this followed by Anna while Noel pouted before going to change.

After about forty five minutes, both Anna and Noel had found their respective classrooms so they wished luck to each other before parting their ways. They had walked to the University because it wasn't too far away from their flat and had successfully managed to get their respective schedules for the year from the main office after a struggle of fifteen minutes. Anna wasn't even half as excited as Noel for the first lecture which was History for her and music for Noel.

Anna took one of the seats in the corner third row of the class. The professor had not arrived yet and the students were filing into the class room in groups. The class room was quite big with high roof, a number of windows(*THE BEST PART SO FAR*) and a white board on the wall behind the teacher's desk. The seats were designed for two and were arranged in neat rows and columns.

Anna was desperately trying to look up for something interesting written in the first chapter of her History book just so that she could avoid any sort of interaction with the other students. After about what seemed to be forever, the class came to an end.

The entire day was a blur of lectures, and hasty introductions with the professors and students. Anna was so done with sitting alone in the  classrooms trying to get through the boring lectures that she had almost started to crave for Noel's company which was either due to the fact that she was missing her family or she was just losing her mind. The latter seemed to be a greater possibility because it had been only two and a half days tat she had been here without her family but then you never know.

She didn't need to struggle much to find Noel because the moment the last lecture ended, she received a message from Noel who informed her that he was waiting for her outside the main building(*THANK GOODNESS*). They went back to the flat telling each other about the disastrous day.

Noel was as much energetic after a full day of boring lectures as he was in the morning(*GODS BLESS THIS KID*) but Anna was so tired that all she could think of listening to some of her favourite music and later do her homework while Noel decided that he will go and explore the area for a while.

"Are you sure ? Like you really aren't coming with me? We can have Ryan drive us through the area if you want", Noel asked her while putting on his shoes.

"No, thanks Noel because as much as I appreciate having a chauffeur, I really just want to finish my homework. Don't sorry about me , go have fun."

"Okay, as you wish. See you later and yeah, Mrs. Jones has kept the dinner in the refrigerator. You can wait for me if you want to, though."

"I guess I'll wait 'cause I am not so hungry. Bye, see you later."

"Yeah, cool. Bye."

As soon as Noel left, Anna plugged her earphones into her ears and started humming music under her breath trying to sort the mess of the day inside her head. About an hour later, she finally started doing her homework and was done with it by the time Noel came back.

Noel ranted about his trip while Anna had her dinner passing comments sometimes just so as to humour him. Then they both went to sleep tired of the day's activities.

Ever since then every day of the first year had almost been the same except the weekends(*OF COURSE*). Anna used to call her family every now and then. She would also go out with Noel to some of the stupid house parties his friends used to throw but mostly, she would just stay back at the flat with Mrs. Jones; sometimes helping her with cooking or just doing her homework.

A single incident had happened during the second month of the year when Anna had missed a day of University due to a bad headache.

The next day when she went to college, she had taken her usual seat in the corner third row when the class went completely silent due to a suddenly greeting from someone whom Anna almost mistook him for the professor.

He chuckled and said, "Hi lads, what's up? You missed me? Well, I missed y'all too."

The class started laughing at this , some of them even said, "Yeah Harold, how could we not miss the life of this class!!" though Anna did not see the point of doing so. The boy waved his hand at them dismissively as if he were a celebrity and then, he started walking towards.... Anna's seat.

Upon closer look, the boy was quite tall and... beautiful. His skin was as pale as paper, dark brown hair falling upto his shoulders and.... his eyes were grey like the clouds in the sky. He was wearing black skinny jeans and a floral printed shirt tucked in; and he was looking like a runaway model. Apparently, he was some extremely rich and reputed family that must be why he was getting so much attention.

He came straight towards her and said in a very obvious tone, "This is my seat."

Anna  shifted to the next seat and offered him the other seat but he crossed his hands across his chest and said, "I meant both the seats. Now could you please excuse me madam?"

Now he might be rich but Anna's tolerance evaporates when it comes to rich and mean kids so she just snapped back, "Oh I am sorry sir but as far as I remember just a day ago , I used to sit alone here so I don't see what has changed now."

The boy glared at her for a second before letting out another mean chuckle and then said , "You could always take another seat , there are quite a few vacant around here."

"No thanks, though you could do the same", Anna said with as much hate as she could.

The boy was a bit shaken up by this response as if nobody had ever declined him anything but he quickly regained his composure and said, "Yeah I could."

He glared at Anna again before going to sit in the front row of the class with another boy and immediately, started a conversation with him as if this was quite normal for him. Anna's entire day was a row of unlucky events after that incident.

Ever since then, she had not seen the boy again coming anywhere close to her because obviously she had made her point to him the very first day he had tried to mess with her.

Anna had taken up a part time job in a confectionery, a few lanes down the University campus, owned by an old couple whose only son used to live somewhere else with his family. She could see how sad they were about it and they also needed help with the shop, tbough they were reluctant to take her help at first but then somehow Anna managed to convince them but they had a condition that they would pay her whatever they would be able to which Anna had to accept if she wanted to help them so she did. Noel was pretty worried about her when she told him about it; but she did not tell him that she was trying to help the couple by doing so and not for earing money because she felt that it might be awkward for everyone otherwise with No's big mouth.

"You see you really don't have to work there. I could lend you whatever you need", Noel protested.

"I don't need or want anyone's help . My family can fulfill my needs, I am working because I want to. I get bored sitting here all the time and those parties you go to are meaningless to me so don't try to convince me otherwise", Anna replied.

"But you could join some clubs at Uni if you feel bored, why do do you have to work?"

"Come on , Noel. Give it a rest okay? I will be alright you really don't have to sorry about me."

"You are too stubborn for me to handle but at least make sure that your studies don't get affected by it and.... keep me updated about your activities, yeah?"

"Of course. Thanks Noel."

"You are welcome but I still don't see why are you insisting upon working in that shop."

"Because I love sweets."

"You are crazy."

"So are you."

That was that.

The whole year passed just like that, Anna going to attend the lectures in the morning and later, working at the confectionery until the evening and Noel attending his lectures in the morning and attending stupid parties in the afternoon. Every day after dinner Anna would forcefully make Noel do his homework with her and then they would go to sleep.

Then came Christmas when they would have to go back home for their holidays. Noel was very excited about his holidays, not that Anna wasn't . She had just got so used to staying alone here that she had a bit of difficulty to realise that she would have to go back home already but she had to go because she too was missing her family.

So they said their goodbyes and Mrs. Jones actually became quite emotional when Anna gave her a Christmas present. She had given one to the owners of the place she used to work in too despite their vehement protests. They were really good people. She had established a precious bond with them in the four months that she had worked there. They used to pay her whatever little bit they could and she had to take it because of the deal they had agreed upon. Noel used to try to convince to leave the job every now and then, with no results because she won't budge.

When she gave one to Noel, he literally cried because apparently, he wasn't expecting one(*GODS KNOW WHY*).

"Thank you so much, Annie," he said wiping off his tears. Anna had got used to that nickname by now.

"Stop crying or I too will start crying ," Anna said trying to get the situation under control.

"Um, okay. Well, I too have a Christmas present for you. Here," he said handing her a medium sized flat box. The box was light.

"I hope you haven't spent too much money on this because we have two more years to give each other Christmas presents."

"Well, my dad has a lot of money but no, it's not something very expensive because I know that you might as well return it to me if it is."

"Yeah, right. So we'll open our presents on Christmas, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Mrs. Jones nodded in agreement. Then the three of them together left the flat. Noel and Mrs. Jones had their car waiting while Anna had to go to the bus stop to get a bus to her home. Her father had insisted upon coming to pick her up but she had denied that offer.

Soon Anna was on her way back home in the bus and was texting her mother that she would be reach home in time for lunch.

Chapter end notes :

Phew!! This chapter is so very long . I'm sorry I took so long for publishing the new chapter. I hope you guys like it. Let me know your views on it. I will try to publish the new chapter as soon as possible. I couldn't figure out a song for this chapter too. You have any suggestions?

Thanks for reading y'all lovely people.

Loads of love.❤️