So this is totally fictional , my imagination , it has nothing to do with reality.
*******
A deep sigh escaped me, tasting like dread. Starting college was supposed to be a fresh slate, not... this.
I was already running ridiculously late, so the dusty alleyway shortcut behind the campus seemed like my only hope. I burst out, propelled by desperation, and plowed straight into someone just stepping out of a sleek black car. A sickening scrape echoed as my backpack snagged something, and my heart plummeted. I'd scratched his car. And I'd probably just flattened a person.
"Oh my god, I am so, so, so incredibly sorry!" I stammered, scrambling to my feet. My gaze shot up, offering a frantic bow as I tried to dart away again. But a stern-looking man, presumably a bodyguard, stepped in front of me, blocking my escape.
"Look, I know I've caused a problem," I pleaded, my voice a rush, "but I really need to get to college. My first day!"
The man's face remained impassive. "Miss, you've scratched the car and inconvenienced our sir. You'll need to compensate for the damages."
Before I could argue, the "sir" spoke up. His voice was smooth, edged with a casual arrogance that instantly bristled me. "You'll pay, but I'm late too. Just give me your contact information." He didn't even look at me properly, just swept his gaze over my disheveled state.
Geez, what a jerk. What had I stumbled into? Grudgingly, I rattled off my number. He took it, barely glanced at me again, and then his car roared away, leaving me fuming in its exhaust.
Ugh, I seriously need a car.
I reached the college , barely at time the gaurd was about to close the gate so i sprinted in , without any warning afraid that he might close it if I did so." Hey! That was dangerous!" He shouted as I ran in. I noticed that the campus was huge with a statue at the centre , of the founder. The buildings the academy and the sports area was divided . That's great.
I ran though the Hallway, till I found the auditorium. The auditorium was huge almost fitting the whole college population . At the aisle , our principal with the college's owner was giving the welcome speech. I tip-toed inside , it took me 10 minutes to find Lisa and stood beside her.
"Hey, you're late" She said keeping her eyes glued on the principal i suppose. Well isn't it a good day, to start off your college and you don't know the principal
"Sorry, I got into some trouble with a guy" I said
"Woo.... tell me more later" She said obviously thinking that I got some guy in love with me or whatever.
The speech was over after another ten minutes or so . And we all went for our first class.
"So tell me !" Lisa jumped up and said with excitement .
I sighed and told her everything from getting up late running into a jerk and being here .
"Woah.. so now you have offended a powerful guy and scratched his car and now you will have to pay for it. That's rough" She said , after I told her everything.
Just ss I turned to enter the classroom, I bumped into someone and when I looked up, my eyes widened.
"Looks like you have a talent of runninginto ppl" it was the same guy from earlier and boy,he looked annoyed. Pressing his lips into a thin line.
"I'm sorry" I apologized.
"Hey, talk nicely, she's apologizing too."
His friend I suppose said.
"Yeah , whatever." The guy said.
"Sorry, he's always like that." His friend said.
"No, its alright, its my was fault " I reassured.
"BTW, I'm Caleb call me Cal, he's Leo and he's Felix." He introduced himself and pointed at the boy with him and that guy who was walking away .
The boy with him just waved from behind.
"Hello, I'm Elisa and she's Lisa" i said introducing ourselves.
I could sense Felix's stare on me and Leo's on Lisa. Wow something's wrong with both of them.
"You both must be the first year's students, right?" Caleb asked. Well at least he's decent. One is arrogant and the other one indifferent.
"Yeah, and you?" I asked.
"Oh, we are in second year, so... we are your seniors" He replied cheerfully.
"Oh, OK senior" I said jokingly.
"We it sounds good , but just call me Cal" he replied.
"Ok! Cal" I said nodding my head.
"Oh , we are late for classes , bye then " I said after a pause and then left.
I almost forgot that we were late for classes.
"By the way, don't you think Leo was a good guy?" Lisa asked as we entered the seminar hall. Here we go again , she always likes the indifferent and cold guys. Even if they were jerks.
"Yeah, but Cal is maybe more friendly" I said as we entered the class room.
The first day went by fast and easily , we sat with the three at the cafeteria, it was bustling with students, dudes chatting , girls giggling, in the free time and as usual the rude guy Felix was rude and Leo was indifferent although it looked like he liked Lisa as he was talking to her with a gentle demeanor. And Cal was sweet as always.
"So , Elisa which sport club are you participating in?" Cal asked munching on his sandwich.
"Oh, I was thinking of badminton" I said as i sipped the water.
"Hmm.... that's a nice choice! I and Felix are that club's members too" He said excitedly.
Oh, now I want to change my mind . I am already dreading about the car , what if i scratch his head with the bat this time ? I don't want to be in the same club as that guy , although being with Cal would make it easy to fit in , since I am not acquainted with anyone else other than them. Let's just get with it.
"yeah, that would be great" I said.
"And you?" I asked Lisa turning to her.
"Well i was thinking of joining basketball" She answered.
"That's great! Leo's a member too!" Cal said , as if he was a matchmaker.
I chuckled at his excitement, to which he laughed. He doesn't look like a basketball dude , he's mysterios , although well built. And both Felix and Cal too....
No! Elisa, what are you thinking, Felix is a no no zone .
Then soon after Felix joined, and I must say I was a little puzzled as to why he kept glancing at me. Or was it glaring?
Then the lunch was over and we all got up to leave,
" Hey Elisa , how about we take you to the badminton court later." Cal asked excitedly.
Well that would be great. I will also get accustomed to the place.
"That's great, how about you give me a tour too?" I suggested , not sure if he would be free to do so.
" No probs" He shrugged.
The rest of the day went by smoothly, Cal gave us the tour of whole college, eith Leo and Felix trudging behind,the campus was so huge that took us extra 2 hours.
With that the day ended .
Felix's pov
The alley reeked of stale trash and desperation, a fitting start to what promised to be another insufferably average first day of college. I hated being late, hated being rushed, and really hated unexpected collisions. So when a blur of frantic energy exploded from the shortcut and slammed into my car – my new car – annoyance flared, hot and sharp.
"Oh my god, I am so, so, so incredibly sorry!" a voice squeaked, followed by a flurry of apologies and a half-bow. Seriously? It was a girl, disheveled, clearly flustered, and clutching a backpack like her life depended on it. She looked like she'd just rolled out of bed and directly into a tornado. My bodyguard stepped in. Standard procedure. Get her info, deal with the damage later. I was already late.
She rattled off her number, eyes wide, looking like a deer caught in headlights. I barely glanced at her. Another clumsy, apologetic mess. Just get it done. My car roared away, leaving her fuming, no doubt. Good.
The principal's welcome speech. Pointless pomp. I was ready to leave, but Caleb and Leo were still messing around. We were walking to class when I saw her again. Her. The clumsy girl from the alley. She was just about to enter the same classroom, looking focused, almost… prim.
And then she crashed into me again.
"Looks like you have a talent for running into people," I deadpanned, annoyed. What were the odds? Was she following me?
Caleb, ever the golden retriever, jumped in, smoothing things over. Typical. She apologized again, that same frantic sincerity in her voice. "No, it's alright, it was my fault," she insisted, eyes wide and earnest. She actually believed it, didn't she? Most people would argue, deflect. She just took the blame. It was… unexpected.
Caleb introduced us. Elisa. And her bubbly friend, Lisa. Elisa. The name suited her. Quiet, unassuming. She seemed genuinely uncomfortable under my gaze, which was… different. Most girls either simpered or tried too hard to impress. She just looked like she wanted to disappear. Caleb chatted them up, all friendly senior advice. She even joked back, "Oh, okay, Senior." Not bad. A bit of fire under that quiet exterior. But then she seemed to remember where she was, glancing at the time, all flustered again about being late for class. A surprisingly transparent, no-filter kind of girl.
Cafeteria was a zoo. Usual noise, usual sycophants trying to get a word in. Caleb, of course, invited them to sit with us. Lisa was practically drooling over Leo, who, predictably, played it cool. Elisa, though, was interesting. She didn't try to impress. She just… was. She actually looked at me directly sometimes, not with awe, but with what? Annoyance? Disapproval? She even managed to get under my skin a bit when she talked about badminton. The way she cringed when Cal said I was in the same club. Like I was some kind of contagious disease.
Later, I caught myself watching her across the table. She was quiet, but attentive. Listening to Cal, occasionally glancing at Leo and Lisa. She didn't join in the loud chatter, didn't try to dominate the conversation. She just… observed. Most people were so busy performing, so desperate for attention. She seemed content to simply exist. She wasn't loud, flashy, or desperate for approval. She was just… there. Quietly taking everything in. It was a stark contrast to everyone else I usually dealt with. And it was starting to become unexpectedly… noticeable.