LAILAH
FOUR
For the rest of the weekend, Cami and I hung out, and she showed me the basics of dorm life.
She also helped me find the dining hall after I failed to find it on my own and spent a good hour wandering around.
Having Cami around also seemed to keep people from making snide remarks about my scholarship.
I hoped that the novelty of it would fade soon.
“I know you don’t have classes tomorrow because it’s orientation day, but I could really use your help finding the auditorium,” I begged Cami as we headed back to the dorm after dinner.
“You’re lucky I like you, Lala,” Cami said, using the nickname she had picked for me. “What time do you need to be there?”
“You're a lifesaver, Cami,” I said, and I hugged her. “It starts at eight.”
“Why are you taking that stupid class anyway? Who actually signs up for Freshman 101?” Cami grumbled.
“It’s University 101 Cami, and I’ve been so fascinated with the school, I thought taking a class about it would be fun,” I said, defending my choice.
“Whatever. I’ll make sure I get you to your lame class tomorrow, but you’re buying my coffee,” she said, waving goodnight to me as she got off the elevator on her floor.
The next day I would be starting my first day as a college student, it was exciting and terrifying at the same time.
Thankfully, I had managed to figure out a plan with Cami so she could help me get to classes for the first week.
We had a lot of classes in the same buildings, or at least they were on the way, so it worked out easily enough.
When I reached my room, I sorted through what books I would need and double-checked the syllabus to make sure I didn’t forget anything.
Feeling as ready as I was going to be, I set my alarm for six-thirty and curled up in bed with my favorite book.
I needed to end the night with a little Mr. Darcy.
“Rise and shine. This is your six-thirty-a.m. alarm. The forecast today is overcast with a high of sixty-eight degrees.”
I rolled over and groped around for my phone on the nightstand to turn off my alarm.
I groaned as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and remembered that I hadn’t given myself a huge amount of time to get ready.
I shuffled my way down the hall to the bathroom.
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I tackled my hair.
I left it down and contemplated how it looked.
I felt like the cowardly lion from the Wizard of Oz with my wild curls loose.
I tried to pin it up in a cute way but failed to find something that worked.
Giving up, I just piled it on top of my head again in my usual messy bun.
I brushed on some mascara and filled in my brows, trying to make it look like I made an extra effort.
Back in my room, I pulled out my nice white skinny jeans and a silky blush-colored top to go with it.
After slipping my shoes on, I was about to leave to meet Cami in the lobby when I paused to grab my long olive sweater just in case the classroom got cold.
I threw my messenger bag across my body, and I did one last sweep of the room to make sure I didn’t forget anything.
Satisfied, I headed down to meet Cami so we could grab a coffee on the way to my class.
It wasn’t hard to spot Cami, half asleep in one of the lobby armchairs. “Lala, I’m not sure this friendship is going to work out if you're going to make me do this all the time.”
I walked over and pulled her out of the chair. “Come on. I’ll get you the biggest cup of coffee the school has to offer.”
Cami grunted at this and followed me out the door. Once we crossed the street onto the main campus, Cami took over leading the way. We reached the coffee shop, and thankfully, it wasn’t packed.
“Morning, Cami. Want your usual extra-large black coffee?” the guy taking orders asked.
I raised my eyebrows at Cami, surprised to see this guy knew her and her order so readily. Cami just shrugged at me. “I like coffee, so sue me.”
“I’m paying for her addiction today. Could you add a chai tea latte for me?”
Cami gave me a funny look as the barista handed over her massive cup of coffee. “You make fun of me for my coffee, and yet you order that crap?”
“I love the smell of coffee but never acquired a taste for it,” I said, walking over to the pickup counter.
“Just so we're clear, I am never ordering that for you. I will not have anyone thinking that I’m drinking that froufrou shit,” Cami said, walking out of the coffee shop. I grabbed my drink and hurried after her.
“I never would have guessed you’d be so judgmental over my drink choices,” I said, teasing her and knowing that her attitude would lighten up as she drank her coffee.
Cami’s only response was a grunt from behind the lid of her coffee cup.
I took in the sights of the school as we walked through the main buildings.
The architecture was beautiful and showed the beauty of an age gone by.
The intricate craftsmanship of each door, window, and archway could never be replicated.
Finally reaching the core of the school, I noticed all the other students bustling about and heading to class.
They milled about, chatting with friends or looking at school maps trying to find the right building.
I was so grateful to have Cami at my side, so I didn’t have to wander for hours.
Even with a map, I would have been lost in less than ten seconds.
“Remind me again. You have this class, and then when am I supposed to check in with you?” Cami asked as we reached the auditorium doors.
“This class has two parts today. We have the class here for an hour, then we go on a tour of the grounds. They didn’t say how long it would take, so I’ll just text you when I get done and tell you where I’m at,” I said, double-checking that I had my phone on me.
“Works for me. Make good choices and learn lots!” Cami said, waving as she walked away.
I pulled open the old, heavy wooden door and walked in. The auditorium had stadium seating and a stage with a podium in the front. I found a seat in the middle section for the best view and took out a notebook and pen.
A girl behind me snickered to her friend. “Look at the good little scholarship student, she thinks she’s going to learn something in this class.”
I reached my breaking point with all the snide scholarship remarks. I turned slightly in my seat and looked over my shoulder. “If you think this class is so lame, why did you decide to take it?”
Not feeling the need to wait for an answer, I faced forward again just in time to see the teacher walk up to the podium.
He was an older man with white hair that was cut close to his head, trying to diminish the fact that he was balding.
His face was full of laugh lines, giving me a clue to his personality.
His brown eyes were intelligent and warm as he looked out over the room.
“Welcome, students. I’m Mr. Phillips, your professor for University 101.
In this class, we will be learning about the history of our school and the town surrounding it.
I hope that by the end of this semester, you will have a greater appreciation for the history that you get to experience every day,” Professor Phillips said, greeting the class.
“Today, our class will be broken up into two sections. First, we will go over the syllabus and my expectations for my students. Then, we will head out for a tour of the grounds. We have combined all the different classes together for today, so the Student Council will be helping me out since I am severely outnumbered by all of you,” he said with a smile and a wink that made everyone laugh.
I could tell I was going to like learning from Mr. Phillips.
I pulled out my syllabus to follow along as he went over it.
The class went by quickly, and soon, we were all asked to gather in the quad for the tour.
I filed out of the auditorium and pitched my empty cup.
I followed the crowd, hoping that they would lead me to where I was supposed to be.
Some students broke off to the left, chatting with one another, and the other group went straight.
I took a guess and followed the group going straight.
“All the students going on the tour need to split up into their appropriate class groups. I need the eight o’clock class on my left, noon in the middle, and the five o’clock class on the far right,” a girl shouted over the group. I assumed that she was part of the Student Council.
I walked over to the left group and waited, looking around at all the people running from building to building.
I was so distracted, I didn’t notice that my group left for the tour.
Not wanting to get left behind, I jumped into the noon-class group before I could get lost. I was totally absorbed in the tour and all the history of each building.
Who wouldn’t find this stuff interesting?
“Aiden Ryevick founded this school in 1623 at the end of the Renaissance and entering into the Baroque period. At this time, churches were overseeing the type of art being produced, so Aiden Ryevick decided to found his own school specializing in the arts,” our student tour guide shared as we passed a statue of the founder.
“We have come to find out that he lied to the Catholic church about adhering to the restrictions placed on all creations produced by artists. He was successful at the time because he put in the chapel, which we now use as an auditorium, as a facade.”
As the tour went on, I learned more about Ryevick’s founder and his drive to free artists and later scientists of all kinds, so they could dive further into their fields. We moved past several other buildings and went out into the gardens.