Sansa took a deep breath and clutched her bag tightly to her side as she stepped onto the green. A huge building rose up in front of her, made with red and cream brick with ornate carvings and spires and towers erupting from the roof. The building itself looked like something out of a fairytale; the green in front of her however was a sea of students, pulling her firmly back to the present. Clusters of people were dotted all around; eating their lunch, chattering on their phones or rushing to their classes. A group of girls walked past her giggling loudly with designer shopping bags swinging from their arms. Sansa felt very alone and very out of her element. She was the new kid, the loner. She found it hard to believe that there was anyone else at this god-damned university who didn't fit into a clique, who didn't have a group of at least ten friends around them at any given time. She sighed and started walking, tossing her long auburn tresses over her shoulder in defiance.
She was going to make this move work. It had been Arya who complained for weeks about the move, not her. Sansa had been dying to move down to London; was delighted when her dad was offered some high ranking political job, and now that she was here, she felt totally lost. But she was determined to fit in, she couldn't bear to see the look on Arya's smug little face when she found out that she had been right all along. No, Sansa was going to make it, if only to show up her little sister.
"Hi, I'm Sansa Stark," She said timidly when she reached a large front desk. Inside, the building had a much more modern appeal and a middle aged receptionist sat behind a glass desk neatly organised with papers and a phone. The receptionist stared at her blankly.
"And?" She said dumbly, staring at Sansa. Sansa creased her eyebrows; back home her name had gained her admiring (and often times jealous) stares, her father was well known, and by proxy, so were his family. Of course, his eldest daughter gained a fair amount of attention too, what with her shiny long hair, slender frame and doe eyes. However, here it seemed she would have to rebuild her reputation. "Have you got a problem?" The receptionist continued.
"Yes, I mean, I'm new, I was hoping you could help me," Sansa said slowly, fingering the hem of her sweater nervously.
"Ah, okay," The receptionist span her chair around and started flicking through files on a computer. "You filled in all your enrolment forms prior to arrival, right?" Sansa nodded. "Stark, Stark, Sansa Stark," The woman murmured to herself as she scrolled through lists. "Ah! Here we are," She clicked her mouse overdramatically. "Fashion and Textiles diploma, yes? Your things have already been delivered to your room. Here," She rummaged through a pile of papers, licking her thumb as she turned pages, "Is a map of the campus for you, and I'll just print off a copy of your class and living details while I find you your key," After much bustling the woman thrust the items into Sansa's hand and dismissed her with a smile and a 'have a good day'.
Sansa checked over the details even though she had memorised them as soon as her application was accepted. Her room was about as far as you could get from the main entrance whilst still being on campus; great. She took a glance at the map before shoving it into her bag; she didn't want to be one of those kids who had their nose stuck in their map all day. By the time she reached her block of student apartments the sun was setting, casting a golden glow on everything it touched. It seemed to radiate off the hair of a couple in front of her who stood chatting animatedly.
The girl had auburn hair like Sansa, but where Sansa's was perfectly straight; this girl's hung in neat curls all the way down her back. The sunlight glinted off them as they swung with the girl's movements. The boy too was beautiful, with brown curls and tan skin. He seemed to notice Sansa staring and whispered something to the girl.
"Hey!" She span round, "Can I help you? You look a little lost," The girl skipped towards Sansa, looping her arm through the boy's and tugging him with her.
"Oh no, I'm fine thank you, this is my apartment building actually," Sansa replied.
"No way, ours too!" The girl's full lips stretched out into a grin and she extended her free hand to Sansa, "I'm Margaery,"
"Sansa," Sansa smiled, relieved to have met a decent person on her first day.
"This is Loras," Margaery grinned, elbowing the boy next to her until he smiled politely and said hello. "Here let me see your room number?" Margaery took hold of Sansa's paper and gasped dramatically. "Oh I was told I'd be getting a new roommate, this is wonderful!" Margaery squealed and threw her arms around a surprised Sansa's neck. "Come on, I'll show you to it. Bye Loras," She reached up and kissed the boy on the cheek before leading Sansa away.
"Your boyfriend is very handsome," Sansa remarked to Margaery's amusement.
"Loras?! Oh no, he's my brother!" She giggled at Sansa's reaction but Sansa's mind was drifting to Loras's tanned arms and beautiful hair. Not her boyfriend eh? Did that mean he was up for grabs? Sansa smirked to herself as her newfound, and very excitable, friend chattered on about the workings of the campus, who was who and what was socially acceptable. Somehow Sansa seemed to have bagged herself a friend from the popular crowd, a popular friend with a beautiful brother. Sansa smiled coyly as Margaery nattered on. Perhaps the move wouldn't be so bad after all.