Ellie's adrenaline rush was at an all-time high once she stepped foot off that bus. The cool fall breeze welcomed her when she met with campus ground. Ellie gazed up at the tall brick building of the University. She clapped her hands together and hopped in the air, not minding if the people around her found it to be odd. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." She whispered to herself, looking up at the skies.
"Eleanor Nash?" A voice came. Ellie turned to see to a vaguely familiar face. "Hello, Miss. Nash I'm Laura Kwan, we discussed your scholarship."
"Oh yeah, I remember." The two shook hands. "Nice to see you again."
"Likewise. Now, we should get started right way. Come with me we have much to talk about. Starting with your living conditions." Ellie and Ms. Kwan proceeded down the quad. "You will be living in McPhee Hall, one of the most expansive dorms on campus and one of the oldest."
"Yeah, it was one of the first dorms built, right?"
"Um yes, that's correct."
"I like to read, obviously."
"Determination, that comes in handy around here. You will go far at this University." Ellie and Kwan came to the walkway of McPhee hall.
"I'm not sure about that."
"What makes you say that? You're a very bright young woman and you deserve this chance. Don't look down on yourself while others are around. I would prefer you to brag; I'm too used to it." Ellie giggled. She hadn't heard this speech before, and she rarely bragged about anything she accomplished. Maybe that was a rule here, make an achievement and rub it in someone's face.
"I'm really looking forward to meeting my roommate." Ellie said, hoping Ms. Kwan would spill anything she knew about the girl once any indication of her was mentioned. Ellie wasn't used to sharing the same room with a person, especially someone her own age.
"Oh yes, Paige Michalchuk, she's a lovely girl. Her brother, Dylan Michalchuk, is a professor here." Ms Kwan said. Well that's something, Ellie thought.
Ellie and Ms. Kwan made it to dorm room 216 on the second floor of McPhee hall. Kwan handed the ecstatic redhead her key to the room. "Now, this is where I leave you. I have a meeting I have to attend to and I really can't afford to miss it. So, I wish you the best of luck, Ellie, and have a great first day." Kwan started down the narrow hallway of dorm rooms.
"Thanks," Ellie squeaked after her. Kwan waved a hand in her direction.
After waiting a few more moments, and taking slow deep breaths, Ellie turned the key and pushed open the door. On either side of the room there were twin beds, the one on the left was layered with pink sheets and fluffy, white pillows. That must've been Paige's side; usually when the words lovely and girl are put side by side in a sentence, there's bound to be pink involved with her personality.
The girl had an array of little trinkets she propped on her pink dresser; posters of Justin Timberlake, Rhiana and a group of fat lipped barbies hung above her bed. A puffy, pink carpet lay at the foot of the bed and a sign that read Princess, hovered over the headboard. There were several pictures of friends and family on her shelves; then another picture of her, Ellie supposed, dressed in a red and white cheerleading outfit, holding up a pair of palm, palms. The girl seemed pretty; she had long locks of golden hair and pretty green eyes. She also had a nice smile. Paige reminded Ellie a little of her high school snob, Heather Sinclair. She was a bitch.
Nevertheless, Ellie was still excited to meet her.
Then there was her side of the room. Bare, lonely, plain, bleak; a little similar to her personality in fact. Ellie was definitely gonna make change of this; not just to the room but her way of life. Ellie was always reserved after her parents died, she didn't have many friends, and she rarely talked to anyone. The most she did on weekends was study and maybe catch the occasionally horror flick on the box. That was gonna change, she was gonna make something of herself socially here too.
Ellie sat on the bare mattress and pulled out a framed picture from her duffle bag. Her mother on the left, her father on the right and she was in the middle. Ellie was six when the picture was taken, so there was a slight possibility that her mother was sober at the time; even though it was a rare occasion. Ellie placed the picture on the dresser beside her bed.
"Well, here I am. Home, sweet, home." Ellie murmured to herself.