Anticipation filled the long 20 minute drive.
The Mercedes pulled up to large black gates that opened onto the wide campus dorms car park. I got out first and stared up in awe at the feat of modern architecture that was my new home. All 3 massive 4 storey buildings surrounded the car park.
The biggest building was in the middle but they had floor to ceiling glass windows which contrasted beautifully with the white wash paint that covered the exteriors. Other than the ground floors all the other storeys had wide balconies.
I felt someone bump into me and as I turned to scold the perpetrator. I finally noticed the crowds of people shuffling around, chatting and piling luggage onto trolleys. Following the throng of people we ventured towards oversized opened glass ceiling to floor front doors of the central building.
Wow. I can't believe I'm going to be living here for the next 4 years.
We stepped inside and immediately a short petite girl with straight jet black hair, wearing a navy polo with the universities logo marched towards us.
"Hello, welcome to IUS dorms, I'm Taeyeon, name please?" she said, smiling as she extended her right hand out.
"Phoebe Kincaid, first year," I replied, smiling as I shook her hand.
"Great. Nice to meet you Phoebe and family. One moment please," she said, opening her white clipboard. She started looking through lists of names.
"Here we are. Building 2 room 14. You must be lucky building 2 is everyone's favourite. It has the nicest and biggest rooms, amenities and is our only boy-girl dorm," she whispered to me as she started scribbling onto a small squared piece of white paper.
"Now, stick this onto your shirt," she said, handing me the piece of sticky paper with my name and building number written in black capitals.
"The only thing left is to show you to your room, this way please," she said.
We followed her through the multitude of people on the left into a wide glass hallway which opened into another large ceramic floor lobby. We entered one of the two elevators situated at the opposite end of the room and after several seconds we stepped out onto the main hallway of the first floor.
The large tiled hallway continued all the way to the other end. Doors were evenly spaced out along both sides of the hall. Each door also had a small whiteboard next to it with markers on a little shelf below.
We trailed behind Taeyeon as she led us past people milling in and out of the opened and closed doors. Taeyeon stopped at the 6th door on the right hand side. "Welcome to room 14," Taeyeon exclaimed, unlocking the door. She stepped back and ushered us in the spacious room.
The room had soft lilac walls and across from me was a large floor to ceiling glass door that opened onto the balcony. Alongside the balcony door was a huge white desk supplied with a reading light, power adaptors and three empty drawers on the left hand side. Either side of the desk stood two small empty black bookcases.
On my right was a bare queen sized mattress supported by a white frame up against the wall. Next to the bed was a small white bedside table with one drawer and one door close to front door wall.
On my left was one massive white built in wardrobe that spanned the entire length of the wall. I looked behind me and noticed a white wall rack built in next to a large round mirror suspended above a circular black table with a telephone and empty glass vase on top.
"Wow, this room is amazing," I exclaimed, grinning widely as we stepped further into the freshly scented room.
Dad wandered towards the balcony door as I overheard him mumbling to himself. "They didn't have rooms like this when I was at school that's for sure."
"You have the rest of the day to unpack and move in. There is a lunch provided by the University to welcome our new students and families around 12. Don't forget to go to your dorm head and pick up your room key by the end of the day. See you around Phoebe," Taeyeon said, turning she hightailed back into the packed hallway.
"Honey, your Grandmother and I have a meeting at 10 with the head of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. We can drop by the hotel and collect your luggage and meet at the entrance when we're done. I will text you when were on our way. Why don't you walk around, meet some people and get used to your new surroundings. I'll ring you if our plans change," he said, leaning down and kissed me on the cheek.
"Okay. Thanks Dad, I will. Have fun," I replied and quickly hugged Grandma before they both turned and strode out.
I can definitely get used to living here. I ran my hands over the clean desk. I turned dropped my bag on the desk and walked towards the closed balcony door.
I opened the door and stepped out onto the wide grey tiled balcony. I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh air. After exhaling I opened my eyes and noticed a small circular glass table, two chairs and one sun lounger.
Wow, this place definitely has its perks.
"Hi," said a loud girly voice from behind me.
I turned and came face to face with a wild mane of curly red hair and a small heart shaped freckled face with sparkling green eyes smiled up at me. "I'm in the room right across from you. Can you believe this place? I don't know any other university dorms that have their own balcony," she exclaimed, darting past me to lean over the metal railing.
She had a point.
"Yeah. I'm Phoebe," I added, joining her at the rail overlooking the bustling crowds of the car park.
"Ruby" she gushed. Smiling sheepishly she suddenly lunged and hugged me. "Sorry. It's just you're the first person I've met here that hasn't looked at me like I'm crazy." She pulled back and pushed her long red ringlets from her face.
I looked down and noticed she was shorter than me probably around 5'2. She was dressed in a bright pink knee length short sleeved dress and neon pink flats. That's a lot of pink.
Normally, I was wary of overly happy extroverted people but there was something different about Ruby. Her eccentric clothing is fine with me.
"LOOK!" I looked up and followed Ruby's extended left arm pointing down towards the car park as a shiny black limousine stopped at the entrance of the middle building.
And I had thought the Mercedes Dad had gotten was extreme.
The first guy that got out had styled ash blonde hair, was wearing a long brown trench coat and black sunglasses. The second guy sported scruffy ebony hair that glistened as he got out from the limousine. He was attired in a black button coat, Indian ink jeans and urban retro hued sunglasses. Even from the distance it was clear that both guys were easily six foot and had toned and lean bodies, although the ebony haired guy appeared stronger. My eyes followed the dark haired guy until he vanished into the building.
A sudden cold raindrop drew me out of my musings and I turned to look at Ruby who still stood next to me with her mouth wide open. I smiled to myself as I lightly tapped her on the shoulder. "Anyone in there," I teased.
Ruby immediately turned and faced me with a huge grin. "I have to find out who those two are," she exclaimed.
I laughed as she grabbed my hand and started marching towards the open doorway. "Come on, let's find them."
I thought I could easily get used to Ruby. I had always been cautious of others but Ruby was contagious. The more I spent time with her the more I wanted to spend time with her.
I swiftly grabbed my bag off the table and just managed to close my dorm room door as Ruby pulled me all the way down the hallway and into the empty elevator. Her strength surprised me.
"Back home all the guys were soo annoying. One of the reasons I had to come here and because of the school's globally recognized arts program," she gushed, releasing my hand and pressed the ground button.
"You want to be an artist?" I inquired.
"Yeah. I want to live in Spain painting all day and night," Ruby said, grinning from ear to ear.
Just as the elevator door opened I turned and froze staring up into intense chocolate brown eyes with tiny sparkling flecks of amber framed by full and lush dark lashes.
