Chapter 3 – Meeting New People

I fell into a routine with the new house straight away, constantly playing music or having the TV on just for some company. I was sort of used to being alone, not having that many friends in LA saw to that, but I've never been used to the streets being so quiet outside. The rain was a constant companion, and I didn't mind the sound of it pattering on the big windows in the house. I was still driving the rental but needed to return it soon, besides, the tires didn't look strong enough for the conditions out here.

My college applications had somehow been accepted and I thanked my good grades for that. I was due to start at Peninsula College just next week. Nervous was not the right word – terrified seemed more appropriate. I was absolutely dreading it. I'd lived in Forks now for a couple weeks but still hadn't really met anyone, unless saying hi at cash registers counts. I had all my supplies ready; my bag was ready for my first day and I had my outfit picked out. All I had to do now was wait.

My Mom and Dad kept me distracted by a constant bombard of emails. Their move to Australia had mostly gone to plan and they were just settling in. I'd set a picture of them on the sunny beach as my screensaver and every time I opened my laptop, I shivered a little more here in Forks.

By the time the first day of college came around, it had started to freeze in the mornings. I woke up at 6.30 sharp and led curled up in bed, a pile of blankets on top of me, watching my breath curl in the air above me. As soon as my feet hit the fluffy rug beneath me, the nerves really kicked in. I slumped down the stairs, hanging onto the handrail. On the way to the kitchen I lit the fire to warm the house, my Dad had not mentioned just how cold it got here and I was certainly not used to it yet. I chewed over my cereal for a while, managing to swallow each mouthful without really tasting. I couldn't put it off anymore – I had to get ready. I sloped back upstairs and racked a brush through my hair. It had a slight natural curl to it, and I decided to leave it flowing past my shoulders, convincing myself it would help keep me warm. I pulled on my black mom jeans, huge red sweater and new boots I'd bought to try and protect against the ice. I eyed myself cautiously in the mirror. I looked okay, I guess. It was loads of peoples first day too, so maybe I wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.

I was wrong, despite my efforts to try and remain at least a little inconspicuous, I realized as soon as I arrived that I was the new girl, even of the first day of term. I sat in the car longer than I should have, too nervous to walk to my first class through the crowds. Well, when I say crowds I'm exaggerating a little. Peninsula College had roughly 2,500 students on the whole of Forks campus. The college I was going to in LA had 45,000. I could see people eyeing my car, with it's big 'RENT ME' sticker on the side. I took one big breath in, letting my chest expand and opened the car door. It was now or never.

I knew my way around LA so well that I didn't even realize how bad I was at directions. My first class, tutorial, was in the east building. How am I supposed to know where east is? Or is that just a thing people around Forks know? I grumble internally as I walk aimlessly through the carpark, a map would have been helpful. The majority of the crowds has dispersed by now and the first bell had already rung – I was going to be late to my first class. Great. I wandered some more, trying to figure out where the east building was, checking my paperwork to see if there was something I missed when I walked into something huge, solid and warm. "Oh, my god I am so sorry I wasn't looking where I was going I- "

"Hey, it's fine! Haha, don't worry. You look a little lost, you okay?" The huge, solid, warm thing I had walked into actually happened to be a guy. He bent down at the same time as me to pick my books up, but he was faster and gathered them together before handing them to me. "Thanks," I grinned ", actually, I am a little lost. I need to find the east building but I am actually not confident I know which direction east is."

He smiled, revealing two little dimples in his cheeks. I couldn't help but smile back – he was the first ray of sunshine I'd seen in days. "I'm headed to the east building as well, I'll walk with you if you want? My name's Seth by the way." I thanked him and we began walking in the opposite direction I was headed originally. I was actually lost for words as we walked, I tried to match his stride, but he was so fast that I had to practically speed walk to keep up. "So which lesson are you headed to?" He asked. I gasped for breath a little and replied that I had tutorial on the 3rd floor. "Oh cool! Guess we're in class together, huh? At least we're a little bit late together." He grinned mischievously at me and I returned the grin again as he opened the classroom door.

Luckily the class hadn't settled yet so we managed to sidle in among the noise, but a few people still eyed us as we made our way to the only empty seats at the back. I flopped down as the teacher called for silence from the class. "Welcome, welcome first years to Peninsula College!" The teacher was a middle aged guy that was slightly bolding at the crown of his head, but from the way he was perched at the corner of his desk with a smile on his face, I could tell he was kinda cool. "Most of you already know each other from high school and that is brilliant but! I needn't remind you this is not high school anymore. So please do not call me Sir and please do call me Dave. Anyway…" He garbled on for a bit about rules and policies, but I was barley listening. Seth was sat next to me even though he probably knew half the people in the room, so that was nice. I'm glad he's sat next to me anyway because I swear there's warmth coming off him and it's absolutely freezing in here, the cold is persistent in Forks. Just as I was about to sneak a glance at him, he turned to face me and I averted my eyes quickly, hoping I hadn't just been caught goggling at him. "So, Sir Dave says to introduce ourselves. I think I already said my name is Seth, Seth Clearwater, I'm 18 and live down at La Push instead of up here at Forks so I don't really know anyone. So thanks for letting me sit next to you," he chuckled. I returned the smile and said "hey, no problem you totally saved me from walking in the complete wrong direction, I would have been in the next town over by now. My name is Juliet, I'm 18 too and I just moved here from LA so I guess we kind of share not knowing anyone."

So people weren't just staring at me when we came in, that's nice to know. It looked like people already had their cliques together, standing in groups in the parking lot and sitting in circles in the classroom. I relaxed a little as me and Seth spoke about college and which classes we were taking. He literally felt like a breath of fresh air to speak to, always cracking a joke, smiling and laughing. I was completely at ease with him, joining in on his banter and laughing when he did. The hour of tutorial went by so fast that I was actually surprised when the bell rang. We walked out together and he said it was nice to meet me as we went in different directions.

The rest of the day was so busy that I barely had time to think about him again. I had a couple English classes and a writing class and we were given so much work that I was actually taken aback. I sat next to a quiet girl called April in all 3 classes and we got to work together on some composition work. At the end of the second class she asked if I wanted to have lunch with her and I accepted gratefully. She showed me the way to the cafeteria and we sat down after getting some food together. "Hey, you were great in those English classes, I couldn't have answered those questions the teacher was asking." She smiled at me timidly and I returned the grin widely.

"Thankyou so much but honestly, we did kinda cover some of it in my high school so don't doubt yourself so easily. Your composition was actually kind of beautiful." You know people say they met their best friend by halving a candy bar on the first bus ride home from school? Well exchanging those compliments and eating dinner together kind of had the same effect for me and April. She opened up more as we sat together in the crowded hall, laughing and comparing stories of high school with each other. She went the Forks High but none of her old friends had traveled up to college with her, she said they'd left Forks the first chance they could get. April kind of reminded me that I actually was not alone in having my world change so quickly and we sat together in all of our English classes for the rest of the week. I kept looking around for Seth in the hall at lunchtimes, but I never saw him and we only had tutorial once a week. I guess he must go off campus for lunch, but it would have been nice to see him again. Aside from April I hadn't really made any more friends.

Friday came and went super quickly, and it was the weekend before I knew it. All week I had been so invested in my classes and completing the reading and homework in the evenings that I'd actually forgotten that I was pretty much alone here in Forks. April and Seth had been so nice to me that all week at college I hadn't felt like an outcast who'd moved her life to a different state. I slept in on Saturday, clearly needing the rest. When I woke up the midday sun was slanting through the huge window, warming up the side of my face. I led there for a while, kind of basking in the stolen heat before I realized I had to return the rental car today before one. And I suppose I also have to buy a car today too. I groaned in spite of myself and swung my legs round to stand up. Time to go and get scammed by some car dealership, I guess. The thought of running these errands alone actually had me wishing it was Monday and I was in college, laughing with April about some poets ridiculous plea for love in the 1800's. I laughed out loud at the thought of this and started to get ready more gently. Hey, if I hadn't have moved to Forks, I wouldn't have met April. Or had the chance to sit next to Seth for an hour a week. Always cherish the little things.

Author's Note: Hi! Hope you enjoyed chapter 3. Please let me know if you liked it! Thanks a bunch :D