Chapter 1- NEW BEGINNINGS
The bone-chilling wind whipped drenched locks of my hair across my face as I raced across the slippery sidewalk up to a massive white building. Stillness engulfed me as the door closed quickly behind me and my hair dripped onto the blue carpet. My galoshes squeaked slightly as I trudged over to the lady behind the reception desk.
"Welcome," she told me sweetly before her eyes swept over my damp appearance with a slight look of disapproval. She quickly regained her fake enthusiasm "What can I do for you?"
"My name is Bella Swan and I'm a new student here." I bit my lip hoping that I wouldn't have to explain much to her. I was dripping wet and completely embarrassed by my messy appearance.
"Ah, I see," she walked over to a filing cabinet and sifted through hundreds of identical manila folders until she selected one from the middle of the stack. "Here is your schedule, school information booklet and your dorm assignment." She then handed me a small bronze key attached to a plastic, red tag that read: 206.
The woman, whose name nameplate said: Mrs. Green, smiled widely at me then turned her attention back to her computer. I walked slowly over to the elevator and pressed the tiny, round button as I skimmed through the paperwork that she had given me. I pulled out the thick information booklet where the letters: USC were printed in big, bold font across the front. My eyes roamed over the pictures and the small, boring font that filled every page.
Ding. I stepped through the elevator and watch the metal doors close behind me. I pressed the illuminated button that had a "2" on it and looked over my dorm assignments. The paper listed my roommate's name next to mine: Alice Cullen. I sighed, whishing that I was in high school again. My stomach twisted into uncomfortable knots considering what kind of a freaky roommate I might get stuck with for a whole year. Knowing my luck, I would probably be rooming with some creepy Goth or a huge, tough girl that looked like she could be a professional body builder.
The elevator opened and I pushed myself out of it and into a long white hallway. Not watching my feet, I stumbled down the carpeted hallway in front of one of the identical white doors that had the numbers: 206 engraved in its surface. My shaking hands grasped the key and worked to fit it into the lock and turned it slowly until there was an almost inaudible "click" from the door. I sucked in a quick breath and shut my eyes, then I hesitantly pushed the door open.
The moment I opened my eyes, someone, or something, lunged at me in a quick blur and wrapped a pair of thin arms around my neck. I staggered backwards and my hand caught the doorframe for support, but before I could react any further, it released its hold and stepped away from me in another flash. I blinked twice in utter shock and stared at a small girl that was standing in the room three feet in front of me.
"Oops," she apologized, her beautiful face looking somewhat embarrassed as she took in my shocked and slightly soggy appearance; her icy blue eyes, looking up at me, were 3 or 4 inches below my five feet, five inches and her mouth formed an apologetic half smile. Her dark, black hair framed her pale face and was cropped short and styled into elegant spikes. She extended a small hand toward me, a wide grin spreading across her face, flashing her white teeth: "Hi, my name is Alice Cullen, and you must be my roommate."