A young man stands in the middle of Skaia University's main square. It just so happens that today is his first day of college.
Your name is John Egbert, and despite your optimistic attitude, you're feeling slightly overwhelmed. Slightly may be a bit of an understatement actually. It might be more accurate to say you're slowly descending into severely stressed-out territory and you have no idea where your first class is.
Essentially, you're lost.
You sigh, turning in a full circle. There are multiple paths branching off from the square, and you have no idea where any of them lead. You could always just choose one and hope that it leads you to your Biology Lab, but you sort of doubt you'd get that lucky.
The smell of coffee wafts past you, and you deeply breathe in its aroma. You decide it's about time for a caffeine fix. Following the scent, you take a path to the left and find yourself rounding the perimeter of a large building. You peer up at the building's placard, shielding your eyes from the sun with one hand, and see that it says "Skaia University Library". Huh, that's good to know, you think to yourself. I'll probably be spending a lot of time there. I wonder if they have any jobs openings… You've volunteered at libraries before, and overall there's just something you like about the calm atmosphere they have. You decide you'll have to swing by there later, assuming you can find your way back. You continue walking down the path, and as the rich smell of ground coffee beans grows stronger you see it. A coffee hut.
"Thank god," you say to yourself, walking a little faster. You reach the end of the line, and try to wait patiently. You used to hate coffee when you were younger, but now it's frequently the only thing that keeps you going. You remember the first time you told Dad you liked coffee. He'd looked at you quietly for a moment before hugging you tightly and saying how proud he was to see you becoming a man right before his eyes. He'd left you notes all the time saying how proud he was of you. You had always groaned when you found them, embarrassed. Your dad was so proud the day you got you acceptance letter to Skaia he cried a little. You found notes everywhere for weeks after that. You're not sure how you feel about it, but now that you're away from home, you have to admit that they always were kind of nice. Just another thing to make you homesick now you guess.
At least I already know some people here, you think to yourself. You imagine it must suck to start over somewhere alone.
Thankfully, you've got your friends Rose and Dave to keep you company. Jade's at Vet School, learning to do…whatever it is people learn to do at vet school. Her university's only half an hour away though, so you'll still get to see her. You still can't believe that you and your friends got into the same university. For years you'd talked online and even met in person a few times over the years, mostly during the summer or school breaks, and then you'd started high school and suddenly it was time to start looking for colleges and during one chat you realized that you all had one university in common on your lists. One whirlwind of college applications, anticipation, and acceptance letters later and now here you are. Jade waited until the last minute to make her decision. You could tell how torn she was between pursuing her passion and staying with you guys, afraid that if she went somewhere else you would all drift apart. Until of course the three of you talked some sense into her. "We've been friends for how long?" Dave had asked her. "There's not a force on Earth that could free you from me and these losers," he informed her solemnly. "He's right you know," Rose had told her. "Psychologists say that friendships that exceed seven years are most often destined to last a lifetime." "See? What'd I tell you?" Dave had said. "You're stuck with us Harley, no matter what."
Speaking of Dave, just then you hear your phone buzz. You pull out your phone and see that you've got a new message from him on the Pesterchum mobile app.
[TG] hey john
[GT] hey dave. i'm in line at a coffe hut.
[GT] want anything?
[TG] COFFEE john? really? its like you dont even know me sometimes
[GT] …
[GT] they don't sell apple juice dave.
[TG] I know
[TG] thats why coffee huts suck
[TG] anyways ive got it covered
[GT] oh god
[GT] don't tell me you're wearing the hat.
[TG] hey
[TG] dont hate on my sick-ass hat
[TG] this things got wicked irony woven into its very fiber
[TG] not to mention
[TG] hands-free apple juice enjoyment 24-7
[TG] its like motherfucking christmas up in here
[GT] you look ridiculous.
[TG] ironically ridiculous
[TG] magically delicious-
[GT] stop
[GT] no raps
[GT] it's too early in the morning for that
[TG] whatever
[TG] youre just jealous
[GT] jealous that you have a cheap plastic drinking helmet filled with apple juice?
[GT] yeah dave.
[GT] i'm so jealous.
[TG] i fucking knew it
[TG] its okay though because I forgive you
[TG] Because thats what bros like us do
[TG] Aint no jealousy shit ever gonna come between us
[GT] yeah
[GT] thanks for that dave.
[TG] youre welcome john
[TG] so do you know where your first class is yet?
[GT] sadly no
[GT] i'm pretty much lost :(
[TG] and yet you still managed to find coffee
[GT] priorities strider, priorities.
[TG] damn egbert
[TG] youre hooked on that shit
[GT] says the guy with a drinking helmet
[TG] hey
[TG] addiction is a powerful thing man
[GT] you don't have to tell me!
[GT] oh hey, i'm at the front of the line.
[GT] talk to you later?
[TG] yeah man
[TG] catch ya later
You step up to the hut and order a large cup of coffee. As you wait, you tuck your phone back into your bag. Something light blue catches your eye, and you pull out a Skaia University pamphlet, puzzled. Below the school logo it reads "Map of Skaia University Campus", and under that is a note from your dad.
"Son. Congratulations again on your acceptance to Skaia University. Here is a map of the campus to help you along the way. This is a big step for every bright young man. I am so, so proud of you."
"Thanks Dad," you laugh under your breath, smiling. You unfold the map just as the barista hands you your steaming cup of coffee, and turn away from the hut, scanning the mess of twists and turns on the map for the Biology Lab. Someone bumps into, jostling you and your coffee. A small percentage of it spills on your sleeve and onto the guy who ran into you. He stops to glare at you for a second and snarls:
"Watch it you guzzling fuck-wit," before storming away. He's wearing a baggy dark grey sweater, and his curly tousled hair makes it look like he just woke up. Judging by how fast he's hurrying through the crowd you think that might be the case. You'd know the "Oh shit I overslept" look anywhere. Sighing, you hold the map out in front of you again. You trace your finger over the pathways until you come to a square marked "Science Department". Working your way back, you trace a path to the round library building behind you, which is marked on the map with a circle. It's not too far, but it's not close either. You'll be lucky to just make it.
You look around at the bustling crowd for a moment before setting off in the same direction as the guy who bumped you. You have a feeling it's going to be a long day.