Chapter Three

If I ever imagined someone who was the polar opposite to me, I'd have described the girl who was standing behind the door to room 22. I short slender girl with a pixie hair cut stared emotionless as I entered her room. If the music she was playing could look like something, it'd look like her. The music was somewhat grunge with what some may classify as a techno melody. Her black button up skirt had looked like she'd have bought it from a thrift shop, which she wore with a grey T-shirt with 'M-TV' printed on the front. To top of her unusual outfit, she wore a blue and black flannelette shirt tied around her waist, with fish-net stockings paired with heavy duty Doc-Martens and quite the amount of eye liner.

"Hey, I'm Yuffie," She stated with nod.

"Hi, Tifa," I said with a smile that felt to forced.

As I approached the bed pushed up into the room's right corner, Yuffie side-stepped in front of me, arms crossed, "That's my bed, that's yours over there."

I followed her gaze over my shoulder to the slightly older looking bed in the opposite corner, "Oh sorry."

Dumping my luggage on my bed, I took in the surroundings of my new home. Yuffie looked as if she'd already started to decorate the walls with band posters I'd never seen before. However, they all shared one thing in common, the colour pallet remained a steady grayscale throughout all of them. The room was of medium size considering two people were to share it, with only one window and one door. It was simple. For each of us, we had a single bed, bed-side table, a small desk and chair. It looked as if someone had deliberately divided the room into halves with a large portion of the floor space left empty. I considered Yuffie had done this, pushing the furniture on either side of the room to leave as much space between her and myself.

Sighing I pursed my lips and begun to unpack my own belongings, trying to ignore her arrogant music. My clothes had only just fit into the small bed-side table, whereas Yuffie seemed to have given up ramming her clothes into her drawers, leaving them sprawled on the ground and on her bed.

Taking out my text books I need for this semester, I decided I'd escape the music that was insulting my eardrums and find somewhere quite to flick through a couple of chapters. I could no longer stand in the same room as Yuffie, feeling as if every time my back was turned she was judging or glaring at me. It was too uncomfortable, and god only knew how the next 3 years were going to play out between her and I.

Giving a curt nod and collecting my keys from my bedside table, I slipped back through the door and turned left up the corridor. I had no idea where I was headed, nor did I know if I'd find my way back.
I think I must have circled the building about 4 times before I found a sign directing me downstairs toward the library. I decided this was probably going to be the best place I could find for peace and quiet.

It turned out that the library was its own building just on the right behind the main campus. The building looked identical to the main building, with its Victorian arches and marble stair entrance, it almost looked cathedral-like. Inside was even more astounding. The entire bottom floor was furnished for admin staff as well as a casual study environment, with a few computers clumped in one of the far corners with a scanner and printer. I presumed the next 4 floors were filled with books. I decided upon taking a seat in one of the ancient arm chairs situated behind a few magazine shelves. There I flipped open my piano text book. I had been too eager to finally read this, I hadn't had much time actually read it in detail at home, so I allowed myself to become absorbed in the text. I even noticed that the book included some sheet music in the index of the book, however I already knew how to play Fur Elise and the Entertainer. I soon became displeased with the text book, realising it was nothing more than just revision for me.

"Ahem," a young girl about my age smiled from behind the magazine rack. "Sorry, we're actually closing in 10 minutes."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I stammered, gathering my belongings and peering out the window beside me. It was already dark. "Gosh, what's the time?"

The girl laughed as she stepped out from behind the stand, "10 to 9."

"Oh my gosh, I completely lost track of time," I gushed standing from the seat. I'd been here for more than 4 hours, how had the time passed by so soon?

"Are you new here?" The girl asked, her emerald eyes glinting as I gave a shy nod. "Ah I thought so, I haven't seen you in here before."

"You'll probably see a lot more of me in here," I replied.

"Book fan?" She smiled excitedly.

"Yeah, I'm assuming you're one yourself," I answered.

She gave a little giggle which made her light brown curls that framed her face shake slightly, "you guessed it. I'm Aerith by the way."

"Oh nice to meet you, I'm Tifa," I introduced myself, taking her out stretched hand and giving it a soft shake. "I take it you work here, correct?"

"You're very good at guessing," she laughed. "I've been here for a year now."

"I actually thought you were a student," I chuckled.

"Oh, no I am," she smiled. "I'm in my second year this year."

"Oh, sorry," I apologised. "What are you studying?"

"Visual art. My turn to guess," she peered at my books clutched in my hand. "You're studying music, majoring in piano?"

"You're good at guessing," I mimicked, making her giggle again. "Anyways I should probably let you close."

"No worries," she said stepping aside to let me through toward the door. "Oh, Tifa. If you need any help finding classes or anything don't hesitate asking. I'm almost always in here."

"Thank you Aerith, that'd be great," I gave a small wave before leaving and heading back to my dorm.

I sighed in relief after stepping into the warm night. Thank god there were actually nice people here.