Chapter one
Over the years I have been asked many times about my past. Especially how I came to be living the life that I do. So, I have decided to once and for all set the record straight. My name is Nat, and this is the story of how I came to live at 22 victory close.
When I look back now at who I was before I came to university, I can't help but laugh. To think I was that innocent, that naΓ―ve, that young. I was eighteen the year that l left home and moved into university halls. I remember at the time feeling so grown up, how little I knew.
Before university, I had chosen to take a gap year to get some funds under my belt. A task I failed at miserably. So, with just a student loan behind me I packed up my stuff and headed out into the wide world, well to university at any rate.
I had such high hopes as I left my hometown for new pastures. I remember clearly being driven up to the halls, my parents in the front of the car. I can still remember the looks on their faces in the rear-view mirror as the building finally came into sight. I could see the disapproving expressions hidden behind their fixed smiles, not that I could blame them.
The halls I had chosen to move into were, to put it bluntly, a dive. But they were cheap, and that meant more money I could spend on myself. And I was determined to have a good time spending it.
My boyfriend had dumped me only three weeks before. I wish I could say I had not seen it coming but he had made it quite clear he saw our relationship going nowhere. Translated that meant he had grown tired with my no sex before marriage decree and he had decided to go and get laid. Which he did, a lot.
At least he had broken up with me before sleeping with my best friend, unlike his predecessor. But that was the past. I was at university now, the future still ahead of me! There would be plenty of guys here at uni. At least some of them must understand. Who knows I might even find true love? If only I had known what I was getting into?
I spent most of the first afternoon moving my stuff into the cramped little room off the kitchen that was to be my home for the next year.
My parents were trying to help but mostly kept getting in the way. There was simply not the space for us all to fit, even with my dad walking back and forth to the car. I remember the mix of emotions I felt as we brought my stuff into the new place. The hope and joy at having a place to call my own, tainted slightly by the guilt that I was looking forward to saying goodbye to my parents.
There were three other rooms on my floor, the room next to mine had obviously been taken already, and just as obviously they were out. The rest of the rooms stood empty; their doors open showing the spartan furniture within.
As the day wore on and there was still no sign of anyone else, I began to wonder when the others would move in? What they would be like? and so on.
It seemed almost surreal moving my stuff, that had for so long been a fixture in my old room, into this new and strange place.
My new room was smaller than my old one and it looked a little cramped especially with everything crammed in. But also, a little hollow, a space filled with my stuff but not yet my home.
Once all the stuff I could fit was safely stored, my parents had left not wanting to intrude in my new life. It had been a teary goodbye filled with love and hope but also a strange kind of sadness that my old life was over, and I was entering into a new phase. Never again would things be as they once were. I remember that I had promised to come and visit them often despite the distance to the university and to call my mum whenever my studies would allow.
Once they were gone, I was left alone, I could hear people moving around on other floors and the occasional snippet of conversation from the open window. All of which brought home how alone I was. Sitting in a room that I did not know, in a town hundreds of miles from everything and everyone I knew. The home sickness began creeping into my soul by inches.
I began to crave company more and more as the afternoon moved on to early evening. My other housemates had not materialised, and the flat was starting to feel lonely and depressing in the fading light.
Sat in the quickly darkening flat I decided I needed to go out. I had thought to stay in my room my first night. Spending it getting to know my new housemates but sitting there all alone in the quiet flat I knew I needed to get out for a while or go mad.
Deciding to go out was easy, but where to go? I barely knew the town I was in. I remember walking around the flat despondently, part of my mind searching for ideas on what to do.
While looking through the notices on the chalkboard for the umpteenth time I noticed a flyer that had missed my attention all the other times I had looked. It was a crumpled piece of paper as if it had spent the whole day in someone's pocket, inviting all new freshers to the Students union bar for the freshers welcome party. According to the flyer it would be the perfect place to go and meet some new people.
Seeing the crumpled state of the flyer I could help but wonder about the person who had put it here. I doubted it was someone putting them up in all the halls. But without any more clues I couldn't say more. At least I knew where I should go now. Besides, maybe I would find my missing house mate.
So, it was with that in mind I had a nice long hot shower, noting as I did the men's toiletries already in the bathroom. After the shower I got dressed up in a long flowing dress that showed off my curves while covering most of my skin, I wanted to make the right first impression after all and made my way out to the party.
It was a longish walk from my halls to the student union building but it was a pleasantly warm evening with just the hint of a summer breeze. It was so lovely out that the walk was a pleasant distraction from my day so far. I could feel the disappointment and nerves falling away, replaced by a pleasant buzz of anticipation.
I was in such a good mood by the time I reached the university campus that even the wolf whistles and catcalls from obviously drunk students could not dampen my high spirits.
I was in such a daze that I barely noticed the union building until I was right on top of it. My first thoughts as I approached were more than a bit disheartening.
The area directly before the building was filled with people. Everyone standing in little clumps that moved in an intricate dance, never coming too close to another group. It looked as if everyone knew someone they could stand with and were afraid to talk to anyone else.
Alone, I stood at the edge of the crowd. A little of my earlier loneliness began to return and with it came a small quiet voice in my head suggesting that all of this could have been a bad idea.
Would it always be like this? With myself always alone on the outside of the crowd, much as it had been at school and college. That little voice was no stranger and I tried hard not to listen to its promptings, but right then it was so hard.
Taking a deep breath, I quashed that little voice. I was going to enjoy tonight, and that's all there was to it. There had to be someone else out there in that cowed alone like me. I just had to find them, and even if I didn't, I could still have a good time here tonight.
With a confidence I didn't really feel, I joined the queue to enter the building. Looking around for anyone else who was by themselves and looking at all the eye candy on display as well if I am honest with myself.
As I walked through the crowd, I noticed that more than a few heads turned my way as I passed. Some clearly in idle curiosity, but some obviously liking what they saw. Secretly flattered and smiling to myself, I ignored them all. They all looked nice enough, but they were all clearly interested more in my body than me and I was not looking for that.
That was until I saw Him. John. He stood a little taller than the other men around him. He was wearing a bright yellow tee shirt with a small badge with his name clearly written on it on a ribbon around his neck.
As I drew closer, he turned his eyes my way as so many others had done already. I felt it immediately, it was different being under that gaze. His eyes were like a spotlight that lit up my whole body. I thought I would melt from the heat, as his gaze warmed my cool skin, and brought a slow flush to my face.
The moment only lasted a fraction of a second, but it was so intense, that it left me feeling shaken to my core. I had never experienced anything like that before. I lowered my eyes looking at the paving in front of my feet. I had the strangest feeling that if I looked into his eyes for too long, I would drown in them.
Smiling coyly and keeping my eyes firmly fixed on the floor, I walked slowly past him into the hall. I could feel the warmth of his gaze on me the whole way. I was no stranger to attraction, but this was different, electric, it had never taken me so quickly or so completely.
Once inside, and away from that mesmerising gaze, I felt both relieved and a little disappointed that he hadn't tried to speak to me.
Looking around the room for the first time I was shocked by the sheer press of people. All of them looked as lost and as self-conscious as myself. Here were the people I had been looking for, these people were alone and lost just like me. In a flash of insight I knew that the ones outside had friends, and were out there for the reason they could talk to each other where it was quieter.
Standing in front of all these people I found I was unable to bring myself to approach any of them. The music was loud, undiminished by the press of bodies and sounds of people talking. What would I say? if I did approach someone. With this music it would be hard to make myself heard.