This is a sweet story I had the urge to write one day. This is also the first time I share any of my works so please be gentle but definitely give feedback. Enjoy!
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I walked into my first day of History class with high hopes. I was taking the second level of History and it was my last semester at the local community college. By this time next semester, I would be attending the local university to finish my four years in school. I honestly just couldn't wait to get this semester over with. I didn't really have any ties to this school and just wanted to be out in the real world already. Because it was a commuter school it was hard to make friends when most of the people who attended had jobs, kids, and a million other things on their plates. Plus, most of the kids here were just as eager to get out as soon as possible.
I sat in the front of the classroom and played on my phone until class was about to start. I was the type of student who got good grades, studied instead of partied, and passed up 'fun' opportunities to stay at home and read a good book. This was another reason it was hard for me to make friends. I liked interacting with people in class, but between school and work I had no time to hang outside of school and with this being my last semester, I had no intention of making any lasting friendships. One good thing that came out of my time here was meeting my current boyfriend Derek.
Derek was very attractive. He was a few inches taller than me and had a lean body. He played baseball at the local university that I was attending next semester, so that kept him in shape. His dirty blond hair was always kept short. Derek and I actually met the day of my orientation. He was so dreamy and charming I couldn't resist giving him a chance. Now he had transferred onto the local university where I would meet him next semester. I smiled a little thinking about him. I couldn't wait until we got to hang around campus together. I would get to tag along to his games and after parties. Not my cup of tea but being around Derek made even the worst days seem bright.
I was going over my work schedule in my head when the professor began to lecture. Since it was the first day of class, we only went over the syllabus and what the professor expected from us. I remember hearing that he was a tough grader but I knew I could easily get a B in his class without really trying. I raised my hand here and there to ask some questions and tried not to care that people would stare at me. People did not usually care to ask enough questions the first day of class. I could feel my cheeks heating up when it was my turn to speak, but I needed some clarifications.
Class ended fifteen minutes early.
As I gathered my things I felt someone standing next to my desk. I pretended not to notice and continued to zip my already closed bag. I was used to having guys coming up to me asking for my number 'in case they had any questions about class' when in reality they just wanted to hookup. Even when I let them know I was happily taken, they still had the nerve to text me with obvious intentions.
"Hi, I'm Amanda, Mandy for short" Said the voice next to my desk.
I looked up and saw a girl standing there with a large bag hanging on her right shoulder. She was definitely overly friendly, especially since everyone else walked out without bothering to introduce themselves. She had dark brown hair, with caramel highlights, that reached the middle of her back. It was held back by a rolled up red bandana, which left her face free of any stray hairs. Light freckles covered the bridge of her nose. Her eyebrows were dark and thick which contrasted against her pale skin. Her big hazel eyes gave her an innocent look. Her smile lit her face.
She had on a white sweater that outlined her small figure. Her thin arms hung to her side. She had tight jeans that were stuffed into black winter boots. She looked delicate, something that I envied. My body was curvier and my tummy was no wear as flat as hers. My breasts were a slightly bigger and with that my envy disappeared.
"Hi" I responded in short. I was caught off guard by her approach. People here didn't just come up and talked to you unless you were the class nerd, had food, or were cute. I had an idea as to why she would want to introduce herself. I made it pretty obvious who would be the class nerd in this class.
"My name is Kimberly. Kim for short." I replied.
"Do you have another class after this?" Again her smile appeared and I couldn't help but reciprocate it. Her genuine friendliness made it hard to be short with her. Nice people were hard to come by.
"No, I was going to head to the library and study for a while." I really wasn't going to study, it was only the first day of classes, but I had a book I wanted to start reading. I got up from my seat and noticed I was about two inches taller than she was.
"In that case, can you be a dear and show me where the art building is located?" She batted her eyelashes and I giggled. It was hard not to like someone who was obviously trying. Even if I made a pact not to make any new friends, I couldn't help but gravitate towards her. It took guts to initiate a conversation, and I thought she was pretty awesome for introducing herself.
"Sure." I shrugged. We both walked towards the door. I led the way and headed towards the elevator.
In less than five minutes, we had reached the art building. All too soon I was turning around to say my goodbyes.
"Oh, it'll only take a minute!" She said before I turned to leave. "If you wait, I'll go to the library with you and help you study!" Her enthusiasm was unlike anything I've seen in this college. I actually tried to think of a time I had ever met someone who was this happy before noon. Welp, guess I have a new study buddy, and all before my first day of school was over, definitely a new record.
I sat in a nearby bench outside the building. It was January, and living my whole life here, I was used to the cold weather. It still didn't mean that I wouldn't bitch and moan about how the weather should not be able to physically hurt your face. Today the sun was out and I tried to let it warm my cheeks. I closed my eyes and began to go over my to-do list for the week.
"You actually waited!" She exclaimed. She made it through the double doors and rushed to the bench.
"Only because I think you will be an awesome friend to have this semester." I got up from my seat and we started walking back where we came from. "I don't know where you came from, but here, it is best to make class friends quick and in a hurry. I believe my fellow peers are better instructors than the professors." I always made it my goal to have at least one point of reference in case I ever needed any help. Again, these "friendships" ended once the class did.
"I moved around, here and there." She shifted her bag to her other arm. "I just want to make this semester my best one. I plan on transferring again."
I was never one to pry. Unless people opened up to me, I usually let things go unmentioned. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit curious as to why she was planning to leave so soon. But I let the silence settle between us as we walked into the library.
We spent about two hours in the library and I wish I could say I was productive the whole time, but I just couldn't shake the idea of someone so nice looking to me for guidance. She later explained that she specifically chose me because of how attentive I was in class. She seemed to have an eye for people who did well in classes. So that reaffirmed my earlier question. She chose to talk to me because I was the geek in the class. I wish I could say it bothered me but honestly I felt honored she chose me. From what I gathered during our "study" session, she had moved around a lot. Her dad was in the army. She was a great storyteller and knew how to keep me distracted from getting any reading done. It was when she was talking about her visit to France that I noticed I got a text from my mom. I was going to be late to pick up my little brother from school if I didn't leave right now.
"I'm sorry," I started when she finished her story "but I have to get going." I didn't want to be late again. My little brother, Luis wouldn't forgive me this time. "Here is my number, in case you have any more questions." I gave her a slip of paper and got my things together.
She smiled so brightly, I was sure her cheeks were hurting. "Thank you so much!" She almost tackled me as she took me in for a hug. I stood frozen at first. I was never an overly touchy person, so this was different. I could feel her light breath on my ear. I slowly returned the hug. It was more like a pat on the back.
"You're welcome, I'll see you next class" I threw my backpack on.
"See you!" She walked away in the opposite direction. Out of all of the first day of classes I had ever experienced, this was the only one that ever stood out in my head.
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After the first day of class Mandy and I were inseparable. If I wasn't at work or in classes I was at her place or she was at mine. We quickly got into a comfortable routine and by the end of the first month her mom, Fran, and my mom, Rosa were also close to becoming friends. We would sometimes have a girls night and would all drink wine and watch movies or play board games. Fran was awesome! I could see where Mandy got her free spirit attitude. I never saw her dad much but I knew he was very important in both of their lives. I never met my dad so it has always been just me and Luis and my mom. Like my mom, Luis loved Mandy. She always played around and entertained him when I would have to get some studying done.
Mandy was such a part of my life that even my other good friend Crystal had to put up with me talking about her all of the time. I tried to introduce them and hoped that we could all hang out together but I felt some tension. Crystal was more of a possessive friend and did not really open up to many people. She distrusted anyone new and made it clear the first time she met Mandy. Mandy was a sweetheart to anyone she met but I could see her sizing up Crystal and seeing just how close we were. I hated being in the middle of their-whatever it was that they were doing. I would have never guessed that their first meeting would be their last.
"There is something off about her!" Crystal yelled over the phone one night after I tried to ask why she didn't like her. "She's too friendly and she looks at you weird."
I felt myself getting angry and trying to come to Mandy's defense. The kind of trusting relationship I had built with Mandy was almost indestructible. I trusted this girl with my life and I would not deny that if she looked at me any type of way it was because she trusted me with hers too. I never depended on someone who I just met but I could tell our friendship was organic and unlike anything I had ever had before. Even with Crystal, I still held a lot back. With Mandy I never felt judged so I always voiced my thoughts, fears, and opinions.
