‘Day 2!’ I thought in my mind, curious about this new world known as my life now. So many things I had to process from now having a mini fridge, to having someone sleeping 5 feet away from me, and remembering that shower shoes were just as vital as our limbs attached to us. It still seemed unreal, maybe like some cool trip that would end at some point, but not long-lasting. Walking around the Bonner dorm was like opening a treasure chest; you never knew what you’d find, but it probably wasn’t a pearl. Though Bonner Hall wasn’t the newest model, something about it just made me feel at home.
Therefore, I was walking around in my socks and sandals, hair up in the Snooki bun, of course. Not sure if I was looking for snacks I hadn’t thought about bringing or a sneak peak of room set-ups that hadn’t even crossed my mind. The point is my curiosity of my surroundings was at an all time high, and it seems so was everyone else’s. Doors were wide open like different portals to new worlds that you could just glimpse at for a second. Choosing them is the hard part, which is why Brenna H. and I didn’t.
We tried to reel in people with comfortable, friendly floor sitting positions and making our tubs under our bed, filled with snacks known. We weren’t even sure this would work till our infamous next door neighbors stopped by to make later plans and a group chat to let this friendship thrive. We were still, hesitant about how our ways of seeking friendship would work until a preppy looking, fast-paced white boy with blonde hair mysteriously stopped at our door, book in hand. Hesitant, but calm he asked, “Where’s the lounge?” None else had really explored the building or had shoes on, their eyes turned in my direction. With a sigh, I thrusted myself up from my position and pretended I was a navigator for this mystery boy.
I only knew where the janitor’s closet was, mostly because it was the only labeled door throughout these cemented halls. Quickly the mystery boy realized there was confusion and started looking in rooms. Being only the second day of school, my perplexed mind was wondering why he even needed to go to the lounge. So my curious yet subtle self asked, “Why do you even need the lounge, dude?” He responded, “I was going to get ahead on the reading for a class.”, at this point my mind was a little blown. I was actually shocked that this mystery boy had the capability of being intellectual, and was actually doing prep work.
Most guys and even girls in high school would barely even take the tests and procrastinate till the last second, including me, the girl with the red of doom still haunting her neck. Many corners turned and doors opened later, when somehow in this prison maze, we found the right area. I didn’t really look back, I just realized I’d probably never have an interaction with this dude ever again. So I just simply said, “Have fun in there.”, to this mystery dude. He chuckled and I just scampered back to my dorm to participate in the unavoidable girl powwow, and high ponytails were strong, due to the massive heat that comes in late August.
With laughs aplenty, we knew a possible group was forming, with loads of potential. Half of us were traipsing on the floor and the other half of the four were sitting safely and soundly in wooden chairs that Bonner Hall gifted us with. Then, there it was: that familiar silhouette hastily walking by our door. Ready for more meet and greets, we hollered to this oddly familiar figure. With one hand fixing the shape of his unmistakable blonde hair, he turned and who would’ve guessed it was the mystery dude.
Sitting down like he was already one with this new wolf pack forming, we go around learning about each other, but mostly mystery dude. The first question was of course, “What is everyone’s name?” we asked generally, so mystery dude didn’t feel like the odd ball out in this new gang forming. His name was Maxwell, which I thought was a very fancy name and fit his preppy aesthetic to a tea. For a while we all talked, laughed, and even poked fun at one another like it’s been a millennium of time that we’ve known one another.
The thought of food suddenly dawned on us, so we got up from our chit chatting of high school, relationships, and this world of college. The ultimate plan was to meet at South Dining Hall for some grub of fries and a side of chicken nuggets. That’s when my mind remembered, “Amanda you have a boyfriend you haven’t talked to in a hot minute, should probably check in”, Sighing, I told this exciting new gang I would meet them there. Everybody shook hands as a proper means of closing up our very important business meeting of the minds. Once it got down to newly found Maxwell’s time to shake mine, he had held on a little longer than the typical five seconds.
As I see this happening, I pull away and decide to look up at this former mystery man. He quickly winks and promptly says, “I’ll see ya later” with a flirtatiously confident grin. The four cement walls and remembering shower shoes had seemed so much smaller now. For I now realised that I had bigger issues coming my way…