Raya arrived on campus around one in the afternoon. She was looking forward to her new life on campus, away from her family and the sad life they lived. Raya was ready for the college parties and cute college boys, who were rumored to be far superior to high school boys.
She opened the car door to the moving truck and lifted the back of it up. She observed her belongs, making sure nothing was damaged on the way over here. They all looked in order, only small shifts in the way the boxes were set up. She didn’t have as much as she thought, just a few boxes. She really didn’t need a moving truck at all, but she insisted on having one so that her stuff had enough room and things wouldn’t get crushed.
Raya grabbed a large box that took up most of her vision and began to make her way over to her dormitory door when she bumped into someone.
“Um, excuse me, you’re kind of in my way.” Raya said.
“I could say the same to you.” The person said back.
She was about to give this person accusing her a piece of her mind when the person set their box down.
Raya’s eyes widened. She threw her box down as she squealed with glee giving no care about her belongings.
“Oh my God. Annie, you’re here!”
“Raya! I am indeed here!” Annabell screamed as they ran into each other for hugs.
“It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you so much.” Annie said.
“I’ve missed you too! It totally slipped my mind that you were going here!” Raya exclaimed breaking the hug.
“It’s fine. So what are the chances that we’d end up at the same dorm?”
“I know! It’s totally crazy!”
“You know what would be crazier? If we shared the same room.”
“Dude, totally! What room are you staying in?” Raya asked. Raya was completely excited. It was like she was back to her old self.
“Um, room 201. You?”
“No freaking way! WE’RE IN THE SAME ROOM!” Raya screamed.
Raya hugged Annie again. They spun each other around in a circle and laughed like old times.
“You really haven’t changed all that much. I was expecting some grand personality change but you’re still my same dorky Raya. C’mon, help me decorate the room. I’ve already have my stuff up there I was just bringing down this last box.”
“Alright!”
With that, Raya grabbed her big box and followed Annabell up the stairs to their room. Raya put the rest of her boxes in their room with the help of her best friend and they went to decorating their room.
Their room was cute, like a teenagers bedroom, what Raya’s old room looked like. It was a bit overdone with posters and provided enough room for what they needed. It wasn’t to the new Raya’s taste but it was what Annie liked and so she was fine with it. Old Raya would have liked this room just the way it is. She thought. So sad that I had no taste back then.
When they were just about done decorating Annabell’s side of the room, there was a knock on their door. The girls looked at each other wondering who the heck could possibly be there. Raya went to the door and answered it. In came Amanda, one of Raya’s best friend from high school.
“Raya!” Amanda said barging into Raya and Annabell’s room. Amanda’s demeanor changed when she caught sight of the room and Annabell. She took a seat on the shabby looking couch.
“Raya, this room is so not your style. I was expecting something cute, like you, but not this. This looks like how my room is, but you know, less cool. You should come see it sometime.” She giggled out.
“Um, excuse you. Who the heck are you and how dare you criticize our room?!” Annabell said accusingly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I totally didn’t see you there. I’m Amanda Melendez, Raya’s best friend.” Amanda said standing up and holding her hand out.
Annabell looked her hand over like it was something diseased.
“This is Annabell, my…” Raya began. She didn’t know whether to say old best friend or just best friend.
“Best friend,” Annabell said shooting Raya a look.
“Oh?” Amanda said taking a seat back on the couch. “Raya, I didn’t know you had such taste in people.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Annabell asked looking ready to lunge onto Amanda.
“Whoa, okay, it’s time I stepped in.” Raya finally said. “Amanda, I’ve known Annabell since I was a little girl, be nice. Also, what are you doing here?”
“I came to invite you to a party. It’s the first big party of the year, it’s going to be awesome. This frater-”
“No, I meant what are you doing here, at this school? I thought you were going to that art school in San Myshuno with Miranda.”
“Oh, um…” Amanda started shifting her weight on the couch. “I decided that it was best that I come here. So here I am! Anyway, so you down to party or not?”
Raya rolled her eyes. She could tell something was up by how shifty Amanda was being but she decided to leave it alone. Instead, she agreed and hurriedly shooed Amanda out. There was only so much Amanda she could handle.
Once the door was closed Annabell went in.
“What the hell was that?” Annie yelled pointing at the door. “Who does she think she is just coming into our room. Also thanks for sticking up for me by the way.”
“You’re welcome.” Raya said. She was oblivious to how Annabell was feeling.
Annabell squinted her eyes at Raya. “That was sarcasm. Maybe you have changed.”
Raya rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch. She looked at Annabell and sighed.
“Sorry, I was just caught off guard. I didn’t know she’d be here and would just say that about you.”
“Yeah yeah, whatever Raya. Let’s just,” Annabell breathed in through her nose and then out through her mouth. “Let it go.”
“Wow.” Raya smirked. “I guess I’m not the only one who changed. Those anger management lessons have been paying off.”
Annabell laughed. “Shut up.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “C’mon, we’ve got to go to freshman meet and greet.”
“Alright.” Raya said getting off the couch and following Annabell out to the student union building.
The student union building was filled with, well, students and tons of amenities for the students to use. Raya looked around the building and went into each room trying, not to appear as a totally lost freshman, which she was. Her mouth opened wider with each room she examined and upstairs was like heaven to her, mostly to her old self. There were video games for your average gamer and sugary snacks filled the wall aligning next to the retro games. The old Raya would have geeked, but this Raya was trying to contain her excitement.
No one can know. No one can know. She repeated to herself in her head.
“Hey!” A voice said behind her.
Raya jumped. She turned around to see her true best friend, Annie. Raya let out a sigh of relief, with the comforting sight of her best friend.
“You wanna go play one of those games with me?”
“Not really.”
Annabell shot her an inquisitive look. “You sure, man? We haven’t played together in a while.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Go have fun. I’m going to go look around some more.
“Okay, you know where to find me.” Annabell said shooting at Raya with her finger.
Raya did as she said would and headed downstairs to look at the rest of the classrooms. She opened the creaky door and walked into a room where her schedule said one of her lectures would be.
“Wow, this place is nothing like high school.” She said to herself.
“Yeah, when doors are closed people usually knock, so it’s nothing like the open doors of a high school.” Someone said.
Raya’s head snapped to the direction of the voice. Her eyes meet with a very handsome young man. He was sitting down and reading a book.
“Oh, I didn’t know anyone was in here.” Raya managed to say without stuttering. She had never felt so immediately attracted to someone, besides Dirk and she knew that she couldn’t afford to appear anything but confident with this guy.
“I’m sure you didn’t.” The man said to her closing the book and standing. He walked over to her smoothly and placed his hand out.
“Jerry Wheeler.” The man said, leaning down to kiss Raya’s hand. “And you?”
The little moment of intimacy made Raya’s cheeks heat up.
“Raraya. I mean Raya.”
“Well Raraya, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She mentally cursed herself for stuttering. This whole moment felt oddly familiar to Raya but she couldn’t put her finger on it. She decided to let it go.
“Nice to meet you too. Are you new here?”
“Oh no! I’m far from being new here. I’m a junior.” He responded.
“Then why are you here during the freshman meet and greet?”
“I needed somewhere quiet to read and despite the library being a quiet place, at this university, it’s not.” He laughed.
Raya giggled along with him. Why am I giggling? Nothing he said was funny.
Jerry looked down at the watch on his wrist. “Listen, Raya, it really was nice meeting you but I’ve got to go. Here’s my number, I’m sure you’ll be needing help with something.” He said winking. He handed Raya his number on a piece of paper that he pulled out of his pocket.
“Later Raraya.” Jerry said leaving the room.
Raya stood there in shock. Never had a boy given her his number. They’ve always asked her for her number. She put the number in her phone and smiled to herself.
It was a beautiful summer day. I was riding my bike through the town after I stopped over my best friend, Annabell’s house. Everything was nice and peaceful as I rode down the quiet streets of Brindleton Bay. I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I’d find something that would change my life or someone in this case. I made a sharp turn onto your street due to the narrow sidewalk. A small twig got caught in the spoke of my front wheel.
A Heart Breaker's Tale 