The Arrival
"College, here I come," I said excitedly as I put my boarding ticket and passport into my bag.
I heard Livia scurry past the hallway, and I smiled. Everyone was excited. I had had The Regents in mind since high school, and Mom had made sure that I made it.
My bedroom door opened.
I turned. It was Mom, and she was smiling. That lifted my spirits.
"Elena, your flight's by 11:40."
"I know, Mom."
"It's ten," I heard Livia say, giggling.
She was holding an apple cake in her hand.
"So you guys want me out at all costs?" I said, equally smiling.
"Oh, come on. We'll miss you," Livia said, cleaning her eyes. I knew for sure she wasn't crying.
I smiled. I was happy and sad at the same time.
I finished packing and put my bags into the car. We started off to the airport, and I was mesmerized by the night view. Livia kept switching the music on the radio on and off in a bid to rage-bait me.
"Livia!"
She laughed.
I finally got to the airport, barely making my flight. I was completely driven by excitement until it was time to say goodbye.
I tried very hard not to cry, but my eyes refused to listen.
I got into the plane, completely anxious about what lay ahead.
I was awakened by the pilot's announcement, and I hurriedly started putting on my makeup.
My hair was a mess, and I didn't want to make a bad first impression.
After fixing myself up, I looked out of the window.
New York.
I smiled.
I was finally here.
The moment I stepped out of the airport, I could already feel how different everything was. I ordered a ride to The Regents and spent most of the journey staring out the window.
When I finally arrived, I couldn't stop staring.
The Regents was even more beautiful than I had imagined.
I dragged my suitcase into the building and checked the number on my room.
317.
I found the room and opened the door.
"Hello?"
"You're Elena!"
I looked up.
A girl hurried toward me with a huge smile.
"Yes."
"I'm Camille."
She took one of my bags before I could protest.
"Let me help you."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Another girl was sitting on one of the beds, scrolling through her phone. She looked up at me.
"You're cute," she said casually.
I laughed.
"Thank you?"
"I'm Sienna."
"Nice to meet you."
She smiled before going back to her phone.
Within a few minutes, I already felt comfortable around them.
They helped me arrange my things, and before long, we were sitting around the room talking.
"So, where are you from?" Camille asked.
"Montreal."
"Really?" Sienna asked. "That's far."
"Not that far."
"Why The Regents?"
I smiled.
"It has always been my dream school."
"What are you studying?" Camille asked.
"Medicine."
Sienna looked impressed.
"Okay, smart girl."
I laughed.
They continued asking me questions about home, my family and why I decided to leave Canada.
Eventually, Sienna suddenly looked at me.
"Okay, important question."
I raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
I laughed.
"No."
Both girls looked at me.
"Seriously?" Sienna asked.
"Seriously."
"You came all the way to New York and you're single?"
"I came here to study."
"Sure," she said, clearly not believing me.
Camille laughed.
"Don't listen to her."
Sienna suddenly sat up.
"Actually, since you're new, there's something you need to know."
"What?"
"There are three boys here you should probably stay away from."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Camille exchanged a look with Sienna.
"Drex Callahan."
I waited.
"Nico Devereaux."
"And Adrian Whitmore," Sienna finished.
"And?"
"They're trouble," Camille said.
I shrugged.
"They're just students."
Sienna stared at me.
"That's what everyone says before they get into trouble."
I laughed.
"I'll be fine."
Little did I know how wrong I was.
The next morning, I walked across campus with Camille and Sienna.
I was still trying to find my way around when suddenly, a group of girls started screaming.
I looked ahead, confused.
"What is happening?"
Sienna sighed.
"Don't tell me you don't know."
"Know what?"
Before she could answer, three boys walked past us.
They looked completely unbothered by the attention.
Girls were whispering and staring at them, but the boys didn't seem to care.
I watched them for a moment.
"Those are the three," Camille said.
I looked at her.
"Drex, Nico and Adrian."
I looked at them again.
So these were the boys everyone was so scared of.
They walked past us without saying a word.
I shrugged.
"Doesn't look like anything special."
Sienna looked at me.
"Elena, please."
I laughed.
We continued walking toward class.
When we got into the classroom, I took my seat and pulled out my notebook.
The professor started teaching.
A few minutes later, I noticed someone sitting a few seats away from me.
Drex.
He was on his phone.
The professor noticed too.
"Mr. Callahan."
Drex didn't look up.
"Mr. Callahan."
He finally looked up.
"Yes?"
"Put your phone away."
Drex looked at his phone.
"I'm listening."
The professor frowned.
"Then perhaps you can listen without your phone."
Drex didn't answer.
He simply went back to using it.
I rolled my eyes.
The professor tried to continue teaching, but Drex was still on his phone.
I finally turned toward him.
"Can you put your phone away?"
He slowly looked at me.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
A few students looked at us.
Drex raised an eyebrow.
"Did I ask you?"
"No, but the professor did."
The room suddenly went quiet.
Drex stared at me.
I stared back.
The professor looked between us.
Then he sighed.
"That's enough."
I looked at him.
"Get out of the class".
"That's right."
I stood straight ignoring Camille's signs to sit down
Then I heard the professor speak again.
"No. I mean you."
I paused and turned round, i could see the look of Amusement in Drex's face
"What?"
