Danitza POV
Following the directions given to us, we located the Crescent Auditorium. The space is packed with people, most of us carrying our luggage.
"Please put your personal belongings in the corner of the room." An old security guard instructed us as we entered the auditorium. He looked to be in his early 50s, with dirty-blonde hair, emerald eyes, and very obvious muscles. I would definitely want to meet him when he was in his prime.
The auditorium is indeed beautiful, and there's a skylight in the roof where you can clearly see the moon; it gives off Mako mermaids vibes, if you know what I mean. The other windows were arched and had very distinctive designs; they mostly featured crescent moons. The school really took the name Crescent Auditorium seriously.
"Nika? Isn't the auditorium beautiful? It looks so unrealistic." I said with great admiration.
"It's okay, I guess," Sanika replied unenthusiastically, still seeming to be lost in her phone. I rolled my eyes and just walked away, trying to get closer to the front.
"Good day, students, welcome to The Evercrest University, an institution where success is guaranteed. For this session, we will inform you guys of the rules we have in place at this institution. My name is Mrs. Laura Daley, and I am the president of Evercrest."
"Now, I know for most, if not all, of you students, this is a big step in each of your lives. I want to encourage you all that you can get through this institution and pass this major milestone to become who you want to be. I leave these few words with you. Now, please welcome your guidance counselor, Mr. Desmond Grant."
The 'meeting' went on for an hour and a half, and the member of the school staff was telling us what to expect and the ground rules that they set, such as:
No smoking in the classrooms
No alcohol consumption.
No fondling of each other DURING school hours.
All GPAs must be above a 3.0
The president, Mrs. Laura Daley, said a lot more rules, but those are the ones that I actually remember. Sanika, on the other hand, didn't hear any of them. They also mentioned that the dorms have facilities for students who prefer to live off campus. Which sounded very tempting to Sanika, so she chose to live off campus; on the other hand, after weighing the pros and cons, I chose to live on campus. So, yes, Sanika and I won't be roommates after all.
"I can't believe you chose to live on campus, that's so boring. You are probably going to be monitored 24/7, I personally can't live like that for 4 years." Sanika argued, I literally gave her the 'girl, seriously look.' cause what?
"I seriously can't believe you just said that, Sanika. Why are you here at the university? Deadass, that can't be your excuse for not living in a dorm on campus. I was really hoping we could live in the dorm together, but no. Good luck, though I think we have most of the same classes, hopefully, so we will see each other then. By the way, call later tonight, I want to see what the others are up to." I argued back.
"How are you even getting to the dorm off campus?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"I believe there will be a bus to carry us there. Yeah, I totally want to call the others later, especially Cari. I want to see if he has settled into Brighton Hills with his boujie ass." Sanika said with a laugh, which I gladly joined in.
"Well, I want to talk with Jadira because she wasn't really doing so well the last time we spoke," I said to Sanika. My mood drops instantly.
"When was the last time you guys spoke? Graduation, because she is always so busy, she couldn't even answer our call." Sanika said with a scoff and a very deep eye roll, I'm surprised they didn't get stuck, gosh.
I didn't even grace Sanika with an answer because I know what's really going on, and I know if Jadira wanted Nika to know, she would have also called her and told her what was up. So, it's not my place to tell Nika.
"Okay, when is your bus leaving? It's about a 10-minute drive, right?"
Sanika left with some other students on the bus, carrying them off campus. I am finally getting settled in my dorm room. It is quite cozy if I say so myself. The room is a one-room which I got since Sanika left.
To my right, a small kitchen stretches along the wall. It isn't large, but it's complete: a smooth countertop with just enough space for meal preparation, a two-burner stovetop neatly built into it, and a small oven tucked below. Above, pale wooden cabinets hold dishes, their handles slightly worn from use. A mini fridge hums quietly next to the stove, its surface dotted with magnets.
Straight ahead, the room opens into a cozy living area. A soft, slightly overstuffed couch sits facing a low entertainment stand, where a modest flat-screen TV rests. The screen reflects the warm glow of a nearby lamp, casting a golden light across the room in the evenings. A small rug anchors the space, adding a touch of softness underfoot, while a narrow shelf beside the TV holds books, a few decorative items, and a speaker for music. This corner feels like a retreat, a place to unwind after a long day.
To the left, a door leads into the bedroom. Inside, the atmosphere shifts into something quieter and more personal. A neatly made bed sits against the wall, layered with soft sheets and a comforter that invites you to sink in. Beside it, a small nightstand holds a lamp and a phone charger. Across from the bed, a compact desk and chair create a study space, lit by natural light filtering through the single window, dressed in simple curtains. There's also a modest closet, just large enough to keep clothes organized.
The bathroom is tucked discreetly near the bedroom. Though small, it's clean and efficient, with a shower with a simple curtain, a sink with a mirror above it, and a toilet positioned neatly to the side. The tiles are cool underfoot, and everything is within easy reach, designed for convenience rather than luxury.
I will be comfortable here. With a sigh, I began to unpack all my things. Before you guys ask, the boxes that I left at the gate were still there. I got help from the Emerald Eyes security guard, who carried them up to my room.
After unpacking for a while, I decided to take a break and call Ryker. I need to explain what happened after all. I decided to do a video call because he hates them, always thinking he doesn't look good enough to show his face.
The phone rang some time before he picked up. "Hello, Mr. Denton. You took your sweet time answering the phone." I laugh a little, trying to make a joke before we get down to business, because Ryker likes to get to the point.
"Was talking to my girl," Ryker said casually.
"Actually!? What's her name?! Have we really not talked that long?!!" I started sputing out questions.
"No."
"NO? Seriously!" Ryker is a man of very few words.
"Why did you call?" He asked.
"I wanted to tell you about what happened earlier, you know, because we didn't get the chance to talk about it." I started.
"hmmm"
I told Ryker everything that happened between Anthony and me this morning. He just listened; he didn't ask any questions at all. He just sat there and listened to me talk. I was always grateful for that. The way I could talk to him, even if he doesn't remember half of it later, at least he listens.
"That's sad," Ryker said after I finished telling him about how everything went down between Anthony and me.
"Yeah, it is, but to be honest, I'm not surprised that it did. What I am surprised about is that I talked back." I said, with a little laugh, actually flabbergasted that I was even able to swear at Anthony.
"You should have done more than just talk back, you know what you should have done?"
"What should I have done, Ryker?" I asked with a chuckle because I know it's going to be something bizarre.
"You should have grabbed hold of the steering wheel and started swerving it while screaming in his ear," Ryker said with every hint of seriousness in his voice. I burst out laughing!
Ryker and I talked some more, giving each other jokes, until I fell asleep.