It was an unnaturally beautiful mid-October day for Utah, but Sam hadn’t noticed. He was in Price attending college for the first time and he was finding it hard to adjust to this new life. The past two years had been so structured, compared to that his life now was chaotic. He went to bed at a different time every night, depending on when his roommate David was tired. On Mondays and Wednesdays he didn’t have class until 11:00 and could sleep in, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays he had signed up for a 7:00 class. Today was Tuesday, and Sam was tired.
Sam stifled a yawn as he walked across the street towards the Student Center. He was watching his feet, perhaps to make sure they kept moving, and had his hands in his hoodie pocket. There was a warm breeze that was stirring around the leaves he kicked up as he shuffled along. Sam didn’t think much about them, he didn’t watch as they swirled around him in the air, as if suspended by magic. He had things on his mind.
The slight wind was not only disturbing the leaves on the ground, but pulling other leaves from their branches and sending them out into the world. They danced in the air for a few moments then touched the ground gracefully, making a subtle noise. One leaf alone was too quiet to hear, but together the hundreds landing on the grass sounded like a calm rain. The sound would have soothed Sam’s soul, if he were listening. But Sam wasn’t listening. He was brooding.
He’d been away from home for two years. Then he was promptly sent away again, three hours away and with no car. He didn’t want to come to this stupid little town, but the college had offered him a pretty good scholarship and his parents hadn’t wanted him to miss such a great opportunity.
An opportunity for what? Sam thought resentfully. This Podunk college was smaller than his high school! What was he going to learn here that he couldn’t have learned by staying at home a year and going to the university extension in his town? Now he was stranded; though not so far away, there was a long and winding canyon separating him from the rest of civilization.
He glared at the school’s unofficial mascot, Gibby the Rock, as he pulled the door open. Someone had painted it bright pink with a big happy face. What right does a stupid rock have to be happy? Sam resentfully ate his lunch with a group of people from his dorm. They never spoke to him, but it was better than eating alone.
David sat down across from Sam and immediately set to flirting with the girl on Sam’s right. Sam listened while he chewed. David was a natural when it came to talking to girls. Sam wasn’t awful at it, but girls never seemed interested in anything he had to say when there were other males around. Sam had thought about this and figured that there must be something wrong with him. Either he was unattractive or he just wasn’t that funny. Or both. Sam glanced at the girl then got up and left.
* * * * * * *
Jenna was sitting under a tree reading a book and listening to 70s and 80s music. She absolutely loved the autumn. There was nothing quite like sitting among the yellows, oranges, and browns on the ground. The tree she was sitting under had turned a vivid red over the weekend; it perfectly matched her brand new jacket. Not that she needed the jacket, today was perfect. The temperature was in the mid-70s and there was a gentle wind. Jenna sighed and closed her book. She couldn’t be still on a day like this.
Jenna walked around the campus. She looked at the trees and the leaves on the ground. The wind picked up and threw resting leaves into action. Leaves were twirling above Jenna’s head, she started spinning with them. She realized she must look ridiculous, but she didn’t really care.
Jenna spun until she was dizzy, then she collapsed in a pile of newly fallen leaves. She stared into the heavens. The sky was perfect blue. There were wispy clouds warning of a storm ahead, but for now everything was just right. She watched as the birds flew south in their elaborate formations. Leaves fell around her.
She stood suddenly, disturbing the leaves around her. She took off running and skipping towards the Student Center. It was time for lunch!
A guy with curly black hair was leaving as Jenna arrived. She couldn’t help but notice how cute he was. He had bushy eyebrows, and chocolate brown eyes. He smelled really good too.
“Beautiful day, isn’t it?” Jenna asked him as she approached. He seemed to ignore her. Jenna thought he hadn’t heard. As she looked behind after him, Jenna saw him mocking her. His lips mouthed her words, he moved his head with exaggerated movements. Then he kicked Gibby, angrily.
“Are all men stupid?” Jenna said under breath as she turned to go inside. She found herself face-to-chest with the Dean of Students.
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry, not you,” She apologized and then stole another glance at the guy. He really wasn’t all that attractive. “Jerk.”
* * * * * * *
Sam limped to his door and started digging in his pockets for his keys. He stuck the key into the lock and opened the door to his cell. He looked about the dinky room and sighed. Only half of this dungeon was his. He kicked off his shoes, which was much more painful than it should have been.
“Idiot!” He scolded himself, “What kind of moron kicks a boulder?”
Sam slumped onto his unmade bed an immediately jumped back up. There was a spring sticking out of his mattress, it had torn a hole clear through the mattress cover and his fitted sheet. He groaned and started stripping the covers off his bed.
He was too tired for this, but the mattress had to be flipped before he could take a nap. Sam glanced at the alarm clock; there wouldn’t be time for a nap before his next class now. He had exactly 20 minutes before he had to leave again and it would take him 10 to remake his bed.
* * * * * * *
“Hi!” Someone said to her.
She looked across the table and saw a blonde girl with a huge grin. Jenna smiled in spite of herself.
“I’m Abby,” The girl said, then she pointed her fork at the Latino boy on Jenna’s right, “That’s David.”
“I’m Jenna.” Jenna was so happy to have someone to talk to at lunch that she forgot all about the boy she’d met outside.
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Keep it clean. I like receiving advice on my writing, but don't usually take it. Don't be offended.