Chapter 1A Chapter by Heather MariaThe beginning...There is not a book that prepares a young eighteen
year old for the challenges they will face in college. There’s not a manual to
tell them what to do make straight A’s, to know which friends to make, to know
which parties to go to, or which guys to date. Every teenager transitions from
being an adolescent into an adult at some point in their lives and college is
just a stepping stone in that direction. For Laura Williams it was going to
Yale and becoming a famous journalist that traveled around the world chasing
top stories for the New York Times. Some say it’s about the journey, not the
destination and if that’s the case then knowing she’ll become a famous
journalist means nothing. It is the journey that got her there and it was a
heck of a ride. Laura sighed as she climbed out of her parents BMW
and stared up at the buildings on the campus of Yale University. She was
exactly where she wanted to be and had dreamed of being for the last fifteen
years, and it was finally here. “Laura…Laura,” her dad Richard Williams yelled at
her and chuckled. “Sorry dad. I just can’t believe that I’m here and
that everything we dreamed is coming true,” Laura was a petite brunette with a
heart of gold. “Well, don’t get too excited. If you don’t like it
here I’ll be on the red eye to come get you,” her dad chuckled and she rolled
her eyes at him. “Oh Rick, she’ll love it here. I’m sure she’ll meet
her husband here if not then she can go up to Harvard,” Julia Williams remarked
while checking her outfit. The Williams was a typical American family that
lived in a cozy (massive) house in the historical district of Indian Hill,
Cincinnati, Ohio. “I don’t really care as long as I become editor of
their school paper,” Laura grabbed one of her suitcases and her dad followed her
lead. “You are in the nicest suit they have and if you
have any problems with your roommate don’t hesitate to tell your RA.” Her
mother advised sternly. “I’m sure that we’ll be ok. Besides I’ve already
talked to her on Facebook,” Laura replied and they walked together to her dorm. “Well, its big enough that’s for sure,” Henry
remarked and sat her suitcase in the spacious sitting area of the dorm room. “When is your roommate supposed to be here?” Julia
asked going through the rooms. “This weekend I believe. You all wanted to get here
four days early so that we could sight see and get “to know” the layout of the
campus,” Laura answered in a mock tone and rolled her eyes. “Oh I’m going to miss your sarcastic comments
constantly torturing me throughout the day,” Her mom chuckled. “Can we visit the library?” Laura asked excitedly
after they brought in the last of her luggage. “Really? Don’t you want to go shopping instead?”
Julia groaned slightly. “She is so your kid.” “We’ll stop by as we go to the registrations office
to get your schedule and then we’re going into New Haven,” Henry made a
negotiation and winked at Laura. He had been a lawyer for twenty years and a
father for eighteen"giving him lots of experience in making deals. “Awesome,” Laura beamed. She took a look around the
dorm room and couldn’t believe that she was a Yale student. “The next four
years are going to be the best years of my life!” *** "Oh my gosh. I can't believe I'm
finally here! This is so crazy," an eighteen year old Chanel Robinson exclaimed
to her friend, Michelle, Saturday afternoon as they were standing on the
grounds of Yale. She finally made it to the school she dreamt of ever since she
was a little girl and was very excited. "You'll be fine, and your mother
would be really proud of you too," her friend, Michelle, said. Chanel's
mother passed away when Ellie was seven years old. She remembered her mother
telling her stories of when she went to Yale. She was determined to make it
into the same college her mother went to years ago. Yes, she would be. Oh well. At least
I'm away from home and no more of my overly strict father. I'm finally on my
own. Thank God." Since her mother died, Ellie had to
move and live with her overbearing father in Massachusetts. He was hardly
around in her life, and when he was he attempted to be what he thought a real
father was. Ellie couldn't stand him. She was very relieved to be leaving from
under his roof. "I know what you mean. Now, are
you ready to get all of your stuff in your room? Speaking of room, do you know
your roommate?" "I've messaged her on Facebook,
but it's not like I really know her. Her name is Laura something. We're both
majoring in journalism. I think, or at least I hope, we'll get along well,"
Ellie expressed as they began to carry her belongings to the new place she was
to call home for the next year. When the girls arrived at Chanel's
room, her roommate, Laura was not there. "Maybe she's at lunch or
something. I actually like it better this way. Let's hurry up before she
decides to come back. I want my room done now." "I can't believe your roommate still hasn't shown up
yet." "Yeah, until she pressures you to
do stuff too. Then it becomes a problem. What if she's wicked
pushy?" "I'm not worried. I know how to
say 'no' to people. Don't worry about it. Now are you ready to find something
to eat and for me to drop you back home in the MA?" "Sure, I guess so, you traitor." "Hey! Even though I'm here, I'm still a *** “Hi, you must be Chanel.” Laura
smiled walking into her dorm room around 4 pm that evening with a book in her
hand. “I’m Laura Williams.” “Hi, it’s good to meet you. This is
my friend Michelle and you can call me Ellie.” Ellie replied. “So how long have you been here?”
Laura asked shifting her bag. “I just got here a couple hours ago
and Michelle was wondering if we were ever going to meet you.” Ellie chuckled. “Oh, yeah. I have been in the
library getting my schedule situated and trying to find my classrooms before
Monday.” She replied going to set her bag down in her room. “That’s ambitious.” Ellie remarked
and Michelle gave her an ‘I told you so look’. “Well, I try to stay a head of the
game but it would be my luck to sit in the wrong class for the first ten
minutes of it.” Laura replied. “I see. We were getting ready to
head out into “Sure.” Laura replied and grabbed
her purse. “So, Ellie I know we talked briefly through Facebook, but I didn’t
catch what student organizations you were planning on being in.” “Well, I haven’t taken much thought
into it but definitely the dance team, maybe do intramural sports, and who
knows what else they have everything! The list is practically a book.” Ellie
remarked as they walked to “I completely agree with you on that
one. I am going to be editor of the Yale
Daily News it is the oldest college newspaper.” Laura beamed and Michelle
rolled her eyes. “Really…that’s cool.” Ellie replied
thinking that ambitious didn’t describe this girl. “You should be on it!” Laura smiled. “Er…I really wouldn’t want to steal
your thunder.” She answered. “At least think about it. Anyways I
plan on being the student council and the symphonic orchestra.” Laura stated as
they walked into a shop. “You play an instrument too?”
Michelle asked in mocked surprise. “Violin. So what is your class load
like?” Laura directed her attention back Ellie. “Not too bad. I have ENG 114, a LIT
course, a HIS course, and a SCI course. What about you?” “I’m in ENG 114 also, a Detective
LIT course, a MTH course, and a Latin course. Oh, this is really cute!” Laura
picked up cashmere sweater. “Cool. I think there’s a freshman
party later tonight you wanna go?” Ellie asked Laura. “I’m not into the whole party
scene.” She answered. “I’m sure it won’t be bad, because
it’s hosted by the freshman council. Who at Yale would break the law that
blatantly?” Ellie stated. “I guess it could be fun.” Laura
shuffled her feet and shifted her purse. “Oh lighten up! Maybe there’ll cute
guys who aren’t super dorky.” Ellie laughed. “Alright. Maybe there’ll be an upper
classroom who I can suck up to and get me a foot in the door.” Laura’s eyes
gleamed. “Stated like a true politician.”
Michelle twirped and the girls laughed going into a cozy restaurant. *** After
eating dinner, the girls went back to the room and relaxed for a while before
getting ready for the party of the weekend. "I'm
assuming you don't go out to parties very much." Ellie stated as the three
girls were getting ready for the freshmen party. "I,
uh, go out all the time. What makes you think that?" Laura questioned. "Girl,
you're lying, aren't you?" Michelle picked up on Laura's lie. "Yeah,
maybe a little bit," she confessed, "how'd you know?" "Because the way you're dressed is not
how you're supposed to do it when you go out to party," Michelle pointed
out. "Do you see me and Chanel? We're wearing jeans, not a khaki skirt.
We're not goin to a luncheon." "I
like the way I dress. Thank you very much. I may not go out to parties a whole
lot, but I can have fun in my own way." She turned towards her closet and
continued getting ready. Michelle
just laughed and said, "Whatever." "Leave
her alone, Michelle." Ellie whispered so her roommate wouldn't hear them
talking. "She's
so weird. Who wears a skirt to a party? Good luck staying with her for a year.
It'll be painful." "She's
really not that bad. If she's comfortable, she's comfortable. Who cares what
she wears. It doesn't bother me. I'm not sure why it's bothering you so much.
You should probably get that checked out." "Ha.
Ha. Whatever. Just be careful of Little Miss Perfect. There's no telling what
she might try to do next." "Ya
know I can't wait until you go home, so that I can form a fair opinion of my
roommate without your mean comments." "You
know you're gonna miss me, at least until two weeks from now at least. I'll be
back. I'm always back." "Yeah,
that's what scares me. Now, if the two of you are ready, let's go and have some
real fun." The
girls arrived at the party around ten, and it was already poppin. There were so
many freshmen around. Some were socially drinking; others were playing drinking
games, and the rest were dancing to loud music. "Now,
this is what I'm talkin about!" Michelle began mingling with the crowd of
freshmen. "Um,
Chanel, can I ask you a question?" Laura tried to be heard over the loud
music. "Do you drink?" "Oh
gosh no! I've seen what it does to people and refused to follow them. How about
you?" "No
not at all. Just wondering. What about Michelle?" "Yeah,
she does, but I know how to take care of her. Don't worry about it. Just try to
have fun. I'm goin after her. Text or call me when you're ready to leave. I'll
most likely be on the dance floor. Ha-ha." After
Ellie found her friend she told her she'd check on her in an hour, because she
knew her friend would be a little toasted. Ellie went out to the dance floor
and started showing her moves. Everyone noticed and wanted to dance with her.
She danced with a couple of guys and danced with
a group of people. As she was dancing, she noticed a really good looking tall
dude eyeing her. She couldn't help but flirt back. She continued to both dance
and flirt at the same time. After a while she realized she had to check on
Michelle. As she walked through the crowd, the admirer bumped into and began
talking to her. "Hi,
my name is Alex. You wanna dance?" Before
Chanel had a chance to answer, he started leading her to the dance floor and
began slowly dancing with her. Being the person that she is, she went with the
flow and had no objections. When the song was over, he wanted to dance with her
some more, but she had to protest. "Um,
Alex, I need to check on my friend. Maybe another time we can dance
again." "Well,
what's your name?" "Chanel." "Chanel,
it was very nice dancing with you. I'll see you again." She walked away
not sure how to feel from that experience. Luckily, she spotted Michelle and
ran to her. Her friend was toasted just as she thought she'd be. "Michelle,
are you ready to go back to the room now? I think you should rest some." "Whyyyy
are you beeeing on my cassse?" Michelle slurred her words. "Because
I love you and we should go. Let's find Laura and tell her.""Noooo,
let's just go. I don't like her." "I
know you don't, but she has to know where I'm at since I'll be gone for a
while." Ellie tried calling her roommate's cell number three times before
giving up. She decided to take her friend to the room and come back to the
party later. "I
hope Laura will be ok by herself for a while." *** Laura looked down at the outfit she was wearing and
chuckled. The night had proven out to be exactly as she had hoped, but entirely
worthless too. The party was out of control that was for sure and Ellie’s
friend was no exception. Laura took a couple pictures of the party scene with
her iphone and headed out the door bumping into a guy. “I’m
sorry, I didn’t see you!” Laura blushed up at the tall handsome, dark haired,
blue eyed guy. “It’s
cool. Did you come from the freshman party?” He asked with a slight smile. “Oh,
I’m not drunk, I swear!” Laura immediately tried to cover up her clumsy’ness’. “I
didn’t say you were.” He smirked at her. “I
was just leaving. It’s gotten pretty wild for my taste and there wasn’t anyone
of caliber to talk to, until now.” She flirted. “I’m Laura Williams by the
way.” “I
know who you are.” He replied mischievously. “You
do?” Laura raised an eyebrow. “Yeah,
you’re the 4.0 student from Cincinnati that happens to majoring journalism. Who
happens to be getting ready to rat out this party for a good cover for her
first application article for the Yale
Daily News.” He answered learning against the doorframe. “I
was not!” Laura gasped. “You’re
going to have to work on your lying skills Nancy Drew. No one would go to a
party looking like they were going to luncheon, not even people here at Yale.
I’m Henry by the way.” Henry James, the president’s [of Yale] son, laughed at
her. “Why
does everyone keep saying that? How did I know pull off the whole Yale look?
Oh, whatever Sherlock! I know who you are too. You are Henry James the ‘it’ guy
on campus who is assistant editor of the Daily,
president of student council, my RA, and of course the president’s son.” Laura
twirled her hair and yawned. “Haha,
so what are you going to do about this party? You have to have a killer story
if you plan on being a freshman staffer on the Daily.” Henry winked at her. “Oh,
I was getting to that. Really though underage drinking is a thing of the past!”
Laura leaned against the doorframe enjoying herself. “Yeah,
but we’re still at Yale. Spice it up a bit and it’ll be the talk of the
administration and campus for days.” He
stated giving her a tip. “Right.
So let’s add a little heat to this flame!” Laura smirked and got out her
iphone. “Hi,
I would like to report underage drinking at the freshmen party hosted by the
freshmen council. No, I would like to remain anonymous. Thanks!” Laura put her
phone in her purse and Henry chuckled at her. “You’ll
make a pretty good reporter, but you’re going to have a ton of enemies!” He
replied. “Not
unless you leak the information. Now, we can’t stand here while the campus
police bust up this party!” Laura looked around for a good hiding spot. “The
second floor is a nice spot if you just want to get a quick photo. Honestly you
won’t need more than that to make this a front cover! Wow.” Henry followed her
up the stairs and they waited for the campus police to shut the party down. “OK. EVERYBODY OUT!” A big muscular man
stormed through the tight room. “What
man? This sucks! Who snitched, I don’t know but they can rot in…LET’S GO!” A stream of people filed out
of the room angry, drunk, and half passed out. “Get
a picture for me.” Laura whispered to Henry and he did. “Where are you? The party just got busted, but
luckily I grabbed Michelle in time and we left out the back.” Ellie texted her. “I met this really awesome guy and we went to
Starbucks. I’ll be back in a couple hours, don’t wait up!” Laura replied and Henry raised an eyebrow and
mouthed ‘great’. “That’s really cool and risk’ay’ of you! If you need
anything let me know.” Ellie answered. The
campus police cleared out the room and Laura and Henry walked out the other
entrance of the hallway. “That
was awesome!” Laura shrilled. “Yeah,
it isn’t exactly the most exciting thing I’ve done or reported. It gives you a
rush doesn’t it?” Henry looked at her knowingly. “It’s
like a drug! Ok. I really could use some coffee.” Laura twirled and he just
looked at her. “Coffee?
You are already hyped up and you want coffee.” He shook his head but walked
with her to Starbucks enjoying her company. “So
tell me something about yourself that everyone on campus doesn’t know.” Laura
calmed down after she had her double expresso mocha. “I
dropped out of boarding in England to backpack through Europe with some
buddies.” He smiled mischievously. “No
way!” Laura laughed not believing him. “I
swear! My dad pulled a few strings so that I could take a test to graduate my
expected year.” Henry answered. “That’s
crazy! I don’t think I’ve done anything that absurd in my life.” She replied. “I’m
sure you haven’t, but I know you have a few stories beneath that perfect
resume.” Henry winked at her. “Wouldn’t
you like to know.” She smirked at him flirtingly. “You’re
bad. Come on I told you one.” Henry pried. “I
went to jail for faking a press pass to get into an exclusive meeting about the
Mayor taking money from the city to support his prostitution habit.” Laura
smiled at him taking a sip of coffee and his eyes got wide. “That’s
the best lie I’ve ever heard!” Henry starting laughing. “I’m
not lying!” Laura defended herself. “You even said I was a bad liar, how could
I make that up?” “That’s
true, but how did you get that off your record?” He asked downing the rest of
his drink. “My
dad is a lawyer for the biggest firm in Ohio.” She answered. “That’s
impressive! You’ll do anything for a story and the rush.” Henry shook his head
really liking this girl. “Well,
it was bound to come out sooner or later. I just really enjoy writing about
political dirt! Yes, I do enjoy the adrenaline rush of it all too.” Laura threw
away her drank and looked at her watch. “It’s
one in the morning. I believe you just got your cover story for the Daily and you’ve stirred up a hornet’s
nest.” Henry stood with her and they walked back to campus. “Hm…and
I have the president’s son as a resource. The guy is also my RA and I’m out
with him at one in the morning, how does that work?” She replied as they got to
dorm building. “I
would say that you could get in trouble for that one, but I won’t tell.” Henry
smiled at her. “Technically
school hasn’t started yet and we haven’t a floor meeting.” Laura justified as
they reached her door. “Mum’s
the word. See you later Nancy.” Henry kissed her cheek and walked down the
hall. “What a night!” Laura beamed © 2012 Heather MariaReviews
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4 Reviews Added on July 18, 2012 Last Updated on July 18, 2012 AuthorHeather MariaAboutHello, I am a senior in college and an amature writer. I enjoyr reading and performing while creating new stories for my friends to enjoy. more..Writing
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