It took a whole week for Lauren to heal completely. These days, Hazel was there with her all the time, and nothing bad happened. She didn't see that young man again after what occurred in the parking lot.
The thought of it scared her, and Lauren tried not to think about anything related to it. She started avoid going out alone and always made sure to have someone with her.
The incident left a deep impact on her mental health, and she started seeing a therapist to cope with the trauma after her uncle's request.
After doing a quick scan of her social media accounts, she laid down to check more social media inside, then peeled herself away long enough to get washed up for her first day at a new university in the middle of a term.
She supposed that decision had ultimately been hers, but she had not made it because she actually wanted to uproot herself from her dead aunt and dead parents, and everything else she loved about her life. If she had things her way, she'd be back home on a bus to her own university.
Somehow, she was excited for her first day here, or should one say her eighth day?
Lauren sighed when she saw what Hazel had picked out for her. It was a skirt with a blouse. She was hoping for something more casual, like jeans and a t-shirt. Lauren knew she had to wear it to please Hazel, but she wouldn't be comfortable in such formal attire.
"On my worst days, am I going to wear these, especially in this cold weather? Ew no!" Lauren made weird face and abruptly refused to wear them, then started looking for herself.
She might have found something else that she liked better or maybe she just didn't feel comfortable wearing that dress.
The temperature here was already minus. Now, if she thinks back, when she arrived here, she was freezing, and after getting welcomed by the monster, she was sweating profusely.
"Why? this is a beautiful dress!" Hazel complained as she threw the dress on the bed and watched Lauren took a shirt, a white hoodie with black jeans, and then a black long coat.
The dress folded itself and was placed neatly on the bed. "You are going to wear all of these?" Hazel emphasised each word as if it were out of order to wear them here.
"Why are these not allowed?" she questioned.
"No... No. I mean, nevermind."
Lauren laughed at her and turned to see the bed was done; therefore, she didn't make her bed after she woke up. She shrugged her shoulders that time and decided to let it go since it was not a big deal.
Lauren knew that there were more important things to worry about than an unmade bed. But now the bed was already done, which was surely confusing.
"I remember I didn't make my bed." Hazel's eyes moved there, and she smiled a little before replying.
"I made it when you were washing."
"I also didn't fold them." Lauren pointed out the pair of dresses Hazel was forcing her to wear. Hazel's eyes widened slightly, but she was quick to cover it up with a pleasant smile as if nothing had happened.
"I also did this just now." Lauren's eyes almost popped out as she uttered in shock.
"You when? You were standing here with me a while ago." Lauren walked towards Hazel, who turned around with confused expressions as she watched Lauren.
"Stop it already. We are getting late. I am going; now go and change quickly." Hazel pushed Laureen towards the bathroom.
Laureen shook her head and walked inside leaving the girl outside who then walked over to the wardrobe to put the dresses inside it.
After she was done and came out, wrapping a towel around her body. She saw an empty neat room. Hazel was not in the room anymore when Lauren came out. She had to find room 3 and block B of building A.
She checked her things and saw her schedule, which she could tell was a new one. The previous one had been lost somewhere when she was chased by the monster.
This week was peaceful for her. Spending time with Hazel and talking to her, sharing different things with each other. She loved it, when Harrison came to check on her from time to time. She started loving being here and getting the treatment of a princess.
She felt grateful for the attention and care he provided, which made her recovery much easier. She looked forward to his visits as they brought joy and comfort to her stay here.
The hallway was quiet, and no one was there except two students who were running towards the exit. She also hurriedly walked without giving attentions to the surroundings because she was already getting late and she didn't want to be late on her first day.
As Lauren stepped out of the dorm, she was welcomed by the cool breeze that hit her. Thank God, I wear it, Lauren thought. Appreciating that she did well after wearing it. She didn't know why Hazel was shocked to see what she was going to wear.
She wondered where her cousin had gone—to her class or somewhere else? She looked at the side boards and saw a building near her dorm. Lauren assumed the lovely structures were the same as the one she saw the day before.
Before being taken to her new dorm room, but the entire castle with its pointed archways and exquisite masonry seemed intimidating from the outside.
Since it was a building similar to Harvard, and now that she had seen the inside, she was fairly sure she should be roaming right about now. Or, at the very least, lost and torn because it was — just so big.
When she entered the building, Lauren was torn between looking at the high ceiling with its exquisite black crystal chandelier and the blazing fireplace that fills the entire right wall of the foyer. She didn't feel good about this place.
The more it looked vast and prettiest to her eyes, the more she got suspicious of this place, but did she have to be suspicious after seeing two creatures at the same time?
"This place is rusty. It hides two creatures, a vampire and a demon. Tsk." Tsking on the knowledge, she kept looking around.
She saw a boy walking by who winked at her. He was a tall guy. She saw him walking inside the building, into a classroom.
She wondered if she should follow him and find out what he was up to or if she should just leave it alone and go about her own business. As she weighed her options, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
She was sighing because her breath was so irregular that she didn't know what to do. This was all happening so early in the morning, and she had her first lesson in about five minutes.
Five minutes!
It caused Lauren to come to her senses, and she proceeded to walk her through the classes. On the east corner, a big black 'Department of Computer" sign was painted. Lauren's breathing became regular as she approached the door. She breathed deeply, savouring the silence, as she pulled the door wide.
The classroom could only accommodate forty-five students. She noticed the teacher, who appeared to be in his late thirties, was staring at her, waiting for her to enter. Lauren approached him.
"Good day, Mr. Anthony." Lauren smiled as she greeted him. She gazed at the students, who were staring at her with interest.
"Third-year student?" He asked in a dry voice. Mr. Anthony didn't seem to talk much, had no smile, and was not welcoming, but he had a handsome face. This had been noted. She gave a silent nod.
"Sit at the back." Lauren turned to face the direction and noticed that only one desk was available, up high near the back wall.
She moved slowly; her attention was focused upward as she was feeling nervous in everyone's gaze. And she didn't know what happened but she fell.
Knockdown, in front, as if laying on the stairs. This was a very awkward position, and indeed, her knees hurt badly. She could simply fall from the stairs as they rolled down, which thankfully didn't happen.
She felt as if she stepped on something; tripped, and fell forward. 'What exactly was it?' She questioned in embarrassment. Lauren shifted her gaze to the floor, but there was nothing that caused her to collapse on the floor like this.
She must have stepped on her own foot or didn't notice the other step that was there. But, on her first day; it must have to happen.
There was silence — a complete silence, and then Lauren looked back at the teacher. Who had his eyes on her nonchalantly; he shook his head at her in disbelief. He must be done with this new girl who had just arrived and started creating disturbances in his class.
Embarrassment was a brief phrase. Lauren wished for the earth to open and swallow her entirely. Seconds turned into minutes as the entire class burst out laughing.