He stepped outside of the spectacular alcove to the front desk and into an office at the back, and returned quickly with a glass of orange juice.
As Simone when over a few details with him, he clicked away at a sleek black computer. I stood, frozen to the floor. As I sipped my glass of orange juice, the smell of the large bouquet of lilies at the reception desk overwhelmed me. So did the view; the double curved staircases, the console table with the biggest vase I’ve ever seen, the dark cathedral-like ceilings and stained glass windows. It was like I had been transported into one of those old mansions in historical movies; the kind of movies my mom can’t get enough of.
Just pull my hair up in an up-do, and throw me into a corset now.
The place was dead and eerily quiet; not another soul around. I guessed that since it was a Monday evening, all the students were probably in the dorms. I was itching to go run around and explore like a kid. It took all the strength I had to behave, and just stand there and wait for Simone.
It took her forever.
She turned to me and guided me to the front desk where Philippe snapped a photo of me for my ID card. While he did his thing, she asked me for my phone. I knew this would come. I’d read about their no-cells policy on the website. To be honest, it wasn’t a huge deal for me. I’m not glued to my phone like most kids are.
“Philippe will label your phone and bring it to the media center,” she explained. “All student phones are charged nightly, and you get one hour of use per day, restricted to the media center of course.”
My shoulders slumped a little at the sound of her words. I suddenly felt a little caged. There would be no pictures to send Kylie. I regretted not snapping a few pics.
When they were finally done, she handed me a stack of papers, my ID card/key card. “Here is all the info you need. Phillippe will bring your luggage up to your room.”
I snuck a peak at my ID card. As expected, I looked like a total dork.
She started toward the elevator and I followed eagerly, nervous as a virgin on prom night (my dad always said that, and for the longest time, I had no clue what he meant.) Oddly, the elevator was state-of-the-art chrome with digital buttons.
“We’ll head straight to your room and you can meet Alicia. She’s a wonderful girl, and I chose her specifically just for you. I know since you’re jumping into all this in the third year, it might be a little strange for you.”
Yes, a little.
“Have most of the students been here since first year?” I asked, hoping she would tell me there were tons of newbies like me.
“Yes, the majority of the juniors have been with us for over two years now. That’s why I wanted to set you up with Alicia… if anyone can take in a newcomer and make her feel like part of the family, it’s Alicia.”
My stomach eased a little at the sound of her words. I wished she could stay permanently glued to my side, but I knew that she’d leave as soon as I was settled into my room.
We exited the elevator at the second floor, and walked down a futuristic window encased corridor, suspended above ground. It joined the main historical building to a more modern structure. God, the view was amazing; the trees, the lake. I pinched myself again. Simone turned to me. “Pretty impressive, right? The kids call it ‘the tube.’”
“Yes,” I agreed, my eyes greedy.
“The packet I just gave you includes everything you need to know: your class schedule, your dormitory info, rules and regulations handbook, a list of numbers and extensions, forms to complete by the end of the week,” she explained with a smile. “I realize it’s a lot to take in and I’ve asked Alicia to go over it with you.”
I stared down at the papers in my hands, already feeling overwhelmed. “Oh… okay.”
“There’s a telephone in every room. Since the students are not permitted mobiles, it’s important. You can reach any department at any time, and you can reach the front office twenty-four, seven. Your key card will give you access to your room, as well as any room accessible to your account.”
“Uh… sorry?”
She smiled as we made our way to a building with another front desk, this one a little less pompous; vending machine, water cooler, rack of colorful flyers, cork board with a hodgepodge of stuff on it. The front desk was empty, and we zoomed past.
“For example, if you are taking a music class, you’ll have access to the music room, if you are taking botany classes, you’ll have access to the conservatory, and so on.”
“Oh… I see. Cool.”
We entered another elevator, and exited on the second floor. My stomach was full of butterflies.
As soon as we stepped out, I spotted two girls, dressed in casual lounge pants and t-shirts. One had long flowing hair, half blonde, half purple, and the other had short black hair, a nose ring, and a tattoo on her arm. One of them was eating a granola bar and she quickly hid it in her pants’ pocket when she saw Simone. They smiled at us tightly as we walked past them.
We stopped abruptly. Room 207.
This was it.
Simone grinned, and knocked on the door. Her smile was mischievous, her small glasses sat on the tip of her nose, slightly askew. She looked devilish, and for one panicky second, I wondered…
