“Come on, let’s get you settled and figure out where you’re staying,” Isis said. “Welcome to Drew Collins. Stick with us and you’ll be fine.””
“Yeah, welcome,” Maggie added while Asha threw her hand in the air with exasperation. “Try and keep up. It can get a little crazy here.”
The sudden rush of excitement was felt as I tried to keep up with the chaotic bustle of everyone being everywhere. I’ve never been to an actual school and although we have one, it was nothing like this!
“Legends of Black Myths! Sign up form here!” Someone shouted as they stood on top of a table. “We are a cultural club of investigators chasing myths and folklore of African Americans!”
“If you’re interested in being a social media influencer for Drew Collins, sign up here with me! We are looking for content creators for the Underground press! Must be personable!”
I looked around at the different set ups from multiple tables lined up in the center of the biggest courtyard where three buildings stood. Everyone one of all shades of blackness gathered in their social circles with the unique hairstyles and accents I couldn’t quite place. I felt like I was inside of my own phone, living the videos I’ve seen for years about people in the new world, but I never imagined it would be like this! Not in a million years! Men, muscular men walked by in groups with deep voices to women who wore dark make up around the eyes and mouth with metal piercings decorating their face. There were older women who sat down, to older men standing together talking and laughing. All dressed in the same repeating school colors. I was the only one that stood out in my attire, but I was anxiously ready to blend in.
Then there was Maggie Grey. She stood with a group of women in her face near a table that was decorated with green and white accessories.
“That is the sorority she’s in,” Isis said, catching on to my lingering stare before pointing. “Oh! That’s the fraternity that goes with them…kind of like their brothers. The Alphas. Theseare the athletes,” she pointed as another wave of men walked by with their eyes glancing in our direction. The way their shoulders shifted from side to side with their strut, and their arrogant expressions, they were no different than the men back home who trained to be warriors. “Stay away from them if you want your sanity,” she muttered. “Drew Collins is pretty much broken up into three social groups. Greek, social clubs, and athletics. Everyone fits somewhere in those three no matter the age.”
“Except for us,” Souxie added with a tuck of her hair behind her ear. “We belong to no one and nothing but to ourselves and each other.”
“Right,” Isis nodded in agreement.
“Hey!” Someone shouted, tapping the table as I jumped at the noise before turning around. “Your name, please!”
The woman chewed on a small thin wooden stick as her eyes doubled blinked with a second layer of film glossing over. Her head was completely shaved and colored a bright purple when she motioned for me to speak. “Helloooo?! Your name, boo!”
“She heard you!” Asha barked while Isis took the paper in my hand to read out loud.
“Danielle Jackson.”
I nodded, confirming the name that did not belong to me. The woman stared at me before rolling her eyes as she began to flip through her list of names. The row of long tables was filled with lines as men and women walked up looking for information about their stay here. Some were turned away while others were given papers and information. Souxie was further down the line while Isis decided to give her name too.
“I requested to be paired with specific names,” Souxie said as Asha slammed her hand down on the table and leaned forward on the other side of me.
“The fuck you mean my roommate is named Ashley?! Who the hell is that?!”
“Uh…you’re going to be in the Quads, building B–––”
“Why have the option to list the people you want to be roommates with if y'all aren’t gonna honor that?!” She yelled. The poor woman was terrified as she backed up from the table in an attempt to respond.
“Normally it’s honored but, in this case, I believe they found it problematic–––”
“I’m in the Commons?” Isis cut in, confused as she looked at her paper given to her.
“You’ll have your own single dorm to yourself but yes, you’re in the Commons.”
The woman in front of me was still flipping through the list of names before walking back towards the second row of tables to look through a set of files. I nervously looked up at the light posts above, wondering if this is the part where I would be caught. I could feel the magic all around this school so surely, they had to know I was Ayira and not Danielle. Maybe this was the moment I’d wake up back in my room and Minka was hissing and chastising me before being married off to a man I don’t know.
“So who do we need to talk to about getting a shared room?” Asha demanded. “We're in our second year!”
“You’re technically still listed as first year since you didn’t pass–––”
“I know that! I’m talking about them!” Asha barked.
“Asha,” Souxie called out calmly. “They are separating us on purpose…”
“Okay, but why? Who is paying that much attention to where we can’t even room together?”
I took a deep swallow as the woman with the thin piece of wood in her mouth came back to the table with wide eyes.
“Lucky you,” the woman said with a sudden changed tone of respect. She gave me a piece of paper with a map of the school. “Apparently, you’re…a big freaking deal to the school. Your belongings and class schedule should already be in your room. Welcome to Drew Collins. Next!”
