Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen
I unlocked the door to my student accommodation, grunting breathlessly as I lumber my case into the room, worn down by the weight of everything in it.

"Need help?" A soft voice calls from behind me, causing me to flinch. I turn around to see a blonde haired boy with bright blue eyes. He's a little taller than me and slightly thin looking. He has pale white porcelain looking skin, little like a dolly.
"Err, h-hey! Yes actually." I blush in embarrassment, wondering if he had heard my breathless attempt at lifting my heavy luggage.

He flashes a dazzling smile at me and a wave of warmth comes over me. I find myself studying his pink plump lips for a brief moment as he bends down to lift my bag for me. He gestured his head isn't the room, holding the door open for me. "Ladies first..." he says, and I return a smile, walking quickly into the room.
"So, new student?" He asks, placing my bag down on the inside of the room.
"Y-yes. I'm Alana. You?"
"George." He says, holding his hand out and I shake it swiftly.
"You new too?" I ask, pulling my head away.

"Oh no. Well...kind of? Not as new as you. I've been here for about 5 months. I started early."

"Why's that?"
He shrugs, "Oh, it's a foundation course I took up before I went into the actually degree. It was 5 months head start kind of thing."

His voice is like music. I cannot help but feel relaxed by his tone and I instantly find myself wanting him to speak some more. George was the very first friendly face I had even seen here and he seemed so approachable and so friendly. His blonde hair hung over his left eye a little and I catch his brushing it away every now and then during our conversation.

"You seem a little lost round here...like...well obviously you would be," He says awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as he continues to go on. "I just mean...you seem particularly afraid or out of your depth. You know?"

I smirk and nod, turning towards my suitcase. "Yeah, you're not wrong there. New start and all I guess."

"They say the first 2 months are the hardest." He says in a soft tone, stepping closer to my side as I begin to remove the neatly folded up clothes from my turquoise suitcase. "I guess." I reply, beginning to move the pieces of clothing onto the provided hangers in the cheap looking student wardrobe. Despite the accommodation feeling generous in places, a lot of things within it seemed outdated.

"Would you like some help unpacking?" George asks from behind me as I hook the hanger up.

"Nah, it's ok! I think I can get on with the rest just fine." I smile sweetly, turning back towards him. He nods in an awkward way, his back slightly arched. Despite his great looks, his chiselled jawline and beautiful blond hair, he seems like a dork in places considering his awkwardness. Mason is a lot more confident and arrogant compared to George. Wait. Why am I even comparing my brother with this new friend I have just met?

"I'll be off then. I'm only two doors down from you. Number 9."

"Ok! I'll be sure to keep in touch." I smile, turning to grab any one of my old fashioned white summer tops.

As George makes his way back towards the door I sense him pause for a moment behind me, given the fact I couldn't hear the lock of the door being turned. "C-could I err...could I get your number at all?"

The question catches me a little off guard. Come to think of it, what is the harm in giving him my phone number? We could end up being the best of friends during my time at the university. Fresh start, fresh people. I shrug and smirk a little, trying not to make him feel uncomfortable or embarrassed for asking. "Sure!"

I walk over to my handbag and pull out my pair black biro and an old receipt from my local grocery store back at my hometown. I turn the receipt over and write my number on the back of it. I hand it over to him swiftly and he takes it, excitement and happiness evident in his green eyes. "Thanks, Alana! I'll text you later!"

"Ok! See ya." I say, closing the door after him once he leaves. In spite of George being an incredibly nice and friendly person, something about him seemed quite odd or just a little awkward in places. Smirking to myself, I dismiss the paranoia and walk back over to my suitcase, preparing to sort the rest of my clothes and possessions. As I continue to unpack, I spot a screwed up photo in the corner of my suitcase and gentle pull it out. When I turn it over, smoothing out the creases, I see it's an old picture of me and Mason. A very old picture. In the corner of the photograph, it states in slightly rubbed off writing '11.5.2009'. The 11th of May in 2009. In the photograph, Mason and are are sitting on a bench by a river. I cannot quite remember where this river was but I remember the moment and the lovely time we had together. I am sat cuddling him with curly hair and Mason seems to be laughing, trying to yank away from me. I must have been getting on his nerves judging by his body language but I remember he was trying to hide the fact that he enjoyed my cuddles so much.

After looking at the photograph for a while, I begin to wonder why it is even in my suitcase. I didn't screw this up and put it in here, I wouldn't have. I strictly remember arranging my suitcase from scratch so I would have seen this back at home. Unless...unless Mason shoved it in last minute? Why would he do that? Maybe he is hinting at something, maybe he wants me to remember him while I'm away.

Despite my confusion of the photograph, I shove it in my back jean pocket and continue with unpacking, the thought of it still nibbling away at the back of my mind.