Hi, it's fall again🍂
Some people have been desperately waiting for the fall unlike me. Not that I don't love it. I do but I don't like what follows it. Anyways this is part two to Modern Romantics. I hope you enjoy it and I hope this fall brings you all good things...

Your author,
A.S.G.

The new shades of fall reflected on my hair and I reflected on my choice of haircut. I had let Jackie experiment on it. Sometimes all a girl needed was a haircut, I was not that girl. I was constantly trying to get my new bangs out of my eyes. But it was nice to know Jackie had decided to do something with her talents. She decided not to go to college but to beauty school in Winchester.

Huntswood was so calm compared to the noises of students here. It was still crazy to think I wasn't living home anymore. My roommate's snore echoed and I didn't know whether to wake her up or not. I didn't want to start off on the wrong foot with her.

Living with a stranger didn't bother me nearly as much as I'd been been afraid. Why had I been afraid? Right my mother's words again echoed another lie I'd been told my whole life. Living at home would be more comfortable, no I could never live with someone else, I'd be bothersome, or they would get my nerves to no end. Yet here I was shy yet nevertheless cautiously thrilled.

Jeremy made into Winchester to follow his passion for movies under the football scholarship which meant he wasn't done just yet with the whole team thing. Maybe one last sacrifice to live out his dreams? I think that's what some of us felt like on the way to our dream life, although I felt luckier as my dream had already started, I was in the city of my dreams; New York City.

*

We had an old coffee maker that I quickly replaced with a new one so that I could have homemade coffee with. I had brought 4 ziplock bags with me. I guess there was still something back home I hadn't let go of just yet.

"Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me, sorry. Just trying to get through here. Thank you." I went down the halls in a hurry apologizing to everyone but no one was saying it back.

The lecture hall of my first class was not filled yet. So I took a seat towards the wall near the middle. I sipped on my coffee and waited for my math Professor.

During the summer I put myself through an intensive math prep for the college placement test. I wanted to test high so I wouldn't get stuck paying for too many prerequisites. I was very proud when I got my schedule and they had placed me in Math 103. The only 100 math class I would need for my major, business.

"Alright now that I've introduced the course please read chapter 3 is where we'll start next class. And before you go I'll take the class attendance." The Professor said at the end.

I knew I was going to be one of the last ones to be called because of my last initial but when he didn't call my name and I was the only one left in class we both looked confused.

"Um hi Professor I didn't hear my name being called."

"What's your name?" He asked sighing.

"Wright, Emily Wright, with a W."

"You're not in my class Miss Wright. I suggest going to the office."

"Oh sorry. And thank you."

Not in this class? But I had done my research I had picked him out of all the others professors. How was my name not on there? Maybe his sheet was missing my name. A small error. Where was the office anyway left or right? I looked both ways before walking to the left outdoors, I knew it was not in the building I was currently in at least.

It was still hot the first day of class so everyone was in their summer clothes including me but then a voice screamed into the distance.

"Hey You!"

I immediately looked to see where it was coming from. It took only a second or two to realize it came from the rooftop as some liquid fell from a bucket straight onto a guy walking by. But it was too quick to make out anything other than a short blondish hair, from where I was. Soon the three of them disappeared and I hid under the hallways. Who the hell was doing this? I thought people here were above that. I guess I was mistaken.

"Here's your schedule," the office lady printed out a sheet for me.

"Thank you," I looked it over.

"See this was the class I was in today but the Professor didn't have my name," I showed it to her.

"Oh you probably got bumped since his classes are usually full. How late did you register for it?"

"Um in beginning of August I think."

"Makes sense since most students taking this class are at least a year ahead of you they would have the priority over a freshman on her first semester."

"Please is there any way to keep me in his class?"

"If someone drops out by the end of this week I could try to put you back."

"Yes please. Should I write my information down for you?"

"Here. Student ID. Full name. Phone number. Email." She gave me a post it note to write on.

"Thank you so much."

"Hello Pamela," a guy's voice said behind me.

"What did you do this time?" She asked him right off the bat.

"Nothing just came to see you about my schedule." He leaned across the counter towards her but I didn't look to see him.

"Let me guess you don't like a Professor."

"No. I just don't think it's conducive to my sleeping habits to have my first class at eight in the morning. How can I possibly concentrate when I'm sleep deprived?"

"Give me your schedule James."

"Oh you're gold and I told to you it's just Jay, Pamela, just Jay."

"Mr. James would you like your schedule changed or not?" She was stern with him while shaking her head at his paper, and I judged his disrespect towards her position by his lack of boundaries.

"You do this just to tease me," he said while she glared at her computer with a dissatisfied smile setting upon her lips like an anchor.

"Thank you Mrs. Pamela." I slid over my paper to her hoping I'd emphasized the Mrs.

"Hold up now!" She said when I was almost to the door and as I turned I saw the back of the boy who'd been called James. He was wearing a black polo shirt and khakis without looking back at me. "I guess this is your lucky day Mr. James," she said to him and I stood in place waiting for her to elaborate.

"You have no idea Mrs. Pamela." He emphasized the mrs letting me know he heard my call out. "I've had a hell of a day so far. Unless hell is bad, then I've had a heavenly day so far."

"Pipe down Mr. James, and isn't your father a devout Catholic?"

"Always. As for me I'm more of a casual one. Could never handle any kind of long term commitment you know?"

Oh great and he was sardonic to top it off. Just what I needed in my morning. I waited impatiently as to why I was still standing there.

"I am just switch your classes it'll only be a minute so have a seat you both."

"Oh! Thank you," I'd forgotten about him just like that but I didn't sit and neither did he.

Instead he stared around her desk at her Catholic candle, her cross, a rosary, and other symbols and objects of her devotion. I stared at him studying people the way I always did for a second then looked away, he didn't deserve it.

After a bit Pamela was done making the changes and printed out a new schedule for me to sign.

"Thank you," I grabbed it and that's when the boy finally looked at me, well not me but my paper.

"And mine?" He asked and looked away.

"Here it is," she gave it to him. "Now all your classes are after 10am so don't come in here anymore about that got it?"

"Not another word on the matter," he smiled easily towards her and that's when I decided to leave.

Outside there were two boys waiting around the door talking to each other. Soon after me the boy named James came out as well. And that's when I realized why I had been staring him down.

"Hey look," one of them said as they both noticed my staring so then the boy from the office looked back at me and I was sure of it now.

"It was you," I mumbled.

"Welp nothing good ever follows that," one of the boys with him said.

"Me?" He questioned as if I were the crazy one. "The love of your life?"

"So perception is not really your thing? Noted. I meant on the roof. It was you." I asserted and he looked at the boys then walked towards me.

"What are you talking about?"

"You threw something on a guy that was walking by."

"And if I did?"

"You did it then." I knew it! I wanted to point it out as loud and proud as I could.

"And how is it any of your business?" He asked staring right into my eyes maybe as a means to intimidate me.

"Not mine, but surely the office's, excuse me." I went to walk by him and he put his hand out.

"You sure you wanna do that?" He asked tilting his head towards me near my ear. "I did help you out in there?"

"Helped me how?" I asked but I was just stunned at his audacity.

"You got the class you wanted because I dropped out."

"Is that a threat?" I asked and he put his hand down so I walked away from him but the other two boys ran to stand in front of me.

One of them wore brand designers from head to toe surely a little gauche but the other did not look like your average middle class idiot, yes an idiot but not a middle class one. I could not put my finger on it why though.

"Please. We would like to offer any compensation you may seem fit. I know our friend is a bit rude but..."

"But? Are you serious? Let me teach you both something nothing after he was rude should follow the sentence except an apology.

"Yes but please miss..." the other tried to continue.

"She is right you do need a teacher as you've always been lacking a mother," one of them said.

"Nobody asked you. All we need is for... what's your name?" The other said.

"Oh no way you're getting my name. I'm not that naive." I responded.

"Emily Wright." The boy from the office said.

"So you're Missus Wright?" One of the boys said and I rolled my eyes.

"Ah no wonder..." the other made a joke.

"Very funny. Now excuse me I'm going back in there and you can take your money for another designer shopping trip since clearly the world isn't in dire need of charitable actions."

"Oh I get it now. You're one of those eat the rich girls." The boy from the office remarked.

"Or human decency but I'm sure such a thought never crossed your mind."

"Please. One thing that's blatantly clear in our generation is the lengths people will go to for money. The degradation of humanity will never stop." He kept on.

"We're doing much better than the Romans so your argument is void."

"And yet when in Rome still exists."

"I'm not in Rome."

"Oh but you are just look around."

"Are you done here?" I didn't want to waste my time anymore.

"Are you going in there?"

"Yes."

"So if I offered you a hundred thousand dollars cash, tax free, to keep your mouth shut what do you say then?"

"Are the words coming out of my mouth too complex for you to understand?"

"So you're a rich kid with some tree hugging dreams. Because no one else would be stupid enough to say no."

"Wow are you done insulting me?"

"He always makes things worse with his easy vernacular." One of the boys mumbled.

"We leave you to your fate James!" The other said and they both walked away leaving just me and the boy from the office.

"Are you supposed to be the smart one, because I'd have your card revoked right about now?"

"And you think you're clever on your justice crusade playing pauper to fit in?"

"When bad people cease to exist I'll be happy to be decommissioned."

"If you think I'm bad then you're in for a rude awakening."

"Or maybe you are." I left him and went in the office.

In a brand new city I didn't want to be the old me so I went back inside and made the complaint against the boy. I didn't need a recycled high school trajectory in college. The power of starting from scratch meant I didn't need to be anyone else knew me as, because at the end of the day no one really knew me yet.

*

Although I didn't hear anything back from anyone I decided it was not worth it to get paranoid. But when I went to the office to check the proceedings I found out the boy who had gotten covered by the contents of the liquid did not want to use my testimony. Was it an universal truth that wherever there was a bunch of rich kids there was bound to be a mount Everest thrown under the rug?

Everywhere I went for the next week I looked over my shoulder except this time not in fear like it used to be with Rachel. I wanted to confront him. I wanted to know what he had done to make it go away.

"So what are you doing?" Sam asked me on Friday while I walked to the library.

"Homework then something to eat at this place called Ginger and Lemongrass. I saw it on the internet and wanted to go pick something up. So far I've only had pizza and whatever is on the menu here at the cafeteria so I won't eat all of my money away but today is Friday."

"Did you find a part time job yet?"

"No but I need to so I'm not completely dry by next semester."

"Same. All people want is for me to intern but that won't make me the money I need to eat. You know basic survival things. I hate this economy."

"You fit right into Columbia don't you."

"So far so good. Anyways I'll tell Jenna and we'll meet you there."

"Really? You guys are coming all the way down to see me?"

"Yes so the next time we ask you to come up you won't be able to deny us."

"Ah I see how it is."

"Alright let me know then." I hung up and walked into the library to finish my homework.

It was weird to think I lived here now. New York City. I wanted to come this far but the fact I had was like a still painted dream. Though the lead up was no walk in the park. I was accepted to Winchester with everything paid but room and board. My mother was the one most excited about this as she saw this as beneficial all around. But NYU was able to match the same offer. The first problem was clearly one was more expensive than the other. And I would not have any help from my parents when it came to NYU. So Sam and I teamed up to see what extra scholarships we could apply and get to cover some of our costs although I had more to offset than she did.

Jackie and I ended up getting full time jobs for the summer working in Winchester at a diner. We would carpool everyday and I got used to Winchester and to the people there. The idea of attending Winchester didn't seem so bad if I didn't factor in my relationship with my mother.

So for weeks I would call Winchester University with the intention to finalize my acceptance but every time I called something happened. Then I would tell myself all the reasons why I had to go there: because of Ben's help, because of money, because I'd be near my grandma, because I'd be with Jackie and Jeremy, because I would never have to run into Adam again. Until I realized my overwhelming sense was confusing me to end.

In the summer when mom saw I was torn she sent me away to grandma's. She said until I decided what I would do with my life for me to not go back. So we hadn't been in the same room for months now. When Jenna and Sam came up north to find a place for Jenna to live because she didn't want to dorm I asked to tag along. Afraid of making the biggest mistake of my life I knew the trip would seal my fate. By the end of the trip I couldn't stop thinking about my life here. And I waited for the fall to come but now it was here and so was I and this is how my first fall in New York went...

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No part, character, names, plot, setting, conflict or resolution, point of view, theme or symbolism of this story may be replicated.

Copyright: All Rights Reserved to A. Sena Gomes.