Sneak out before Kelly wakes up

SUNDAY MORNING

It was just a bit after 7AM when Traci woke up. She let out long drawn out yawn as she sat up in her bed. A brief moment of confusion washed over her. She didn't recognize the room she was in, and for just a split second, had forgotten that as of last night, she was no longer living at home. That’s right, she was a college student now.

Over in the other bed, Kelly was still fast asleep. She murmured something too softly for Traci to hear and rolled over onto her side.

Good!

If Traci was quick (and quiet) about it, she could make her way out of the dorm room before her roommate had a chance to kidnap her and go shopping against her will.

Okay, calm down, Traci thought to herself. True, she was being a bit dramatic about the whole thing. But still, she really didn’t feel like spending the morning getting dragged along by her new roommate.

Her decision made, Traci quickly got showered and changed, then made her way out to enjoy her freedom.

***

It was a nice bright morning and it was early enough that there were only a handful of other people to be seen. And that suit Traci just fine. She spent an hour or so just lazily making her way along the various footpaths on the campus, taking care to familiarize herself with where the important buildings were—especially the lecture halls where her first classes would be held.

Traci stopped to look over at an informational stand. A map of the campus was displayed on it and Traci looked for the “you are here” marker so she could situate herself.

“You’re new here too?”

The voice had come from behind her and Traci looked over her shoulder to see a boy about her own age in a faded green “Earth Day” T-shirt. He had light brown hair and bright green eyes and smiled at Traci.

“Yes.” Traci nodded.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m a little nervous,” the boy said, running a hand through his shaggy hair. “I’m Ken, by the way.”

“Oh nice to meet you. I’m Traci.”

“Nice to meet you too.”

Ken stepped closer to the display. “Hmm, Porter Hall. Where is the Porter Building…”

Traci joined him in scanning the display, looking for this Porter Building. And at the same time, they both pointed at the location in question.

“Yeah, that’s it!” Ken said. He let out a sigh of relief. “Great, now at least I don’t have to worry about getting lost on my way to my first class tomorrow.”

“Oh, I have a class there too,” Traci said.

“Yeah? Professor Blakely?”

Before Traci could answer, her ringtone sounded. “Sorry,” she said softly as she fished the phone out of her pocket. It was Tommy.

“Hey no worries,” Ken said. “I gotta run anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow, maybe?”

“Uh huh,” Traci said. “Maybe. I mean, sure.”

When she answered Tommy’s call he sounded distraught. His voice was shaky and he started going on about how hard he had found it to get any sleep and his worries about the upcoming semester. Traci spent the next twenty minutes on the line with him, helping to calm him down. She really hoped Tommy wouldn’t have too much trouble adjusting to college life (and for that matter, hoped the same for herself too).

After ending the call, Traci thought about where she should head next. She was a bit hungry, and there was a café right on campus, not too far away from where she was standing. Hmm...