Her pulse was whispering in her ear as she walked towards the Arts & Sciences building. She should have left earlier. Or better yet, she should have come the day before to find out where her classes were located. Her first class was due to start in less than half an hour and she had no idea where the room was. Asha adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder as she unfolded the campus map. Okay! Where is this damn classroom? It was a good thing that her first class was a language elective. She wanted to sign up for Spanish but with only a few students signed up, they had to cancel it, leaving her to take French instead. "I must have an old map! Its not here!"

She entered the enormous halls of the building. A typical scene on the first day of school–a mix of lecturers, professors and students brisk-walking around to get to their first period. Judging by the faces, it was easy to pick out who were the freshmen and who were the upperclass students. The freshmen had the look of bewilderment and anxiety. It was a new world for them after all. Their eyes wander around, probably hoping to see someone familiar so they don't feel so alone. Not Asha though. She prayed that no one from home decided to make the same move that she did. It was a new world for her, and she wanted a new life. Start afresh among the sea of strangers. This time, she wanted to steer her boat towards the waves and defiantly challenge the current. She adjusted her eyeglasses and snorted to herself. Defiantly challenge the current? She repeated in her head. She's challenging the current all right! But not defiantly! She was hiding. No one would know she was a freak. She closed her eyes. If she ever met someone whom she felt accepted her, maybe she'd show them the windows to her soul–the purple orbs that had been the object of jealousy when she was growing up. The source of her pain. Maybe it will be different now, she hoped.

Then, there were the ones from the higher years...They had the strut of those who thought that they owned the world. Chin up. Almost screaming, I'm above you. They knew the campus well. For a new person, this would be a maze. To them, they knew the whole campus like they would know their own home.

She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed when she entered the spacious lobby with columns inspired by Roman architecture. She could still smell the fresh paint on the white walls. She looked up, and the high ceilings made her feel like an elf standing at a giant's living room. Asha's eyes shifted from left to right. The hallways at both sides seemed endless to her. She walked towards the middle of the lobby and searched for a bulletin board or a sign with a list of some sort. She found a big cork board panel framed in dark wood. She went closer, hoping to find some sort of map, marked with a red arrow, telling her YOU ARE HERE, and showing where Introduction to French was being held. There was nothing on the board other than a banner spelling out Welcome to–whatever words came after that had already been torn off. She could already see some signs of vandalism on the newly posted notices. She grimaced. None of the notices were useful to her, unless she wanted to join the sports varsity team. Tryouts at the oval, she read. "I don't think so," she muttered under her breath. She took a quick glance at the antique grandfather clock at the centre of the lobby and realised she was running out of time. She frantically looked around for another board but failed miserably. She quickened her steps, her sneakers squeaking against the polished, black marble floors. She turned to the wing to her right and noticed that most of the rooms were offices. "Someone in there should be able to give me directions!" She strode towards the brown door with a plaque that said 'Student Council' hanging above it. She stopped in mid-stride when the back of a tall boy got her attention. She estimated him to be about six feet and two inches. He had light brown hair that had golden highlights in the sun, cut really short at the back, longer strands at the top. The back of his strong neck led her eyes down to his broad muscular back. He definitely worked out! The back was talking to someone. She was so transfixed by him that she stood still. He laughed. The sound of his laughter was caused her insides to shiver. A smile escaped her lips. "Wow." Then the back turned, and faced her. She stopped breathing. She couldn't remember how she ended up being just a couple of feet from him when she was just standing over–Oh my god! His eyes were a mesmerizing blue. Dark like sapphires with streaks as light as aquamarine. She had read many stories describing what angels would be like if one came face-to-face with them. Beautiful. Flawless. She was standing right before one.

He squinted. "Umm, can I help you?" he asked, perplexed.

Asha's face turned red. He must be thinking what a freak I am! She swallowed. "S-Sorry." She offered her timetable and the map. "I'm looking for this room," her finger gently poking at the paper. She bowed her head down to hide her embarrassment.

He took the papers from her, and let out a stifled laugh. He attempted to look serious but couldn't resist smirking. "W-Well, the bad news is that you're in the wrong building."

Asha's head quickly shot up. "Wh-what?"

He nodded, "Yeeeaah."

She slouched her shoulder in defeat. "Oh no!"

He gave her back the map and her timetable. "Don't worry," he said with concern. "I'll point you in the right direction."

The sound of his voice was reassuring. Deep and mellow. She could listen to him all day. Asha! Pay attention! her mind screamed at her. "Yes, please!" she pleaded.

"Well, all you have to do is go back out of the building. Turn left," he explained slowly. "You will see a pathway. Follow that pathway." She nodded at his instructions. "You will see a courtyard and you have to go through that courtyard until you get to a building that has a fountain at the front."

"Fountain at the front," she repeated. "Gotcha." Her eyes were still glued to him. She couldn't get over the length of his eyelashes. She imagined that they would feel nice against her cheek. She let out a soft sigh. I could just fall in love with him right now.

"You enter that building and you'll see double doors towards the left. That's your room."

She beamed a grateful smile at him. "Thank you so much!" She glanced at her watch again. She had fifteen minutes left. Inasmuch as she wanted to stay and stare at him, she had a class to go to. "Well, thank you so much!" She waved, and reluctantly walked away.

"Sure," he said with a chuckle. "Anytime."

She had never walked that fast in her life! She stopped in front of the red-padded double doors and tried to catch a few deep breaths before she opened them. There was a group in front of what seemed to be an auditorium. The seats were empty, except for the ones this group was using. Asha estimated that there were about eleven of them. Must be a small class, or the others hadn't arrived. She looked at the faces, trying to single out who the lecturer could possibly be. She met the confused but sullen gaze of a very pretty redhead.

"Excuse me, you are?" She was abrupt.

Asha noted the tinge of impatience in her voice. Was she the lecturer? She looked awfully young to be teaching. Inappropriately dressed as well for a teacher, she observed. Black and yellow laced corselet-style top, revealing a healthy cleavage, matched with blue denim pants and black wedges. Her round face painted with make-up too thick to suit the day. Her hair was tied up to a messy ponytail. Pretty girl, nevertheless. For some reason, she sort of reminded her of a Jigglypuff Pokemon. "I'm Asha Strauss," she introduced.

"Well, Asha Strauss," she said firmly as she walked towards her. "What are you doing here?"

Asha swallowed, confused with the warm welcome she was getting. She noticed the others watching her intently. She could sense the nuance of hostility coming from this girl. "Umm...Isn't this Intro to French class?"

The girl arched her eyebrow. "Intro to what now?"

She raised her hand with the timetable and pointed at the subject written on the paper. "I-Intro to French class?"

The girl snatched the paper from her and read the sheet. Her eyebrows raised in amusement until a full smile lined her lips. Her shoulder jounced a bit from the slight chuckle. She turned to the rest of the group and shook her head before turning back to Asha. She slowly walked over to her, pursing her red lips to keep her smile from getting wider? "Who gave you the directions?" Her big brown eyes narrowed.

A huge lump was forming in her throat. "Ummm I don't know," she replied softly. I just asked for–" She didn't know why she was suddenly nervous. Had she committed a crime or something?

She fluttered her fingers on the edges of the paper as she studied the new girl. "And by any chance, did this person look like a hot Greek god? Killer smile. Sexy body." She licked her lips. "And did I mention, hot?"

The snickering from the others became more audible. She was about to speak but her words didn't come out.

"Sorry, honey. You're in the wrong place." She flipped the timetable to face Asha and jabbed a manicured nail on the part that said 'Introduction to French: LTBP'. "L.T.B.P.," she spelled out at a snail's pace, and loud enough for everyone else to hear. "Location To Be Posted."

She felt like a placard with the word STUPID had been nailed to her forehead. Her attention was then drawn to the asterisk next to the 'P', and watched the pink fingernail lead her eyes down to the footnote that read 'An updated timetable will be posted out to students' nominated address.' Jigglypuff gave her timetable back. A bigger placard with MONUMENTAL IDIOT could have been drilled into her forehead.

"If you didn't get one, I'm sure you can get a copy from administration."

A chorus of laughter echoed louder. With the auditorium's acoustics resonating the sound, she might as well have been standing in the middle of a full house. "Um, thanks," Asha uttered, turning her heels around and dashed towards the exit. It was high school all over again. Asha wanted to cry.

It took a whole twenty minutes for Asha to run to the administration building and back to the Arts & Sciences building. She staggered towards a huge, brown, wooden door that had three-one-nine painted above a small glass window. She straightened herself up and desperately sucked in a mouthful of breath. She has never covered so much ground, and then ran up three flights of stairs before.

Asha peered through the little window. Obviously, the class had started. Contemplating whether to skip the class, then come back next time when she wasn't hopelessly tardy. It was very tempting. She was about to back away when the lecturer caught her looking through the window. He waved at her to come in.

Damn! She reluctantly entered the room. "I-I'm really sorry, sir!" she apologised immediately when she entered the room.

"Bonjour, Mademoiselle," he greeted her. It was clear that he was not impressed with her turning up so late. "Tu as arrivé seulement maintenant? Tu es au moins"–he paused to check his watch–"quinze minutes de retard! Ma politique, si vous êtes à dix minutes de retard, vous ne venez à ma classe du tout!"

Asha's head jerked forward, not understanding a single word of what sounded like gibberish rantings to her. "Excuse me?"

He picked up his attendance sheet. "Comment appelez-tu?"

Asha shook her head. "I'm sorry, I didn't get that." She turned her head around. At least twenty pairs of eyes were watching her squirm in front of them. Her face was the colour of a fire truck once again. She gulped. "This is Intro to French, right?" She bit on to her lower lip, trying so hard to keep herself from crying. She must have been cursed. No matter what she did, the world managed to find a way to go against her.

"Your name!" he said sternly. "What is your name?" He slapped his pointer stick to a line on the board.

At first, she had no clue what he was trying to tell her until his eyes started rolling towards the board along with his head, hinting for her to read the line. "Mon nom c'est Asha Strauss." She read the foreign words as they were spelt. The lecturer's eyebrows raised at her, and his jaw dropped as if he was looking at the most unrefined creature. All she could do was shrug and give a coy smile while she swallowed whatever pride she had left. What was he expecting from someone who's enrolled in a beginner's class?

He turned to the rest of the class. "Everyone, this is Mademoiselle Asha Strauss," he said. "S'il vous plaît répétez après moi." He gestured towards the class to follow, "Bonjour, Mademoiselle Asha Strauss."

"Bonjour, Mademoiselle Asha Strauss," the whole class said in unison, each face with a grin on it.

Asha felt sick. If there were a chance to summon the earth to open up and swallow her whole, that would have been the best time.

"Comment vas-tu ce matin?" He held his hand up to the class.

"Comment vas-tu ce matin?" they repeated.

He tapped the end of the pointing stick on the board as he turned to her. "Alors tu dis–"

She figured that he wanted her to read the line. "Je suis très bien, merci," she read, which sounded more like Ge swiss tress bien, mercy. Asha bowed her head in an attempt to avoid the sour scowl he had on his face.

He rolled his eyes and shook his head in frustration. "Take a seat, Mademoiselle Strauss."

She slouched forward as she quickly walked past the front row and headed towards the spare chair at the back, next to the window. A familiar smile stopped Asha abruptly in her tracks. Her jaw flew open and her eyes grew wide enough that she thought her blue contact lenses would pop out. Deep inside, she was boiling. He had a contented grin plastered on his face as he met her eyes as though he had accomplished something very big and important. He definitely seemed very entertained. Yeah! At my expense! she thought angrily. She averted her eyes away from him and slid into the chair. With her elbows resting on the table, she buried her face in her hands. It will get better, she chanted in her mind. It will get better.

At the end of the class, she expected an apology from the boy who she found out to be Zach Larson. Right after Monsieur Peters dismissed them, he was one of the first people to stand up, and walk out through the door like he didn't want to be there. He didn't even glance back at her.

Asha was furious. He was the reason she was late in the first place. If it weren't for him, she would have avoided the embarrassment of that morning. Heartless son of a...She shook her head, not wanting to insult his mother, or any female dogs for that matter. She stormed out of the room. The urge to chase him and confront him was burning deep inside her. Damn! He walks fast! she thought as she saw him already at the end of the hall while she had just gotten out of the door. If she ran, and caught up with him, what was she going to do? Scream? Slap him? Her fingernails dug into the strap of her bag. Apparently, for the whole semester, they would be sharing French class every Monday morning. That was about twenty Mondays over a six month period. Twenty days. Equivalent to less than a month. That wasn't much and she wondered why she felt disappointed. She pictured the divine face of this annoying man. His smile, despite the mischievousness behind it, made her feel funny. She closed her eyes tightly and shook her head. First day. Handsome boy. Go figure! He'll disappear in the background like a passing fad, she reassured herself.

Four subjects later, Asha was delighted to be alive. She had survived the first day of university. It was only a few minutes past three o' clock. Because she had nothing else to do, she decided to stick around and tour the university. As long as she was at her stop by five, she would have more than enough time to quickly grab some dinner from the convenience store not far from the budget hotel she was staying at.

Asha scanned the campus grounds. It was a young university, established eleven years ago. At orientation, they were told that the campus started with the Arts & Sciences building while the rest of the vast landscape was just sprawling bush and wildflowers. Later on, the university expanded its faculties to include Law, Commerce, Engineering and Medicine. With this growth, came the demand for more buildings. The architecture was a combination of modern and early influences. The Arts & Sciences reminded her of the facade of the White House, pillars and all, crossed with the dramatic brickwork that one could see on old palaces in Europe. The Law building looked like it has been standing there during the colonial period. The colleges of Engineering, Commerce, and Medicine were all modern–glass windows, revolving doors. They were like shorter versions of the skyscrapers located in the Central Business District of Perth.

The courtyards and walkways were paved with limestone. In some areas, a mixture of bricks, tiles and paving blocks created intricate mosaics. The gardens were lush with rose bushes, rich green hedges, and trimmed evergreen lawns, complemented by metal sculptures. She continued to walk further. Beyond the academic grounds was a hill, crowned by lines of jacaranda trees and fire trees that painted the space between earth and the heavens with burning hues of lavender, red, orange, and yellow. From the hill, the landscape was breathtaking. She could even see the tall buildings from the CBD peeking from behind the treetops. She set herself underneath the shade of a jacaranda tree. She felt special with the flowers sprawled across the green grass like confetti. It was quiet. No one else had set themselves up in this area. I think this will be my favourite place.

Asha freed herself from the frames that weighed upon her face. She closed her eyes as she gently massaged her fingers around them. There was a soft breeze blowing. It felt nice and refreshing. She leaned against the tree as one hand searched for her MP3 player in her bag. Just as she got hold of the little gadget, her phone rang. "Hello?" she answered. It was Uncle Nigel calling. She promised that she would call him at least twice a day. She had been keeping her promise, except she hadn't done so that day. It would be past six o'clock already over there. He must be getting worried.

"Hey!" His voice sounded relieved. "You got me worried! I thought you might have been mugged! You have to call me so I know you're all right!" he said without breathing.

She was touched by his concern. "Sorry, Uncle Nigel. Just been really busy today. First day and all....But I'm all right. Don't worry."

"I can't help it. I always worry about you! You know you'll always be my little spud." His voice started to sound more cheerful. "So, how's it going over there, spud?"

Asha wrinkled her nose. Her uncle has been calling her that since she was a baby. He said that it was because she looked like a little, pudgy potato when she was swaddled in her muslin wrap. "You know I'm not a kid anymore," she laughed.

"I know...I know...Can't help it," he admitted.

Uncle Nigel had been her official babysitter since forever. He was graduating from high school when her mother had her. Her mother always told her how smitten he was when he thought he saw her smile when he first held her. "I got your first smile, you know that?"

Asha laughed. "Yes, you always boasted that every time you and Dad would try to outdo each other. Mum has told me so many times as well." Sadness fell on her face with the mention of her parents. "But mother reckoned that it was just gas." She heard the laughter from the other end.

"Ahhh I miss having you around here! You're missing the best roast and mashies that only Uncle Nigel can make!" There was a brief silence and she heard him sigh. "Gosh! How time flies! Where are those days when I took you out for walks in your stroller or take you to uni with me–"

"You only did that to use me as a chick magnet!" she chuckled.

"Hey! That wasn't my intention!" he said defensively. "But I can't complain about all the ladies coming over...And the offers of helping me babysit you."

"Yeah, right." Her voice had a tinge of suspicion.

"It's true!" A pause. "You still staying at the backpackers?"

"Yes." He wasn't keen on her staying in places like that. Because the accommodation was cheap, low-lives went for it. "Don't worry, I've been looking around for somewhere else to stay."

"No shared accommodation!" he ordered firmly.

She smiled. "No shared accommodation," she repeated like a promise.

"You never know what kind of psycho you'll be living with....Have you ever watched Single White Female?"

"Yes, I have."

"So, consider yourself warned!"

There was a brief silence on the line. Asha listened closely to check if he was still there. She could hear the dog barking in the background. "How's Auntie Claire?"

"Oh she's good...My god! Is she cranky! Times like these, you'll be glad you're not here! And the packets of lollies! I've never seen so much variety in one room! Did I tell you that she hides chocolates underneath the vegetables in the crisper?"

She listened to him go on. She could tell that he was excited. He and his wife were expecting their first child in a couple of months. It would be nice to have a new cousin. "That's funny...Wish I could be there to document your daily adventures!" She heard him laugh.

"Have you met any new friends?" he asked, changing the subject.

She shook her head. "Nah. I've only been here for less than a week–"

"Asha," his voice was filled with seriousness. "Don't let anyone walk over you. I know that I've said this so many times, but you are a wonderful person. Very beautiful. That's one of your strengths, use it. You're also very intelligent. Be strong. Don't let anyone give you a hard time. They're just jealous."

She bit her lower lip. Uncle Nigel had known what it was like for her–being ostracized. "I won't. Thanks." She thought she heard him sniff. Was he crying? "You all right there, Uncle?"

"Oh y-yeah! Of course!" he sniffed. "Anyway, I'd better let you go....Don't forget to ring me!" he demanded.

"I won't!" she promised. "Take care!" She was about to shove her phone back in her bag when it rang again. "Oh, Uncle!" she breathed, thinking that he was calling her again. It wasn't though. She didn't recognize the number flashing on her screen. "Hello? Asha speaking." She listened intently to the person on the other line and she instantly stood up in excitement. "Yes! I'd be happy to come for an interview!" she said eagerly. She checked the time on her watch. There would be a bus passing by in fifteen minutes. She picked up her bag and swung it over her shoulder. "I can be there in an hour." She studied her clothes. White capri pants, pink blouse and sandals. Not really ideal for a job interview. But what the heck. She needed this job. Hopefully, the manager at the Rosedale Supermarket could see past the attire, and see that she had the experience and skills for the job.

With haste, Asha was able to run from the hill, and back to the school grounds. She was nearing the Arts & Sciences building when she realised that she wasn't wearing her glasses. "Oh shoot!" She slowed down while she dug her fake glasses out from her bag. She was close to getting them on when a blur of black and white whizzed past her face. She gasped when she felt the end part of the eyepiece scrape against her right eye, causing her to blink hard in pain. Her eyes welled up in tears. She tried to open the affected eye, and it stung. She blinked several times, allowing her tears to flow out. She gently touched the surface with the pads of her little finger, trying to feel if there was any damage on the lens. Her contacts could have ripped when the edge of the glasses touched her eye. It didn't feel like there was anything there. Could it have popped out? She shut her right eye tightly as she frantically took out her phone and used the silver backing as a mirror. "Ooohh no!" she breathed nervously. Not only did the lens pop out, but her eyes were red!

"Hey! Are you all right, miss?"

She cupped a hand over the affected eye. "I'm okay!" she said abruptly. She searched the ground as to where her glasses could have landed when they got knocked off her hand, as well as any signs of the contact lens that got away. She kept her head tilted down.

"Looking for these?"

Asha saw a hand holding her glasses. She looked up to the person. "Thank you so mm–" Her jaw dropped when she saw Zach Larson. The look of concern on his perfectly sculpted face slowly dissolved into a smirk when he recognised her. She thought she heard a soft chuckle. Not only was one eye red, she was seeing red as well.

"Oh, Madamoiselle Strauss," he sounded astonished to see her. "It's you! So sorry about that...We were–"He lost the smirk. With furrowed eyebrows, he pointed to her eye. "Are you okay?"

She firmly held on to half of her face as she defensively stepped back, with the other hand in front of her to prevent him from coming closer. "Yes! Yes, I am." She pointed towards her glasses. "I'll take those back now." Just as she was about to reach for them, Zach pulled them away and stepped forward.

"Your eye. You're hurt. Let me see–"

"No! It's fine!" she cut him off, stepping back.

"Let me see. You might need ice. Come on, show me–"

"No! Stay away from me!" She took a quick swipe at his hand for her eyeglasses, and successfully retrieved it. "I'll be fine." She quickly turned around and fled from him as quickly as she could.

Her heart was still pumping as she got to the bus stop. She looked behind herself and was relieved that he wasn't following her. That was close. The horror of him finding out was sending chills down her spine. He had already embarrassed her once that day, and hopefully he never would again.

A visit to the optometrist was the first thing she did when she got to the shopping centre where Rosedale Supermarket was located. She asked for the same shade of contact lenses. "One week? Really?" she blurted out when they told her they didn't have stock. "Can you check again? Maybe there's one hidden somewhere!"

"Sorry, luv, but we don't," was the response she got for the lady behind the counter.

It was an inconvenience but there wasn't much she could do. Aw! Crap! It's an eye gauze for the entire week for me then! "Bloody Zach Larson!" she grumbled with clenched fists.

Her day seemed to be ending tragically after all.