Heading out, I have to make my way through people who decided to gather in the halls. Would seem it's a regular occurrence which is going to get old really fast. Keeping to myself, I ignore everyone else and hurry out quickly, especially when they look like they're going to approach. Not trying to be overtly unfriendly, but I'm busy and don't want to get mixed in with any of the dramas currently happening. I've got enough of my own.

Once outside, there are path signs stationed at some crossways, so I just need to find the one that points the way to the library building. It takes a few minutes but I finally find it, then get to walking with a purpose. Doesn't take too long to get there, and the size of the building has me smiling.

The area is flooded with people, which is near the opposite of what I'm used to seeing. Heading inside, I spend several minutes just gawking and fangirling at the selections. Pulling my head from the clouds and a list from my pocket, my feet take me to the counter where someone not too much older than I am is scanning books.

Asking her where I can find the titles I need immediately, I'm told I need to go to the shop section of the library, which she points out, as well as a whole separate counter to check out. Thanking her, I'm about to leave when she asks if I'm new, smiling and confirming, she then asks if I'd like to get my library card while I'm there. That was a most definite.

After that gets squared away, I walk away with a shiny new laminated rectangle of plastic and a happy smile. The store area of the library, the book shop, has my smile bleeding away though when reading off the prices of the books. These are going to hurt. A book needed for a math course is over fifty bucks. Someone next to me see's me wincing at the prices and chuckles.

"They're cheaper now than if you were to wait until later, but they were even cheaper a couple weeks ago. The closer to courses time gets, the higher they price gouge. It's quite criminal really."

Looking over at the female speaking to me, I finally register the smells cycling through my nose and stiffen slightly. There are so many scents going through the air that I haven't been really paying attention, when I probably should have. The female looks about a year or two older than me and smells of wolf. One who, like me now, doesn't smell of Pack.

"Sorry, didn't mean to spook you. I'm Sasha."

Standing around five foot nine, her mid-back length red hair is all natural, thick, and wild. It goes with her light green eyes and pairs with the forest of freckles going over her nose. Unlike most fair-skinned red-heads I've seen though, she's tanned. Wearing an oversized tank top with a sports bra underneath and leggings that reach just below her knees. When I finally realize she held her hand out, I reach out to take the offered greeting tentatively.

When she smiles at me with an easy and relaxed lift of her lip, I relax slightly. The motion not looking forced on her part.

"Wynter."

She smiles wider, her eyes flickering over my hair before she chuckles.

"Think our parents knew something we didn't?"

Blinking at her in confusion, already having waited for the jabs, it wasn't what I thought she'd say, so it leaves me scrambling.

"What?"

She motions to first my hair then hers, before running her hand down to encompass the rest of her.

"Your name kinda goes with your complexion. Whereas mine is Russian. While most people will associate red hair and green eyes with the Irish, it's apparently a thing over there too. Though when I was born, my hair wasn't quite this shade. What about you?"

Giving the woman a crooked smile, my shoulders lift in a shrug.

"I'm half Greek. From what I've been told, my hair has always been near white. My eyes are dark blue, but I did hear rumors that they thought I was blind with black eyes."

When her brows furrow before blinking at me, I can see her brain whirling, so I take a step back. She gets paged from someone else across the store who she turns to look at, but before I can dart off, she looks back at me.

"I've made you uncomfortable. I'm sorry, that wasn't my intention. I have some stuff I have to get to, I'm already late, but I'd like to try again. Please don't be afraid of me, I promise I'm not like the others. I'm sure we'll see each other around, so may I approach you again the next time I see you?"

I'm taken aback by her asking, so I nod almost immediately. She smiles warmly before taking off, running after the one who'd called her. I watch for a moment then get back to what I'd been doing to begin with. Odd encounter aside, my mind whirls with everything I need to get and if I have enough for it all. Turns out I do, thankfully.

While at the counter getting rung up, there's a rack full of tourist memorabilia. While most of it is junk, I do grab a map of the area and a couple of keychains. After everything is bagged up, I ask where the best place is to buy a new phone. I get an awkward look shot my way but I'm told the best place is the mall and directed to where it is. I debate on dropping my purchases off at the room first, but it's going to be a walk to get to the strip so I choose just to get moving.

It's a few miles away and I don't mind the trek as it gives me the opportunity to familiarize myself with the area. The scents and street names. The feel of the town. Lets me see what the place has to offer from the campus to the town square as well.

There does seem to be a local Pack from the scents I catch here and there, so I'm sure to keep an eye out. Last thing I need is to come face to face with a group of unfriendly wolves. A Loner is one thing, but a Loner Runt would just be too much for some to pass up. Hopefully most will just look over me as if I'm not even here, but just like those that I'd dealt with before I'd left, there's always going to be bullies.

The Pack here has to be pretty tolerant though I would imagine. With them being so close to the college, visiting wolves and Loners coming in and out constantly, they have to have some treaty or something in place to keep the peace or some kind of civility. Or would it be more like what Faust had spoken of? With the royals? If I was more in the know in the talks with my parents, I might know already or at least have a vague idea, but as of right now, I haven't a clue.

I find the strip holding the mall with no problem. It holds a few of the large chain stores on either side, along with some smaller shops tucked in between them like a little village. The actual mall takes up the center and encompasses a few square blocks all on its own. Place is crawling with people even though it is getting late.

When walking inside I'm blasted with cooler air that instantly dries out my eyes, leaving me blinking several times even while I keep walking so I don't get run over. The inside is just as spacious and lined with even more shops with a variety of wares. I can't wait to bring Marie here. I wander for a while, but for the most part have a single destination in mind.

I find what I'm looking for on the ground floor. After having walked in further, the place reveals itself to be multi-level, boasting a lower level that is reached either by stairs or an elevator. I don't have to go down and I'd rather wait till Marie is with me to explore further, so I stop once I see the cellphone kiosk.

The booth really isn't all that big and advertises having all the latest brands and styles, but I'm not looking for anything expensive. There's a couple of people within, both helping customers, so I take the chance to peruse the displays and read through the options. Once I see the advertisement they have up for students, I pretty much know what I'm getting.

Once one of the guys is free and comes over and finishes his sales pitch, I just smile and point to the ad. He looks a little disappointed for a split second but hides it well before asking for my ID to prove it, so I pull it out and hand it over. Think the fact that it isn't completely official yet is why he looks at it a little funny but he seems to know what it is overall as he continues to get me set up. The attempt to get me to go with a more expensive model is there, but I refuse. I do soften it with the possibility of renewing once I get a job during classes, which has him smiling, but I don't promise anything.

Soon as that's done I hurry out of there, the push of so many bodies a little much for me when by myself. The phone may have been discounted due to a student promotion, but it still wasn't cheap. One of the papers in the packet at the dorm was a list of the jobs being offered, think that'll be my next go-to.

On the way back, I pass by a small corner store, so I stop in and pick up a small case of water and some snacks. Doesn't take too long to return to the grounds, and I head straight for the room. It's still a few hours yet before the curfew hour I was given, but I'd rather not risk it.

As soon as the door is shut I feel like I can take a deep and easy breath, lowering all the heavy bags down. No more people around and no more eyes watching. Everything is where I left it and there's no weird smells so that's a relief. I didn't think I'd have to worry about anyone entering while I was gone, but it was a nagging thought in the back of my head.

There's no fridge in here, which is fine, none of the stuff I bought needs to be refrigerated. There is, however, a cork board on the wall next to the door, so I stick the map I got from the library shop to it. The small end table shelf under it is where the package of water and snacks get put for now. Minus one bottle as I take it with me to the bed with my other goodies.

My school books get left by the desk for now as well, I can mess with those later. Plopping on the bed, I slip my shoes off and move things around till it's just me and the phone stuff on the bed while I get it set up. Once it's in setup mode and charging, I find myself tapping on my leg in indecision of what to do next. Finally get up and grab my toiletry bag and head back out of the room searching for the bathroom to get ready for bed.

After a couple of weird and wrong turns, I finally found it. Felt silly afterwards and even had a laugh with another girl who I'd almost collided with. Thankfully that was the highlight before I make it back to the room, where I finish by changing into some night clothes. My laptop gets drug out and set onto the desk as well. Hopefully it's up to the task of college life.

Gathering all the papers that were on the desk, I move them to the bed with me and spread them out as I sit back down on it. One is my class schedule, so I set it aside. Have to make sure I don't lose it. Think it's kind of funny though; I didn't even know I was going to college this time last week, yet looking down at the paper, I'm already assigned classes I didn't choose. Was it just a generic toss out of what every student gets?

Another paper is made up of the available job registries for those paying for their classes. Looking it over, I marvel at some of the options available, but then have to scoff and raise a brow at how some of them are listed. Some of the applications have next to them a stipulation. Whether Werewolves are not allowed to apply, or others where they're highly recommended.

Those that 'request' they not apply look to be mainly food distribution and some healthcare, even some high priority office work. Whereas those that seem to really market for us mainly involve heavy labor. I can't help the scrunching of my nose at some of the listings, and while I can't argue the we would be good for the jobs like that, it seems to be a bit...speciest, to have some of them call only for werewolves while not allowing us to work around food at all.

Clearly there's some favoritism going on.

Pay is also listed, the starting minimum wage amount for various positions as well as hikes in pay for those who do well and work up the ranks. The high paying ones look really, really nice, but I don't have the skills for those. Not yet at least. For sure could be something I could work towards though.

My new phone dings to let me know it's at a level it can be safely used, so I grab my pants and pull out the ziploc bag that contains the SIM card from my old phone, as well as the paper that has numbers written on it. I get the numbers put in first, then fiddle with the SIM card. It feels like it takes forever, but it finally reads and transfers everything. Once it does I delete everything from the SIM card and put it back in the baggy.

As I'd feared, the saved messages don't transfer, but all numbers and pictures do. That's the stuff that really counted so I can't be too upset. Equipped with a new number, I send Marie a simple text letting her know I'm in the room and this is my new contact. Not knowing for sure if she's awake, I don't want to wake her, but the phone call I get not even two seconds later has me smiling.

🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔

✰ \(‾▿‾\) 𝔇𝔬𝔫'𝔱 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔤𝔢𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔳𝔬𝔱𝔢 (/‾▿‾)/ ✰