𝟎𝟎𝟐. welcome to the trojans
𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐈𝐍' : 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝖽𝖿𝗅𝗈𝗐𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝗒 billie eilish

𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢'𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

i had became familiar to being alone, quiet, the girl who stayed out of the way and was always calm and kept to herself. i didn't have no choice but to be, judea was my only friend and after nobody else wanted to be friends with me because i had either fought them or fought somebody they had knew.

it was a reality check, but it hurt more knowing she was right. i knew had college had to be different, it was nice being alone but it wasn't nice feeling alone and nobody liked that feeling.

staying in california was a decision i had made on my own, not because of judea or my parents or anybody else but because of me.

if I wanted to continue and live on my dreams as a fashion designer then california was a place to make that happen, it was where dreams had started and became a reality.

judea knew all about it

"so, ya deddy is gone meet you at the school and help ya get settle into your dorm", my mama spoke as she stood in the kitchen dressed in her apron finishing up sunday dinner. "i wish i could come down there witchu but i gotta work", she added on.

i hummed softly, "it's okay ma, i understand... the money don't stop fa nobody", i said and she laughed a bit shaking her head. "you need to stay around from ya deddy but he is right", she said.

coming back home to georgia for my last two years of high school was a relief from cali, allowed me to get my mind off things and actually focus on school along with designing.

the screen door slams open revealing my daddy, uncle and my cousins. "the dinner almost ready sheryl?", my daddy asked my mama wiping the beads of sweat from his face.

i tooted up my nose as everybody started to walk in, "yall smell like outside", i said with a nasty look my face. "sholl do", my mama joined in.

they all sucked their teeth and rolled their eyes tired and hungry, "mane shut up mani, you always got some to say. we obviously smell like outside because we was outside working", aaron my older cousin annoyed. "hygiene just as important as working", i shrugged and earned a smack on the back of my head by him.

after 4 hours on a rough flight and a hour to driving on campus, me and my daddy had finally arrived to the university of Southern California.

it was packed with incoming freshman's and their families moving their students into their dorms along with upper classmen students helping along to way to make the move smoother.

checking in and gathering my stuff into buggies was the easy part but unpacking and trying to find space for my stuff was the hardest. "imma go take a cig break, I'll be back in 30 mins okay?", my daddy said pulling the pack of cigarettes out his back pocket.

i hum softly and he exited the room, it was no point telling him to stop smoking or giving all that lecture talk because he was gone do it anyway.

a couple minutes after he left there was a soft knock on my door, "da it ain't even be 30-", i pause as turnt around and was meet with a darkskin girl dressed in USC apparel and a clipboard in her hand.

"sorry, hi I'm aaliyah and I'm the RA from this building, just checking in to make sure everything is alright and to see if you had any questions", she spoke with a high pitch voice and big smile.

"hi, im imani but you can call mani... nice to meet you. i think everything is okay right now", i introduce myself. she looked around with a smile still on her face nodding her head. "okay well perfect, let me know if you need anything by using the USC student app and have a nice day, welcome to the Trojans", she said before leaving.

i let out an okay as i turned my attention back to the task at hand which was trying to find an place to put my designing machines without taking up too much space or ruining them.

incoming call from ma

i quickly snatch my phone off my bed and answer the phone, "damn should've let you moved to california a long time ago if you gone answer the phone this fast every time i call", she joked and i sided eyed the phone.

"how everything going baby?", she asked adjusting the scrub cap on her head clearly tired. "everything is okay right now, just unpacking and stuff", i tell her and she hum.

"where ya daddy at?", she asked, "yo man taking his smoke break", I teased her and she sighed shaking her head. "he ain't gone learn until he look dumb on a oxygen tank and skinny as hell and he know ion like skinny boys, i like some meat on my man bones", she trailed smiling at the fact.

i sucked my teeth, "girlllll did you call me to talk about yo man or check up on me... ya daughter", i said with a smart tone and she cleared her throat letting out a sorry. "yeah you should be, too grown", I said and she chuckled a bit.

"i just miss you baby and im little sad i couldn't be there with you...", she admit. "i miss you too mama", i said a little guilt running through me for not staying home. "well mama love you but i gotta go, be careful and watch ya surroundings and all that okay", she reformed me. "okay talk to you later mama, I love you too", I say ending the call.

freshman orientation was later on that night, i decided to go to take a break from unpacking and get some fresh air. my dad had went back home a couple of hours ago helping majority of everything.

i stuff my hands into the thick black puffer jacket as i walked down the dining hall of USC, walking into a room filled with freshman's and new faces.

this was an opportunity for me to make new friends but i tended to shy away from everyone who came up to me... i don't know why.

"you seem lonely", a voice said walking up towards me. "im okay", i reply as i look at the brownskin boy. he smiled softly, "Elijah", he stated his name sticking his hand out for a proper handshake.

i shake his hand, "Imani", i say and nods looking at me. "the orientation is usually for freshman's to mingle amongst each other, find some friends", he says stating the obvious.

"yeah i know that, ian need you to come ova here to tell me that", i said in a bitter tone. he drops his head down with a laugh and i look at him crazy. "what's funny?", i asked even more annoyed.

he shake hos head, "nah nah im sorry i didn't mean to laugh it's just your accent and how feisty you is... it's not funny just caught me by surprise", he defends himself.

i hum at him, "look im not here to make enemies or none like that, im a freshman myself and i thought you would be cool to make friends with, sorry if i came off offensive", he apologized sincerely.

i let out an sigh, "sorry", i say flatly. "ion mean to be mean, or aggressive... not my best first impression but ill like to be friends Elijah", i say and he smiles nodding.

"okay cool", he replies
"cool", i reply back.

there's an silence, "well...would you like to make some other friends... together?", he asked shrugging his shoulders. i nod softly and start to follow his lead.