College. The word alone sounds fancy, like suits, coffee shops, and people who've never tripped over their own feet. Havenbrook's Eastside College is nothing like that. It's loud, chaotic, and smells like a combination of pizza, energy drinks, and over-ambitious laundry detergent. And somehow, I—Tyrese "Ty" Walker—am supposed to survive it.
My first day started like every Westside adventure: uneven streets, clashing personalities, and people judging me before I even blinked.
"Yo, Ty, keep your head up!" Marky shouted from the quad. He somehow got a VIP-like pass into campus life, showing off like he owned the place. I followed him, backpack slung over one shoulder, hoodie milk-stained from my last grocery delivery disaster.
And that's when I saw her.
Keisha James.
She was leaning against a column near the student center, earbuds in, hair perfectly styled, joggers and sneakers that somehow made casual look expensive. But it wasn't the outfit—it was the confidence, the smirk, the way she laughed at something on her phone. I swear I almost forgot how to breathe.
"Yo… uh…" I muttered to Marky.
"Whoa, focus, man," he said. "That's Keisha James. Smart, witty, part-time campus entrepreneur. Also… cutest girl on campus. And probably the only one who could roast you before you blink."
Great. Just what I needed: the hottest girl in college who could also verbally eviscerate me.
I tried to play it cool. Dropped my books. Naturally. Right at her feet.
She laughed, a sound that made my chest hurt in the best way possible. "You okay there, clumsy guy?"
"Uh… yeah… just figuring college out," I stammered, trying to scoop up my scattered notebooks and pens without looking like a total disaster.
Marky elbowed me. "Smooth, man. Real smooth. She's impressed… I think."
"Impressed?!" I hissed. "I just spilled my notebooks like a cartoon character!"
Keisha smirked. "Don't worry. I've seen worse. And… that's saying something."
Her laugh—again—hit me like a freight train. I was officially smitten.
Before I could say something unintelligible, a voice behind us boomed:
"Well, well, well… what do we have here?"
I turned and saw Dante "D-Money" Rivers, sitting on the quad steps like he owned the place. Gold chain glinting, sneakers shiny enough to reflect sunlight, hair slicked back. His friend Andre "Flip" Simmons flailed behind him, waving dramatically, clearly eager to impress.
"D-Money," Marky muttered under his breath, "campus tyrant, rich kid, and self-proclaimed king of the quad."
"Yo, Ty," Dante called out, voice dripping with sarcasm. "New kid trying to survive Eastside College? Cute hoodie… milk stains make a fashion statement, I guess."
I flushed. Great. My first impression involved milk. Again.
Keisha's smirk widened. "Wow. That was… harsh."
I wanted to crawl into a locker and never come out. Instead, I said, "Thanks for noticing… fashion critic." My voice came out more sarcastic than confident, but hey… I tried.
Marky rolled his eyes. "Ignore him, Ty. Just survive today."
Andre "Flip" Simmons snickered behind Dante. "Man, he looks like he just got hit by a truck… milk truck, apparently."
I glared. "Real funny, Flip. You're adorable when you try to be mean."
Dante raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but annoyed. "Watch your mouth, hoodie boy. Eastside isn't Westside. You play sloppy, you lose fast."
Keisha laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're brave, I'll give you that."
My chest puffed up, just a little. Brave, yes… still terrified, but brave sounded way better than awkward disaster.
Marky grabbed my shoulder. "Come on, Ty. First class is starting. You need to survive Professor Carter's wrath. And yes… she's worse than Dante sometimes."
Professor Evelyn Carter—the sternest person I'd met so far. Glasses perched on the tip of her nose, pen in hand, arms folded like she was ready to judge every move you made. She could spot procrastination from a mile away. I prayed she wouldn't notice my hoodie or my milk-stained disaster aura.
The campus was alive with color and chaos. Students rushed to classes, bikes zipped by, clubs posted flyers about everything from dance battles to debate competitions. Food trucks lined the quad—some selling tacos, others bubble tea, and one suspiciously colorful truck with churros and fries I knew would be my next venture.
World Note: Eastside College is where Ty starts planting his hustle seeds—food trucks, side gigs, and street-smart tactics blending with campus life.
We entered the lecture hall. The seats were full, students buzzing. Keisha sat a few rows ahead, casually tossing her hair and typing notes on a laptop. I tried to sit somewhere inconspicuous. Naturally, I tripped over a chair.
"Smooth, Ty. Real stealth mode," Marky whispered, stifling laughter.
"Shut up," I muttered.
Professor Carter glared at me immediately. "New student? Try not to disrupt the lecture."
"Yes, ma'am," I said, voice cracking slightly. She raised an eyebrow. That was going to be fun.
The lecture began. Economics, budgets, profits—stuff I had never cared about until I realized this knowledge could help me with hustles. My mind drifted to the food truck idea, scribbling side notes in a notebook while pretending to pay attention.
Then, mid-lecture, a commotion outside caught everyone's attention. Students were pointing at the quad. Curious, I leaned over. It was Tiny, showing off a skateboard trick, nearly crashing into a food truck. Chaos ensued. Keisha laughed.
"You're in for a ride, new kid," Marky whispered. "This campus… never stops."
By the end of the day, I survived:
Professor Carter's lecture (barely)
Dante's verbal taunts
Tiny's chaos outside
My own clumsiness (including spilling a coffee on someone by accident)
Keisha smiled at me as I exited the hall. "Hey, Ty… if you survive tomorrow, maybe I'll let you show me that Westside hustle of yours."
My heart skipped a beat. "Uh… deal."
Marky slapped me on the back. "See? College chaos conquered. Next: food trucks, campus alliances, and maybe… surviving D-Money without a milk-related incident."
And I realized something important. Hustle wasn't just about Westside streets anymore. It was about navigating the chaos of campus life, rivals, and love. And somehow… I was ready to take it on, clumsy feet, milk stains, and all.