After leaving the academic building, I decided to explore the campus with the map in hand.
For nearly an hour, I wandered the the grounds, taking in the buildings, the walkways, the open courtyards, before finally deciding it was time to head home.
I turned toward my neighbourhood and began walking. Halfway there, a voice call out from behind.
"Hey! You're Madison Jones, right?"
I turned and saw a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl jogging up from the direction of the school.
"I heard your name when the clerk called you up for your student ID photo." she explained quickly.
"Hi, I'm Emilia Stevens- but my friends call me Millie," she introduced herself with a grin, as if we'd know each other for years.
"I didn't realize we were going the same way home. That's why I called out- I thought we could walk together."
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she added, "So Maddie, let's be friends."
I stopped in my tracks. "I'm not looking for friends. And don't call me hat name- it's only for family and close friends," I said flatly. "And don't follow me."
But she did anyway, easily matching my stride as if I hadn't heard a word.
When I finally turned and asked why, she just shrugged. "Because I live on the same street as you."
I froze, the realisation hitting me- we were neighbours.
"This is awesome!" she exclaimed, eyes lighting up. "That means we can go to school together every day!"
Before I could protest further, she added with complete certainty, "I'll come by your house Monday so we can walk together." With that she waved and headed off toward her home at the end of the street.
"Don't come!" I called after her. She didn't answer- just kept walking, her figure growing smaller as she disappeared down the street.
The following days flew by quickly, and now here we were: Emilia and I are walking together stepping into the first day of the fall semester.