Writing Challenge - Day 10

Chapter 6 - A Room Full of Strangers

A new month meant a new class. This time, it wasn’t just another lecture or a different professor—it was the first time Eile would be in a class with every student from her program. A whole new building, new faces, and a fresh wave of uncertainty.

She sat in her car, fingers gripping the steering wheel, heart hammering against her ribs. Her palms were damp with sweat, and she pressed them against her jeans in an attempt to steady herself.

“You’ve done this before,” she muttered to herself, resting her forehead on the wheel. “It’s just another class. Just another room full of people. You’ll be fine.”

She let out a long breath and forced herself to sit up. Grabbing her bag, she squared her shoulders, opened the car door, and stepped out. Head high. Act like you belong.

The building was quieter than she expected, the lighting dimmer than the others on campus. The scent of old books and dry air-conditioning filled her nose—it smelled just like the last building she had classes in, though the atmosphere felt heavier. As she made her way down the hallway, the voices from behind a closed door grew louder, the chatter a steady hum.

She stopped outside the room, glancing down at her phone, then back at the room number. This was it. A deep breath in, a deep breath out.

Here goes nothing.

She pushed the door open and was met with a wall of sound—dozens of voices overlapping, laughter ringing through the space. Unlike her previous classes, everyone was standing in clusters, already familiar with one another. Eile’s stomach tightened.

Near the entrance, a small table stood against the wall. A single pen and a sign-in sheet rested on top. She quickly stepped toward it, trying to avoid drawing attention to herself. As she bent over to write her name, a shadow cast over her, blocking the light.

She froze.

A second passed before she finished scribbling her name and cautiously looked up. A girl with warm brown hair and striking green eyes was smiling down at her.

“Hi, are you new? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”

Eile straightened up, tightening her grip on the strap of her bag. “Uh—yeah. Um—I—uh—just came to campus last month. This is my first time here.”

The girl’s smile widened. “I’m Angela. I know how it can be coming in for the first time. Let me introduce you to some people—you can sit with me.”

Before Eile could decide whether or not she wanted that, her legs moved on their own, following Angela toward a lively group standing near the middle of the room.

“Hey guys, this is a new student,” Angela announced. “John, Stiles—this is… oh, I didn’t get your name.”

“Uh—It’s Eile.”

Both men turned toward her. One was tall and lanky, with dirty blond hair that brushed past his ears. He reminded her of the skater boys who used to linger around her high school’s bus stop, though there was a shy awkwardness about him. The other was shorter, broader, with brown eyes and brown hair. He gave off the energy of a former football player—not the star, but definitely not a benchwarmer. He carried himself with a quiet confidence.

The taller one scratched the back of his head. “Uh, hi. I’m Stiles. Nice to meet you.” His grin was crooked, awkward, yet oddly fitting.

The other nodded. “John.”

Eile nodded back, offering a small, hesitant smile. “Nice to meet y’all.”

Angela and Stiles launched into an animated conversation about their first days in the program, laughing as they reminisced about how overwhelming it had felt. Their voices faded into the background as Eile focused on steadying her nerves.

John stood slightly to the side, listening more than speaking. His presence was quieter, less demanding. Eile appreciated that.

Before long, the professor entered, immediately commanding attention. “Welcome back, everyone! Nice to see you all again. You know the drill—let’s start by introducing our new students.”

Eile’s stomach lurched. Oh no.

Her hands clenched into fists beneath the desk. One by one, the new students stood, introducing themselves and their reasons for choosing the program. With each passing introduction, the number of people left dwindled.

Then it was her turn.

Every eye turned to her. The room felt unbearably small.

Angela gave her an encouraging thumbs-up.

Eile swallowed, gripping the back of her chair as she stood.

“I—um—I—My name is Eile. I—uh—chose media communications because I—uh—I like media, and I’m not sure what direction I want to go in yet, but I was hoping that I’ll figure that out while I’m here.”

Her voice wavered. Her hands trembled slightly.

The professor nodded before moving on.

It was over.

As he launched into his lecture, Eile struggled to focus. The nerves still hummed through her veins.

Angela leaned over and nudged her. “Good job.”

Eile let out a shaky breath, managing a small, crooked smile.

Not so bad, she thought. But still terrifying.

xoxo, @auroxisia_

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