I stepped into the elevator and looked up, glancing at the occupants that were already trapped inside its small frame. Three young men stood up against the back wall, staring back as I quickly took each in. I felt my stomach flutter as I glanced at the last male before turning my back to them, facing the door of the constricting room, awaiting my chance to escape from the claustrophobic enclosure.

The elevator came to a sudden standstill as it stopped at the second level and I stumbled backwards, finding myself pressed up against the closest of the young men. Immediately his hands rested on my waist – attempting to steady me, probably. Curiously, my body didn’t seem to realise this as I felt my knees buckle at his touch. His grip tightened and I quickly straightened my legs, only managing to press into him further as I found my footing. I quickly stepped forward and glanced to my side, ignoring the smirks of the other two as they watched on in interest. I glanced back and nodded my thanks before staring determinedly at the door of the elevator. Like magic it opened as it came to the third floor and I exited at a fast pace while still trying to look composed.

I rounded the corner of the short corridor and stopped, taking a deep breath. Someone bumped into me and I turned quickly, unaware that anyone had been behind me. He looked up and smiled lightly, muttering a husky sorry. I nodded at him again, noting the flecks of green and blue in his hazel eyes before remembering my desired course of action. I turned back and headed down the hallway, searching for the information desk that was supposed to be located somewhere down the hallway.

He fell into step beside me and we walked on in silence. Quickly I found the information desk and paused in front of a woman who was working at a computer. The young male headed on and disappeared around the next corner. I ceased watching him and turned back to the woman that was looking at me expectantly.

"Umm… I’m supposed to sign in here… and get details on my room," I stated quietly.

She nodded and entered something into her computer.

"Name?"

"Nathalie Jordan."

She processed some more information on the computer before printing off a sheet and handing it to me, pointing out important facts as she discussed them.

"This is your room number, the floor it’s on and here’s your key," she stated, handing me the piece of paper and the key.

"Are you alright for finding your room?"

I nodded… couldn’t be too hard – I’d just passed the second floor. I turned to head back to the elevator but paused at the desk, addressing the woman once more.

"Are you able to tell me.. is there a flight of stairs nearby?"

She frowned, obviously puzzled.

"Why, yes. Just follow this hallway down to the end and they’re on your right. The elevator would be quicker.."

I nodded my thanks and headed down the hallway towards the flight of stairs. It’s something I can’t explain.. or perhaps I can – I’m not really keen on the atmosphere of lifts.. too cramped, too many jolty movements and they just give me a general sense of unease.

Shortly after signing in to the campus, I returned to the second level and sought out my room, finding it in a matter of minutes. I wasn’t due to start classes until the next afternoon, but wanted to get settled in before hand and hopefully learn my way around part of the large education centre.

There’s something about moving into a new place that’s exciting – being able to sort through all your belongings and deposit them around the room, knowing that in some way or other, you’re starting afresh. Although constantly I find myself recalling at the end of each year, things I had hastily resolved to do or achieve over the course of the year and just as quickly forgotten about, it’s still fun to set a list of goals to achieve. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll get through the whole list.

Out of habit, I unpacked my items of clothing first, hanging them in cupboards, or burying them in draws. Generally, the room was empty but upon placing items of underwear in drawers, I found a book resting at the back of one of them.

Curious, I picked it up and flicked through its pages before reading the faded blurb on the back cover. A hopeless romantic at heart – shh, don’t tell anyone! – I opened the novel to the first page, interested in what story it told after reading it’s enticing blurb. Quickly my unpacking was forgotten as my surroundings disappeared and I tuned into the book, oblivious to anything else around me.