Prompts

The moment Cosette stepped foot into college she knew she loved it.

Well, in so far.

The air, soft and cool, breezing past the beautiful architecture in campus. Lush greenery, spread out over the wide berth of land with trees as tall as the buildings. Leaves just about to fall around –conveniently placed, might she add, rustic cafes for late night studying.

Or cramming.

Yeah, that seems more likely.

But while that was all well and lovely, what Cosette truly loved about college was its predictability. Sure she loved her course, subjects, and the professors were so nice. And sure she loved all the travelling she and her father did –it was fun! She’s been through so many places, met a lot of nice people, had enough time to read as much books as she wanted, but oftentimes, she feels like she doesn’t have much of anything she can call permanent, she doesn’t have anything that she can say she knows like the back of her hand. In a way, she often felt like nothing was ever truly hers. From the moment she was adopted to their most frequent trip, her father was her constant. He was her permanent. And as much as she loved her father, she knew there were things she needs to do on her own. So even as Cosette’s heart broke when she saw Jean tear up on their way to her dorm, she knew she has to do this for them.

College offered to give her freedom, stability and an experience that she’d be happy to reminisce down the road while having enough confidence to say it was her unique experience.

Even if that meant early morning classes.

It’s a really good thing she was a morning person.

Cosette jumped in her seat, startled by the loud thump and groan next to her on one early morning class.

Not that that could be said for everyone apparently.

She looked curiously to her right, towards the soft groaning. She saw nothing but a lump of a person in black and a vibrantly read beanie, one hand gripping a large cup –coffee, from what she can gather. She couldn’t make out who she –Cosette assumes– was considering she had her face planted on the desk. The only thing she could possibly observe where the girl’s lush raven hair which was cut abruptly by the other girl’s pitiful groan.

“Are you alright?” Cosette asked genuinely concerned, hand hesitantly reaching out.

The girl mumbled in her arms –well, arm, considering the other one was still holding her cup of coffee.

“Pardon?” Cosette asked lightly, head tilted sideward, eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“I said,” the girl said as she raised her head towards Cosette, “does it look like I’m fine?” she continued, looking straight at Cosette with an eyebrow arched.

She’d have said answered yes if she weren’t caught off-guard by the girl’s eyes. She remembered this girl. She had often caught glimpses of her in this class but she had always been seated at the front whereas the girl often took a seat near the back (this time the only exception because she had been a little late due to staying up late to study for a quiz she had later). She always thought she was pretty –what, with her silky, lush, black hair, and plump red lips, and confident strut. Of course she thought she was hella attractive. But as she finally got a closer look, she was thunder stricken. She couldn’t even remember how her hand fell midway from the girl. The only thing she can process in her mind was eyes. Those narrowed almond-shaped doe eyes, striking stormy grey irises, tired but flickering with a silver of amusement. She could drown in them all day, and, just, wow her eyes (and eyeliner too now that she can see them –on point).

“Sorry,” the other girl –Eponine?– added, eyes softening, mistaking her silence for embarrassment. “Massive hangover,” she explained, a corner of her lips turning up slightly, before wincing in pain.

“Oh no,” Cosette replied giving a small smile of her own, “it’s alright.”

Eponine turned back to her bag and pulled out a can of monster energy drink, opened it, and poured it to her coffee –‘where did that come from?’ Cosette thought to herself wide-eyed.

“God, I’m gonna die,” Eponine moaned before drinking the whole thing.

Cosette sat beside her, wide-eyed, and slacked-jaw.