(Six Months Earlier)
Liam:
The bus jerked to a stop, slamming my forehead against the seat in front of me. I blinked a few times, trying to shake off the daze. Finally steady, I glanced out the window, expecting endless barley fields or the stone cottages. Panic hit as I realized I wasn't in Scotland anymore. Instead, I was in Schönwald, Germany.
Quantum Science University.
Shit. I realized it was my destination. I fumbled with my backpack until I got a grip, swinging it onto one shoulder. My other hand found the handle of my suitcase, wedged awkwardly between the seats. I tugged it free, nearly clipping the arm of the woman beside me. I scrambled to my feet and started wriggling toward the aisle.
But before I could squeeze through, my leg collided with the leg of an older woman, making me stumble.
"So sorry, ma'am!" I stammered and pushed past her, hurrying off the bus without waiting for a response. I hoped she would understand.
The bus drove away, leaving a trail of black smoke as I stood at the gate, suitcase by my side, unsure what to do.
I was from Assynt, a small part of Scotland where sheep outnumbered people and ambition often meant taking over the family croft or fishing boat. Winning the Solunari Scholarship had felt like a rare chance to escape it all. One moment I'd been fixing tractors with my Da, the next I was holding a university scholarship letter, promising a world I'd only read about in journals.
I knew admission here demanded obsession and effort but I wasn't sure I had them.
So, in short, I was new here. And I was here way too early in the morning.
I'd told my parents that the bus had arrived sooner than scheduled. But the truth was, my nerves had gnawed at me all night. So, I had taken the earlier one.
I took a deep refreshing breath and pushed my boots forward. But I wasn't ready for what I was about to see.
QSU was spectacular, to say the least. I could see buildings that were made entirely of stone and glass, bigger and better than anything I could have imagined. Black forest seemed to have engulfed them while large mountains framed the background.
I walked a little further and my gaze landed on the football field on my left. It was large and perfect, pristine and breathtaking, all at the same time.
I looked around to see if anyone was there so I could ask for permission before entering. A uniformed security guard stood nearby, leaning against a tree and reading a newspaper. I approached him hesitantly.
"Excuse me? Sir?" My voice sounded nervous. "Is it... alright to go onto the field?"
The guard turned, eyebrows slightly raised. "New student?"
I nodded, pulling out my crumpled acceptance letter and student ID confirmation from my pocket and passed them to him.
"Yeah. Liam Salene. Just arrived. Scholarship student." I gestured vaguely toward the field. "It's... incredible."
The guard glanced at the papers, then back at me, taking in my appearance. A flicker of understanding softened his expression. "Welcome to QSU, Mr. Salene. Orientation isn't for a few hours yet. You can go onto the Field."
"Thank you!" I breathed, feeling relieved.
I hesitated, then glanced down at my suitcase. "Um... would it be alright if I left this somewhere? Just for a while."
The guard folded his newspaper under one arm and gave me a reassuring smile. "Leave it with me. I am usually posted here through the morning. I'll keep it safe."
"Really? Thank you very much, Sir." I slid the suitcase beside his empty chair, giving it one last look before straightening up.
I stepped onto the grass and walked towards the center circle. The grass was soft and dense, unlike the tufty, uneven ground back home. It was so wonderful.
I sank down, letting my backpack slump beside me. I traced the blades of the turf, impossibly perfect, as if they belonged to another world.
Do I belong here?
I pulled out my phone and called my parents. I wanted to feel their support and belief in me.
"Liam?" My father, Dougal Selene, his voice roughened by years of shouting over engines, boomed down the line as soon as it connected. "Made it alright, son?"
"Yeah, Da. Already at the university. Sitting on the football field." I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady. "It's... beautiful, Da."
"Football field? Get yourself inside, boy! Don't be dawdling like a lost lamb on the grass!" He grumbled.
"Everything is so big, Da." My voice cracked slightly despite myself. "Feels... like a different world."
A gruff chuckle. "Course it does! It's supposed to! You're where the clever folks are. You are part of them now. Make us proud, you hear?" There was a pause, a shuffling sound. "Here, your Mam wants a word."
"Liam? Are you alright, love? Did you eat anything on the bus? It's so far away... if you don't like it, you just come straight home. We will manage. Alright?"
"Mam..." I felt calmer than just a moment ago. "...I'm fine. Just... all so new to this."
I remembered the clumsy tackles and shouts back home; the good moments I spent with my friends. "Might try playing football... it will be so much fun."
"Oh, Liam!" She sighed. I could picture her in that kitchen apron, shaking her head and smiling despite herself. "Always chasing that ball. Just promise you'll eat properly. And sleep! Don't be staying up all night with your head in those books. Make lots of friends, okay? And be careful of city girls!"
"I promise, Mam. Don't worry. I'll be okay." I took a deep breath, trying to believe it. "Love you." I hung up quickly before my voice could betray me. I missed them already.
That familiar love, that simple worry about food and sleep, it was something really precious.
I could picture the proud grin Da would wear telling the uncles down the pub about me; my mam's proud face while gossiping with aunts. I couldn't help but smile at the thought.
I pushed myself up, dusting my trousers. I hoisted my backpack and walked towards the low stands bordering one side of the ground along the path. I climbed a few rows and sat down, giving myself a vantage point and time to absorb it all without feeling quite so exposed.
I leaned back, letting my gaze wander around the mesmerizing field once again.
After a while, voices nearby caught my attention.
I looked toward the source. Four figures stood near a sitting bench. Three girls in sports bras and tight running trousers stood in a loose semicircle, huffing and puffing. The fourth, a guy probably my age, had positioned himself between them and the way inside.
Even from here, his energy screamed fake confidence. He grey T-shirt had darken with sweat but his hair looked absolutely perfect. His running shoes looked brand-new, the kind bought more for appearances rather than running.
"...and I just thought," his voice was little too loud, "since we are all new here... maybe you girls want to drink coffee? At the White Café? Get to know each other. I hear they have coffee machine that can print faces in coffee." He leaned casually against a tree, one foot crossed over the other, trying for casual but landing somewhere near desperate.
"Chad Willoughby. And, uh... probably the best choice you'll make today." He added a wink.
Oh my god.
The girls didn't look impressed.
"Coffee?" The girl he was aiming at repeated, "With the best choice of the day? That's your pickup line?"
Chad's grin faltered. "I… uh...it's supposed to be witty?" He shifted uncomfortably, clearly not expected the rebuttal.
She stepped forward. "Move! Before I turn your face into the worst choice for everybody."
Chad froze, his fake confidence crumbling. The other two girls exchanged a look that was pure pity before stepping around him.
For a long moment, he just stood there. Then, as if the weight of rejection had gotten too heavy, he sank onto the bench.
"Smooth, Chad," he muttered. "Real freaking smooth."
Taking a breath, I pushed myself off the stand and stepped down. By the time I reached him, he was still slouched on it.
Up close, the guy was shorter than me, but more muscular, the kind of build that suggested he worked out really hard.
I cleared my throat and sat on the other end of the bench, leaving a polite gap between us. "Rough one, mate," I offered, hoping I didn't sound patronizing.
Chad jolted upright and turned toward me.
"Tell me about it," he groaned, dragging his hand down his face. "My mate Arman swore asking for coffee was a classic move." Chad snorted. "Absolute disaster. I just don't understand girls, for God's sake."
He leaned back, sighing hard, then gave me a self-deprecating grin. "Chad Willoughby. And apparently, destined for eternal rejection."
Wow. What were girls into these days?
"Liam Salene," I replied, managing a sympathetic half-smile. "From Assynt, Scotland. And for your information, my last date involved helping Mrs. Scott chase her escaped sheep. Romantic, right?" It felt strangely freeing to admit it.
"An escaped sheep?" Chad barked a surprised laugh, genuine this time. "I'm from London. And my big romantic gesture last year was spilling my Coke on Jessica's new shoes."
I smiled at the confession.
He looked me over, taking in my lack of style. "Scholarship student?"
I nodded. "Solunari Scholarship."
"Respect, man." He stuck out his hand for a quick handshake.
I hesitated, then gripped his hand.
Maybe I wouldn't be alone in this place like I had thought.
"I'm a half-scholarship student myself," Chad added with a little grin on his face. "My mom remortgaged our house to cover remaining cost. Education isn't cheap these days, even when they say you are good at it." The earlier rejection seemed to slide off his shoulders.
I gave a small nod, impressed by the honesty and the casual way he admitted it. It was strangely refreshing.
"So, what are you doing here all alone in the morning?" Chad asked curiously.
"Oh, I just arrived about an hour ago," I admitted. "I was thinking of going to the office to settle my living arrangements and scholarship... but then I saw this field. I had to see it up close." I tried to keep my voice normal, though my excitement made it tremble.
Chad's eyes lit up, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Oh, you a football player?"
"Yes! Yes, I'm. I mean I was. I used to play quite a lot. But... well, these days, hardly anyone sticks around in the village. Most of my mates moved to the cities. I haven't had a game in months, really."
He nodded knowingly, a trace of understanding in his gaze. "Then you just met the right guy. I'm a bit of a football player myself. Defender, of course."
"Me too."
"We first-years should put together a team then. Yesterday, I played against the seniors. Roman Lumaan was the striker. Tall guy, scored a hat trick against me... headers, of all things."
I could picture it, a tall striker bullying someone with short height. Chad was maybe five feet 10 inches? He was on the average side.
"Maybe I could mark him next time." I wasn't bragging about my height, of course.
"Yes, that's a great idea!" Chad's eyes brightened at the thought.
He stood from the bench. "So... what do you say? Want me to help you with your arrangements? I could show you around the university, if you like."
I froze for a heartbeat, caught off-guard by the offer.
"I would love that," I said with a genuine smile. "Thank you very much."
I rose from the bench and started walking beside him. But then I remembered something. My suitcase.
"Wait! Let me go grab my suitcase."
Chad raised an eyebrow but nodded easily. "Go on, I'll wait here."
I jogged back toward the gate where the guard still sat and read the newspaper. He glanced up as I approached.
"Sir, I am here to pick up my suitcase," I called, a little out of breath.
"Oh, of course," the guard replied politely, sliding the suitcase toward me.
"Thank you."
"You are welcome, Mr. Selene."
"What is your name, sir?" I asked, turning back. I felt the need to ask this person name. He was really helpful to me even if the help was a minor one.
"It's Robin Klein. You can call me Robin." He seemed genuinely happy. It didn't take much to make a guy happy, really.
"See you, Mr. Klein."
Back at the bench, Chad waited patiently, watching me approach.
"All set?"
"All set."
We started walking down the path while he kept talking about the university, how it was the best, the most beautiful, how only the brightest students came here, and so on.
"So, tell me about yourself, Liam," He asked, after finishing his university monologue.
I scratched my neck. There wasn't much worth saying, really. "Not much to say. I am the only son. My parents love me. We own a small land in Assynt and a garage... that's about it. And lots of sheep of course." I shrugged. "What about you?"
"Same as you minus the sheep and the garage," He laughed freely.
We both fell quiet after that. Maybe we were just men of few words. Maybe we didn't know how to keep a conversation going apart from football.
I let the silence stretch and turned back to the scenery.
I looked at the forest on my right that stretched from the gate up to half way along the path while the other half opened onto a small clearing where a café sat beside the parking lot.
"That's the Black Forest," Chad informed me, noticing the direction I was looking at. "Locals gave it the name, and... well, you can see why."
He wasn't wrong. I could see why.
"And that small building beside it?" Chad continued, pointing toward the café. "That's the White Café. We students will probably spend more time in there than in our classrooms." He smirked.
I could picture what he was saying, tables full of students, steaming cups in hand, chatter about the day's lectures mixing with jokes and project deadlines. The smell of pastries. The faint aroma of coffee.
"It looks... cozy," I remarked.
"Yes...Yes, it does."
He then gestured towards the Parking lot. "And that, my friend, is our parking lot." Chad's tone carried awe, as if it was worth the hype. And it was.
It looked like a German showroom. Sleek expensive supercars along with few normal cars filled the spaces.
"Bloody hell."
Chad glanced back at me, grinning. "Fantastic, right?"
"It is," I said. "I have never seen so many beautiful cars in one place. Back home, it's only tractors and Land Rovers."
Chad nodded. "Yeah, I have seen cars like this in London, but never so many in one place. Makes you realize just how many rich students there are here. Maybe... if I work hard enough, I could get one of these someday." This guy was a dreamer.
I didn't respond. Cars had never been my dream, really.
All this wealth, all this money, it wasn't for me. I just wanted to give my parents the chance for a better life, a normal house, maybe a small, comfortable car.
"Let's continue to the main building, yeah?" Chad suggested, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Okay."
"Listen," he began as we resumed walking, "you haven't seen everything this university has to offer. Not yet. There's the White Office, there's Hexadome, there's Carrington Library, and don't get me started on the labs. So don't feel out of place just yet because you have seen the parking area."
I nodded, half-listening, half-staring at the path ahead.
After a while, we reached the main building, the infamous White Office. And true to what Chad had promised, nothing I had seen so far could have prepared me for this.
The building was grander... grander than anything else here. It had four large columns at the front, supporting the roof and one large door that looked like they were designed to welcome scholars, leaders and big personalities.
I could feel Chad watching me, letting me take in every small detail.
Finally, I exhaled.
"Shall we?" He asked, motioning toward the grand entrance.
I nodded, a thrill running through my chest. This was the beginning of my new journey. The place where my life would change, where my ambitions would take shape, where the Salene name might mean something someday.
Together we passed through the door.