Strenson University was the fourth oldest in the Empire of Tartarus and a stroll past some of the original buildings could give the impression that a person had stepped back in time. Although while the place had an old feel to it, it was always clean, freshly painted, had wonderful kept lawns and flower beds and somehow managed to have a homely feel about it. Interspersed amongst the older buildings and surrounding them as the university had grown were more modern versions of the older designs. There were only two buildings that appeared out of place, the new gym and the technology department, someone’s humour about looking to the future dictating the design of the latter.
Next door to the university, its long standing neighbour, was Vandinmere House, an old stately home that had been owned by the Vandin family for as long as anyone could remember and according to the documentation that had been found upon the last Earl’s death, since 1728 went it had been first built.
The university and the Vandin’s had a long history, with the latter donating not only money to the university, but artwork and statues that could be seen glancing down at the students as they walked to classes. The new gym had been a gift from the Earl and the university had been founded by the first Earl of Strenson, where it got its name. Jeffrey Vandin, the last Earl of Strenson had spent his life hosting events in his sprawling grounds, including a couple of concerts to raise money for the university and he regularly hired students to work around the estate, especially for the grounds, the stables and the house, as he kept only a minimal staff, Mrs Longstreet, the housekeeper and a few to help with the general upkeep.
When the Earl passed away, his last will bequeathed his home and his fortune to the university, and in memory of the man who had done so much for the school, his home was converted into a dorm. The three storey building, with its rambling ivy and old exterior had been given a fresh coat of paint and the greenery had been cut away, making the building look a lot younger, although it still managed to maintain that feeling of old. And while everything was well kept, the house had that old wood smell and eerie feel.
The interior of the house had been given a minor makeover. On the ground floor, the staterooms had been changed to accommodate study rooms, television room and the old billiard room had been kept for the enjoyment of the students. The second and third floors had been turned into the actually dorm rooms, with ten rooms on each, the second floor had been given to the girls and the third to the boys. On each floor was a communal bathroom.
The building was buzzing with the arrival of the inhabitants of the dorms, ready for the start of the school year. The driveway and parking area was full of cars, with young people milling around emptying trunks and dragging in their belongings. Fortunately, it was not necessary for everyone to carry their things up the stairs, as on old elevator had been installed by one of the previous owners. It could hold a couple of students and some of their things, and had a wrought iron gate to stop people falling out.
The main entrance to the house was reached by a small flight of steps, that opened up into a large hallway, where a portrait of the old Earl looked down upon those entering. It was a painting of him in his younger days, as he stood in a hunting pose with a dog standing by his feet. A stipulation in the will stated that the house was to remain as close to its original as possible, which included some of the old furniture, although the dorm rooms themselves were emptied of the originals and replaced with a bed, a desk and storage space.
Mrs Longstreet, who had been retained from her original employment, was kept on to maintain the house and ensure that the students had what they needed. She was busy with a clipboard, giving the students their room numbers and door keys, and giving them all a small layout of the house. The old kitchen had been stocked and a dining room outfitted, leaving the student self-sufficient. Mrs Bennet the old cook would come in during the day and prepare meals for the students, and she was busy in the kitchen laying on a buffet for the new pupils and their parents, if any had come to assist with the move.
* * * * *
Remi Devann strolled down the stairs, having just finished putting the last of her belongings into her room, and looked at the other students as they rushed here and there, some carrying stuff, others chatting amongst themselves. It was her first day at the university and she was excited at the thought of making new friends. She was also there to study, but the thought of sharing the next year with a household of potential friends made her smile.
She dodged passed someone dashing up the stairs carrying a box, which looked like the bottom was about to fall out of it. “Let me help you with that,” she said, as she twisted around and walked back up to where the young man had come to a stop. She placed her hands under the box to support it. “You don’t want to be retrieving your stuff from the floor.”
“Thanks,” the tussle haired, blond boy said, as he shifted his hands to the bottom of the box to support its weight. “I’m Dylan…Brookes.”
Feeling him taking the weight of the box, Remi carefully removed her hands. “Remi Devann,” she said, brushing her then free hand through her wavy brown locks. “Do you think you can…?”
“Yeah, I can handle it from here,” he replied, giving her a grateful smile.
“You should have used the elevator,” Remi added, pointing to where a small queue was gathering, her dark blue eyes widening. “Ah…”
“Yeah,” Dylan replied with a laugh. He then continued up the stairs, carefully carrying his box of electrical equipment, which he could not live without.
Continuing down the stairs, Remi walked across the hall, pausing as she got her bearings. The old house was beautiful and if she squinted her eyes, she could imagine how grand it must have looked in its former glory. Remi was a pretty girl, the kind that could look stunning if she made an effort, but she felt more relaxed in clothing that left things to the imagination. She rarely showed any cleavage and she tended to wear skirts and dresses that were closer to her knees than her backside. She had on a flowing summer style dress, even though the weather was turning, in pastel blue, which was her favourite and a pair of white pumps. She rarely wore high heels, being five foot eight, she never really felt the need to add too much more height.
She moved out of the way of someone struggling with a suitcase and decided that standing in the hallway was hindering more than helping, so she walked off to the left, ready to explore her new home, unravelling her crumpled map.
* * * * *
When Dylan got to the top of the stairs, he looked back down at the young woman who had assisted him, smiled to himself and then turned to walk up the second flight of stairs. Dylan was a computer nerd, a title that he happily gave to himself. He had not expected anyone to even talk to him on the first day, so his hazel eyes flashed with a brilliance that was normally reserved for his latest online game. He was a slight guy, wiry due to lack of sport and other physical exercise and stood at only five foot seven, which his much taller brother would tease was due to sitting in front of a computer all day.
But where his brother might out do him in height and weight, Dylan was certainly a lot smarter. He was the brightest person in his family and amongst his friends. He could do relatively complex calculations in his head and could memorise any amount of crap, although he tended to use it mostly for keeping track of the countless characters he played in table top roleplaying games and getting straight As.
He watched as Remi walked through the hall, gazing down at her map, and while he doubted they would actually be friends, or that she would even remember his name the next time they passed in the hallway, he felt content that someone at least had talked to him.
