Life at Harvard Yard - RP Thread

[Astral Echo]

University is a time for new beginnings, a time to meet new people and a time to discover who you are and where your place in the world is. Life at Harvard University is no different.

One of the most prestigious institutions in the world, Harvard is home to the smartest, the most creative, the most resourceful and the most talented young people from all over the globe. Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest university in the United States and boosts an alumni of some of the best and brightest minds in the world, including former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, John Adams, John F. Kennedy & Barack Obama.



Harvard Yard is a grassy area of about twenty-five acres adjacent to Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that constitutes the oldest part and the center of the campus of Harvard University. It contains thirteen of Harvard College's seventeen freshman dormitories, as well as four libraries, five buildings of classrooms and academic departments, and the central administrative offices of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the university, located in University Hall and Massachusetts Hall, respectively.



One of the most famous of those thirteen dormitories is Matthews Hall: situated in the heart of Harvard Yard, Matthews boasts large suite
common rooms and lovely interiors. All Matthews suites are doubles or triples with shared hallway bathrooms. In the basement, Matthews has a newly-renovated common room. The basement also has a study room with white board, a full kitchen, music practice rooms and a trash room. Past residents include Matt Damon, Robert Rubin, Chuck Schumer, Barney Frank, William Randolph Hearst, Mark Penn, and John Dos Passos.

And this where we lay our scene...



Miranda Read (Emma Stone) | Dorm 69 - Astral Echo
Beth Monroe (Evan Rachel Wood) | Dorm 69 - Assassin Witch
Alicia Collins (Natalie Dormer) | Dorm 17 - PiperMGrl
Ryan Stone (Ian Harding) | Dorm 1 - Astral Alex
Noah Adler (Adam Brody) | Dorm 1 - Assassin Witch
Andrew Mitchell (Ross Thomas) | Dorm 68 - PiperMGrl
Bailey Way (Avril Lavigne) | Dorm 2 - AlyssaJMilano

[Astral Echo]

Harvard Yard was alive with noise as the hustle and bustle of student life was in full swing for the first day of term. The sun beated down on the campus, making the grass greener, the paths cleaner and the buildings a more vibrant red. The whole place was coated in a golden glow and the atmosphere was brimming to reflect that.

With her sunglasses on, handbag in hand and her stunning, red maxi dress blowing in the wind, heads turned as Miranda Read glided across campus. Walking with such precision and purpose, everyone was looking her way.

Or so she had imagined.

Used to a wave of attention, Miranda was left dumbfounded as not even a single head turned her way. How can they not be noticing me? Miranda thought to herself, looking around at the busy student population, engrossed in their own worlds. Cliches had already begin to form, she could see it! The mostly painful thing was, she had no cliche, not yet, no one had even noticed her.

[Astral Alex]

"Yeah, yeah I'll see you soon, okay, thanks Auntie Kay".

Ryan ended the phone-call, putting his white iPhone 4 into the pocket of his designer jeans. He massaged his chin, and took in his surroundings.

The sun was beaming down on him, he could feel his exposed forearms tanning by the second as he watched a girl in a red maxi dress strut across the courtyard. Ryan chuckled to himself, he could read her like a book. She had definitely been a spoilt girl at her previous college, and now she was nothing but a small fish in a big pond. He looked her up and down, she was attractive, but her apparent big-headedness made her less good-looking.

Ryan breathed and followed the girl across the freshly mown grass and through an archway, where lines of renovated old-fashioned doors were situated, Ryan smiled proudly at the door reading '1'. He liked the idea of living in the first of the dorms.

[Assassin Witch]

Noah had moved into the dorm three days ago, and while he didn't have a lot of belongings, he still wasn't settled in. It was the first day of classes, and for him, the first day of college, and he was still unpacking and trying to find his way around campus.

He had already been to his first class - an introduction into business - and now he was back in his dorm room sorting out his things.

His roommate was out, as far as Noah knew, but the boys barely said ten words to each other since Noah moved in. Already, he could tell this was going to be a long semester. He really should try to talk with the guy; what was his name? ... Ryan. Yeah, figure out what year he's in, his major, you know the basics of roommates. He really didn't want to call Dani and complain to her about Harvard.

He flopped on his bed, face down and groaned.

His bedroom door was open, so if Ryan decided to show up, he'd at least hear him and try to talk.

[PiperMGrl]

Alicia looked around her newly decorated room pleased with what she had put together. She smirked to herself thinking how smart it was to have made sure she got her own room this year. She sat on her bed and sighed. Her first class was in an hour, and that clock just kept ticking away with its stupid 60 seconds for every minute nonsense.

She took one more look around the room before quickly jumping back up. Have to keep busy, she thought. If she didn't, her mind would wander and that led to no good. No matter how apprehensive she was about showing her face on that campus again, she wasn't going to let it stop her. She glanced in the mirror. Not a hair out of place, clothes unwrinkled. Maybe she should brave the real world and get it out of the way now before the dorm gets too crowded with chatty freshman.

Ali picked up her handbag and made her way to the door, hesitating ever so slightly before opening it and venturing out into the hall.

---

---

---

Andrew stopped jogging a few yards away from the building to catch his breath. The agonizing pain was still there, his knee was throbbing so hard he was suddenly finding it hard to stand. He leaned against a tree and muttered a few choice expletives under his breath. He didn't know why he kid himself. This was always going to hurt. But pushing himself was the only way he knew how to keep going.

He wiped some sweat off his brow and looked at the dorm. People were starting to arrive. He slowly put weight back on his knee and tried not to limp as he walked to the door. He looked down at his watch as he entered. Great, 5 after. He was late for work...again.

[Astral Echo]

Entering into Matthews Hall, she walked down the long corridor to her room. This time people were looking at her, did she have something in her teeth? Was she overdressed? She couldn't really be sure.

On finding her room, dorm '69', she unlocked the door and entered the room. Thank god she's not in, I don't think I could take anymore of her moaning. Miranda thought to herself, slinging her handbag onto her bed. It's not that she didn't like her roommate, it's just that they were very different people.

Deep down, she wanted to make more of an effort because honestly, she doesn't really like the thought of someone disliking her, particularly if you going to be waking up next to that someone for the next year.

[Assassin Witch]

Beth was sitting in a cafe on campus. She had a class already and was free for the rest of the day, but she was not going back to her dorm. Ever, if she could help it. Her roommate was some former governor's daughter; in other words, she was a peppy, narcissistic, rich girl. While Beth had only known Miranda for three days, it was three too many, and Beth would not mind if their only interaction was sleeping in the same room.

For now, she was not going to dwell on her living situation. Instead, Beth was sketching out a framework for a resign of the website of the Baltimore School for the Arts. Her mother, the director of the school, hadn't asked for it, but Beth was just testing around as a new look and maybe she would show her mother and it would be adapted. It was just a side project to keep her occupied.

Beth switched her browser to Facebook and someone caught her eye. She opened a chat window.

Beth: Shouldn't you be in school?

Bobby: I am. doing a research assignment

Beth: On what? The history of Facebook?

Bobby: Like ur 1 2 talk. ur always on computer

Beth: Not the point.

Bobby: whats the point?

Beth sighed and shook her head. Her 11-year-old brother had a point. Who was she to comment about being online during class. She'd been doing just that for years and still managed to get into Harvard and keep a 4.0.

[PiperMGrl]

Andrew threw on his black apron as he limped into the cafe. He grimaced at the clock, only to get a glare from his boss.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I went running again and lost track of the time." He said as he raced behind the counter clock in.

"Andrew, that's the third time this week, and it's only the first week of classes, you cant keep doing this to me." His manager, Caleb shook his head.

"It's the last time I promise. I was just trying to stretch out this bum leg. It won't happen again." He turned away before Caleb could say anymore. He hated this job, he didn't need to add a lecture to the beginning of his shift.

Customer service was not his favorite. He sighed and bussed an empty table before walking over to one occupied by a pretty blond girl. She was engrossed into her computer and didnt even notice he was standing there. He cleared his throat, annoyed. "Can I get you anything?"

[Assassin Witch]

Beth: Fine. You win. Just no porn at school.

As she hit enter a voice floated by and she looked up. "Excuse me?" She took her eyes off the laptop and noticed his apron. He worked here. "Oh, um..." she looked around her table and realized she was starving and had only had a latte since cereal before class.

"Actually, yes. You've read my mind." She paused and scrunched her face. "What do you recommend?" Yes, it was just a campus cafe with mostly sandwiches, but she was too hungry to make up her own mind.

And so what if he thought she was an idiot. Whatever. She'd been working on this project for who knows how long and was a bit disoriented.

[PiperMGrl]

Andrew held back another sigh and pulled out a small printed menu from his pocket. It was already going to be a long shift and his bad mood and throbbing knee was getting the best of him. He handed the menu to her. "My theory on what you'd like best depends on your class load."
He leaned over and rubbed his knee for a moment as he spoke. "The cinnamon rolls are baked fresh everyday so if you have light class load, and are just homesick, those are perfect. However, if you're a Math major and are far too busy to get homesick, the whole wheat sub is the best."
He took a moment to actually look at her, and couldn't help but think how attractive she was. Andrew had always been good at reading people, but was having trouble analyzing what type of personality she had.

[Assassin Witch]

Beth took the menu from him, although she knew what was served; heavens, she wasn't a newbie. But she listened to his "theory," as he so called it. She watched him and noticed him rubbing his knee. That explained his cheery attitude.

She set the menu down, unopened, and smiled at him. "Hmm..I'm not homesick, but fresh cinnamon rolls sound mouth-watering. Nor am I a math major, but a sub is always tasty.

"So what is the diagnosis for a fat-ass like me?" she asked, with a smirk in her eyes.

[PiperMGrl]

Andrew cracked a small smile at the completely inapplicable description of herself. She was toned and definitely not under the obese category.

He evaluated the contents of her table one more time and then made a guess, "You didnt touch your menu, which means you've been here before, so you're definitely not a freshman. You have the nicest laptop, I've ever seen, and you've got some drawings here, so I'm guessing some kind of art major," He picked the menu back up and stuck it in his pocket, "and in that case, you're the kind of person who cant take advice from anyone, and should just choose for herself."

[Assassin Witch]

Beth laughed. "You sound like a Psych guy, but then again, I have no experience with sizing someone up. I spend way too much time on my 'nice' laptop with my drawings I never actually pay attention to."

She extended her hand to him to shake. "Beth. Sophomore digital media major."

[PiperMGrl]

He liked that laugh, but immediately stopped that thought in its track. He had 3 jobs, plus a full class schedule, flirting was all he had time for. "Ah, I have to get a few points," Andrew said as he shook her hand and finally gave her a full smile, "or at least a decent tip, the art thing was close."

He ran his fingers through his hair and put his pencil behind his ear. "Andrew, Super Senior, Pre-Law. I used to play baseball, and I'm a future lawyer, so I'm usually pretty good at sizing people up, we'll chock that up to my having an off day."

[Astral Echo]

Steam rolled under the shower curtain before being whisked open by Miranda, who stood with small white towel wrapped around her petite frame. She stepped down from the shower cubicle and looked around the washroom, a few male eyes were cast her way which caused her to chuckle to herself before she strolled out of the room.

Walking down the hall, she ran her fingers through her long, auburn hair to pull any knots that may have already formed, for some reason her hair had always had a habit of doing that. The door to the first dorm was open, which she thought was intriguing. A young, dark haired guy was sitting inside, playing on his phone, completely oblivious to her presence.

"Hey." Miranda chirped up, trying to get the guys attention. "You don't happen to have any dry conditioner do you?" She asked, using something so random to try and make conversation.

[SARI-SINISTER!]

Bailey had felt a little awkward in Harvard Yard. She didn't feel she fit in. Sure the guys thought she was hot, and the girls' found her beautiful but it was weird. No one seemed to really talk to her and it was very upsetting. Right now, she had just finished getting dressed and straightening her hair. She had thick streaks of pink in the right side of her hair. Perhaps, that, was why she felt like an outsider. She did have a few friends', and their were many attractive guys' and girls'. The trouble was choosing, and trying to get to know them. Rarely anyone, talked to her lately. Bails wanted to change that though.

Her feet walked model like down the halls'. Students' were everywhere, and some were professors' and such. A cute girl named Miranda, she knew from around, was staring into an open door way. Bailey walked past just enough to see a dark haired man. She probably wouldn't be interested in Bailey if that guy was there. Plus, Bails didn't even know if the girl was bisexual? Maybe, friends? "Uh, hi... Miranda right? My names..." Bailey blushed a little and turned to look to the side. She always roamed around random halls. She was to shy to say her name though. Hopefully Miranda knew her, or the dark haired boy did. Doubtful, but it'd be easier.

Bailey continued to blush and stare down the hall. Finally, she pulled up enough courage to at least look at Miranda. Or at least what she was able to see.

[Astral Echo]

Miranda pulled her towel tighter as she awaited an answer from the dark haired guy waiting his dorm room. Then out of nowhere, a punky looking blonde poked head around the corner, walking right up close to Miranda.

Sweeping her dripping wet, auburn hair over her shoulder, she stood back and inspected the girl from head to toe. She smirked slightly as the girl hesitated while introducing herself. "Well spit it out, you either have a name or you don't." Miranda replied spitefully, she felt a high school jealously brewing and while she hated acting like that, it had become a habit to automatically become overally defensive to wards other women - particularly in the presence of a good looking guy.

[SARI-SINISTER!]

Bailey chuckled, "Bailey, Bailey Way... Sorry I get a little choked up sometimes..." Her eyes wandered down to the girl in the towel. Bailey may be bisexual, but she knew what she should and shouldn't look. She looked away and to the guy. He was rather attractive, but she didn't have any intentions. Miranda was a little huffy about things', perhaps she would calm down in time?

"Uh, hi dark haired guy..." Bailey spoke shyly, and tried to make it sound like she wasn't interested. Bailey was very attractive though, and most guys' thought she was gorgeous even if she wasn't trying. Her eyes traced back up to Miranda. Miranda looked interesting with dripping hair, and a towel around her.

[Astral Echo]

Miranda cast a more observant eye over Bailey, she sure was cute but she wasn't exactly her usual type. "Well I suppose we all get a little choked up sometimes." Miranda replied before extended her arm. "Anyway...it's nice to meet you." She added, taking a light grip of Bailey's hand, shaking it and then dropping it.

[PiperMGrl]

ooc: are we still doing this?