Jinopal requested by @authorjoydragon
The hallway was crowded as Jinora pushed past her classmates towards the lecture hall at the back.
It was her first class on her first day of her first year of college and so far all Jinora wanted were wider walking paths. As she finally pushed through the doors, she quickly amended that thought to less students.
The theater stretched high above her with at least ten rows and three large sections. It had to seat five hundred minimum. The idea of walking up those steps made her dizzy and for a moment, Jinora wanted to run back home to the isolated island she had grown up on.
Her eyes landed on the front row where only one person sat. A young woman, likely a year or so older, sat in the front with a pair of crutches in the seat next to her.
Jinora looked up the steps again before cautiously moving towards the other woman.
"Hi," Jinora started, "I saw you sitting alone down here and figured you'd maybe like someone to sit with?"
Green eyes peaked up at her in surprise but the other woman nodded. "I'm Opal," she said, offering her hand.
Jinora took it before introducing herself. Opal's hand lingered around hers for a moment before the professor walked in to start the class. Jinora quickly sat next to Opal and hoped she could talk to her more after class.
Those hopes were dashed by crowds that pushed them in separate directions and Jinora resigned herself to not making a new friend today.
Her next class proved her hardest and with a pounding headache she moved towards the commons for lunch.
She startled as a try was placed down at her table and looked up to see Opal standing there. "I saw you sitting alone down here and figured you'd maybe like someone to sit with," Opal said, mimicking Jinora from this morning. "Well, that and there's nowhere to sit."
Jinora stared at her for a moment before nodding.
"Is this your first day?" Opal asked, as she took a seat. She struggled to get her crutches settled and Jinora reached out to help.
"Yeah, that obvious?" Jinora asked.
Opal shrugged. "It's my last year, I've learned to spot the freshman," she replied.
Jinora's brow furrowed. "Not to be rude but how are you only taking first level chemistry in your last year?" she asked.
Opal grabbed her hand causing a flush to climb Jinora's cheeks. "Don't ever listen to the advisors," Opal said seriously. "You always need Chem One."
Jinora nodded and took that into consideration. Her dad hadn't trusted the advisors either.
"Sorry," Opal said, sheepishly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I didn't mean to scare you but it's the only reason I'm a fifth year senior. All my friends graduated last semester but I was told at the last minute I didn't have all my credits needed."
"That's horrible," Jinora replied. She wondered if maybe her mom had been right to suggest online college.
Opal's smile distracted her from her thoughts.
"It's not all bad," Opal said. "I only have one class and I got to meet you."
Jinora's face flushed again at the playfully look on Opal's face. Jinora watched as Opal's eye lit up at her first bite of the desert she grabbed. Her green eyes practically glowed in the fluorescent lighting of the commons.
All her hesitance at college vanished. It couldn't be all bad if she got to meet Opal.
