Jan walks onto the campus. He looks around as other people walk past, chatting and laughing. He slowly walks towards the admin office. An hour later, he comes out and drops his bag on the pavement of a flower bed filled with roses. He sits on the pavement beside his backpack. He makes a deep sigh and watches other people afar off. He is all alone. "Now Mom, I can get a job here while I study, and be able to pay the medical bills." he thought. He thinks deeply and gets lost in thought. A girl is walking happily on the lane he is sitting by. Unaware of her swift approach, he gets up and hangs his backpack on his shoulder. He starts to walk in front but then stops abruptly to check something in his bag. Suddenly, he feels the weight of someone crash into him, throwing him to the ground. He sits up quickly and starts to get his things together. "Here, let me help you." a female voice says. He looks up to see the sad beautiful face of a young woman. He is stunned by her natural portuguese beauty and features. "Um... Hello?" the girl asks. "...Oh!—Ugh... Don't bother." Jan says as he snaps back to reality. He grunts as he gets up. The woman reaches out her hand to help him up and he accepts. He finally gets on his feet and the woman hands him his bag. She has some books in her hand and a backpack too. "You really came down hard didn't you." she says with a soft expression. "Yeah." Jan replies chuckling. "Are you new here?" she asks. "Yes, Jan" he says stretching out his hand to shake her. "Mira."she replies, shaking him. "Are you from around here? I mean...You look'Not French?' " She asks with a laugh. Jan replies chuckling "Yeah, I'm 'Not From Here'. I'm Dutch." "Ohh! From the Netherlands. I see." she says with a smile. "And you?" he asks. "Take a guess." she says. "Mmm, OK. You're...Spanish, right?" "Close" says Mira. "Mmm... Portuguese!" " Yeah!" "You're from Portugal." Jan says smiling widely. "Yeah! How did you know?". Jan tries to imitate her "I mean...You look 'Not French?' " They both chuckle. "Well, I got to go but we should hang out some time." Mira says. "Sure thing." Jan replies. "Bye Jan!" Mira says as she leaves. "Bye Mira." he says while thinking to himself. Later, Jan enters the guys' hostel. He passes other guys in the hallway. He stops in front of a door with the number he's been assigned to. He knocks and the door opens from the inside. A short slim young guy with curly brown hair appears in the doorway. "Are you looking for someone?" the young guy asks. "I was assigned to this room." Jan says calm and confident. "Oh, come in." the guy says. Jan walks in and the guy shuts the door behind him. "I'm François." the guy says." "Jan." "Well OK ...Jan. Since we're roommates, I guess we should lay down some rules. (Sighs) Soo, depending on your schedule, Don't watch TV on a loud volume. Don't turn on loud music. We'll rotate the cleaning on a weekly basis, and most of all DON'T eat food you didn't keep in the fridge. IT'S NOT YOURS!" François says childishly. "Alright. Then I will be laying down some rules also François." Jan says, dropping his backpack on his bed. Turning to He turns to face François, then he says "We will both not allow friends in here. I also won't have you snooping around my stuff. Also, I wouldn't like to be disturbed by your alarm clock. Do we have a deal?" "Yes, of course." François replies. "Good."
Later that day, Jan is joined at his lunch table by a slim, young-looking guy with black hair and black eyes. He is wearing a red sweater and he sets his lunch tray down on the table. "You wouldn't mind if I join you?" he asks in a Russian accent. "Not at all." Jan replies. The guy sits down and starts shoving food in his face. He looks up in thought as he chews. "Hmmm, the French cuisine is not so bad after all." he says, and continues eating. He looks up at Jan, "You haven't touched yours. Anything the matter?" he asks. Jan, who was lost in thought, jumps back to reality, "Oh, No. How is it?" he asks. "Well, you never know until you try it." the guy says. Jan smiles at the realization of what he said and starts to eat. He nods his head in agreement. "Mmm, this is good. What's your name by the way?" "Alexander, from Russia." the guy says. "Mmm, Alexander. I'm Jan.The Netherlands."
"So, what brings you here?" Jan asks. "History. France has a lot of it. So, I decided to come and study it here." "Ahhh, I see." " And what brings YOU here Dutch man?" "Well, I'm studying medicine. An opportunity to be away from home". Alexander looks at Jan for a while, and then he speaks, "You don't behave like the typical Dutch guy I've heard about. Are you pure Dutch?" Jan goes silent for a while and then says "For the record, I AM Dutch." "Hmmm." Alexander responds. The two young men finish their lunch and leave the lunch hall. The next day, Jan heads out to his first class and seats himself next to the passage between columns. A woman seats herself directly in front of him and she turns back to face him. She smiles at him brightly. Jan is surprised. "Mira? You take this class too?" he asks stunned. Mira nods happily. She then turns to face her desk, while he stares at the back of her head still stunned. The teacher enters the class and interrupts his train of thought with a microphone, "Good Day students. Today we'll be discussing 'The Animal Cell'." The class is over and Jan catches up with Mira. "That was brilliant. The way you answered that question, was amazing." Mira smiles and looks down. Then a guy walks up to them... "Hey Jan, you look athletic. Think you could join the basketball team?" "Uh, yeah." "Great! Meet us after classes, on the court!" the guy says and starts to turn away but Jan stops him, "Excuse me, what's your name?" "Nicholas!" The guy leaves. Mira turns to face Jan, "Sorry, I got to go. Bye." "Bye." Jan says back. He watches as she walks away. "Somebody's got a crush." a Russian accent says beside him. Jan turns to see who it is and finds Alexander standing beside him, bending his neck sideways towards him. "What?" Jan says in denial. "By the way, what are you doing here?" Jan asks. "Heading to class... like you." Alexander replies in a mischievous monotone. They both walk to their different classes. Later that day, Jan...and Alexander, are standing together in the hallway when an announcement is made via the voiceover: "Students of the prestigious Miguel-Chanelle University of Paris, we are sad to announce the departure of our Vice-Chancellor, Monsieur André DuPont. He has served this institution for 15 years, and has decided to retire. In the light of this new development, the institution has appointed a new Vice-Chancellor. His name is General Martin Guillame Antoine. He is a retired military general of the French Armed Forces. He'll be leading this school with a disciplinary approach. We expect all students to comply with the new order. Thank You." Murmurs ripple across the room. Nicholas who is now next to Jan and Alexander, breaks the group's silence, "Wow, that... doesn't sound good. I mean...my father was in the military. He used to handle us with an iron hand." "We'll see how it turns out." Alex says. They go their separate ways. Jan is on the basketball court with Nicholas, showing his stuff. A man in military uniform walks over to the edge of the court. "Van Dyke?" the man says. "Yes Sir?" "You are required in the VC's office. Jan stares at Nicholas who stares back in shock. Jan walks over to the edge of the court. "Dude." Nicholas says in amazement. "We'll practice later." Jan says. Then he and the officer leave, Nicholas watching them. Later, Jan comes over to Nicholas who is now sitting on a bench in the parks. "Hey." Jan says. "Hey. Soooo, what happened?" "VC just wanted to clear up some registration issues. Anyway, there's nothing to worry about it." "Alright. If you say so." A girl walks Walks over. "Klausi, I've been looking for you." "Ahhh Nina." Nicholas replies lowering his head with his hand to his forehead. "I need your research paper." she says whining. "Why?" "I...lost mine." Nicholas opens his bag and pulls out some papers. "Here." he says handing them over to her. "Thank you!" Nina replies cheerfully. "By the way, whose your friend?" "His name is Jan. Jan, this is my course mate, Nina." "Hi." Jan says to Nina. "Hi Jan! — Are you German?" she asks excitedly. "No, I'm Dutch." "Ahhh, I see. Nice to meet you." "You too." "Oh, and by the way Klausi, Monsieur Félix wants us in the music room by 4." "Ok Nina." "Bye Klaus—Bye Jan!" Nina walks off. "Klausi?" Jan asks with a smirk. "Aw come on! It's only a silly nickname—one that I didn't ask for." "You like her." Jan says with a soft smile. Nicholas moans. "Ahh, not really.—Ok, Maybe." "Maybe?!" Jan says laughing. "What?! It's not wrong to be unsure about it. Anyway, let's go out tonight, look around, what do you say?" "I say it's a deal!" "Alright." Nicholas says, standing up. "Bring some of your friends if you like!" Nicholas says as he walks away. "Ok!" Jan gets up and goes his own way.