I'm lucky, I can sleep from takeoff until we land; so I'm fresh, rested and ready to work on arrival. (TBM)

ALFIE TURNER
 
I looked nervously at the exit, I had just walked through customs and border control, and now I had arrived. I had slept from the moment I took off from heathrow, waving goodbye to my life in England and flying straight into a new world. I had hardly ever travelled before, I could just about remember a school trip to Paris and Mum, Lewis and I had gone to various locations on the south coast of England such as Brighton and Bournemouth.
The door slide open infront of me, the warm air filled my nostrils and I felt bright and optimistic about the future. I shoved my bag into the first taxi I saw.
"Bainbridge Campus please." I asked the driver, he nodded.
So here I was, the sun shining brightly. the air blowing through the window, still a pang of guilt hit me as I thought of my mother, she had wanted to me to travel and study, for some reason she had been convinced coming to America would be better than me heading off to university in England. I had reluctantly agreed but I had always trusted my mothers judgement.
The campus came into view, the taxi stopped near reception. I grabbed my wallet paid and hauled my bag out of the boot. I looked around me at the mass of buildings, there were few students around as I made my way to reception. The lady at the desk stared at me as I approached, I felt slightly embarassed.
"Hi, I am here to register." I asked feeling uncomfortable, the woman started and then looked down before answering.
"Yes that's fine, your name?"
"Alfie Turner"
"Okay well you will need to fill out several forms, some of them are accomodation, loans and finace, your course options I don't expect them right now, however I will need them back by tommorow. You will be staying on campus, I will give you a map showing where your dorm is." she hardly stopped for a breathe, she noticed by confusion at the pile of paperwork she held out for me and then smiled.
"I know it's a lot to take in, especially since you have only just arrived, it says here you are from England, how was your journey?" she said, her voice softening as she continued.
"Yes very good, slept the whole way, but can't work out what I need to do sleep, eat or stay awake." i replied, I stuffed the papers into my bag and then looked at the map.
I sat in my room, my suitcase opened and contents splinng everywhere. There wasn't a single person here yet, I had knocked on every door in the hope I would meet some new people but it looks like I might have a quiet night in or if I am feeling really adventurous; a night out on campus.
i sat on the chair, half deciding the fate of the evening, part of me just didn't feel like venturing out on my own but boredom and home sickness weren't helping me either.
 
FLASHBACK
 
I could just see our flats as I entered the street, I had quickened my pace as I had seen Morley and his gang getting off the bus, I could never understand why they always seemed to hone in on me, I was small, skinny, awkward, quiet and never asking for trouble. Even when they pushed me, taunted me I never fought back, I knew they wanted a reaction so badly but I never gave in, I felt weak, in fact I knew I was weak but I hated confrontation. There wasn't a day that passed that something wouldn't happen to me, punched in the face, my stuff stolen, once I had come back from a shower in PE, my stuff gone, both uniform and PE kit, mortified and naked I knew this wasn't going to end well. Morley had jeered and laughed so much I thought it might have wet himself, as he told me where my stuff was, I looked hopefully at the other boys in the hope they would retrieve my stuff from outside, but they bowed their heads and refused to make eye contact, I was on my own, without clothes and having to go out of the boys changing rooms to get my clothes back. Disliked already by most people because association with me meant you were a freak, it hardly helped that I walked out of the changing rooms and straight into a group of girls from my year and a teacher. Sometimes I honestly felt like i didn't want to live another day but I was not going to beaten.
i was apporaching the block, as Morley and a few boys appeared from an alleyway.
"Alfie, fancy seeing you here" Morley called outm his face looked like he was ready for some action.
I started running, making a beeline for the door, I had got my key out of my pocket and the fottsteps behind me where getting closer but I daren't turn round. The key slide effortlessly into the lock, I pulled it open, rushed inside, held the door and was pushing it shut as Morley's hand had tried to stop the door.
"F*ck" Morley yelped as I relaised I had slammed the door on his hand, as soon as his hand was removed I quickly clicked the door closed and edged backwards.
"I am going to get you, you pathetic piece of sh*t." Morley yelled.
I walked up the stairs and unlocked my own front door, I loved the feeling of coming home, shutting the world out. I was always first home, Lewis was at after school club till 6 when mum picked him up from work, they would get the bus home and would arrive at about half 6, so I had a few peacful hours on my own.