"Strange name, were your parents hippies?" the woman behind the desk asked with a sneer as I gave her my name.

"Artists" I reply automatically, so used to the question, it was almost predictable each time I gave my name.

"Well, its odd" she muttered, handing me a student council and society welcome pack and checking my name off the list on the electronic pad in front of her. "Go through those door, you will be allocated a guide who will show you round and to your dorm" she said before dismissing me and looking behind me calling "Next"

I bit my lip as I turned, hoping the next check point would be a bit less rude and headed through the archway she indicated, the lecture hall opening up in front of me and I stood in awe looking up at the ceiling, the wooden struts crisscrossing to form an intricate web of beams.

"Viridian Waters?" the older lady manning the next desk asked politely and I swallowed before replying.

"Yes"

She looked up at me and smiled, her gaze catching mine and her smile widened "Yes I can see how well the name fits, your eyes are that perfect shade" she says and I am speechless, my jaw dropping and she lets out a little laugh at me. "You look surprised" she says and I nod.

"No-one has ever made the connection" I tell her still stunned and she nods.

"Ah yes, well I dated an artist for many years and some things stick with you" she laughs again before pulling together another pack of information and an envelope holding a key.

"You have a number of lab based classes, so I am going to find a student who is in similar to show you round, that way if you have any questions they will be able to help you" she explains and I nod, trusting her to know what she was doing. This was all new to me, before today all of my schooling had been in much, much smaller venues due to living in such a remote area.

"You have a single dorm, with a shared kitchen area but in the pack you will also find your card for the on campus facilities, it is preloaded so you just swipe and go" she explains and I nod again.

"Do you have any transport here, a car, bike?" she questions but I shake my head.

"No"

"Okay dear, if that changes let me know and we can arrange the correct passes for you" she stands and looks over her shoulder, searching the students sat in little groups in the auditorium behind her.

"Jett" the woman calls loudly and I watch shocked as a dark hair male student slowly rises, and rises, god he has to be well over 6ft tall, he slaps hands with the boys he is sat with and heads our way. I can feel his gaze on me as he reaches us, his curiosity. "Ms Jeffries, who do you have for me?" his voice is warm caramel and I catch a glimpse of the older lady's blush before she introduces us.

"Jett this is Viridian, here is her timetable and room details, she has, like you a number of lab based classes, so if you can show her that area" Ms Jeffries introduces me and explains to him.

"Wow" he mutters out loud as his eyes lock with mine, "Are you wearing contacts" he blurts out

"No" I reply softly and Ms Jeffries huffs from behind her desk.

"Thats enough Jett" she scolds before asking "Ms Waters, would you rather I found someone else to show you round?"

I blush scarlet as he replies before I can. "I am sorry Ms Waters, I promise I did not mean to make you uncomfortable, I would be honoured to show you round... please" he apologises.

"Ms Jeffries?" he checks back with her and she nods, her gaze slipping between Jett and I.

"Welcome to Stirling, I do hope you will be very happy here" she tells me with a smile.

"Thank you" I reply.

The boy in front of me holds out his hand "Good morning, I am Jett Steele", and after a slight hesitation I puts my hand in his.

"Viridian Waters" I tell him quietly and he smiles.

"This way" his arm come out and I jump a little as it comes round my shoulders and he starts guiding me towards a door.

"Thank you" I squeak out to Ms Jeffries and she smiles before turning back to her desk.

"You don't have to hold me" I tell him as we emerge into the sunshine and I raise my hand to protect my eyes.

"But I want to" he grins down at me and I grit my teeth before taking a step away from his side.

"Please don't, I am here to study, I am not interested in getting to know you or anyone else better"

"Really?" he cocks his head as he regards me. "You're serious... damn" he mutters and I nod.

His gaze watches me for a moment. "Yes ma'am" he nods taking a step back and holding out his arm, "This way to the labs" he explains and I take a step following him as he points out various parts of the campus. I can still feel his curiosity but he is respecting my wishes and just doing his job as my guide... showing me round.

His knowledge in the labs is impressive and he introduces me to some of the tech staff as we go through the building, pointing out the professors offices and even the bathrooms, after the labs it a whirlwind tour of the rest of the buildings, administrations offices where Ms Jeffries rules, the library, the cafe, student bar and other eating and drinking options and then we are before the dorms.

"You are in a co-ed building, single student dorms with their own bathrooms and a shared kitchen and communal area on each floor" he explains, holding the door open for me. "Room 1 on each floor is the student advisor, they are there to help you if you need it" he glances down at my details and grunts "Your student adviser is Jennifer, she's a drama major" he says and I wonder from his tone if he really means major drama, still I am sure I won't need to call on her.

"Do you have your key?" Jett asks holding out his hand and I nod, reaching into my bag for the envelope Ms Jeffries gave me.

"Here" I passed it to him and he smiles back at me and again I feel those flutters, I look away.

"This key card allows you access to the laundry" he points at a door to the side of the foyer which conveniently has a washing machine sign on it. "There is storage lockers through there" he indicated another door and then he points at the last door, opening it up into what looks like a mail room "Each dorm room has a locker, if you receive any mail it will be put in your locker, the key card opens the one for your room" he steps forward and holds up the card to the door that matches my room number. There is a small click and the lock releases and he shows me the empty space. "They don't tell you if they deliver anything so you may need to check it regularly" he warns me and I nod again.

"I understand" I say when he looks at me.

"Okay" he opens the door again and indicates the stairs or the lift "Walk or ride?" he asks with a smile and I indicate the stairs.

"Walk" I say, not wanting to explain my hatred of elevators.

"After you" he indicates and I grit my teeth and start up the stairs, feeling his eyes on my back the whole way up to the third floor. "Your room will be at the end of the corridor" he instructs and I keep going until we are stood in front of the last door 312.

"My key" I ask raising my hand and he grins as he puts it into my palm, stepping back to allow me to open the door.

The room is bright and welcoming, a small seating area by the window, a desk against the wall and wardrobe and chest of drawers either side of a door which I presume is the bathroom, against the last wall sits the double bed. Everything is clean and I relax at the sight of my things waiting for me to unpack, it must have been brought up by the porters.

Jett moves forward and opens the door, and I take a quick look noting the full bathroom rather that the shower I was expecting. In fact the room was much nicer that I was anticipating.

I turn to face Jett, ignoring the returning flutters, he was hot, that's all it was and I held out my hand. "Thank you for showing me around, i'm sure you have plenty of other things you need to do now" I say dismissing him and he knows it.

His hand wraps around mine and he grins before giving a short yank and I am in his arms and he whispers "I'm more of a hugger" he laughs as I push free.

"Get out" I order him and he laughs again, backing away from me.

"See you around Vivi" he calls as he saunters out the door and with a growl I push it shut with a bang behind him, though I can still hear his laughter as he leaves.

Pushing aside the thoughts of pushy hot boys I spin and look at my room, a huge grin coming over me as I realise I am finally here, i'm doing this. I spend the next couple of hours unpacking and making the bed before a knock sounds.

Pulling the door open I am met with a sharp looking blond girl, clipboard in hand "Vire.. Vivid... Waters?" she mutters out, her gaze moving between clipboard and me.

"Viridian. Yes"

"I am Jennifer Saunders, the student advisor for this floor" she says and I nod, wondering what she wanted.

"Did your student guide show you where everything is, laundry, post room?" she bites out and I wonder why if she hates the job as much as it sounds like she is doing it.

"Yes"

"I am in room 301, you can call on me in emergencies... real emergencies, this is my cell number and the number for the admin office if you cannot reach me and you have a problem" she says handing me a card, printed with her name and numbers.

"Okay" I say taking the card from her and she stares at me, her head tilted.

"Any questions?" she asks and I shake my head.

"No"

"Welcome to Stirling" she says before turning and walking away and then I notice her friend waiting behind her and as I close my door I hear her say to her "Weird girl, and what a weird name, parents must have been on drugs" she tells her and I grin to myself, good if she thinks i'm weird she will leave me alone and she was almost right, not drugs... artists.