So I'm having a crack at returning to writing after nearly... Oh, 3 years? Once upon a time I considered myself acceptable, but I'm afraid I've become very rusty. I've read plenty of truly lovely Chelsie fics and thought it was high time I contributed to the fandom. I am operating without a Beta for this story (I need the discipline). I don't know a lot about Uni's in the UK, so I invented one. Also, I am Australian and will stay true to my understanding of spelling and jargon. As I say to conclude all my author's rambles (if you've read anything of mine before): Enjoy!

Briefly: What if Elsie develops feelings for her history lecturer, who happens to be Charles? Younger Chelsie at University.

~EC~

1341
Thurs 29th January, 2015

Her taxi drifted smoothly through the country roads of St Giles, houses wisping past in a flurry of pasture green and stately coffee brick. It was as if the houses were merely mounds growing in the middle of the endless lush fields that engrossed her since arriving in England. Scotland continued to fall away as Elsie considered the change she was making in her life. At twenty-three she was perhaps a bit late to begin her tertiary studies but if she hadn't escaped the farm now, she probably never would. Though the death of her sister still gave her heart cause to ache terribly, it did bring with it a feeling of liberation.

Still, she tucked her scarf into her jacket nervously. Moving away from Argyll was daunting and the prospect of moving in with a stranger was another thing entirely to her. Of course she'd made as much of an effort as possible to get to know her knew roommate. A younger local girl, Anna, who also was starting at Westburn, would serve as her guide. It would be just the two of them in their North Lincoln house but the rent was manageable and within walking distance of the campus.

Her cab finally slowed and pulled up at a small cottage like house. Elsie leaned towards the window, taking in the high windows and ivy covering much of the exterior. The gardens looked well established and well kept. On the step sat a young blonde slip of a girl scratching something in a notebook. She looked up and Elsie had to assume this must be Anna.

She took a breath to steady herself and opened the door, smiling to the Anna who'd bouncily approached to greet her. God, the girl looked like a child still.

"Hello! Are you Elsie?" she smiled, warming Elsie with her abounding cheeriness.

"I am. You must be Anna," Elsie nodded and smiled, shaking Anna's dainty hand.

"I thought I'd give you a hand to move your things, if you wanted," she offered, following Elsie around the back of the car where the driver had popped the boot.

"I didn't bring a lot but I wouldn't say no." Her two bags of luggage attested to this fact.

"Well, you're not joking about that," Anna tilted her head and smiled again. "It's probably a good thing. My uncle's house is well furnished and I've not bought a lot either. Just enough to sort out my room." She took the smaller luggage bag as Elsie paid the driver, hefting her largest bag up from the ground. "Besides, less to keep clean."

Elsie chuckled nervously as Anna led her up the path to the front door and pushed it open.

"It's not like we'll be here a lot anyway. Or at least, I won't be. The campus has a really great study hall with a little cafe that I can haunt all day." Anna instantly began up the stairs with her bag so Elsie simply followed, trying to take in the house and listen to her new friend at the same time.

"I think I'll be the same," Elsie mumbled quietly, following Anna into a decent sized room with a large queen bed whose head was pushed up against a very large window. The paint and moulding looked old but in good repair. A modern desk and chair sat snugly in the corner and a well loved recliner in the opposite corner. A large white wardrobe stood imposingly on the other side of the bed; more than enough for her limited luggage. It was better than the small space she'd occupied back home and the prospect of a large bed in which she could sleep like a starfish wasn't unappealing.

"Now, if you like, we can go shopping together and split the cost. I don't think I'd like to go through and label all my food," Anna grinned, throwing Elsie's bag onto the bed. It bounced up and down, promising a lush mattress and thick blankets.

"That's a good idea. I'm fine with splitting the costs down the middle." Elsie rubbed her hands together and slowly sat on the edge of the bed. "Were you planning on heading out today? I'm famished but I'd like to get my bearings."

Anna waved her hand and threw her thumb over her shoulder, "Oh yeah, I was going to take you across to the campus and down to Beryl's. If you're like the rest of us you'll basically eat mostly out of there. "

Elsie shrugged a shoulder and made mouthed a silent 'yeah'.

"Alright, you sort yourself out up here and when you're ready, come down and I'll give you the wi fi password and then we'll head up to campus."

"Thanks Anna," Elsie smiled warmly. She still felt a bit nervous, but Anna had been nothing but welcoming. Despite the girl's size, her kind manner made her seem older than nineteen.

Her roommate silently left with a comforting smile, closing the door without shutting it entirely. Elsie looked to her right out the window that headed her new bed. University would be a dramatic change of pace for her. Instead of constantly caring for her ill sister, or working on the farm, she could focus solely on herself and her studies.

She hadn't had a chance to do that; she'd finally have control over her use of her time. Make friends. Heaven forbid, get a boyfriend. No, she'd have too much schoolwork to have time for a boyfriend. And she didn't have the patience to deal with any of the randy lads at home; it was unlikely they would be different here.

~ EC ~

Scurries back under rock. All thoughts are welcome if you wish to leave some.