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"I'm going to figure out where our room is." Liv points in the opposite direction. "O-okay" I stutter, already feeling super out of place and the all eyes on me syndrome kicks in. I look at my phone pretending like I'm scrolling, texting or what ever the fuck just to seem like I fit in anxiously waiting for Olivia to return.

"Hey..so uh.." liv puts her hand on my shoulder. I advert my gaze from my phone to her slightly worried expression. I give her a puzzled look as she was working up the courage to tell me what she's so obviously doesn't want to tell me. "They fucked up" she let out a sigh. "What do you mean?" "They put us up in different rooms with different roommates." I froze. The anxiety I was already feeling was now in overdrive. "What do you mean? Didn't you call last week to confirm our rooms?" I said to her in slightly more angry and directed way to her than what I meant. "I know I know. Shit happens though right? It will be okay plus it's a good way to try to make new friends or if they suck... you can talk shit about them with me." She nudged my arm with a sympathetic smile. Shit wasn't going to plan already, which I hate. I need to know what to expect to calm my nerves but she's right.

Liv walks me to my room first just to make sure I don't get lost or "accidentally" fall from a 3 story window. "Are you all good here? Or do you want me to-" she was cut off by the sound of the door creaking open. I lock eyes with the stranger, tall, intimidating and eyes dull. "Fuck" the figure in the door said in a whisper before abruptly turning and leaving. "Um.. alright kinda rude." "Anyways, no I'm good I can settle in on my own. Go find your room and text me if you want to meet up later." I gave her a a hug probably more intensely than was necessary, but it felt appropriate. I knew she was nervous too she just has a different way of dealing with it.

I had my shit sprawled out on the opposite side of the dorm that was unoccupied trying to figure out some sense of organization, at least better than the other half that seems already pretty lived in. There was band posters, clothes, books and other miscellaneous things strewn about. I advert my attention back to putting my clothes away in the little drawer space that I had until I was disrupted but the sound of the door opening again. I turned quick like someone clapped their hands near my ear.

It was her again. The same girl that barged in earlier, which could only mean one thing. She's my roommate.

I make eye contact with her, but no smile I had to put on my tough girl act. "Hey." I said in a very monotone voice before going back to what I was doing. "Hey." her voice just barely above a whisper but I could feel it almost rattle my chest. It was raspy and deeper than I expected. I wasn't really expecting a reply so when she reciprocated I turn to meet her face with a smile. "I'm skyler." I extend my hand to the women who was sitting at the edge of her bed, elbows on knees scrolling through her phone. "Ellie." She barely looked up and gave my hand a half-assed shake. Her hands were rough and calloused, small scars sprinkled her knuckles.

I turn back to finish what I started, now with slightly less enthusiasm now that my back is turned with a stranger in the room. "How old are you? You look young." I turn to meet her eyes but they were still glued to her phone screen. "19. You?" My voice softens."You're a fucking freshman?" My eyebrows come together in a sort of 'what's it fucking too you' manner. "Umm is that a problem?" I slightly scoffed. "Why the fucked would they put a freshman with a senior?" She fell back in her bed with her arms over her eyes with a not so subtle annoyance in her voice. "Wow it's so great to meet you too." My voice was high pitched like how you do in customer service just to make it clear how sarcastic I was being. She shot up. Her sleeves on her hoodie were now pulled up to her elbows. She had a large tattoo on one arm. And to be completely honest if my first impressions of her weren't so fucking low I would have admired them. It was a moth with fern leaves. It was pretty and delicate looking. Not really matching the eyes I was looking at now. She half rolled her eyes and she got up, and once again left the room.

"Liv pleaseeee don't do this to me." You wined to your best friend over the phone. The girl you had encountered hasn't come back to the room yet. You're thrilled, but it's just makes the ever so evident return so much more unbearable.  "I know, I know I'm sorry it's just so hectic right now. I have morning classes tomorrow and I'm still figuring out my shit." You let out a long and exaggerated sigh. "By the way, did you meet your roommate yet?" She cuts me off mid temper tantrum. "Yeah we both did." "Girl what?" "The girl that came in the room when you were here." You explain with a tad bit of annoyance in your voice."Oh...shit." She took a deep breath. "I'll be fine. Stop worrying about me. I don't have to be friends with her I just have to sleep with her." You laugh trying to keep the topic light hearted, honestly it's funny because this is just your luck. "Alright if you say so, but if she does anything to you just ring me I'll beat her ass." Olivia half-joking but also not at all. "Yeah okay." I knew she could scrap, but I had my doubts. This 'Ellie' girl look like she's killed a man or two.

We said our good nights and exchanged some words of wisdom before hanging up. I scroll though my phone, my nerves stopping my brain from letting me sleep. It was already almost 11 p.m. and the roommate hasn't been back yet. I didn't want to be awake when she got her then before I can even pretend to be asleep "click"The door opened letting the light from the hall flood the room. I hear her kick off her shoes and fall into bed. Fuck. I hate awkward silence especially if it's with someone I have to live with.

"I'm 21." Her voice cuts though the dark and my spine shivers. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. Why does her voice have to make my body react like that. I chalk it up to me being nervous, but I don't like giving people a reaction. I wanted to give her the same sort of stand- off and unwelcome attitude that I've been met with. "Can I expect you to come home late like this every night?" My voice was low and unimpressed trying to come off intimidating in any way I can. She doesn't respond and I can hear her turn her body to face the opposite direction from me.

Great. This is going so.. great.