Autumn Haze

1: 'The one where I meet my roommate...'

Anxiety prickles through my entire body as I stare at the foreign wooden door, this isn't exactly how I pictured my move to New York going.  I envisioned laughing happily as Scarlett and I struggled to carry our boxes. 

But that dream was completely gone now, Scarlett fainted several days after Sammy's going away party and she was put on bedrest indefinitely which prompted her to decide that she would take classes online until second semester and then we would move in together.

So, for the time being I was staying in a dorm which I wasn't exactly thrilled about, after everything that has happened in the past year, the last thing that I wanted was to be in close proximity to a complete stranger.

I knew if things got completely horrendous Luke would let me crash at his place a few nights a week because he was literally only a five-minute walk away from here, but honestly, I was terrified that I would quickly become overbearing if I was constantly relying on him for support, and he'd eventually grow sick of me. 

I let out a shaky breath before pushing the door open, I wince when I notice how white and bland the entire room looked. It felt like a hospital room.

'Autumn?' A voice says from behind me.

I tense slightly before turning my head around, I see a tall slender brunette girl with sun-kissed skin, she was wearing a tight skinny jeans with a pastel baby tee and holding a brown cardboard box in her hands.

I give her a small nod, 'T-That's me, are you Lara?'

The brunette eyes me up and down before replying, 'Yeah.'

'Looks like we're roommates.'

'Clearly' She mutters as she harshly budges past me.

I blink rapidly, 'S-So, what are you studying?'

She sighs loudly, 'Look, no offence but I'm not interested in becoming friends. You don't seem like my type of person.'

I narrow my eyes, 'We literally met like two seconds ago, how the hell would you know if I was your type of person?'

She scoffs as she crosses her arms firmly against her chest, 'I've got eyes. Plus, I did a little research about you before I came here, and I found the article you wrote.'

My stomach drops, 'W-What?'

'I don't like girls who use sexual assault for attention.'

My hands begin to tremble dramatically, I shove them into my pockets quickly, 'P-Pardon?'

'I mean, why else would you write about it, if it wasn't for attention?'

I clench my jaw, 'Because I wanted to help other people, who have been through the same thing.'

She rolls her eyes, 'Right.'

I don't bother to reply, instead I turn on my heel and leave the room as fast that I can. I don't stop walking until I can feel the fresh air around me. I sink against the brick wall behind me, I bring my knees closer to my chest as uneven breaths escape my lips.

All I wanted was a fresh start.

Did I not deserve to have a new chapter in my life?'

Hot tears roll down my face, I hastily wipe my cheeks when I notice a familiar flock of dark hair walking towards the building with several bags in his hands.

Shit.

'Love?'

I force a smile onto my face as I stand up on my feet, 'Hi.'