Unsteady || H.S

Chapter 1

~August 27th, 2015~

Silence encases the dorm room as I walk through the door, my obviously quiet roommate already claiming the left side of the room. She says nothing as she smooths out the sheets on her bed, and I couldn't be happier. I hoped the whole way here that my roomie wouldn't be some preppy brat or se satanic weirdo who holds rituals while I'm away. I'm perfectly content with a quiet, yet sweet seeming girl.

When she notices me walk in she sends me a small smile. I return the gesture before setting my suitcase down on the bed on the right.

"Uhh I hope it's okay that I took this side of the room, I got here a while ago and had no way of knowing whether or not that was okay." Her voice is light and shy, slightly annoying yet endearing. "It's perfectly fine, I've never had any preference." She nods and goes to hang up a few pictures while I go back down the multiple flights of stairs to get another box out of my car. By the time I reach the room again I'm already annoyed with the effort.

"Is your family not here to help you unload your car or something," she laughs nervously as she sets another picture on the wall. "No." I walk back out the door with a pain in my chest, determined not to show any emotion like I haven't for the past fourteen years of my life. With two larger boxes left in my car I sigh, the sight alone bringing my mood down. I lift one box and walk into the dorm, my body accidentally running into another. "Sorry man," I call out coldly, continuing to the steps of the building.

"Do you need some help with that," the deep voice comes from behind me. "I've got it under control." When I reach the room I nearly scream at the sight once I turn back to the door. A boy is holding my last box, walking through the door just behind me. He laughs at the sight of my dropped jaw and obviously confused features before letting a small blush grace his cheeks. "I saw the box outside in the car, it had the same marking that slapped me in the face so I figured I should help you out. I'm Harry by the way, see you later." He gives me a final smile before leaving the room, me standing there speechless the entire time.

A hand is felt on my shoulder causing me to turn to face my roommate. "I need you to know that I'm sorry for saying that earlier. I've known you for maybe five minutes and I've already upset you." I nod and walk to the box Harry sat down by the door, picking it up and setting it on the bed. "My name is Ramsey Glenwood," she whispers as she sits down on her bed.

"Skylar Promenade," I pull out my clothes carefully and place them in the provided dresser. "We have orientation in about two hours just so you know Skylar." I thank her and pull out my toiletries and robe so I can grab a much desired shower. "I'll be back," I follow the signs to the buildings bathroom. The showers are thankfully unpacked when I arrive and I shower in peace, wrapping myself in my robe afterwards and going back to my room to do my makeup and hair.

It takes a short amount of time to apply the natural makeup around my hazel eyes. A pair of jeans and tank that form to my body are picked out after I curl my long brown hair and tie it up onto my head. Ramsey has already left buy the time I'm ready, probably meeting up with friends before hand. I slip on a pair of heels, grab my wallet and phone and head out the door, locking it behind me.

The walk to the auditorium is strenuous in heels, probably not the best decision, but everything else is pushed out of my mind as I focus on the immediate pain. That's the way I've liked my life for a while now, focus on one substantial pain and ignore the other, even for just a moment. A moment like that is like a lifetime in a mind like mine.

I remember the first time I wore heels to go to the store, my height almost matching my stepmom's for the first time. I'm only five foot three, our height difference she prided herself with. But when she looked at me that day I could feel the hatred boiling up in her.

"I'd love it if you weren't fake and just felt with the fact that you're short Skylar Rae," she knew I hated the use of my middle name now, something my biological mother used all the time. "And I'd sure love to give a rat's ass Zoey," and I knew she wanted me to address her as mother, and me calling her Zoey in public pissed her off more than cursing or eating grapes without paying for them. I wore my heels to the store every time after that and never heard another word about it.

I see a large mob of students waiting for the auditorium doors to open and inwardly sigh. The boy I now know as Harry spots me and practically saunters his way over to me. I take the time to actually take in his features, his bouncy curls and thin legs that any girl including me could find a way to be jealous of. The smirk he wears implants a dimple into his right cheek giving his otherwise rough exterior a boyish tint.

"What's up freshman," he smiles once his body is only inches away from mine. "Do I know you?" His smile wavers with my fake confusion but all confidence is regained before the second is over. "I seriously just met you," he laughs and it takes everything in me not to laugh with him. The presence of him alone is enough to make someone smile for no reason, there's not a lot of people like that in the world anymore though, Harry was a rare sight.

"I tend to forget people as soon as possible, don't take it personally." I look into his deep green eyes that hold innocent charm against the challenge held in mine. "Well then, come to my party tonight and there'll be no way you'll forget about me," and there it is. The whole 'get in my pants and you'll regret it for the rest of your life while I bang more' line.

"Sorry but I'm just a freshman, there's no way I could possibly fit in." He's flustered again for a quick moment, looking away before regaining his composure. "I'm only a sophomore, besides, you intrigue me. Let me get to know you, I don't have a lot of friends in this shithole anyways." It was troubling hearing of a boy like Harry not having a lot of friends. For some reason I couldn't fathom how he could possibly be lonely in anyway but the depth to his words hit me like a train car.

"You don't even know my name Harry, why invite a total stranger to your party?" He shrugs and I see his boyish charm fall to pieces like a baby in the loss of his favorite toy. "I lied, it's not a party. I mean, I could try and plan one really quick, that's what I was gonna do if you said yes. But I really just want to get to know you, I want a friend, for the first time in years I'm lonely when I've been alone this entire time. Don't deny me of this please."

I sigh, knowing fully well that I'll regret this tomorrow but orientation begins soon and there's no way I can say know to this. "Fine," I take my pen out of my wallet, write my number down on his hand and give his a tight smile. "See you tonight," he smiles. I nod and walk to the doors, eager to get the first lecture of my college career out of the way.

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