Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him, it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at lea...
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Classes start in a few days, so I took one of my last free ones to develop some of my recent films. I mostly stick to my higher resolution camera with a memory card that can be directly connected to my computer, but now that I'm in the city, there is a lab a short bus ride away.
I'm flipping through the pictures as I swipe the card over my door. I sling my bag onto the floor, kicking my shoes off a few steps from it. I plop down on the couch right as I get to the picture I took of Callan and his roommate Dylan hanging in a tree after they both asked who I thought could climb it faster. I didn't even argue either way, but their male testosterone wouldn't let them rest until they showed me.
My phone begins ringing next to me, and Gabi's face fills the screen. Before I can answer, the handle to my room starts to rattle as if someone's trying to open it. It's the first time since getting back that I've taken the time to look around the room.
Sure enough, things that don't belong to me have appeared all around the room. A vanity style mirror, a plastic tower filled with clothes, a pink and white backpack. A neon sign with the name Alyssa is hanging on the wall above the previously empty bed.
The rest of the campus will be moved in by the end of tomorrow with classes starting in a few days, so I guess it makes sense that my roommate moved her stuff in while I was gone. Part of me was just hoping that maybe she wouldn't show up and that I'd have the room to myself for the entire year.
With the phone call going unanswered, Gabi attempts to call me again. This time I answer and quickly tell Gabi to mute her end just as a short blonde swings the door open and strolls in.
"Hi!" Her tone is bubbly and approachable and doesn't recoil at my standoffishness.
"Hi..." I can't help the hesitation in my tone. I may be trying to play it cool in college, but I've always kept my circle small. I don't like putting myself out there, and have never pretended to like to meet new people. I exhale and try my best to calculate my next response to sound a little less annoyed by her unexpected presence. "I mean...you must be Alyssa."
I wasn't planning on shaking her hand, but she strides towards me, thrusting hers in the space between us.Her grip is firm as she nearly squeals, "You must be Camryn!"
"I uh, figured you were moving in tomorrow. Sorry my side is kind of a mess right now." I point to my pile of dirty laundry I had planned on washing tonight. Normally I like to keep things clean and orderly, but in the confines of such a tight space, even the smallest thing out of place makes it suddenly feel like an episode of hoarders.
"I paid the extra money to move in early so I could avoid the cluster of moving in with everyone else tomorrow." She wastes no time moving around the room, inspecting my side of the space. "Is that like, your thing?"
