rule no.1

CHAPTER 1

ROXANNE

Stress.
A word that has multiple meanings yet they all mean the same things.
1. Pressure or tension exerted on a material or object.
2. A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.
3. Something that causes a state of strain or tension.
4. Particular emphasis or importance.
5. Give particular emphasis or importance to (a point, statement, or idea) made in speech or writing.
6. Subject to pressure or tension.
7. Cause mental or emotional strain or tension in a person.

Stress was something a lot of people felt. No one was deemed to be unique or looked at differently if they felt stressed. Yet I couldn't wrap my head around how Stress was such a miserable feeling when it was the only thing that stuck around in my life.

The only reliable thing in life was sleep. A person could sleep for as long as they would like unless they had insomnia. Personally, I loved to sleep but everyone had to wake up eventually. Unless they were dead.

I could've been asleep right now but the curtains were open and the sun decided to show up after taking a nap for 2 weeks. Now it was just a waiting game for my alarm to go off.

BEEEEEEEP! The obnoxious sound of my alarm clock went off. I got up to turn it off and walked to the bathroom. The word bathroom was an odd thing, the so-called bathroom didn't have a bath, it had a shower. I put my toothbrush back in the cup and then washed my face. I was about to open the door to go back to my room until someone else opened it for me. It was my lovely roommate who was not supposed to be in my room let alone opening the door to my bathroom.

" Good morning lazy head !" Nancys' voice filled up the emptiness in my room. I walked past her and laid back down on my bed. "No need to be rude Roxi but I thought that I would let you know that I was heading out early, Arabella is leaving in 20 so if you want your Starbucks then you better get ready."

"Bye," I mumbled as she left my room, closing the door behind her. I have no clue how someone could be that cheery so early in the morning. I dragged my body out of bed and walked over to my closet. What to wear today? I stick my arm out the window to check the weather and am greeted with goosebumps.

I chuck on a pair of black leggings and a crewneck sweater. I get all the things I need for today and leave my dear room. The moment I leave my room I see my other roommate Arabella grabbing her keys.
"Are you ready Bella?" I questioned my roommate. I suppose she was as she opened the door and walked out into the corridor. Arabella was never much of a talker. She locked the door and we both started walking down the corridor.
"Roxi, if I asked you to kidnap me would you say yes?" Not expecting that to be the first thing Arabella said to me. What happened to hello, hi. How are you?
"No, I wouldn't kidnap you, I'm too young to go to jail," I replied to her. She groaned as we both got into her car. She drove us to Starbucks, I was the only one who got out of the car, since Bella drove today I had to go get the drinks but it's fine since she was paying today.

I walked up to the counter. It wasn't the usual person who worked there, it was some random boy.
"What can I get for the pretty lady?" Of course, he had to flirt with me but it's fine because he's cute.
" Hi, can I get a grande dirty chai latte with two shots of espresso and almond milk? Then also a venti iced caramel latte for Roxanne,to-go." I told him my order.
" The total is $7.35. I take it, your drink is the chai latte." I just nodded as I tapped my card. Not gonna lie I was a bit confused about why he would be interested but I don't have the brain capacity to question it so early in the morning.

I walked down to the collection area and waited for the drinks. A few minutes passed and the drinks came. I walked back to the car and handed Arabella her coffee. Once we got to the main campus building we parted ways.
I walked into my first class which was English Lit with Professor Russo. I smiled at him as I walked up to the back corner of the room. In most of my classes I would sit in the exact same spot. A random boy sat next to me. He's hot but not my type. I thought that knowing that even if he was my type I wouldn't have even muttered a word. Love having Social anxiety. He looked at me then my Starbucks and mumbled something.
"Did you say something?" I ask him.
"Oh yeah, I didn't think you would hear me. I was going to ask you out but I was too late," He told me. I just shot him a confused look. He pointed at my latte.
" Oh, I didn't see that there," the guy from Starbucks had written his number on my cup.

Momentarily, the lecture had started after a few more students came in. Two boys sat a few chairs down from me. The boy next to me started talking to the other two guys. I suppose they knew each other. All three of them had quite healthy bodies, you could tell that they all went to the gym or played some sort of sport.

Halfway through the class the three of them had begun to talk extremely loud to the point where one of them was sent out of the classroom. After that, nothing happened.

I was getting ready to leave until Professor Russo asked to talk to me.
"Bye Starbucks girl!" I heard a voice call out from behind me. I guessed that it was the guy who sat next to me.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to stay behind, I was hoping you could do a favour for me." He continued to talk. " I was wondering if you could tutor someone in this class in English. He's failing and needs some... Extra support." I just nodded.
"Right, well just come to my office after your classes and I'll introduce you to him."