So What Now? | TSLOCG

strangers

I thought something would feel different after highschool. I figured once I graduated I'd just suddenly be a whole new person; but it didn't seem to be working out that way.

My first day at Essex college was finally here, and everything felt exactly the same as it had when I left my senior year. I was still stuck in the closet, stuck with my boyfriend, and worst of all stuck with the only person who'd ever understood me hating my guts.

I'd heard rumors from a few people that she was going to be at Essex with some of the other girls from my old friend group, but I didn't fully buy it. I couldn't picture her out of the city. Still, I'd be lying if I said I hadn't lost any sleep over it.

But I couldn't focus on that, I had more important matters at hand: finding my dorm. My dad had driven me up, but wasn't able to stay, as he'd been called back into work for some kind of 'financial emergency'.

"Are you sure you can get your stuff there on your own?" He'd asked, his assistant on hold. 

I nodded, forcing a smile onto my lips. "If I can't even find my dorm alone, then I'm fucked for the next four years," I joked, giving him a small hug. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"Thank you for understand, darling," He gave me a small embrace in return, then headed back into the car service. I watched him drive away, and didn't drop my smile til he was out of sight. 

I dragged my suitcase and duffel bag around campus til I finally found my dorm building, and proceeded to drag my luggage around inside until I located my room. The door was partly open, and I spotted my name written on it, alongside three others. Madison, Whitney, Bela, and... No. It couldn't be. It must be some kind of coincidence, I told myself, to slow down my racing heart. Plenty of girls share first names.

"Dude, I think we're your roommates," I heard someone say from inside the room.

"No," Spoke a more familiar voice. "No, no, no, no."

Just then the door swung open, and she was standing right infront of me, looking like a deer in headlights.

"Leighton, I hope-" I stuttered, but was cut off by an exclaimed, "What the actual FUCK!" as the blonde stormed off down the hall, her father muttering an apology in my direction as he trailed behind her.

I glanced back towards the room, which was now fully visible as the door was wide open, and both the girls inside were staring right at me. "Hey," I managed, as I dragged my stuff in.

Luckily for me, neither of the girls had questioned me and Leighton's interaction. They just thought she was a bitch. I'd offered to take the room with her, due to the fact that I knew there was no way in hell that she'd be returning knowing I was there, so I'd have it to myself.

"The RA came by earlier to let us know there's some stupid floor meeting at four," The one who'd introduced herself as Bela announced, as she finished hanging up a poster of some comedian. "He said it's mandatory."

"Oh, alright," I replied from my spot on the couch, glancing down at my phone to check the time. It was 3:45.

"I heard that Thetas throwing a party tonight, too," My other roommate, Whitney, added. "Don't know how to get into it, though."

"I can just flash them my tits or something," Bela replied.

Whitney and I both giggled at her comment, til we realized she was serious. "Oh, uhm, yeah! Maybe!" Whitney shot me a knowing look as I fought back more laughter.

✩✩✩✩✩

We were all sitting in the common room waiting on our RA to begin the meeting, all of us but Leighton. Until she came waltzing in, that is. We all looked back at her as she took a seat by the window next to a random guy.

"Does this mean you are our roommate?" Whitney asked, which prompted an offended look coming over the blonde's face.

"Oh, no. There's been a clerical issue that I have to address to tomorrow, so I'll have to stay for one night," She replied, with a flip of her hair.

"Okay, well we already picked rooms, so you're with Madison," Whitney gestured towards me, and I stared over at her with an apologetic look. Leighton only frowned in my direction for the briefest moment before staring down at her Prada heels for the remainder of the time we were there.