How Things have Chang'd ❤ Ben Chang

1

"Official campus business ma'am, please step to the side," the man said, pushing me to the side.

"Oh, of course. Sorry officer," I stared at the man, trying to read his name tag. "Chang? That's not the usual security guard," I thought to myself.

"How often do you chang out around these parts? Have you noticed anything strange? Odd, even?" he questioned, moving some papers around with the end of his police baton.

"I'm here most days. I haven't noticed anything strange, let alone odd. Besides you," I joked. He didn't acknowledge anything I said, just kept looking around the room.

"I think I've seen all there is to see. I may be back. What's your name? I'll need it for the report," he whipped out a notepad, staring at me while he waited for my response.

"My name is Kayla. Nice to meet you, too," I mumbled, watching him scribble furiously.

"Alright, Kara. Thank you for your cooperation," he slipped his notepad back into his pocket and left. I stared at the doorway for a moment before glancing around the room.

I couldn't see anything out of place, besides the papers he had moved, but nothing had changed. Everything was the same as it was every day.

The books on the table in the corner were covered in a thick layer of dust, untouched for who knows how many years. Cobwebs crowded the corners of the ceiling. Spiders nestled themselves into their homes and hidden to most people. The smell of old textbooks and forgotten homework filled the air, providing me with a sense of belonging.

That's what I loved about this little room. I was rarely bothered, and even if I was, most people paid no mind to me. I had all the time in the world to think, to imagine a better life than the one I had now.

Campus security investigating had made me unsettled, though. What had happened? Why had Chang, if that was really his name, disrupted my sacred place? Nothing bad ever happened at Greendale - well, nothing bad enough for security to get involved.

I decided to clear my mind of any concern. If there was a problem with my room, I wouldn't know until Chang came back.