Nightingale

1

My first breath of freedom. I'm a thousand miles away from him.. away from them. I sigh letting myself breath for the first time since I left home, if you could even call it that. This is where my story begins the freshman dorms of Knox university.

God I hope my roommates nice, I've always wanted a best friend maybe this is my chance I think as I open the door to my new home. It's a decent sized room with two twin beds, one on each side. The left side of the room is bright and colorful full of neon colors and a lot of posters, like you can't see the wall through the posters. And then the right side is dull and bare with nothing more than the bed and a desk.

"Hi! You must be Lacey" a tall tan girl with the most piercing green eyes greets jumping in front of me "h...hi" I stammered taking a step back "sorry" she says sheepishly "I'm Gabby your roommate" she introduced herself much calmer than when I walked in to room. "I'm Lacey" I  introduced myself reaching my hand out but to my surprise Gabby pulled me into a tight hug.  "Ahh! We're gonna be best friends, I just know it!" She squealed releasing me breathe in and out, the pain will pass I remind myself "I hope so" I mumble quickly recovering.

"This is your side, obviously" she giggles "but we got the good room, we each have our own closets and we have a bathroom complete with a shower!!" She squealed again "now come on I'll help you unpack"  "oh that's not necessary, I don't have a lot" "it's no big deal, besides that's what friends are for, now where's the rest of your stuff?" "This is all I have" I mumbled looking at the ground "girl your gonna have to teach me your ways, Colton's always grumbling at me for bringing to much stuff" she laughed while I forced a fake smile. "Right, well I'm gonna go shower" "ok" I smiled as Gabby gathered her things and ran to the restroom.  "I can't do this"I sigh sitting down why did I think this would be so easy, I can't even act normal, she probably thinks I'm a freak now, I can't even carry on a conversation.

"Showers all yours" Gabby cheers interrupting my thoughts "I was thinking we could get something to eat and then go to the rugby game tonight, but I figured you'd want to freshen up first" "that'd be great!" I smile excited that I haven't blown my chance at a friend even though I'd rather rest after last night I don't want to take a chance on pushing her away.

"Ruby's is the best in town" Gabby brags walking through the door with a big smile on her face. It's not much from the outside but walking inside is like being transported back in time. It's set up like those old school diners you see in the movies complete with a juke box and the checkered floors, and this place is packed. "Is it always like this?" I question "not always, it's just because of the game tonight" "oh" I breathe relieved "are you okay?" Gabby asks concern covering her face " yeah, just not great with social situations" "that's okay, we'll get you there" she smiled reassuringly "now come on before someone takes our booth" Gabby grins pulling me along behind her making me wince at the sudden movement.

"They have the best milkshakes!" "I haven't had a milkshake in years" "you haven't!" Gabby gapes at me "was never allowed" I answer with a tight lipped smile. "Well now you can have milkshakes whenever you want, the freedom of college" Gabby giggles and I actually feel myself giggle to, nope shouldn't have done that, god my ribs are so sore. I don't know how I'm gonna make it through tonight. "So, what's the deal with this rugby game?" I ask after a minute trying to keep the conversation going "most colleges do football, but Knox university is known for rugby, that's actually why my brother and I go here" "you play rugby?" I ask not hiding my amazement "no but my brother does" Gabby laughed "sorry" I apologize "I didn't mean" "don't worry about it" Gabby cut me off.

We sat there for another hour talking and giggling like school girls before Gabby announces it's time to go "what time does the game start?" I question looking at the clock "it starts at 7" she pauses when I stare at her as it's just going on 5:30 "Grayson and Colton have to be there early and since they're our ride" "oh" I mumble a little less excited "you okay?" "Yeah, just a little nervous about meeting new people" I nervously chuckle leaving out the part about being severely afraid of men in general. "Well don't worry, I'll be with you the whole time. Plus they're not as mean as they look" she chuckles to herself "now come on I don't want to deal with a grumpy Grayson" Gabby says dragging me after her, she's gotta stop doing that or I'll never recover.