i-Spy | A Stalker Romance

Chapter 2: New faces and new stories

Later that afternoon, they arrived at Stella's dormitory. The building was old but charming, with ivy climbing its brick facade.

"Your roommate should be here by now," Rei observed.

Stella was nervous to meet the new person. Though she knew she wouldn't be staying in the dorms for long, she was still very anxious about allowing someone completely new into her personal space. Even for a short while. 

Noting the look on Stella's face, Rei chirped in. 

"Relax Stell. I'm sure she won't be half as bad as my freshman roommate. She was the worst. With her litter all across the couch and gosh she used to snore! She looked like a zombie apocalypse survivor-" Rei went on and on with the description of her roommate while Stella looked at her again like a lost puppy. 

Rei noticed and stopped abruptly, "I did it again, didn't I? You should just tell me to stop instead of looking like a lost puppy" which earned a chuckle from Stella. 

"All I wanted to say was, even though at the start me and my roommate were not on the best terms, we figured things out. And so will you. Just keep your mind open to possibilities," she winked.

Just then, the door swung open, and a bubbly young woman with curly blonde hair bounded in. "Hi! You must be Stella! I'm Sarah Moscovitz, your roommate."

Stella smiled, relieved by Sarah's friendly demeanor. "Nice to meet you, Sarah. I'm Stella."

Sarah grinned. "I've never had a roommate before. This is going to be fun! Do you need any help unpacking?" she said looking at the huge bags of stationery in her and Rei's hands. 

"Thanks, but I think I've got it," Stella replied. 

"Oh," Sarah frowned awkwardly. 

It was evident she was trying her best to get along with her roommate. 

 "But I'd love some tips on the best places to eat around here."

Sarah's eyes lit up. "Oh, I know just the place! There's this little trattoria around the corner that has the best pasta. We should go there for dinner tonight."

"Sounds great," Stella said, feeling more at ease than she had in days.

~~~

Over the next few days, Stella immersed herself in her new life. She attended classes, explored the city, and began to settle into a routine. But despite the excitement of her new environment, a small part of her couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

The feeling started the day Stella went to the trattoria -Zesty Zitti, a quirky name, Stella thought- with Sarah and Rei for dinner. Zesty Zitti was a quaint little place, filled with the rich aroma of authentic Italian cuisine. The wooden tables were adorned with red and white checkered tablecloths, and the walls were decorated with vintage photographs of Florence.

As they sat down and ordered their food, Stella felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck. She glanced around the room but saw nothing out of the ordinary—just other diners enjoying their meals. She dismissed the feeling as first-day jitters.

"So, what are you looking forward to the most at the university?" Sarah asked, breaking Stella's train of thought.

"Meeting new people and learning new things, I guess," Stella replied, trying to push aside her unease.

"Speaking of new things," Rei interjected, "did you know that our university is rumored to have a secret society?"

Sarah leaned in, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Really? Tell us more!"