Benefits Between Roommates

Chapter One - I Love College (Two Months Earlier

        As Clarissa stand in the housing office of Crystal Water State University with her best friend Samantha, Clarissa felt a wave of achievement. "After working our asses off in high School to get the best scholarships and doing our pre-register at a community college," Clarissa said reminding Samantha. "We are about to get our IDs at a four-year university. We are so gonna reinvent ourselves. Like me being a superstar D1 soccer player," Samantha said excited to start a new beginning with her bestie. "And me as an famous film student. I can't believe we are finally going to live the lives we are always dreamed of," Clarissa added on.

        Walking down the hall Clarissa guesture for Samantha to go ahead of her and she rushes up to the desk excitedly. "I'm Samantha Reed. I should be in Stratman Hall room 1206," Samantha said to the man behind the counter. "Right, you are. Your ID is your key to your dorm room, laundry, and the dining hall. Just swipe at the keypads,"  the man told Samantha with courtesy smile. "Do you have one for me too? I'm Clarissa James. I'm also in Stratman Hall room 1206," Clarissa said in her happy voice. "Oh, I'm sorry Miss James. But you don't seem to have a room or roommate assignment," the man told Clarissa with a frown on his face.

        "That's impossible, we requested each other on our applications. Can't you look it up again?" Clarissa asked him in a panic. "I see the request but as an athlete. Samantha was reassigned to a teammate to room with and you might have slipped through the cracks. What's worse is all of the dorm rooms have already been assigned. We have no space left," the man said with an serious face. "So, where am I supposed to live?" Clarissa asked pissed off. "Perhaps Miss Reed will let you stay with her for the time being?" The man suggested. "Perhaps? Is that really the best you can do?" Clarissa said with a huff. As Clarissa charged out of the building and back onto the bustling campus Samantha hot on her heels.

       "I can't believe this, I'm homeless on my first real day of college," Clarissa told Samantha. "Stay with me and my roommate until we get this figured out. I don't want to live with a random anyway," Samantha said hugging Clarissa. "I wish I could. But dorms are barely big enough for two as it is. What am I gonna do?" Clarissa asked Samantha worried that she wouldn't have a place to sleep on campus. As Clarissa sulks a herd of students flocked by chattering loud enough to hear parts of their conversations. "The fall fair is so huge, I had to take a break from the crowds. There have to be at least a thousand people there," a female student was saying to her friends.

       "That's it, the fall fair is full of students. We will go there and ask around. Someone's gotta be looking for a roommate," Samantha said looking around. Before Samantha could finish her phone chimes with a message. Clarissa got noisy so she peeked over her shoulder to read it. "Anyone late will run a ten-mile penalty? Do you even know where the athletics department is?" Clarissa asked concerned. "No, but if I don't want to end up on coach's bad side. I better find out and quick," Samantha said as she runs off to her meeting. Clarissa ignores the builded up dread feeling in her body and follows the crowd to the busy fall fair alone.

           Alright, Clarissa. You can do this just walk up and say hello and you will have a roommate in no time, she thought to herself.  With my heart in my throat I make my way over to the Alpha life booth and a girl with perfect white teeth greets me with a fake but sweet smile. "Hey love, how is it going?" The sorority sister said. " Ok I guess," Clarissa said. "Um, would you like to join our sorority," the sorority sister asked. "I don't know, I'm just going to see my way out," Clarissa said feeling like a failure. Walking towards the other side of campus I bumped into a pair of sturdy hands.

           As he catches me, my eyes trail down his body. Seeing his well built muscles in his biceps and chest all the way up to a well sharped jawline. "I had girls throw themselves at me before but it wasn't this painful." The hot guy said with a smile as he put me back onto my feet. "I am so sorry," Clarissa said apologetically. "Are you ok? Did I hurt anything?" Clarissa asked while inspecting him for injuries. Running my hands down hisfirm arms and across his six pack stomach. "You know wanted a feel all you had to do is ask," the hot guy said still smiling. Clarissa pulls her hand back embarrassed. "Sorry, I swear I'm not this clumsy," Clarissa explains.

           "That's too bad, clumsy and hot are my favorite adjectives," the hot guy replied back to Clarissa. His voice turns into a teasing and flirting one. Then suddenly, " My name is Clarissa James. Just in case you need to send me your hospital bills," Clarissa blurted out with a smile. "Trey Young, please don't tell me the fair was that bad you went running for the hills," Trey asked. "No, the potential roommates on the other hand not so much," Clarissa said to Trey. "Well I have a friend in a frat house who could probably help you find a roommate. I was just headed there to meet her. I could introduce you?" Trey suggested.

           At the mention of a frat party, I was second guessing his proposal. But then his warm smile sucked me back in and gave reassurance. "Ok, lead the way."