Shades of Desire

Ivy

I jolted awake, my heart racing from the remnants of the vivid dream. The room was quiet, but as I blinked away the sleep, I noticed two girls sitting in the living area, their voices hushed as they chatted.

"Uh, hey," I said awkwardly, stepping into the living room, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep.

Both girls turned to look at me, surprise evident on their faces. One had curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes, while the other had long, straight brown hair and warm brown eyes. They seemed friendly.

"Oh! You must be our new roommate!" the blonde one exclaimed, a smile breaking across her face. "I'm Jessica."

"And I'm Mia," the brunette added, waving enthusiastically. "Sorry if we woke you up. We thought you were already up and getting settled in."

"Um, it's okay," I replied, rubbing my eyes. "I'm Ivy. Just... a bit tired, I guess."

"Understandable! Moving in can be exhausting," Jessica said, leaning back on the couch. "We were just talking about our classes. What's your major?"

"I'm thinking about English," I said, feeling a bit more comfortable. "What about you guys?"

"I'm doing psychology," Mia replied, her eyes lighting up. "I'm really interested in how people think and why they behave the way they do."

"And I'm going for business," Jessica said, crossing her legs. "I want to start my own company one day. What about you? What do you want to do with your English degree?"

"I'm not sure yet," I admitted, biting my lip. "Maybe writing? I've always loved stories and... um, writing."

"That's awesome!" Mia said. "You should totally go for it. There's a lot of creative writing clubs on campus. You'll fit right in."

"Yeah, I can totally see you as a writer," Jessica chimed in. "You have that vibe. What kind of stuff do you like to write?"

"Mostly fiction, but I've dabbled in poetry too," I said, feeling a spark of excitement at the idea of sharing my passion. "I just... hope I can find my niche here."

"You will," Mia reassured me. "This place is full of opportunities. Just wait until you see the library; it's massive!"

I smiled, feeling a sense of warmth and welcome from them. "Thanks, I really appreciate that."

Just then, Jessica leaned forward, her expression turning conspiratorial. "So, what do you think of our dorm so far? I know it can be a little overwhelming at first."

"It's nicer than I expected," I said honestly, glancing around the cozy space. "And I'm glad you two seem cool."

"Oh, we're definitely cool," Jessica said with a wink. "You're in good hands. We'll make sure you have a blast this year!"

As we continued to chat, I felt the weight of my past begin to lift. Maybe this was the fresh start I had been looking for.