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STEPPING INTO THE narrow hallway of her dormitory, Genevieve made her way down to the end of the hall and pushed open her door. The girl expected to find her room empty and quiet, just as she had left it that morning. But this time, there was a burst of color on the other side, a large suitcase propped open on the bed, and clothes scattered everywhere.
Standing in the middle of the room was a girl with short brown hair, holding up a poster of a band. The girl looked up, her eyes wide as she noticed Genevieve in the doorway.
"Oh my God, you must be Genevieve!" she exclaimed, dropping the poster onto the bed and rushing over to her. "I'm Annika! I'm so sorry I missed move-in day, I had the worst travel nightmare."
Genevieve laughed. "No worries at all! It's great to finally meet you. I was starting to wonder if I was going to have the whole room to myself."
Annika waved a hand, dismissing the idea. "Oh, trust me, I would've been here sooner if I could've. Flight delays, lost luggage...it was a total disaster. But hey, I'm here now!"
The girl gestured to the explosion of stuff covering her bed and floor. "And, well, I've kind of already made a mess of things."
Genevieve glanced around the room, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, she found herself smiling.
"I'm so glad you did," Genevieve replied, nodding at the posters and the colorful throw pillows that had already taken over Annika's side of the room. "I love your style."
"Oh, thank you!" Annika smiled, picking up the poster she'd dropped earlier. "This place needed a little something, don't you think?"
"Absolutely," Genevieve agreed, dropping her bag onto her bed and sitting down. "It's been kind of quiet without you here. I'm glad you made it. How's your first day been so far?"
Annika flopped down onto her bed, pushing a pile of clothes to the side to make space. "Well, considering I missed most of it, I'd say it's been...chaotic? I literally just got to campus like an hour ago. Missed my first class, missed orientation, basically missed everything."
The girl then let out a dramatic sigh. "Not the best way to start the year."
"You didn't miss too much," Genevieve assured her, leaning back against her pillows. "I had Film Studies this morning with Professor Crane. She's a character. The whole lecture was about slasher films."
Annika sat up straight, her eyes widening. "Wait, Professor Crane? I've heard about her! She's obsessed with horror movies, right? That's so cool."
Genevieve laughed. "You're into that stuff?"
"Are you kidding?" Annika's face lit up. "I love horror movies! Slashers, psychological thrillers, ghost stories, you name it. I've probably seen every movie in the Stab series like ten times. I know, I know, it's cliché, but I can't help it."
Genevieve smiled, suddenly understanding why the two of them had been paired as roommates. "And here I am, never seeing the Stab movies."
"No way! I have so much to teach you! We're starting tonight. Movie marathon."
Genevieve chuckled, shaking her head. "I've got a morning class again tomorrow. Maybe we start small?"
Annika leaned back against her pillows, folding her arms behind her head. "Fine, fine. But don't think you can escape it forever, Gen. We're roommates now, which means we're doing scary movie nights. It's basically a rule."
Genevieve felt a warmth in her chest. She'd only just met Annika, but it already felt like they'd known each other for ages.
"Deal," Genevieve said, finally giving in. "But you'll have to promise not to laugh when I jump at the scary parts."
Annika grinned. "Promise. But I make no guarantees."
They both laughed, and the tension that had been building up in Genevieve all day began to melt away. As they continued to chat about classes, their favorite music, and Annika's disastrous travel experience, the girl felt completely at ease.
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That night, after settling in and getting to know Annika better, Genevieve lounged on her bed with her roommate, a bowl of popcorn between them. They had just finished watching the first Stab movie, the screen now dark except for the closing credits.
Genevieve had been surprised by how much she enjoyed it. Sure, it had its cheesy moments, but there was something exhilarating about watching the characters try to outsmart Ghostface.
"That was...really good," Gen admitted.
Annika grinned, clearly pleased. "I knew you'd get into it! The Stab movies are iconic for a reason. It only gets crazier from here, too. We'll have to watch the second one soon. You've officially joined the dark side."
Genevieve laughed, feeling relieved that she had found someone like Annika.
As she reached for her phone to check the time, it buzzed in her hand. A new text.
IMESSAGE
Unknown Number:Back-to-school party tomorrow night. Don't miss it.
Genevieve raised an eyebrow and showed the screen to Annika. "Do you know anything about this? Seems kinda random."
Annika leaned over, squinting at the message with curiosity. "Hmm...I didn't get that text. But there's always some kind of party happening around here."
Genevieve looked at the message again, debating whether to respond. "Should I text back?"
Annika shrugged. "Welcome to college, Gen. It's probably just some random invite from someone who got your number from the student directory or something. If you want to go, we can check it out together."
Genevieve hesitated for a moment, but then the curiosity got the better of her. A party could be fun, a good way to meet people. Plus, with Annika by her side, she could do anything.
"I guess we could go," Genevieve said, locking her phone and setting it aside. "It could be fun."
Annika grinned. "That's the spirit. First slasher movies, now mysterious party invites. You're already getting the full college experience."
Genevieve laughed, but she couldn't shake the strange feeling that lingered in the back of her mind. The message was harmless enough, but there was something about the timing and the unknown number that unsettled her. Still, she pushed the thought aside. The Stab movies we're getting the better of her.
"Alright, party tomorrow night," Genevieve declared. "Let's do it."
Annika threw a handful of popcorn in the air, catching most of it with a satisfied grin. "Yay!"
