Bunking with the Boys

“Mom, I’m going to be fine,” I reassured my mom, brushing off her worried words with a wave of my hand.

With my full scholarship to Northridge Private High School, I was getting ready to board my airplane to New York. After living my whole life in the lifeless town of Loraine, Ohio, I was ready to start a new, exciting school year.

“Just… be careful Love.” My mom smiled meekly and gave me a big hug just before the flight attendant called my seating arrangement.

I hugged back and when I turned I let my smile invade the rest of my face. I was so excited to be on my own. I was going into one of the most exclusive schools in New York and even though it took almost two years for my application to go through, it was totally worth it.

I was going to make so many new, amazing friends and I was going to get even better grades than I had back in Ohio. And I even made myself a silent promise to make friends with my roommate.

Junior year was going to be, by far, the best year of my school life.

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When I got my dorm placement, I started to rethink my positive thinking earlier. I read over the little yellow piece of paper about 10 times. I read it over one more time just to make sure. And while looking at the map of the school dorms and classes I knew there had to be some sort of mistake.

I turned back to the front desk where the old withered woman gave me my dorm slip. “Excuse Ms? I think you gave me the wrong placement.”

“Not possible.” She said, not even glancing away from the bright computer screen. She looked as if she was glued to the rolling chair, with her chunky muffin top oozing out under the armrests. “You’re the only 1 of 2 transfer students this year. And, the other student already came by this morning for her assignment.”

“Well isn’t it possible that she got my dorm room by accident?”

“No miss.”

I opened my eyes wide with frustration. “It’s just that… according to the map, I’m in the boy’s dorm.”

For the first time since I entered the room, she actually looked up at me, confusion taking over her face. “No, that can’t be.” She said, taking the purple slip from my hands.

I shrugged and looked at my feet.

“YOU’RE Stephen Desroches?”

“Yes. But I prefer people to call me by my middle name, Love. My mom expected me to be a boy and-”

Withered Old Lady rolled her eyes. “No need for a life story Ms. Desroches. I’ll try and have this issue sorted as soon as possible, but until then you’ll just have to stay in the room you’re in.”

I could feel tears burning to come out of my eyes. This was so not how I wanted this year to start. I focused to try and keep the sobs from escaping my throat. “Do you know when you can have me switched over to the girl’s dorm?”

She again seemed uninterested in the problem at hand and turned back to her computer screen. “Come visit me again tomorrow. I’ll try and have this settled before you have to start classes in a week.” She nodded as if she was done with the conversation and she willed me to just go.

Sensing her annoyance, I turned on my heel to go. “Thanks Frumpy.” I said under my breath as I headed out the door.

Walking along the beautiful paved pathway with gorgeous blooming vegetation on either sides of me, my foot caught on a crack in the ground. I almost went flying, head first into the cement, when suddenly a pair of strong hands held on to me.

“Woah. You okay?” A pair of dazzling blue eyes met with mine. An instant surge of energy coursed through me, making me shudder all over. He was unbelievably hot. His blond hair was cut short, but long enough for it to flow right above his ears. I wanted to hold his head between my hands and just stare into his eyes. And I’m not the type to fall for a guy so quickly.

“Fine. Yeah, I’m fine.” I smiled. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” He smiled back. “I’m Blake. Blake Pierce.”

I fumbled with the handle on my suitcase I was dragging behind me. “I’m Love Desroches.” I blushed when I said my name.

“Love…” Blake said, pondering the name. “I like that. Need any help finding your dorm, Love?” He asked.

I blushed again, not wanting him to know that I was stuck in the boys’ dorm. So I came up with a quick remark to avoid the real question. “Why do you think I need help finding my dorm?”

“It’s obvious that you’re new here.” He said, smirking.

I rolled my eyes. “And why is it so obvious?”

“Well… as you might not have noticed, this school is pretty small. I know pretty much everyone that goes here. And you seem to mature to be a freshman. And usually freshman’s take their summer to study the school map, so they won’t have to ask for help getting around.”

“Good to know I don’t look younger than I am. And thanks for the offer Blake, but I’m sure I can find my way around on my own.”

I smirked as I walked right passed him, feeling his eyes on me as I walked gracefully along the pathway.

Okay. So maybe this year wasn’t going to be all that bad.