I step into the dorm.
The wall is covered in a pale yellow, and the room smells of chemicals.
That is the first thing I notice.
The second thing I notice is the blonde girl sitting on a bed with blue sheets. She's dazzling, her blonde hair falling in waves around her.
She turns to me, a smile playing at her lips.
"I'm Camille," She says, in a soft and kind voice.
"Violet." I respond, offering a hand for her to shake. She shakes it, with a confident handshake and a smile to match. I drop my hand, as does she. "Well, I see you've claimed that side," I say with a grin, eyeing pointedly at the adorned nightstand and bed.
"Oh! I'm so sorry. I should've-" She starts, and I hold up a hand to stop her.
"It's perfectly okay." I walk to the bed across the room, and lay my sheets on it. I fiddle with the key around my neck as I walk down the hall towards my car, my leftover bags waiting for me. I grab them, locking the car again, and starting back up the stairs. I've reached the door again, and I drop my things outside it as I turn the key in the lock.
I open the door to see Camille and someone else. Someone new. And someone remarkably... male. I step back, startled. He is tall and slim, with shaggy brown hair and shocking blue eyes. He is wearing a red plaid shirt, and blue jeans. They stand up, and I realize that I have been awkwardly staring at them for the better part of a minute.
"Jordan." He says, extending his hand to mine.
"Violet."
I don't shake his hand.
He drops it awkwardly, pulling it behind his head to scratch his neck.
"Violet, this is my boyfriend." Camille says in a warm voice, wrapping an arm around his waist.
Ugh. Straight. I think to myself, groaning inwardly.
"I guessed." I say in a clipped tone, eyeing him warily.
"I was just leaving." Jordan says awkwardly, laying a chaste kiss on her lips before walking out of the room.
The door shuts, and the latch clicks.
I sign in relief.
Moving in took all of my energy out. I lay back, sprawled on the bed. In the sweltering Boston summer heat, I am laying on a cotton duvet with nothing but a sports bra and spandex on. A small part of me wishes Camille were wearing the same thing, and alas, she is not.
I get up, my hips swaying as I walk across the room. I wave five dollars in Camille's face.
"I'm going down to Starbucks. You can come with me if you'd like." I say flippantly, trying to disguise the fact that I'm hoping she'll come with me. I throw on a tank top and grab my phone, as well as the rest of my wallet.
She slides into a seated position, pulling on her tattered vans. She follows suit and grabs her wallet, along with her key.
We walk down to my beaten up Toyota, my keys jangling from my finger. I unlock the doors and slide into my seat, starting the car. Camille ducks in, and I try not to stare.
It's too hard.
I pull out of the parking garage, aiming towards the nearest green-awning adorned coffee shop.
We pull in, and I shift into park. The green awning is present, and it is empty inside, save for a petite barista. We walk up to the counter wordlessly, and I give the barista my order. I note her name tag, Abby P. I recognize her from my floor, she lives a few doors down. I smile.
"Venti Mocha, a shot of caramel and a shot of hazelnut. Two sugars, whipped cream." I rattle off my order like I do every morning. Abby marks my cup, shifting her attention to Camille.
"Flat white, no sugar." I quirk up an eyebrow at her choice of drink. Not froufrou at all.
We pay, and take a seat at what has come to be known as our usual table. I take my cup silently, eyeing her as she sips hers, and we sit. Not talking.
It's comfortable.
--
well I made it through my first chapter!
yikes I hope you guys enjoy
s/o to Jordan and Abby whom I wrote in because I love you guys lol 💓
-Mel
