HIM.

In.

"Fuck." I whispered as the end of my bag hit my foot.

"Be careful." My aunt said bringing more of my things inside.

"I am, you can put everything over here."

"Okay, this is everything sweetie." My mom said walking in with my lamp and clothes basket in tow.

"Finally, I got a lot to put up." I said glancing around at everything I had brought in.

"Well we gotta go, so call me, I love you." My mom smiled and hugged me.

"Love you too, love you auntie Macy." I said then hugging her too.

"He would've been so proud of you baby girl." She smiled before they left the room.

What she said made my chest tight. I promised not to cry or get down about things all over again so I calmed down and started to unpack.

I wasn't even sure how I made it this far. Here I was setting up my college dorm, alone.

Just as I plugged my lamp in I heard the door unlock and I got off my desk and looked up. A light skinned girl covered in tattoos was pulling in too suitcases, followed by a guy with dreads carrying a big box.

"Oh shit, I'm so rude. I'm Kehlani, what's up?" She smiled putting the suitcases in a standing position and reaching her hand out to me.

"It's fine, I'm Anila." I said shaking her hand.

"That's so pretty, guess we're roomies for the year." She smiled putting her hands in her jacket pockets.

"Yep, guess so."

"Baby I gotta go." The guy who I soon realized was her boyfriend spoke standing in the doorway patiently.

"Okay, love you Jahron." She said walking over and kissing him.

"Love you more." She spoke smiling a little before kissing her forehead and heading out the room.

I didn't know their relationship at all, up until 2 minutes ago I had no idea who they were, but I knew they loved each other. They had such a calm, comfortable, unspoken form of language that show more than the simple encounter they had shared.

"You have some beautiful tattoos." I said as she put her things away and I sat up in my bed.

"Thanks, they all mean a little something to my, my artful therapy I guess." She replied opening a box of desk supplies.

"They're nice, I haven't met a girl my age with so many."

"How old are you?"

"I just turned 18."

"Oh cool, I'm 18 too, you have any tattoos at all?"

I was silent as I small had a flashback, I didn't notice how quiet I was until she said my name.

"Oh, uhh, no, not really."

"Not really?"

"I don't have any." I said letting out a nervous laugh.

"Want some?" She asked standing dusting her pants off.

"Yeah."

"Great, let me know when."

"Will do." I smiled.

"So there's a party tonight."

"Where?"

"Madison hall, like 5 minutes from campus."

"Oh I didn't know about it."

"Come please." She said standing smiling big and looking at me as if waiting for an answer.

"Okay, I'll go."

"Yas, be ready by 10."

********************************************

"So many people are here." I said looking around the party.

"It's lit too." Kehlani smiled looking around as well.

"Want a drink?" I asked noticing a bar at the far right side of the venue.

"Ooohhh yes ma'am." She said reaching in her bra.

"I got it." I smiled then heading over.

"Hey beautiful what can I get you?" The guy serving drinks smiled.

He was pretty tall, had smooth brown skin and perfect teeth, his hair was cut into a fade with curls springing free all over his head.

"Anything white."

"Gotcha. Fruit punch and vodka slushie?"

"That's fine."

"Okay that's $6."

"Thanks." I slightly smiled handing him the money then headed back to Kehlani.

Two hours in the party was still popping and I was very tipsy.

"I gotta pee I'll be back." I said leaving in to Kehlani so she would hear me over the music.

"Okay I'll be right here."

I got to the bathroom but the door was locked, great. I began to knock repeatedly because I really had to pee and this was the only bathroom here.

"Hold up." I heard a guy's voice say from the other side.

I stood waiting then finally heard the door unlock and swing open. I looked more so into the bathroom since I was focused on getting in but the guy was blocking my way in.

"Excuse-"

I finally looked up at the figure in front of me and closed my mouth. We stood still as statues just staring at each other in a tense shock. I couldn't believe it.

"Nila I-"

I turned and ran down the hallway headed for the door. Kehlani saw me and ran after me but I was so focused on getting out of there I didn't care. My vision blurred and between the alcohol and my tears I was nearly blind running out toward the street.

"Anila what's wrong?" Kehlani asked grabbing me and pulling me down to sit on the curb.

The air was cool but the night was warm overall being that it was the beginning of August. I could feel the air on my legs and I looked up to the sky still crying and now shaking. My throat is dry and I'm sure no words would come out my mouth even if I tried.

"It was him."