The Grey in Between

Nick

I saw him the moment he walked in. His pink hair a spotlight on him. And I wasn't the only one who noticed, all the other boys sitting in the dinning room are all staring and whispering about my roommate. Andrew.

"Who the hell thought this was the place for him?" Said one of Brads friends. I turn and stare, the rest of the boys are laughing. They don't seem to notice, or care, that I'm the only one not laughing.

"He's, actually, my uh, roommate," I explain sheepishly, watching the pink haired guy out of the corner of my eye, keeping my head low so he won't see me when he stares down the crowd again. The others just stare at me, not sure to laugh, say sorry, or ignore me again.

Instead of waiting for their judgment, I got up, dumped my tray, and rushed out as fast as I could, not wanting to be in there for one more second. I don't even pick my gaze up from the ground to see if anyone was looking at me.

Which was why I didn't notice Andrew see me running out and getting up too. I didn't realize he followed me out until he tapped me on the shoulder, causing me to trip over my own foot in shock and fall. Again.

The guy helps me get up, his pale gray eyes staring me down like I was his next meal.

"Hey," he chirped, a lopsided grin now replacing his scowl from the cafeteria. "You okay?"

"I'm fine," I say sheepishly, a blush coming to my cheeks. He smiles bigger, his piercing pale eyes seeming to twinkle for a moment.

"Can I walk with you?"

"Uh, I guess," I say, as we had already begun walking again.

"So, is this your first year?"

"Yep."

"Mine too."

"Okay," I answer, trying not to look him in the eye. I couldn't help but be terrified of this man.

"You don't talk much do you? It's okay, I usually don't either, but I figured hell, mine as well make this some what bearable," he rambles, scratching the back of his head seemingly unsure of himself. I couldn't help feel a bit comforted by that.

"So, why were you sent here?" He asks, trying to change the topic. I stop dead in my tracks. I turn to face him.

"None of your business," I yelled before running off nearly in tears. I know I must have surprised him because he didn't come after me or say anything to get me to stop. I just ran.