Eternal Shadows

Chapter 1

Roommate needed:

Between the ages 18 - 25

Relatively tidy, sociable, responsible AND MUST BE ABLE TO PAY HALF OF THE MONTHLY RENT.

Alex:

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It's not very common for first year students to live off campus, but after I saw the state of my assigned dorm room I pretty much felt I had no choice - I know, this sounds kind of spoiled and snobbish, but it's just the way things are.

About a week before the semester started the school still hadn't come around to fixing the damage the previous owners made. It's not like the school couldn't afford it; they just didn't do it. After a lot of begging and pleading, my dad finally gave his OK on me living in an apartment in a complex a few blocks from campus.

He also funded my furniture and the first few months of rent, just until I found a job and could comfortably stand on my own two feet. After a lot of thinking and budgeting I decided to look for a roommate - why, you ask? As a student at the University of ******* I'm not able to get a full time job with a full pay, and even though I get a monthly allowance from my father that is more than most dream of, my rent payment would put a strain on it. So I devised a genius plan that allows me to: a) shop till I drop, b) get a sense of responsibility and another source of income besides my father and c) not live in a shoebox, but in an apartment where I can live by the rules I set.

When you look at it from this point of view my college experience seems even better than most dream of, except - wait for it - it gets kind of lonely.

Now three weeks into the first semester I haven't had any luck in finding a compatible roommate, so here I am putting up some more flyers on the notice boards on campus and having no luck what so ever.

"Hey Cupcake, are you done with classes?" I smiled and turned around, there's only one person who called me cupcake and that was my, oh so new friend Tara.

"Yeah. You?" We accidently bumped into each other on the first day of class and while I was apologizing she smiled and randomly said I made her think of cupcakes (how she came to that conclusion I didn't know), then she took my arm and dragged me to a row of seats and since then we've become friends with the potential of being best friends.

"Of course, some of the others and I are going out to celebrate the weekend, you wanna come along?" Tara is a sweet girl with a darker bronze-like skin tone, long legs, a slim body and a sparkling personality. I think if she signed up to be a model it wouldn't be long before I saw her on the cover of fashion magazines.

"I would love to, but unfortunately I have appointments," I said a waved one of my flyers. "Maybe if I finish early we can meet up?"

"Sure, we're going dancing at our regular spot, just call me when you get there." she said, "I'm sorry to leave you, but I have to go get ready" She kissed my left cheek and hurried off, when she was almost out of sight she looked back and waved. Tara is a bit different from my other friends, she's more alive and daring, she lives with no fear; and even though spending time with her took a lot of energy, I didn't mind.

Walking through the campus on my way home I saw a few familiar faces and waved when they greeted.

The cold breeze made me grateful I had a scarf and jacket on, but the short walk home was pleasant, I rarely drove my beloved Mini for the short trip to school and back.

When I got home I put my things down, locked the door behind me and looked around. The apartment wasn't huge, downstairs was a kitchen/ living room and on the top floor was divided in three rooms: two bedrooms and a bathroom. My dad was very generous so my home was properly and stylishly furnished. When I thanked him all he said was that he was happy to help out as long as I always had room for him on my couch when he wants to visit.