Roommates

Road Trippin'

Tris
Mid-November

The bus jostles me from side to side every time it hits a patch of uneven pavement or turns a corner. I'm really tired today, it feels like a challenge to keep my body upright on the bus seat.

My photography class is on our way to a required weekend trip to an art museum in Indianapolis; there is a traveling photography exhibit the instructor wants us to study. I'm missing the Friday classes I would typically be at right now, but that's fine, I'm not behind in any of them. A few students drove their own cars, but many of us don't have access to a vehicle, myself included, so we are riding the bus provided by the university. The bus ride will take about three hours. When we arrive, we will be staying two nights at a motel. I have been assigned to share a room with a girl named Amber. I have met her before, but we didn't find much to say to one another.

I'm sitting alone. I have not connected with anyone in this particular class and I don't feel like making conversation with anyone anyway. My thoughts are caught up in the events of this week with Eric.

After our fight on Tuesday night and my time with Tobias on the rooftop, I took Marlene up on her offer to crash a few nights in the dorm room she shares with Shauna. I stayed both Tuesday and Wednesday night, and it was just what I needed. I didn't realize the stress living with Eric was causing me until I spent a few days without it.

During that time I made a point to think about my relationship with him as little as possible, instead almost treating my time with my friends as a girls' retreat. I never knew it could be so much fun to do things like paint nails together. Christina stopped by once and it was awkward, but she left quickly after seeing that I was there. I know that she is totally unaware not only that I know she threw herself at my boyfriend, but that I saw them screwing against the break room wall. I was so relieved that she didn't stay long. I feel sick anytime I have to look at that bitch.

Staying with the girls, I saw Eric only once in passing, and really only saw Tobias at the dining hall, other than running together yesterday. I skipped Wednesday after having been up late the night before, and this morning I was preoccupied getting ready for the class trip.

Yesterday-- Thursday-- Eric cornered me in the dining hall, asking for me to come "home" so we could talk. For the first time, I noticed how strategic he is in the way he refers to his apartment; sometimes it's only his and he's oh-so-generous in allowing me to sleep there, and other times it's my "home". He uses whichever language will best help him to accomplish his goal.

Still, I went with him to talk things out. Eric apologized profusely, and three words I never thought I'd hear from his mouth-- "you were right"-- were uttered, to my amazement. I honestly was not anxious to go "home", but I would have felt as though I were taking advantage to stay with Marlene and Shauna any longer, and I knew I would have this weekend away to continue thinking things out. What I am sure of: if Eric doesn't change his ways very soon, he will be out of chances to do so. I'll sleep on that rooftop if I have to (though I really hope I could find a better solution than that.) Hopefully the housing department will come through soon, as I have been diligent in following up once, sometimes twice, each week. I want to be sure they know that i will not allow them to forget about me again.

The bus is now on the interstate and the jostling of sometimes-bumpy road has given way to a gentle, soothing motion. My eyelids become heavy and soon, I drift off to sleep.

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"Tris." A girl's voice, only vaguely familiar. My head is pounding. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter. "Tris, ugh, come on. Get your lazy ass out of bed." I just groan. The sheets are drenched in sweat but I am freezing cold.