Not Alone

Ch 2: Rambo Roomie

Andrea's POV:

As soon as I reach my dorm, I flop on the bed, tired and exhausted. But I decided to make a mental note of the things I'd managed to complete today:

Attend classes - check.
Organise study table - check.
and most importantly,
Meet new people, make new friends - double check!

After Joe left the cafeteria, that Robertson guy  and I finished the bowl of mint chocolate chip ice-cream over a casual conversation.

And then guess what? He offered to order another bowl.

The polite part of me wanted to refuse, but there's one thing my roommate Rhea taught me that I follow to date:
"Denying ice-cream is a crime."
Well, he's pretty easy to get along with, I guess. So I do approve of him to occupy the sixth room of our dormitory.

Just then, my phone pinged with a text.

Mark: Hey, do you have Accountancy class tomorrow? If we do, then save a seat for me. Meet me @ 8:00 am, before BB practice.
See you tomorrow, Andy ;)

I chuckle at his text before replying back .

Me: aye, aye captain! G'night :)

Marcus Francis is that one insanely humorous, easygoing, cheerful and charming friend that takes the same classes as I do, and never misses an opportunity to crack an extremely lame joke.
Part time best friend, part-time study-buddy, part-time........you name it.

Amanda and Rhea, enter the room and plop themselves beside me on the bed.

"New roomie, it seems, Andy. How has your anti-social, introveted self been dealing with this news so far?" questions Amanda.

But before I could reply, Rhea chimes in "You wouldn't believe Amanda, if I told you who the new roomie is! It's the Rambo Robertson!"

"The what? It's Hrithik Robertson, you must be mistaken." I ask, puzzled.

"The very same. Remember the guy that beat  Ian Webster in the basket ball match on new year's eve?"

"Of course I do! That so called Sylvester Stallone look-alike? But Ian Webster is one of the best BB player of Crystal High!"

"Oh, too late Andykins! Hrithik Robertson has already won the match that Ian Webster challenged him to. Now he has not only qualified as one of the best athletes, but has also become a heartthrob." says Rhea with a pitiful look.

"Hence the name Rambo. So we now officially have a Rambo roomie!" says Amanda excitedly.

"Rambo roomie? But Sylvester Stallone is a legend!" I whine. Could Amanda be any more ludicrous?

Suddenly Rhea yells "Have we completely forgotten about the assignment that's due tomorrow, homies?"

I curse under my breath before saying "Mr. Cooper will blast us if we don't hand it in tomorrow"

"We can do this, let's get started morons" says Amanda, before dashing to her room.

I quick pull my laptop out and immediately start  working on the assignment"

After four tiring hours.

I finally complete my assignment and shut my laptop down. It's 1:30 am. I press the 'shut down' option in my laptop and even before it completely shuts down, I doze off in my comfy study chair.

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Hrithik's POV:

I breath out heavily after all the hardwork. My arms were aching so bad.

 I'm surely going to kill the so called 'Packers and Movers'. I pay them for their job and I have to end up doing most of it.

"So how was your walk in the park, with Andrea?" asks Joe.

"Walk in the park, yeah right" I snort before continuing "She seems really nice!"

"Well, who said she isn't? Since you've moved most of your belongings already, why not join us for breakfast tomorrow, Rambo?"

"I'm afraid that won't possible, Joe. We have a briefing session with coach tomorrow. The Management team and Administration team will be collaborating for the NBA selections. I'll meet y'all after."

I look at my watch. It's 12 am. I need to get some sleep before tomorrow's practice sesson. It's going to be quite a crucial day, after all.

"You should be leaving then. Get some rest, Rambo" he says, as if reading my mind

I smile weakly at him before saying, "Night, mate" and heading out.

The night's unusually breezy. A bleak, thin wind blew, rustling the leaves of the trees. I head to the parking lot.

I hear the thumping of shoes and I turn around. I frown as the person comes closer, close enough for me to recognise.

"Hey" she whispers, with a smile anybody would've melted for.

Haha, but not me!

"Yes, Mia ?" I ask.

"Well, you left your wrist watch at my place"

"Mia, you moron. You could've simply given it to me tomorrow. It isn't that big of a deal" I say, annoyed.

"Well then, consider this as an excuse for me to see you, Hrithik."

I sighed at her flirtatious comment as I reached my hand out to take the watch from her. But just as my hand landed on the watch, she covered my hand with hers and looked at me, intensely.

"It's getting late, Mia. It's not an ideal time for strolling around. Go to bed." I ordered.

"Laying awake on the bed or strolling in the lanes at midnight. It makes no difference to me Rambo, because you're always on my mind"
she says in the most sincere tone.

I gulped. Seems like she's back at her flattering business.

I tug the watch from her hand. She spreads her pencil sized hands to stop me from walking away.

"So, none of this means anything to you, Rambo?" She asked, as if pleading.

My mom always said 'Trust a burglar, but never a Lilliputian'

I never believed in this self-made proverb of my mother until I met her. Mia Haiden Edwards, daughter of John Gresham Edwards, renown lawyer of the Canberra High Court.

Mia and I, we've had a history, I won't lie.
We were acquainted to each other since we were kids, through our fathers, who were childhood bestfriends themselves.

Unlike her 6'5 tall dad, Mia is short, shorter than a stump. She had to crane her neck to just look at me.

"We've already talked about this, Mia and I believe we've come to a conclusion too" I reply.

"But the conclusion wasn't in my favour, Rambo."

This girl might not have her dad's height, but she's defenitely got her dad's brains!
She wouldn't give up until an argument ended in her favour. Lawyer traits, I call it.

I grunted. She failed to realise the fact that she was annoying me. 

'What do you want, Mia?" I ask firmly.

"I want to talk"

I could feel my eyes getting heavy.

"I've got to leave, Mia. It's getting late. Besides, I'm really tired." I say.

"So does that mean we can talk tomorrow ?"

"Yeah, sure. See you, then." I say, desperately wanting to head back home and surrender to the comforts of my bed and sleep soundly.

"Good night, Rambo" she say and then she turns away, making her way back to her friends dorm where she's staying over for the night.

I let out a sigh as i climbed into my car.

 It sure as hell has been a tiring day.

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