We; the Light and the Darkness; One

3| I'm not good with new people!

  "Hi, my name is Rylee Parks." 

~0~  

Jamey jumps up to greet her, nearly tripping over his feet while at it. "Hey, you are real pretty." I guess he likes to go for the straight forward approach. Then he  blushes and stutters out, "I-I meant to say... I meant to say...hi. I'm Jamey Lowry."

Rylee recoils from him a little, turning up her nose. "I'd prefer it if my roommates didn't hit on me so obviously."

"I-I wasn't!"

"Of course," she replies.

"Leave her alone, Jamey, you're making a fool of yourself." Liam rolls off his bed and sticks his hand out to Rylee. "My name is Liam Smith. I hope you like books because I'm a total geek so you'll be surrounded by them when I'm around."

Rylee's face breaks out into a smile. "I hate books but I like you. I think we'll get on great, you don't seem like someone fake. Can't stand living with them- my little sister being the best example."

Liam laughs. "They're annoying beyond words! I have a younger sister too."

The two of them chat for a minute before Rylee's eyes travel around the rest of the room and land on me. Why haven't I introduced myself?- you ask. I don't know if I mentioned it before... I'm not good with new people!

Her eyes look me over once as she makes her judgement on me. She walks up to me. I stand up and put out my hand for her to shake.  Instead, she smiles wide and embraces me in a tight hug. 

I stiffen. "Nice to meet you too," I mutter when she's released me. 

Rylee breaks into laughter, her hand rested against my shoulder to steady herself. "I'm sorry," she manages to say. Once she stops laughing, still with a smile on her face, she says, "I just had to do that. You looked so awkward with your military stand and handshake!"

Liam snickers, "Dude, turn down the awkward notch a little."

I send a glare his way then look back to Rylee. "Honestly," I say, trying not to be awkward, "It's nice to meet you."

"You're supposed to tell me your name now."

I fall on my bed, giving up and deciding I'll talk to her like I've known her for years. Probably not a good idea since I've only known her for the past five minutes- but it can't get any more awkward than this. "This socialising thing is not easy. And my name is Adrian Capello. I was born in the UK but I'm from Italy. I'm doing an art degree. I'm from a family of five. My hobbies consist of drawing, painting, and running. Anything else that should come in an introduction?"

Rylee falls beside me on my bed, "Favourite food?"

"Cheese cake."

"Same! What flavour?"

"Vanilla."

She shoves my arm lightly, "That's disgusting. Chocolate cheesecake till the end."

By now, Liam's gone back to his book and Jamey's is scrolling on his phone.

"Favourite colour," I say.

"Silver and black. Dream car?"

I scoff, "Forget a car. I happy with my crappy, second hand, motorbike. It's battered and bruised but it's the love of my life."

"Oooh, let's see."

I take out my phone and show Rylee a picture. My bike is red with black stripes and about a hundred stickers on the mirrors from Lainey. "My family wanted to drop me off today so my mate said he'll bring it since he's coming Olympus too. I didn't ask, what are you studying?"

"Nothing to do with the creative arts. I'm studying for a degree in psychology. I wanna be a therapist so..."

"That's awesome. Maybe you could teach me how to talk to people then?"

Rylee laughs and stands up. "Just keep going the way you are. I better unpack already, I don't wanna be in here for the whole day." 

"Good point," I say, getting up and stuffing a few things in my backpack. Time to look around!

This is going to be my home for another three years, after all.