Lonely Together

1. It's you and your world, and I'm caught in the middle.

The setting sun bounced off the edges of the windows, causing the whole room to glow. I angled the floor length mirror away from the glare and frowned at my hair. It was refusing to cooperate.

'I give up.' I groaned, turning with pleading eyes to my roommate. Emma finished tugging a navy-blue shirt over her head, shaking it at my frustration.

'Sit down and let me take care of the birds-nest that is your hair.' Said Emma as she came over, tugging the comb out of my hands. I smiled gratefully and sat dutifully in the desk chair. She wheeled me until I was in front of the mirror and got to work.

'Maybe it's a sign.' I mumbled, glancing at Emma's reflection. A crease appeared on her forehead as she frowned. Without a word, she walked to her dresser, rummaging for a few seconds before coming back to my now slick and smooth hair.

'A bad hair day is not a sign that you shouldn't come to this game.' Replied Emma as she tied some silver ribbon into my hair. With a little more force than necessary she started braiding along the left side of my head 'I understand why you're worried.' I met her eyes in the mirror. 'Trust me I do. But we've been here nearly a month, and apart from class, we haven't left this dorm room.'

I shifted in my chair as the guilt settled in my stomach. My intention hadn't been to drag Emma into my messed-up head space - I just liked having her around too much.

More like depended on her being there all the time. Come to think of it, that was probably a little unhealthy.

'I'm sorry. I didn't realise I was suffocating you.' I offered a half smile with my words. Emma returned it gently, knowing exactly what I was thinking and feeling. Her uncanny ability to read me often scared me at times.

With a final flourish Emma finished braiding the other side of my hair. I was now the proud owner of two French braids running down each side of my head, two lengths of silver ribbon expertly entwined with each.

Emma stood back, admiring her handy work with a confident smile. 'I'm good, aren't I?' She grinned, and I laughed, albeit a little halfheartedly; my mind was still distracted. Emma sighed, 'Look, I'm not mad at you. But we came here to get away and start over. That doesn't mean we have to stay away from anything fun – we can just enjoy it in moderation.'

I nodded, smoothing out my burgundy dress in the mirror. I can do this. I can be normal.

'It's purely up to you whether or not you go to the party after the game, but I will be. I'm planning on getting to know my classmates quite well.'

I rolled my eyes, 'The basketball team?' Emma slipped her feet into ballet flats as I squished mine into my navy hi-tops. She grinned and tossed me my phone.

'Especially the basketball team.' Emma winked and mimed a dramatic swoon. We laughed giddily into the hallway, clicking the door shut behind us.

**

'Go crazy for your very own Radson Wolves!'

Screams, cheers, applause and stomping followed the announcer's words as the arena exploded. Yes,arena – the university had its own basketball arena. There was also a football pitch and huge gymnasium for every other sport imaginable; but for Radson University, basketball was its crowning glory.

I watched as the team ran into the arena. All of them sporting a navy varsity team jacket; their names and numbers branded in silver across the back. They ran around one end of the court, practising free throws and lay-up's and whatever other basketball terminology I wasn't familiar with; the rival team from North Carolina State doing the same on the opposite end. Watching all the players warm up, the heat rose, and the cheers increased. The crowd was so loud, we had to yell into each other's ears to even hear. I was going to be deaf by morning.