Housemates

Chapter Three

Meeting My Roomies

I had no idea what to pack for a year away from home, so I brought as much as I could: all of my clothes, old notebooks, old scrapbooks, a microwave, my favorite tea mug, my favorite tea packet, my favorite tea strainer, the pillows I made in sixth grade, pictures of my grandparents, parents, and extended family, my laptop, my cellphone, chargers for my laptop and cell phone, and my fifty favorite books.

Max saunters into my room before I'm halfway done decorating the room. I guess it took me a lot longer than I had expected. "Wow," He says, "Restraint's not really your thing, is it?"

"I suppose I might have overdone it a little..."

"Ah, it's fine really. If one of those 'hoarding' shows ever come by, I'll know which room to send them to."

"Hey, it's not THAT bad!"

"Kidding! Kidding!" He smiles teasingly, "So, are you ready?"

"Sure, let's go."

I follow him out of my room. There's a sweet smell and some soft, ambient music coming from the room next to mine. I wonder who lives here?

I knock lightly on the door. No response.

"C'mon," Max grins, "Give it a little more force."

"But..."

"Look, we don't have all day to meet everyone. You can blame me if they get pissed."

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, I suppose.

I take a deep breath and give the door a louder knock. "H-hello?"

A pretty blonde girl peeks out from behind the door. Everyone I had met so far had ridiculously good looks. I start to feel insecure in my own appearance.

"Ohmygosh," The girl says frantically, "Was I disturbing y'all? I'm so sorry."

"Pfft," Max shrugs, "My gran's music is louder than that. No offense." He smiles and extends a hand, "I'm Max. I just moved in today." Sally reaches out slowly to shake his hand. "And this is Anne."

"It's nice to meet you." I smile at her.

"Ohhh, you must be my new neighbors! I was wondering if anyone was living in those empty rooms. I'm Sally, I just moved in this past Friday. It is so nice to meet you!" She smiles wide.

I blush. I wasn't used to anybody being this happy to see me, much less a complete stranger. "Um, thank you." I take a big sniff of the aroma of her room, "Is, is that incense?"

"This is just for meditation purposes! The energy here i so hectic that I feel like there needs to be something tranquil to balance it out."

"Energy?" Max pipes in.

"Energy! You know, things like auras. The spiritual forces connected everything in this world?" She seemed excited to be having this conversation. "Why, if there's too much of one kind of energy, then-"

She quickly closes her mouth when a shrill female voice screams, "Rakesh! Get in here!"

Sally winces. "Everything ripples outwards from there. I'm going to keep meditating. You're welcome to join me if you'd like!"

"No, thank you. Maybe some other time." Sitting in a smoke-filled room with a complete stranger--even one who seems ridiculously nice--is still far out of my comfort zone.

She retreats back into her room, saying, "Okay! I'll see you at dinner."

Max shrugs as the door closes. He looks towards the yelling noises and shrugs again, gesturing for me to take the lead.

A few steps later I turn my head and he's no where to be seen.

I've come to far to turn back now, however. I can hear them loudly talking just through the next door. It sounds like it'll be interesting.

The door is half open. I slither inside to see what all the commotion is about.

The girl who knocked me over earlier, Isabella, is glaring at a young man who looks like he's made some very regrettable decisions. Yet, he was another good looker; he looks as though he came straight off the cover of a romance novel.

"I can't believe you painted all over my dance pole!"

Or he's an exotic dancer and this house is secretly a strip club. What have I gotten myself into?

He opens his mouth and speaks in a heavy Indian accent, "I am sorry. Do you not like the colors?"

"It has nothing to do with the colors! I can't exercise with all this fresh paint." She screams back.

"But it looks more vibrant, yes?"

"No!" She pauses, giving the pole a once-over. "Well... Maybe a little. But I'm still mad because you should've asked before you went off and used my things in an art project! How would you like it if I stole all your paintbrushes to make a pole out of them?"

The guy thinks for a moment, then shakes his head with a smile on his face. "I would not mind if you did that."

"And there's the problem. There's such thing as private property—wait, what?" Isabella seems taken aback by his answer. "You really wouldn't care?"

Before he can respond the door opens and Dominick rushes in, "What's all this about?"

"Rakesh messed with my exercise pole!"

"Yes, I see. And?" He smirks at her.

"You're the RA. Why don't you talk to him about it?" She yells, frustrated.

"Oh, I'm afraid I can't. I'm scared that over regulating things will make me too much of an iron fisted dictator."

"Seriously?" She looks baffled and her hands fall into a defensive, almost scared position.

"I'm always serious. How else would I crush rebellions?" He shrugs nonchalantly, a huge smirk on his face.

Isabella winces, "Ugh, whatever. I'm going to take a shower." She pushes past Dominick forcibly and hustles out the door.

"Don't let Karma hit you on the way out!"