CHANGING MATT

The story behind Flora Grey

The couple Matt and I had seen arguing previously, where making out at the end of the hallway. I recall I'd seen them on the first day I'd arrived at Judaculla hall, and my mind subconsciously tags them as the hallway couple. Someone is following closely behind me, and I feel it's Matt, I know it's him. He taps my shoulder lightly
"Hi, I'm new here. Can you direct me to room number 62?" But it isn't.
"I'm new here too" I reply, staring into the eyes of an extremely confused red haired.
"Oh" she says, walking towards the next person she sees on the hallway.

****
"It's you again" Lauren had said as I stepped into the reception hall and taken long strides towards her desk. I had contemplated returning to my room after the 'incident' with Matt, but thought vehemently against it, knowing his crew would still be chilling out with Carolina. She was so free, so loved and I was just...me. I bet she'd never been shoved right after being kissed. I didn't fear being around his 'bad boy' crew. What I feared was being over burdened with jealousy.
"Yes, it's me" I reply dryly, not meaning to sound that way.
"Loosen up bitch. You look stupid"
"Gee. Thanks Lauren" I can almost taste my own sarcasm. She returns to her work, and I contemplate turning round and leaving. But then I remember something extremely important.
"You mentioned something about 'the list' the first time we met"
"So?" She doesn't even spare me a galnce. She's one character I can never fully understand.
"Never mind" I say, heading towards Judaculla. She doesn't say anything, until I'm at the entrance of the hall, about to step in.
"It's what girls at this school use to determine their beauty status"
I spin around and edge towards her, itching to hear more. She doesn't make to say anything else
"How?" I ask, desperate to stir the conversation. She takes a good two minutes, just staring at me. It's like the word "time" doesn't exist in her dictionary.
"Well, it all started in sophomore year, when Jones and his crew each made a list of pretty girls they'd bang before the end of senior year"
"That's awful. It's like they don't even have feelings" I say, recalling the kiss I'd shared with Matt, and subconsciously balling my palms into fists.
"I know right? Anyway, Jones had the longest list, and had banged most of the girls on it, but when it came to Carolina Dallas, he got rid of it and started a real relationship with her. Now, between Mark and Matt, you can't tell who is more 'achieved', seriously, they are both freaking gods when it comes to luring and deceiving girls. Only fools would let those two deceive them into as much as a kiss"
"Yeah. What kind of fool would do that?" I ask, laughing nervously. If I hated Matt Miller in the past, I hate him even more now.
"There's only one girl that has her name on all the lists. And that makes her the prettiest girl at WCU"
"Who?"
"Flora Grey"
"She's banged all of them?"
"No. Just Jones. She only bangs boys with girlfriends"
"Why?" I ask, wide eyed. The look on Lauren's face tells me she's satisfied with how much attention I'm paying to her.
"That's the whole point of being a bitch" she shrugs, turning off her iPad the second it starts ringing. I can tell she's avoiding someone.
"There's this myth that Flora was once all calm and caring. Until her sister happened and slept with her boyfriend. That changed her. It's titled 'The story behind Flora Grey' ". She concludes.
" How do you know so much about here?"
"Because I once schooled here, until I was almost ruined to pieces by Mark" she returns her gaze to her laptop, not willing to say more.