Avoid

Chapter 2

    Life was getting better. We'd managed to avoid my dad for so long, with him being locked up.
    I'd made a good friend called Jodie. She kind of took me under her wing when we first met and we just clicked. We texted a lot and sometimes met at the weekends. We met at school which felt like ages ago now. Since I was preparing to move away for uni.
    I couldn't quite believe I'd made it this far. I'd searched for months for dorms to stay in. The first I went to look at looked messy and was way too cramped. The second was a big one.. there were two girl's called Georgie and Lisa, the guy showing me around was called Jason. He told me there was also another guy named Mateo he was on holiday though. They seemed really friendly and I was running out of time and options to find a place so I accepted.

   I moved my stuff in the following week.
Putting my pictures on the wall, some artwork I had done at home to make it feel a little more homely in my bleak white bedroom. I stood my photo frame of my mum and me on the side. I was gonna miss her, I did already. She cried when I left this was the first time I'd been free to spread my wings, I worry for her but I know she wants me to do this. I want to make her proud.

   Georgie and Lisa have promised to show me around on Sunday of all the local shops. Jason was a great guy he made sure I felt at home. We watched a film for the first couple of nights. I explored and called in to the university arranging to pick up my books at the weekend.

     Saturday had arrived Jodie had made a two hour drive to come see me, I was thrilled we had a coffee. She always asked if I'd seen any hotties. I always had the same answer no not really. I hadn't been here long, maybe I'd meet someone at uni I hoped. Time went so quickly it was time for her to leave. I was sad to see her go, we said our goodbyes and I headed back to the dorm.

   Only when I got there I put my key in the lock but it was as if it was already open? So I walked in looking around puzzled. I knew Georgie was with her boyfriend, Lisa had gone to her friends and Jason went to watch a game of footy. They must have forgotten to lock the d—.

   My body froze. I could hear a woman moaning.. and a bed creaking. Oh god I've walked in on someone having sex! I blushed as if someone could actually see me. Her moans bellowed through the dorm, I argued with myself whether to go down the corridor or not as I needed a wee desperately. So I tip toed down the corridor to the toilet which was at the end. As I approached I realised the door just to the left of the bathroom was open a little, it was the the guy I hadn't met yet, Mateo's room.

   He'd come back from his holidays. I thought he wasn't due back till tomorrow?
   My eyes caught site through the gap of his door, muscular tattooed arms and a naked woman underneath him. I could just see her bare chest. My mouth went dry. I no longer needed the toilet I needed to move this was wrong stood outside my roommates door who I haven't even met yet while he's having sex.

    I turned and tip toed back to my bedroom which was on the same side. I closed my door quietly and let out a deep breath.

   I laid on my bed and the room literally shook, I tried to ignore them putting my headphones in to drown out the moans. I closed my eyes trying also not to think about what was happening on the other side of the wall.
    I was still a virgin. My mum had the talk with me before I left. It was awkward as hell. I was shy when it came to those sort of things.
   I'd stayed in my room until they finally left.

    Later that day, Lisa and Jason were in the kitchen making us lasagne, chips and a side salad. I sat on the bar stool reading a magazine.
    When the door flew open a tall lean muscle of mass entered wearing black sweatpants and a plain black tight T-shirt which hugged his abs and chest, one of his arms were scattered in tattoos and the other had the odd tattoo. I also caught sight of another just poking out from the top of the neckline at the side of his neck.

    He walked in not even looking at us down towards his room. A tall leggy, blonde with a short bob cut waited by the door. She was wearing a very short black mini skirt with a black and pink crop top. She had a sleeve tattoo. I wasn't really into tattoos but it suited her. She smiled, noticing me looking. Her smile was warm despite the dark clothes she wore. I returned it, then tried to focus back on my magazine as my thoughts began to wonder if she was who he had sex with, perhaps his girlfriend?

   "Teo are you staying around for lasagna?" Jason called out.
   Then I heard his trainers approaching he was close. He smelt divine. I gulped and willed myself to look.
    When I did he was stood next to me, his chiseled chest was just in my view, I had to lift my head a little to see his face. He had the brightest blue eyes I'd seen, big full lips and his dark hair pushed up back from his forehead.
   "Nah. I'm going out. I've got plans," Nudging his chin towards the leggy blonde who beamed at him.
   "Alright mate. Well I don't think you've met yet, our new room mate Lacey? And Lacey this is Mateo."
    He looked down at me and my insides felt like they were going into a tight knot. I gulped trying to strum some sentence together. Instead I nervously coughed, and a strange sound fell from my mouth that I couldn't quite identify.
    His expression was unreadable as his eyes scanned my face, making me feel on high alert and self conscious.

After a too long awkwardly silence he finally said.. "Right. I've got to go now." He said in his deep throaty voice which travelled through my core.
   I still hadn't looked away, he clearly wasn't as friendly as the rest of my roommates. Something was very appealing about him though.

   He rolled his eyes as if annoyed. Then casually walked out the room without even a goodbye.
"Lacey that's just Mateo for you. You'll get used to him." Lisa smiled at me.
    She must of seen my reaction in thinking he was rude. I smiled and nodded, Lisa had the odd tattoo on her wrist and ankle. Jason has tattoos too. I looked down at myself, I'm like a blank canvas. Tattoos are not something I've ever really cared for to be honest.
    Looking at Lisa and Jason's they suited them. The leggy blonde Mateo came in with had colourful ones. Mateos were dark, grey and shaded.
  I wondered if I had tattoos what I would have.
I laughed to myself that wouldn't ever happen.