Next morning, my roommate wakes me up, "Hey... do you brush your hair? Your hair looks super thick." Where did this come from?
"My hair is ultra-thick. Every time I try to brush it the brush breaks. Where is this coming from?" Is he always this random?
"Last night you turned over and got your extremely long and thick hair got in my face. I started playing with it and got curious. My mom got me an extra brush that I don't use. I could try brushing and braiding your hair." He knows how to braid hair?
"O-okay." He moves to sit behind me on his knees with the brush. I feel the brush get stuck in my hair, "If it gets to hard I will understand if you want to quit." This actually feels good.
"Your hair is falling out. I'll be right back." Leaving the room, he comes back with a grocery bag. Moving to the other side of the room, his hands pull a large bag of tiny rubber bands. "What time is your first class?" At least he's caring and considerate about timing.
"Eleven. I actually don't plan on going to class anyway." He doesn't seem like the type to get mad like my original roommate.
"My first class is at nine thirty, so we have time. Why don't you want to go to your first class? You could get some useful information..." At least he's supportive of education.
"Can I tell you a secret?" I take a deep breath, "I'm not actually a prodigy. My mom wanted to give me a head start in life, so she had a tutor to teach me how to read at age two. She even had the tutor move in with us so I would study all the time, and I mean all the time. When I got to kindergarten age I was done with fifth grade. They sent me into sixth grade without my tutor and I failed and got held back twice. My mom brought my tutor back to help me then took her away when I got to seventh grade I flunked again. That's when I started to figure out my study habits and was able to barely able to pass. I flunked out of eighth grade too when my mom brought my tutor back and did psychological testing to figure out why I did so good up until fifth grade. My tutor, and the psychologist confirmed it, said that I had a photographic long-term memory but a shitty short-term memory. I don't even remember your name." Feels good to get it all out.
"My name is Jaiden. I'm nineteen, a sophomore, and I'm your roommate." He is really accommodating.
"Thank you. If I hear or look at something every day for two weeks I can memorize it word for word. I actually finished high school in three years and did one elective for the forth year while doing online college to get my associates degree. This year I only have to get sixty more credits. Now that the school knows about my memory thing I got an IEP." My parents were very pushy about me going to college early. I got bullied for it. I have to go to therapy because of how people treated me. I hope Jaiden is a good friend.
"What's an IEP? Is it like a 504? I have one of those for my depression and anxiety." He seems like an outgoing, energetic, shameless guy though.
"It is a more serious version of a 504. You can get one for emotional disorders too. I have dyslexia that no one knew about as well. I'm all kinds of messed up." Now I feel depressed about myself.
"Let me make this clear. You are not messed up. You are gifted if you were able to get passed your second year of college by the time you were fifteen. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Okay keep going." I'm crying. This is the first time I've cried since I was five.
"Well, my IEP says that the professors have to give me all of their notes and assignments before school even starts. They hired someone to take notes for me during class, so I don't have to go. On top of that they have a lady that will take the notes and flip the letters so I can read them properly. I got the notes for all twenty of the classes I'm taking this semester and I already memorized the notes. I like writing essays and doing practice work so I can do that if I stay home. They already told me when the quizzes are, so I just need to go in for the quizzes and tests. Plus I have scheduled times with each professor to go over notes and to answer questions." I think there is someone at the door.
"If you already did core classes can you help me with my homework?" Is he almost done with my hair?
"Sure. Are you done yet? It's starting to hurt." His cold fingers touching my scalp is making me shiver.
He pulls my hair down, "Done. I did really tiny braids on each side. About five per side. Then on top I did one big Dutch braid and because you have so much hair that it is really defined." It's so tight I have a headache.
"Thank you. You said you would show me a good place to get breakfast." His fingers interlock with mine as he pulls me out the door and down the stairs. Where are we going?
"We can get Monty cristos." Catching me as I fall down the stairs, he lifts me up, wraps my legs around his waist, and grabs the backpacks we left by the front door. "Let's go!" I try to hold onto him as he walks out the front door. I'm so close to falling. Wait... is that Medusa?
She steps away from the guy that she was talking to and tries to pull me off of my roommate, "What the hell! You're a freshman! You can't be living in a fraternity!" Bitch. I can't remember my roommate's name.
My hands and legs let go and I fall to the ground, "What the hell M? I got assaulted in the dorms and they offered to take care of me. I'm safer here." She's not convinced.
"Mom and dad want you living in the dorms! Grab your stuff and go back!" It is literally safer for me to be here and she doesn't even care.
My roommate kneels down next to me and helps me up, "Bitch go back to sleeping with every guy on campus." That pissed her off.
"Poseidon! Are you really gonna let this guy talk to me like that? What kind of brother are you?" Is she really trying to pull the "what kind of brother are you" scheme?
I walk up to her and push her to the ground, "I came to college to get away from you. Get out of my life!" Great she's crying.
My roommate pulls me away from her, "Run!" We run away from Medusa till we get to one of the cafés on campus. "I'll get you some food. Stay here with the backpacks." I sit down and look around. There is a lot of people.
A boy with bright red hair walks up to me, "You look new. What's your name?" I'm uncomfortable.
Shifting in my seat, I look around for the guy I came here with, "Poseidon." Guy I came here with hurry up! ... I can't even remember his name or his relation to me. Ugg.
"Hmm... Well Poseidon. Let's lay down some rules. Only seniors can sit in this section. Get your ass out of my spot." Ugg again.
"I am a senior. Or at least this will be my last year in college." Technically true. Guy who brought me here hurry up.
"You don't look old enough to drink. How can this be your last year in college?" Why can't he just go away?
The guy I came with sets to sandwiches on the table, "Hey Benny, Poseidon is a fifteen-year-old prodigy. He's doing college in one year." This guy is standing up for me. That's sweet.
"How? How is that possible? Jaiden, you're not supposed to be here either. I know you're a sophomore." So fire head is Benny and the guy that brought me food is Jaiden. Jaiden... Jaiden... Jaiden the roommate! He's my roommate.
From the other side of the room, the guy I recognize as Zeus's best friend Ren yells, "Benny, stop harassing baby Poseidon!" So I'm the baby now huh?
"You know the rules! Only seniors sit here!" Everyone stares at me. I know I look young, so I know I am in big trouble.
"Do you remember Zeus from high school?" People start to whisper. Right. A lot of people from our high school went to this college. Wait... wouldn't they know about me, the prodigy. "Right now your messing with his little brother! Zeus is only fifteen minutes away! There's no telling what he'll do to you if he finds out!" Are they seriously using my brother as a threat?
The Benny guy storms away, "Fine!" I think we just avoided a huge problem. Taking a bite out of the sandwich, I text Zeus about the incident.
Jaiden taps the table to get my attention, "I guess a lot of people know your brother?" He smiles, "People are gonna judge you because of him. Hopefully they will stay away. It's time for my class. If you get lost just ask for help. See ya back at home." I should probably go to class too.
