My roommate wants a piece of me.

Mom's possessiveness.

~Rose POV~

I couldn’t contain my happiness at all. I was finally going to campus.

But that wasn’t even the best part, the real excitement came from the fact that I was finally going to live my own life, the life I had dreamed about for as long as I could remember.

I had insisted on doing my own shopping, but of course my mom didn’t accept that. Since all this was ending soon anyway, I decided to let her have her way.

“Hurry up!” Mom called from downstairs while I was still in my room, packing the last few things I didn’t want to forget.

“I’m coming, Mom!” I responded, locking my bedroom door before heading down.

By the time I reached the sitting room, she was already waiting with her familiar look of impatience. My mother had a strange relationship with time, she respected it more than she respected oxygen.

“I’m right here, Mom,” I said quickly, hoping she wouldn’t start another lecture.

“Will you ever be on time?” she complained, already sounding annoyed.

I ignored her, as usual. We walked to the parked car where our driver stood waiting.

God, I hated this lifestyle. Always being driven everywhere like I was made of porcelain.

Two more days, I reminded myself. Just two more days until I could finally live on my own terms.

“I’m starting to get second thoughts about you living alone,” she said as we stepped into the car.

I nearly rolled my eyes. Of course, my subconscious glared at me in horror.

“Of course I’ll manage, Mom,” I replied quickly. I had no idea what she would say next, and with her unpredictable nature, it could be anything.

The ride to the mall didn’t take long. For once, the roads were clear.

“Hurry up,” Mom said again as we walked inside.

Did she think speed was one of the things sold on the shelves?

We started picking out the things I would need. Actually, she did most of the picking. Half of the items were unnecessary, but since arguing with her was pointless, I let her pile up the trolley.

“Mom, there are a few things I need from the other side,” I told her, pointing toward the far aisle.

“You have five minutes,” she warned, raising her eyebrows.

I hurried off immediately.

As I walked, I noticed couples my age everywhere holding hands, laughing, whispering to each other like they were in their own world.

Would I ever have something like that?

A boyfriend?

A love life?

A normal teenage experience? That was something that I really looked forward to.

I didn’t know.

But I wanted it. So badly..

“Oh my—!”

I bumped hard into someone and we both went tumbling to the floor.

I landed right on top of them.

My eyes were squeezed shut from the shock, but when I opened them…

…they met the bluest eyes I had ever seen.

My heart stopped.

I froze completely, still hovering above the most handsome face I had ever seen in my entire life. My breath caught as I stared. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t even remember how to breathe.

He smirked, just a little and it made him even more attractive. If the ground had opened right then, I would’ve been okay with it. Too much embarrassment in one moment.

Realizing I was still on him, I scrambled up, cheeks burning.

People had stopped to watch us, adding to my humiliation.

“You—” I began, but the words died in my throat. My brain simply refused to cooperate.

“What?” he asked, clearly confused.

Unable to speak, I did the only thing I could think of.

I ran.

.