After The BreakUp

Chapter Five

I lay across the bed, starting to feel drained from the day. Even if her friends make me uncomfortable, I am already beginning to feel an unsettling loneliness, and it doesn't help that my roommate is no longer there.

She might have too many visitors, which would be terrible, or she might be gone a lot. Why couldn't I find a housemate who enjoyed reading and learning? Although I will have the tiny room to myself, I think it may be a positive thing, but I don't feel well about any of this. So far, college has not lived up to my expectations or dreams.

It has only been a few hours, I tell myself. The next day will be better. It has to be.

I gather my planner and books, taking the time to list my classes for the coming semester as well as any meetings I might have for the literary club I intend to join. I'm still not sure about that, but after reading some student reviews, I want to give it a try.

I'm looking to connect with a community of individuals who share my interests. I don't expect to make many friends; just enough so that I occasionally have someone to spend dinner with. Tomorrow, I'm going to leave campus to pick up a few more things for my dorm room.

In order to feel more at home in the strange place, I would like to add a few things of my own even though I don't want to clog my side of the room like Steph has. I won't have a car yet, so it will make things a little more challenging. I'd prefer to have one as soon as possible.

I have enough money saved up from my summer job at a bookstore and graduation gifts, but I'm not sure whether I want the burden of automobile ownership at the moment.

I've already done my homework on the bus routes, and the fact that I reside on campus offers me complete access to public transportation. I was distracted by ideas of schedules, red-haired women, and obnoxious tattooed males.I fall off to sleep holding my planner while thinking about timetables, red-haired girls, and unpleasant dudes covered in tattoos.

THE AFTERNOON, Steph was not in her bed. If she's never here, it might be tough for me to get to know her. Maybe she was dating one of the two boys she was with? I really hope it was the blonde one for her sake.

I head to the shower room after grabbing my bag of personal items. I already know that the shower issue would be one of my least favorite aspects about living in a dorm; I wish each room had its own bathroom. Although uncomfortable, at least they won't be coed.

Or perhaps I had thought they wouldn't be—wouldn't everyone think that? But sure enough, there are two stick figures—a male and a female—printed on the sign as I go to the door. Ugh. I can't believe they let something of this nature to occur. I can't believe I missed that while I was looking into WCU.

I swiftly pass by the half-n***d males and girls, draw the shower curtain shut, undress, and hang my clothes on the rack outside by blindly putting one hand out of the curtain after spotting an open stall.

The shower takes too long to heat up, and while I'm in there, I constantly worry that someone may open the frail curtain separating my n***d body from the other males and girls. College life is strange so far, and it's only the second day. Everyone seems to be okay with both sexes walking around in their underwear.

There is little enough room for me to stretch out my arms in front of me in the tiny shower stall, which is lined with a tiny rack where I can hang my clothing while I shower. My thoughts keep returning to Noah and my life at home. I spin around distractedly and knock my elbow on the rack, causing my garments to fall to the damp floor. They become drenched from head to toe in the shower.

You've got to be joking me, right? I mutter to myself as I quickly turn off the water and cover myself in a towel. I take my pile of bulky, wet garments and sprint down the corridor, hoping without hope that no one would notice me. As soon as I close the door after entering my room with the key, I feel at ease.

The unpleasant, tattooed, brown-haired boy was sprawled on Steph's bed when I turned around.